Lincoln's Point of View
I close my eyes as i felt a fist punched me.
"what do you think you're doing?! huh?! coleman! you are my most trusted men's here in the Hive and you let this happen?!" Sir. Raymond said.
i don't know what to do anymore, i love her pero hindi ko naman inakalang ganito ang mangyayari
i close my eyes as i felt him punch again.
"ha!" napahiyaw ako at ramdam kong pawis na pawis ako.
Doon ko lang napagtanto na nanaginip pala ako.
Tila nabunutan ako ng tinik sa lalamunan ng dahil doon.
I thought it's real.
Today is the day, ngayon ko na sasabihin kay skyler ang lahat.
Na hindi niya ako kapatid, na kaming anim ay isa lamang employee ng Hive kung saan ang tatay niya ang boss.
I'm sorry brothers
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Its already 9 o'clock in the morning but i haven't washed my face yet.
Maybe 'cuz i still haven't decided yet.
Will i just say 'yes' to audrey's option or tell skyler the truth?
Remember i only have one day. One day.
-phone rings-
I bet it's audrey.
"Hello?" I ask as i hold the bridge of my nose.
"Lincoln.. our agreement, i'm just reminding you. You only have one day left, one day" sabi nito habang natatawa na hindi mo malaman.
Yeah one day left, dahil sa inis ay binabaan ko lang ito.
I cursed under my breath and harshly brushed my hair with my fingers.
I need to prepare myself.
I grabbed my towel and get inside the bathroom.
***
Skyler's Point of View
It's been a day pero wala pa ring nangyayari.
Ano bang balak ni Lincoln? Ganito na lang kami?
-phone vibrated-
I grabbed my phone and clicked the notification.
Unknown number: sup girl?
My brows furrowed as i read the message.
Who the heck is this? My number is classified, i wonder where or how did this guy get my number.
Skyler: uhmm.. who is this? And how did you get my number?
I replied as i brush my hair.
I unconsciously bit my lips when my phone vibrated again.
Unknown number: how sad, i'll call you then.
He/she replied, in just a second my phone vibrated.
I answered it and i heard a baritone voice.
My eyes dilated because of shock, it is a guy indeed.
I cleared my throat and speak,
"H-hello? Uhmm.. i'm sorry for disappointing you but i don't remember giving my number to someone-" i stopped when he cut me.
"Don't remember me? I'm the guy who's with you in the movies, the guy who made you smile when you're sad that day" he said.
I tried remembering.
My mind is a bit pre-occupied.
I gasped when i remembered him.
"Oh! I remember, you're?? Uhmm.. No- ahmm Noa... "
"It's Noah, hahaha" he said and laughed.
I blushed when i heard his laugh.
And for the second time, napangiti nanaman niya ako.
Nakakahawa talaga yung tawa niya.
"Yeah sorry my bad. Wala kasi akong maalala na may binigyan ako ng number ko. Hahaha" natatawa't nahihiyang sabi ko dito na narinig kong ikinasinghap niya.
"F-for real? Like are you serious? Ako pa lang yung lalaking binigyan mo ng number mo?" He ask.
I bet he's celebrating right now.
"Yep, hahaha. I'm sorry for not recognizing your message" i politely said as i lay down in my bed.
Maybe i'll just spend my time talking to Noah instead spending time thinking about Lincoln.
"C-can you go to my house?" I shyly asked.
I know it's too early but he's the first person na magiging kaibigan ko.
"W-what? You want me to go there? Is it okay? " he ask.
Well, actually bawal but ako na ang bahala.
"Yes, don't worry ako bahala. What do you think?" I ask him back.
Matapos ang ilang segundo na pag-iisip nito ay um-oo rin ito.
Napapalakpak ako sa tuwa at sinabi ang address ng bahay at sinabihan siyang i-txt na lang ako para masundo siya sa gate ng bahay.
I grab my towel and took a bath.
After taking a quick bath, pinili ko ang pinaka comfy na damit.
A casual spaghetti strap top and a short.
Sprayed some of my perfume.
Konting powder and tint na pinatungan ko ng lip gloss at sabay pout sa salamin.
I smiled while staring at the mirror.
I heard the doorbell kaya naman halos hindi ako magkaganda-ugaga na bumaba ng kwarto at tumatakbong pumunta sa gate ng bahay.
Pagbubuksan na sana ito ng maids pero naunahan ko na sila at sinabing ako na ang bahala.
Nang makaalis na ang mga ito ay pinagbuksan ko na si Noah.
My jaw dropped, a simple but good looking man showed in front of me.
He's wearing a simple V-neck shirt and an under armour short.
Walang salitang namutawi sa bibig ko kundi hangin.
He snapped me out of reality na ikinahiya ko.
I scratched my nape as i let him in the house foyer.
"Sorry, ngayon ko lang ulit nakita yung mukha mo" i said at inilahad ang kamay ko na halatang ikinalito nito.
He grabbed it and shaked them.
"Nice seeing you again" i said politely.
Nagulat naman ako nang halikan niya ang likod ng kamay ko.
-dug dug-dug dug- dug dug-
What is this?
"It's nice seeing you too skyler" he said at kumalas na sa pagkakahawak sa kamay ko.
Wala sa sariling nilagay ko sa likod ang kamay ko at palihim na hinihimas ito.
"S-shall we?" Tanong ko rito na ikinatango niya.
Nasa harap na kami ng pintuan pero tumigil muna ako sa paglalakad.
Sinenyasan ko muna siya na maghintay sandali at tumango naman ito.
Sumilip ako sa pintuan at nakita kong nagkakaguluhan yung lima kong kapatid, pero as usual wala si Lincoln malamang nasa kwarto lang 'yon nagkukulong.
Yung lima naman ibinaba yung laro nila.
Hay nako.
Napailing ako at ibinalik ang tingin kay Noah na nakangiti lamang at naghihintay.
"Tara na" aya ko at walang pakundangang binuksan ang dalawang pintuan na ikinatahimik ng lima kong kapatid sa kaguluhan nila.
Nginitian ko sila at hinila si Noah sa tabi ko.
"B-brothers this is my.. uhmm.. visitor, Noah" i introduce Noah to my brothers as i pull him inside the house.
Tila sumeryoso ang awra ng lima at nanahimik sa isang sulok ng sofa.
Pinatay naman ni Jake ang game console nito at umupo sa tabi ng apat habang titig na titig kay Noah.
Napatingin ako kay Noah nang kalbitin ako nito.
"A-ahhmm, skyler. I think mali yung pagpunta ko dito- what i mean is bakit ganyan sila kung makatingin sakin?" He awkwardly ask, as i took a glance at my brothers.
I snapped them out of reality at sabay-sabay naman silang tumitig sakin.
Pinanlakihan ko sila ng mata na ikinatino ng lima.
They forced a smile at Noah at bumalik na sa paglalaro.
"Nevermind them" i said and pulled him at the dining area.
Inutusan ko ang mga maid na magluto kanina kaya maraming nakahandang pagkain.
Kukunin ko pa lamang ang upuan pero naunahan niya na ako at hinila ito para sakin.
What a gentleman he is.
"Thank you" pasasalamat ko dito na ikinangiti niya na lamang.
"You know what Skyler, hindi ko expect na maghahanda ka pa ng ganito karami. So, thank you" i just nod at him at inaya na itong kumain.
As we eat, we chatted like we don't care. Nagtawanan at walang pakialam kung may makarinig man.
Napansin kong sumilip si Mark na ikinakaba ko.
May tagabantay 'tong si Lincoln.
Well, wala akong pakialam.
Nginitian ko lang si Noah at nakipagkwentuhan lamang dito.
***
Lincoln's Point of View
-knocking-
I stood up from sleeping when i heard a knock.
I don't feel well today, bakit ngayon pako nilagnat!
I hate myself.
As i open up the door i felt dizziness na ikinapikit ko ng sobra.
"Fuck" i curse as i hold the bridge of my nose.
"What is it?" I ask.
As i opened my eyes i saw Mark and the others at his back.
"Code black" he said na ikinakunot ng noo ko.
Code black? No way, not now.
"Guys, if this is a prank please, i'm not feeling well. So stop-" napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang makarinig ako ng tawa ng lalaki sa baba.
Wala sa sariling napakunot ako ng noo.
Who the fuck is that?
Mark just smiled at me na ikina-iling ko na lang.
"Code black indeed" i said at pinapasok na lang sila sa kwarto ko.
Walang buhay na humiga ako sa kama at itinakip ang braso ko sa mata ko.
"Hey Mark, hahayaan na lang ba natin yung Noah na 'yon?" Tanong ni Jake na ikinainis ko naman.
Pangalan pa lang ang panget na.
"Tell me, who is this Noah you're talking about?" I ask.
Samu't sari namang boses ang narinig ko.
"Stop! Guys naman, hindi ko kayo pinalaking ganyan. Isa-isa lang" sabi ko na ikinatigil nila.
"Noah, i bet he's the friend" William said.
"I bet he's just the classmate" jake said.
"Maybe he's just a random guy" james said na ikinailing ko lang.
"Maybe he's a fling?" Patanong naman na sabi ni Mark na ikinailing ko pa lalo.
"Grow up dudes, siya yung kasama ni Skyler na manood ng movie sa mall" sabi ni Jayson na ikinagulat ko.
Sa wakas may matino rin akong nakuhang sagot.
"Fuck, wala akong magagawa ngayon nilalagnat ako" sabi ko habang itinatalukbong sa mukha ko ang comforter ko.
Pano na yung pagkompronta ko kay Sky? Paano ko sasabihin lahat?
Narinig ko namang binabaan nila ang temperature ng air-con ko.
"Dude, may sakit ka pala bakit hindi mo man lang kami sinabihan?" William ask as he put he's palm at my forehead and in the neck after the forehead.
"Mainit ka nga" sabi nito.
Napatingin naman kami kay James nang pumitik ito sa hangin at tumingin sakin.
"I know what to do bro" he said.
Wala pa man ay napailing na ako sa gagawin namin.
--------
***
James's Point of View
"Skyler!" Sigaw ko mula sa hagdanan na ikinatayo nito mula sa sofa.
Tiningnan ko naman ng masama si Noah na ikinaiwas nito.
"It's Lincoln, he's having a high fever. Hurry up! Sobrang init niya ang we don't know what to do" sabi ko na ikinagulat niya.
I can see pain through her eyes and guilt.
***
Skyler's Point of View
"It's Lincoln, he's having a high fever. Hurry up! Sobrang init niya ang we don't know what to do" nag-aalalang sabi ni James na ikinagulat ko.
Lumukob sa loob ko ang takot at guilt nang sabihin ito ni James.
Lincoln's not feeling well and yet i'm trying to feel good with some guy.
"Wait for me" i said at nilapitan si Noah.
"Noah, i'm sorry but maybe we can continue this some other time. My older brother needs me so bad, he's not feeling well eh" i said na ikinasimangot niya pero tumango naman ito.
Matapos kong ihatid si Noah sa gate ay pumanhik na ako sa kwarto ni Lincoln kung saan nagkakaguluhan yung mga kapatid ko.
"What happened?" James ask as we walk in at Lincoln's room.
"Sobrang taas na ng lagnat niya" sabi ni William na ikinakaba ko ng sobra.
I shoved them like waves at lumapit kay Lincoln at kinapa ang noo at leeg nito.
He's hot indeed.
"H-hey" i lightly pat his cheeks
He tried to open his eyes but he can't.
God, ang init niya.
Naluluha na ako sa sitwasyon niya.
"C-can you guys leave us alone?" I ask them at narinig ko ang mga yabag nilang papaalis.
Nang makaalis ang mga ito ay kumuha ako nang basang bimpo at ipinatong sa noo ni Lincoln.
"D-don't" he shoved the damp cloath.
"H-hey you need it" i said pero hinawakan niya lang ang kamay ko at hinila ako pahiga sa tabi niya.
"H-hindi ba kapag may lagnat, k-kailangang pagpawisan?" He ask na ikinaisip ko naman.
Well, sabi ni mama noong bata ako kailangan ngang pagpawisan ang taong may lagnat.
Tumango naman ako sa sinabi nito na ikinangisi niya kahit pa naghihina na ito.
"Then make me sweat" he said na ikinagulat ko.
Make him sweat?
Those words just made me sweat either.
END OF CHAPTER 17