"...and then dun lang nahanap ni Kale si Thumbelina." At last natapos din ang haba-habang kwento ni Elisse tungkol sa adventure nila ngayong araw. Indeed, lahat kami had different stories to tell but unlike theirs, yung story ko ang pinakaayaw kung pag-usapan.
Ah! I still remember how those slender fingers of Cody caressed my extremities as his lips gently pecked the back of my hand. POOOF!!!! I suddenly put my hands on my cheeks as my head burst with white steams. Bigla akong namula.
Maam Rose and Elisse puzzledly gazed at me. Their unperturbed faces quickly bid for riposte as they curved their lips up like for a second, they knew what I was thinking.
"Eh!!" Hinampas ako ng unan ni Elisse. She doesn't want to hide the fact that she was jealous of me. Yaks!!! Hahaha. Ang kapal ng mukha ko ah. Not really. Although, Cody and I were just leniently teasing each other, all of them intuitively believed that kami talaga ni Cody. Well, to think that we even made it official to them na kami, though it was total lie.
Critical-hit ako sa mukha nang hinampas ako ni Elisse ng unan saka ako napahiga. Hindi naman masakit. I suddenly shook my head when I was dragged into reality. Napatingin ako kay Elisse.
"Nakakainggit ka talaga. Sana ganyan din sakin Kale." She furrowed her thin yet dark eyebrows as she hit me with another cotton pillow.
Nashock ako sa sinabi niya. I quickly gaped at her eyes and it was really deep. Not literally deep. Indeed, yung jealousy sa kanyang mukha, kitang-kita. Yeah, I agree with her. Yaks! But kidding aside.
Although always ko silang nakikita magkakasama, never ko pa nakitang maging sweet si Kale kay Elisse. Well, although I know, there's no sila but kahit man lang maliliit na gestures from Kale, I saw nothing. Hindi naman sa pagjujudge kay Kale.
And to tell you the truth, rather than being sweet with her, napapansin kong pang mas nagwoworry siya kay Joshua. Yeah, I must say, they both consider themselves brothers, but I can't hide the fact that mas nakakaawang tingnan si Elisse.
I already know that she already confessed to Kale, and she was even rejected. Not really a rejection, but it was implied. He uncertainly said that he wasn't thinking of having relationship this time. So, Elisse waited. And she always drag herself wherever Kale is. Tyaka hindi naman nagagalit si Kale kapag nagkaclutch si Elisse sa braso, and I know, that made Elisse to assume.
Natawa si Maam sa sinabi ni Elisse. She quickly strode towards Elisse while her red silky hair bounced made her really beautiful matching her eyeglasses.
"There, there." She patted her back as though she was jokingly comforting her. She easely laughed.
"Eh!!!" Elisse immaturely squeled swiftly gazing towards Maam as she lifted the pillow then BANG! She huffishly laughed as she saw Maam stumbled on the tile while hysterically chortling. They were unbelievably loud.
I quickly looked out the window. It was already dark that the sounds of crickets brought tranquils on all corners of the resort. Dun ko narinig yung distant chatters of the busy tourists and howling car engines on farther town center.
"Sshh!" Unconsciously pinatahimik ko sila. Well, dun kasi sa boarding house nila kuya lagi kaming napagsasabihan. Although dito ang katabi namin na room ay sina Ken and Arvin, yung sunod na room sa ibang tao na.
Both them quickly put there hands on their mouth. Nablink si Maam and she soflty waved her.
"Relax. Soundproof to. Nu ba." As she made an insulting laugh.
The first day was really tiring and hindi kami bumaba para sa labas kumain. We just called the hotel clerk para mag serve ng dinner para samin. Akala ko nga kami lang, but all of us pala ganun din ang naisip. After the dinner I just laid on my bed saka ko tiningnan ang ceiling. Maam and Elisse were actually standing beside the window, saka nag-uusap then maya-maya both of them will laugh ng sobrang lakas. Looks like pinagtsitsismisan nila ang mga nasa labas.
Biglang bumigat ang mga mata ko. I felt really sleepy. I slowly cuddled on the pillow saka nag curl. I closed my eyes as my head went blank. Hindi ko muna inisip kung ano mga gagawin ko.
"Bea." Soft voice lurked on to my ears saka ko bigla ibinukas mga mata ko. Sudden light pinched my eyes, blurry place ang nakikita ko.
"Bea. Yung assignment mo." Sabi niya sakin. I was actually sitting next to the window. I saw my teacher na nasa unahan while all my classmate, nagmamadaling pumapasa ng mga notebooks. Tiningnan ko ulit siya.
Iblink twice as I realized the assignment I made last night with Kuya Henry. I quickly grabbed my bag beneath my table saka ko kinuha ang notebook kong Maria Flor De Luna ang front page and dali-daling inabot ang notebook sa lalaking nasa unahan.
He was smiling. My heart suddenly skipped a beat. Dun ko na malayang lumuluha na ako. I suddenly felt pain in my heart. Napalunok ako as I tried to speak.
"Si-sino ka?"
"Huh?" Tanong niya habang inilapit niya mukha niya sakin.
My eyes widened as cups of tears flowed out.
"C-Cody?"
The guys eyes suddenly widened as he gave me a very big smile.
"That's my brother. How do you know him?"
"Huh?" I stared at him blankly. Hindi ko nagets kung ano ang sinabi niya. His face, his lips, his hair. It really resembled Cody.
He was still smiling. Kinuha niya ang notebook sa kamay ko as he turn his back on me and said with a sad voice.
"Don't forget about me, my bestfriend."
Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. I tried to grabbed him but suddenly I felt a huge shock on my body.
"Bea! Are you okay?"
Napatingin ako sa kanila. Sina Elisse and Maam Rose.
"Are you dreaming?" Sabi ni Elisse.
Hindi ako nakasagot as I struggled to sit. Buhaghag na buhaghag ang buhok ko. Napatingin ako sa window. Our highness Sun already smiling before my eyes when someone suddenly knocked on our door. Binuksan to ni Maam Rose and nakita ko yung Trio Stars, sina Cody, Ken and Arvin.
Waah! They were so handsome. Katatapos ko palang nga maglaway but here in now mapapalaway na naman ako. Cody was wearing maroon shorts saka naka polo na nakaisang tiklop ang mangas. Bumagay masyado sa kanya since ayos ang body niya and maputi. Si Arvin was wearing pants saka naka polo while si Ken nakasuot ng jeans more like jeggings saka nakajacket na pink. Anlamig nga talaga sa loob since sagad maka-aircon.
Napatingin sakin si Ken as a hoarse laugh came.
"Oh, mukhang bakulaw pa ang prinsesa mo ah." Sabaw tikwil ng siko kay Cody.
Napatingin si Cody sakin as he smiled. Nanlaki bigla ang mata as I saw his cute face looking at me. Ibinaon ko agad ang mukha ko sa unan saka ko ibinato ang isang unan sa kanila.
"Eh! Labas!" Sabi ko.
Natawa si Ken.
"Don't worry. Plus points yan kay Cody."
Napakamot si Cody sa ulo niya. Haha. Sorry.
Pumasok si Arvin sa kwarto saka lumapit kay Maam Rose.
"Kumain ka na?" Arvin said as he caressed Maam's soft face.
Tumango naman si Maam.
"Mmh."
Bigla akong napatingin kay Maam.
"Eh!!!" Nabigla ako since ako nalang pala ang hindi kumakain.
Napatingin ako sa orasan. It was already 9:23 in the morning.
"Hahaha. Don't tell me hindi ka pa kumain." Tukso ni Ken.
"Haha." Natawa si Maam.
"Hindi pa yan eh. Ang himbing ng tulog para gisingin."
I quickly stood up saka tumakbo papuntang cabinet. Kinuha ko ang clothes ko and tumakbo papuntang cr. I quickly washed my body since nangangalam na ang sikmura ko. Binilisan ko ang pag bihis ko and quickly got out of the cr.
"Huh?" I circled my eyes sa room. Wala na sina Maam and Elisse. Dun ko nakita sina Ken na naghihintay sakin sa labas ng room. Lumabas din ako and Cody saw me.
"Let's go." He suddenly grabbed my arms saka niya ako kinaladkad.
"Huh? S-San tayo pupunta?" Sabi ko as my stomach rumbled. Napatingin si Cody sa tiyan ko saka napasmile.
Magbreakfast ka. Sabi niya in a commanding voice. Wala akong maisip since gutom na ako. I just paced up para hindi makaladkad ni Cody while head was thinking of what kind of food ang makakain ko.
+++ Third Person +++
Ken snatched his phone sa bulsa niya saka nagdial as Bea and Cody just went in the elevator. Napatingin si Arvin kay Ken.
"Hello?...Yeah...I would like you to reserve the restaurant to Cody. Serve them with your outmost credibility. I will break your neck kung magrereklamo sila sakin." Ken said those harsh words while smiling.
He was like a sweet little lamb that openly holds a knife. He was really nice, actually sa kanilang tatlo, Ken is the most hilarious. Lagi siyang nagjojoke, laging nakasmile. But that's the most scariest thing to him. Hindi mo alam kung galit siya o masaya. Mabibigla kana lang he was already threatening you while smiling.
Arvin heard what he said. Napakunot ang noo niya as he coldly looked at Ken. He clenched his fist as he also gritted his teeth.
"What do you think you're doing?" He glared at Ken.
Ken looked at him saka nagsmile as he bent his head sideward. Hindi siya sumagot. Arvin furrowed his eyebrows even more as he pinched his forehead. He made a long sigh as he cuddled his hand on his pocket and grabbed his phone.
"Hello? This is Arvin. I would like you to cancel yung reservation nina Cody. Just let them be. No special treatment." His dominant voice flowed as the phone froze because of iciness aura.
"Huh?" The voice on the phone said. Actually it was the manager of the restaurant who was standing sa may counter. His hands dripped cold sweats nung tumawag si Ken and now Arvin who was even more scary, told him telling him na i-cancel ang reservation? Hindi niya alam kung ano gagawin niya. Nanginig bigla ang tuhod niya saka naalala ang boses ni Ken. His hands shivered.
"B-but.. si-sir Arvin.. s-sabi po ni.."
"Just do as I say or else..." Arvin cut.
Kahit hindi tinapos ni Arvin ang sinabi niya, alam na alam na nang manager kung ano magiging kahihinatnan niya kung hindi niya susundin si Arvin.
"Y-yes po. S-sorry po." Yung phone na mismo ang nanginginig sa cold aura emitted by Arvin. He was the King of Coldness. Binaba agad ni Arvin ang phone when he heard the manager. He glared at Ken again.
"Hmm?" Ken bent his head while smiling as he dialed his phone for the second time.
"Mr. Simone." Ken smiled.
"Ipakita mo kay Manager Reyes yung kutsilyo ko, and he will know what it'll means." Sabi niya with a soft voice yet really deadly.
Kutsilyo?
Mr. Simone didn't waste anytime as he showed a silvery knife na nakalagay sa isang leather case with red pillow sa loob. Sa unang tingin palang kitang kita na sobrang talim ng kutsilyo as it shines with light strikes it. Naka carve yung pangalan ni Ken sa handle kaya alam agad kung kanino ang knife.
Biglang nanigas si Mr. Manager ng makita ang kutsilyo. Walang sinabi si Mr. Simone, he just went towards him saka ibinukas ang case. Napahawak si Mr. Manager sa leeg niya and nanlaki ang mga mata. Para siyang ma-i-stroke dahil sa nakita niya. Dun niya lang narealize na he's already done for. He's job is already done!
Hindi niya alam kung sino ang susundin niya. "Ano bang nangyayari?" He asked himself.
His feet just suddenly moved while shivering saka inutusan niya ang crew na ireserve ang place habang panay stutter ng boses. Nacurious nalang yung mga crew na makita ang kanilang manager ng ganun after a phone call and Mr. Simone showed up.
Arvin was really mad this time. But hindi siya kasing violent unlike the last time. He just stared at Ken. Kung nasa gitna kanila, you will feel killing yourself instead na tingnan sila. Arvin's aura was really cold na kapag tiningnan mo mismong mata mo ang maninigas and katawan mo ang manginginig.
While when you look at Ken, he was just smiling to you and you would feel really warm but kapag tinitigan mo siya ng matagal, you will find yourself in a deep abyss. Doon mo makikita ang grim reaper na nasa likod niya. And once you look his smile again, saka mo marerealize that it was an evil smirk.
"You-" Arvin was controlling himself as he raised his phone again.
"Secretary Kim." He said and continued as he didn't let Ken out of his sight.
Nang marinig ni Ken kung sino tinawagan ni Arvin, his smiling eyes widened and tuned into devilish glare towards Arvin.
"Call for an emergency meeting. Contact Mr. Aldens that he will present his report today." A very icy voice clanged on the phone.
"B-but Sir..."
"Just do it." He said while gazing Ken emotionless.
"Y-yes sir."
Saka niya ibinaba ang phone. The hallway turned in an ice cave already. The atmosphere was really petrifying na wala nang gustong dumaan sa kanila.
Ken smiled again together with his eyes. Wala nang matang nakikita sa kanya dahil sa smile niya. His dark glow almost swallowed the whole area na parang masusuffocate ang tao. He tapped on his phone saka idinikit sa tenga.
"Secretary Kim. "
First two words made Arvin really mad that gushes of icy winds flew towards Ken. The atmosphere became even worse. Arvin's stare was really deadly as if he could kill Ken in just a look.
Ken doesn't know how to give up.
"I will remind you that I'm on a leave. Please refrain making sudden business meetings. Hindi ako makakaattend." He said as a sudden grin came while he looked at Arvin. Nakita ito ni Arvin. He clenched his fist.
Secretary Kim's hand quivered. Well at least nakagalaw pa siya, because his entire body was frozen as he was sitting on his counter before Arvin's office. He just thought that magkasama sina Arvin and Ken for a vacation, may nangyari ba? Or they are just making a fun of me.
"B-but S-sir Ken. S-sir A-." Secretary Kim cut nang magsalita si Ken.
"You know, kasama ko siya. I already told him. He was just making fun of you." He gave Arvin a wink and saka dinilatan.
Biglang nanlambot ang buong katawan ni Secretary Kim as his whole body softly leaned on his chair saka siya napabuntong hininga. He was really tense for a minute there.
Actually Ken was really needed for the meeting. And as well as Cody. And they've already scheduled a clear date for the meeting and it was really unconventional if Arvin made an emergency call. It was actually an excuse para mapabalik si Cody.
Arvin stared at Ken as he stared back at him. Para silang nagstaring challenge but their aura was really nakakamatay. They were like Kings na nakaluklok sa trono as they only command their underlings. Arvin made a very long sigh as he scratched his head.
"I hope you do know what you're doing." He said and made a last glare towards Ken. Ken curved his lips as he strode towards Arvin whom turned his back at him.
"Relax, Arvin. You're so overprotected naman kay Cody." He said saka niya inakbayan si Arvin na papunta sa elevator. Arvin scowled at Ken.
Napatawa si Ken sabay nagsalita.
"Relax. Bea is not that bad." Tawa niya bigla.
Napabuntong-hininga nalang si Arvin saka pinindot ang button sa elevator.