Under The Same Sky (#1) [UNEDITED]

.17

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"Elly?" nagugulat kong tawag sa pangalan niya. Nasa harap ko siya ngayon at nakangiti sa'kin. Niluwagan ko ang pagkakabukas ng pinto at pinapasok siya. "What are you doing here?" 

Iainara ko ang pinto at pinaupo siya sa sofa. She just smiled and looked at me as she sat down. Awkwardness developed between the two of us. I spoke to dispel the growing silence.

"How are you?" I asked with a smile. She smiled and shook her head. 

"Okay lang naman. Nasaan pala si Zanth?" tipid akong ngumiti. 

"Maaga siyang umalis. May dumating na bisita sa hotel niya." Nakangiti kong paliwanag. Tumango siya at inilibot ang tingin. "Kukuha lang ako ng juice." 

Tumango siya at ngumiti. Naglakad ako papunta sa kusina at kumuha ng tray at doon inilagay ang juice at baso. Huminga ako ng malalim at nakangiting humarap sakaniya. Inilapag ko sa center table ang tray na dala ko.

"Thank you." I just smiled and let her move without hesitation. "Can I ask?" I nodded and waited for her to ask. 

"Do you already have a relationship with Zanth?" She asked with a small voice. I smiled sparingly and nodded. I grabbed my left arm and looked at her.

"Yes, I answered yes to him yesterday." I said smiling. She smiled and laid the glass on the table and smiled and looked at me again.

"Ava." 

"Yes, Elly?"

"Nothing. You're pretty." sabi niya ng nakangiti at nakatitig sa'kin, nangunot ang noo ko at kalaunan ay natawa. "why?" 

"You want to say something but stopping yourself to spill it." mahinang sabi ko sakaniya, ngumiti ako at tumango sakaniya. "spill it." 

"N-nothing. Wala talaga. Nagandahan ako sa'yo." nauutal at pekeng ngiting sabi niya. Tumawa ako at umiling. 

"I know when the person I'm talking to is lying." I said with a cold voice. She averted her eyes from me and just looked at her hands. "What do you want to tell me?"

"I will not continue our marriage." My eyes widened and I was stunned by what she said.

After a month Zanth and I returned to manila. We stayed at his house for three days before finally returning to my house. I put down my luggage bag and other belongings from the car and it was Zanth who brought my things into my house.

"Kumpareng Zanth! may balak pa pala kayong umuwi ng kaibigan ko?" Mula sa pinto ng bahay ko ay narinig ko na ang mala speaker na boses ni Nikolle. 

"Ang ingay mo! Ayaw mo non umuwi sila. Edi nay pasalubong. Tanga tang-" naputol ang sasabihin ni Zeihl ng tampalin ni Nikolle nag bunganga nito. Umupo ako sa pang-isahang upuan at pinagmasdan ang dalawang magbangayan habang nag-aagawan sa mga pasalubong. 

"Ava, Zanth. Kain namuna tayo bago kayo magpahinga." Junella offers. Zanth and I held hands as we entered the kitchen and sat down at the dinner table. All my friends' eyes are on us. But I ignored that because I was tired and hungry. 

"Wow, holding hands. Tingin ng label?" Nagkatinginan kami ni Zanth at sabay na natawa. "Wow, may label. Edi sanaol" nakangusong sabi ni Nikolle.

"Wala ka kasing jowa." pambubuysit ni Zeihl. 

"Pakyu. Manahimik ka, sasakalin kita."  umamba ng suntok si Nikolle pero hinawakan ni Cris ang kamao niya at inilagay don ang baso ng tubig.

"Kalma." ngumiti si Nikolle at masamang tinignan si Zeihl na bumibelat.