"And don't force yourself too much, okay?" Doc Liyanna adviced me. I smiled at her and nodded. "Okay, that's all. Congrats on getting discharged." I mouthed her a thank you before joining the rest of the group.
It has been a week and a half since that accident happened. It was complicated. I missed our semester's finals and it sucks, totally.
Andami kong nireview and I got news from my mom na I'll just do the examinations somewhere around the sem break. Speaking of semestral break, they connected it to our winter break so there wouldn't be much of a hassle.
Pagbalik namin ay second sem na during January something when we come back to school. I heaved off a sigh before taking a bag with me kaso before I could do so, Aljon interfered in the action. "Ate, akin na yan." Saad nito habang kinukuha sakin yung bag.
"Wow, anong nakain mo?" I teased, laughing at his reaction. "Edi wag, ikaw na nga 'tong tinutulungan." He whined but still continue to take the bag away from me.
I giggled at his action and placed my arm over his neck. "Kung alam ko lang nagpapasikat ka lang kay Eliot diyan eh." I teased him even more that made him snap back at me.
"Hakdog." Tanging sagot nito sakin pero I heard him muttered the next thing to himself. I was shock for quite a bit pero I just smiled. "Pwede na rin." This kid.
Walking towards my mom who's currently with Eliot happily talking to each other while carrying the other bags. I joined.
"Naku, yang anak kong iyan? Pasaway talaga yan."
"Oo, Eliot. Sakit sa ulo yang si Aljon."
"Tama yang panganay ko. Ako na nahingi ng paumahin."
"Mhm. Tas kapag gumawa nang kalokohan, wag kang mahihiyang sapukin yan anytime, anywhere." Sabi ko pa dito na mukhang narinig naman ni Aljon na nasa unahin namin na naglalakad.
"Mama, si ate. Tinuturuan si Eli nang kabalastugan." Sumbong nito sa ina na kinampihan naman ako. Hah. Saya maging panganay.
"Hindi, tama lang yang ate mo 'no? Don't hesitate, anak." Mama smiled at Eliot na ngayo'y namumula ang pisngi. She called him anak.
Lumapit naman ako sa kapatid ko na ngiting-ngiti. Siniko ko naman ito at binigyan nang isang mala-ngiting aso. "Musta? Legal na kayo sa pamilya, kapatid. Congrats." Saad ko dito habang natawa.
Inirapan naman niya ako na iniling-iling pa ang ulo. "Alam mo, ate. Buhatin mo na lang 'to. Kanina ka pa." Ang bigla naman niyang bigay sakin ng isang bag na kaagad namang pinagalitan ni mama.
Dinilaan ko naman ito na walang nagawa kundi ang mag bitbit ng mga bag. Habang pababa na kami papunta sa parking lot, napansin ko naman si Fraizer na kanina pa ding nagbibitbit ng gamit papunta sa sasakyan niya.
I was staring at him intently pero he never even tried giving back a glance. Simula nung err...halik. Ugh, fuck. Yeah, that. He started avoiding me when in fact andaming katanungan sa isip ko.
First, the "I missed you." echos niya. Then the next thing I knew was he was alreading giving me a kiss in a blink of an eye.
Remembering all of those made my cheeks heat up both because of frustration and the...lips. "Ah." An air escaped from my mouth from me remembering the kiss that happened last Monday. I mean, why would he kiss me out of nowhere? Was he fucking drunk? What's up with that? Urgh.
I'm not angry, just a bit annoyed, I guess? Why? As simple as he took my first kiss! Damn it. I was expecting my first kiss to be something romantic and all and well, you know? Coming from someone I love, ew, cringe, but yeah.
And despite that, a part of me, liked it.
I liked it.
Oh, bloody hell. What was I thinking just now? Nagustuhan ko yun? I mean, he is a good—no, great kisser. Even just a peck made me feel like I was on cloud nine, in fact, not even a tiny bit in my body hated it.
God knows how frustrated I was that ever since monday. Oh, how I hated mondays. I never actually liked monday. Who likes mondays anyways? It was awful. Monday mornings are just way too awful for me.
Except that one certain Monday. Ah, whatever. I don't even know what I was saying anymore. The drug must've gotten into me. Yeah, it must be the drug. The drug.
The drug that made a loud thud. Ouch. I hitted my face with something. Was I wandering off for a long time now? Gosh, that hurts. I looked up to see what or rather who I've bumped into.
And good Lord, it was the least person I'd want to initiate myself into. Before our eyes could meet, I already turned away going to the back of his BMW but sadly, it was already full.
"Puno na dito. Dun ka sa unahan." Taboy sakin ni Aljon na pinanlakihan ko ng mata. Tinignan ko naman si mama with my pleading eyes pero she was busy talking with Eliot.
Mama. Paano ako? I am way too young to die. Ayoko sa unahan. "Ate, upo na. Aalis na." Sambit pa ulit nito habang umupo na si Fraizer sa driver's seat.
I tried giving him a sign na palit kami ng pwesto pero dahil sa bobo nga pala 'tong kapatid ko and is way too whipped for Eliot, hindi niya ako napansin.
It left me no choice but to sit in the front, right next to him. I tried not giving him a glance every now and then hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay.
Pero I can't. I was way too cautious and alert with his movements. Just by simply shifting the steering wheel is making me anxious. Mas lalong hindi pa nakakatulong yung traffic.
Gahd. Bakit ang bagal ng oras ngayon? Ganto ba talaga kabagal ang oras? Ba't ang bagal naman ata masyado? Hala? I went back into reality when I felt someone looking at me.
My gaze went to the rear mirror where he was staring at me for how Peter knows long. Iniwas din naman niya kaagad ang mata niya nung nakita ko siyang nakatitig sakin.
Our eyes met. After how many days, our eyes finally met. Not really but still. I heaved off a sigh once again before closing my eyes wishing that everything would come back to place again.
No kiss. No gun. No nothing. No. Nothing. Pero nang malapit na akong makatulog bigla ko na namang naalala yung mga nangyari, I got startled by the thought that's why I couldn't sleep in the end.
It was one hell of a ride I tell you.
After a long ass ride, nakarating na din kami ng bahay. The guys helped my mom to put the bags away and alot of stuff. While we were on that matter, bigla namang dumating si Kuya Simon sa bahay, hugging me tightly.
"Pamangkin ko, buhay ka pa." He told me jokingly. Giving back the hug, I responded, "Aba syempre, mana sayo, kuya." I said and we laughed.
He looked at the two handsome boys, I mean, they were standing out. Kahit saan sila magpunta, they always stand out. Starting from their clothes to their faces. They were the definition of perfect.
"Eliot and Fraizer Zackermore?" He spilled. My eyes widened at him. "You know them?" I asked him. Even they were shocked to know that he knows them. Except for Eliot. He was rather giving him a confused look.
He looked at us back and forth before laughing, nervously. "Um, who wouldn't? Anak lang naman sila ng isa sa pinakamayaman dito sa Pinas." He scoffed.
Kuya Simon gave them a hand asking for a handshake then introducing himself. "Simon Cruz pero you can call me Sy." He said and shook hands with Frei.
Pero pagdating kay Eliot, he hesitated for a little bit. Not letting go of my uncle's hand. I was getting curious but Aljon on the other was getting annoyed. Talk about jealous—
"Muel? Symuel?" Eliot then blurted out of nowhere. He knows him? After forgetting about it, here comes Eliot rushing in like a train. I looked at Kuya Simon's face pero he looks calm. Ako? I was shock to hear the name.
"Sorry." Eliot said, removing his hands away from his. "It was someone I used to see in our company. You look like him and yeah." Then said sorry once again.
Symuel? Yun na yun? Who is that guy anyway? As the tension gets thicker and thicker between all of us, bigla namang sumulpot si mama na galing kusina. Inviting everyone to eat, Fraizer tried to decline pero di pinalampas ni mama.
"No. Kumain kayo. Utos ko." Wala na. My mom dropped off the magic word. She told them deadly and the two brothers looked at each other before giving in.
"Sorry for our intrusion then." Fraizer said. Sus, humble pa. Hindi ka humble. Huwag ako. Lokohin mo na lahat wag lang ako.
My mom snorted at him and waved off the spatula. "Intrusion? Nah. You're always welcome at our home, sweety." She said sweetly at them before finishing the preparations.
Umupo si mama dun sa may kabisera (kung alam niyo man yun) at si Kuya Sy sa kabilang dulo. Aljon went seating beside with Eliot habang ako ay stuck na naman dito. There was a space between the two of us but it wasn't enough to hide how my breathe hitched when he sat beside me. I got jinxed.
We prayed before digging onto our afternoon meal. At some point it was peaceful and at some point it's not, lalo na kapag nagkakadikit balat namin sa pagkuha ng mga pagkain.
Kuya Sy and mama started asking questions and they also started making a small conversation. It was peaceful. Hanggang sa matapos kaming kumain, I voluntereed to wash the dished and Fraizer decided to help. Of all places.
I tried rejecting the offer pero before I could ask Aljon for help, wala na siya. He was already upstairs with his boyfriend, Eliot. Though he keeps on denying it but whatever. I don't mind.
It was awkward between the two of us. It was silent at the least and it's not making it comfortable, for me atleast. Si mama at si Kuya Sy ay naguusap naman ng kung ano man yun sa labas ng bahay. Si Aljon kasama si Eliot sa loob ng kwarto niya doing something I don't even wanna know and here I am, stuck again with this dude.
Ako yung naghuhugas habang siya yung nagtutuyo at nilalagay sa strainer. Oo, basta yun. It's driving me crazy. I want to break the silence between the two of us but it was already awkward as hell. And siya? SIYA? Mukhang walang pake. Ewan ko kung anong iniisip nito. I never got to read him by any chance. Who is Fraizer Hanz Zackermore anyways?
The dripping of water and clanging of the plates was the only thing you can hear. Yun lang hanggang sa matapos yung session naming yun.
The two went back eventually after a whole 15 minutes, or something. Nagpaalam na ito kay mama. And I was instructed to court them outside. Bakit? Dahil ako lang naman daw dahilan kung bakit sila hindi nakauwi sa mga bahay nila. Did I ask them to? Char. I was thankful at the least.
Any moment now, bigla namang lumabas si Aljon ng bahay para ihatid daw sa labas si Eliot na mukhang ilang minuto na lang ay masasapak na ang kapatid ko. I smiled at them.
Hindi na ako nagabala pa at pumasok na din ng bahay. That was a long ass shit.
Going up to my room, humilata naman agad ako saktong pagpasok ko dito. My mind is full with a lot of stuff. And the kiss. Buiset. I just somehow can't take it out of my mind. Why? Maybe it was the first time that happened? Or maybe I was left with alot of unanswered questions? I don't know anymore. I'm sleeping. Fuck, problems. Fuck, overthinking. I'mma sleep.
Three weeks and half had passed by and it's currently December 19 already. Magaling na ako. Lalo na sugat ko. So, I've decided to take the test tomorrow. Yun naman talaga scheduled date for everyone who missed the Finals. Yep, their minds changed after announcing na we can take the exam anytime we want. Lol.
I was memorizing some stuff that I was forced to memorize because of school. Then a knock of two on my door before opening it. It was mama. May hawak-hawak itong plato na may pagkain at milk. I smiled.
"Ma, thanks. Pero why the milk? I ain't a kid anymore." I protested at her letting out a giggle.
"Hindi na ba? But you'll always be a baby to me. Kayo ni Aljon. Lalo na si Aljon." Sabi niya sakin. Oh, damn right. That stupid little brother of mine. He sure is a big baby.
"Matulog kang maaga, huwag kang masyadong magpakapuyat." She adviced before kissing my forehead and walking out of the room. My gaze followed her as she disappeared as she closes the door.
Tinignan ko yung orasan and wow, it was already 10 in the evening. Tinapos ko muna 'tong sauluhin bago lamunin yung binigay ni mama and then I slept.
By the time I knew it, it was already time for my exams. Talk about monday morning once again. Char. It was rather a saturday morning. I bid goodbye to my fam before walking out to school. Not really walking walking, but like, I went to school. Ah, basta. The author is writing this at somewhere around 1 in the morning, bangag na yun, she doesn't know what she's typing anymore, forgive her.
They gathered everyone first before starting the exams. Mamaya pa siyang 9:30 magsisimula. This day would just be us taking the awful exams. Yeah, sa isang araw bugbog kami. Kaya don't do what I did.
Seating at my usual seat, may bigla namang dumating. It was Aedrielle. I smiled at her and she gave back the smile. She hugged me soon after asking about my condition, how the rumors spread like wildfire. Shet, mama, sikat na ako.
Then it was my turn to ask her. "Ikaw? Bakit ngayon ka lang mageexam?"
Bumuntong hininga naman ito bago ngumiti at humarap sakin. "Something happened during Tuesday and I couldn't make it to school. Kaya I'm taking half the test for this day." My lips formed an O-shaped as I heard her answer.
Then next was Fraizer. Yes, the one and only Fraizer. He threw us a glance and went to his seat and slept. Yes, like he slept slept. Psh.
Then I saw how she fidgeted with her hands as if like there's something she wants to tell me. Kaya I asked her if there's something wrong and she gave me an honest answer nonetheless.
"I'm transferring this second semester." My jaw dropped as per hearing the news.
"You are?" I asked but only a nod was the only thing I got as an answer. My shoulders fell. Pero isa pa naman siya na tinuturing kong kaibigan in this school. It's probably the bullying fucking hell.
The bell chimed as a signal para itake na namin yung exam. It was just the three of us inside the room. I didn't really cared. I just answered.
But that was before lunch came. Tapos na yung kalhating exams niya and now, it's just me and Fraizer left in the room.
Taking the exams.
Just us.
Me and him.
Holy fuck.
The ticking of the clock didn't help. It was driving me crazy. Three more hours and I'm done. Now, thinking about it. Wala na kaming naging koneksyon pagkatapos lahat ng iyon.
But I miss him though.
Hmph. Don't tell me he's going to continue ignoring me until the end of the school year? No. I don't want that to happen. Just no. I didn't like that idea of mine. I miss fighting with him. Being at each other's throat. Those times.
Time flew by very quick. The exams was already done and now we're heading back home. He was fixing his things and so was I.
Following him was something I've never thought I'll do but here I am, doing it like a dog leached onto his owner. I can't help it. I called for his name. "Frei!" Nickname rather. Wow, how long did I stopped saying his name?
Aljon was always on his phone talking to his younger brother and me? No updates about this guy. Kahit na nasa akin yung phone number niya. Lahat ng information or paraan para ma-contact siya, wala. I tried texting and calling him pero I always end chickening up.
His heel turned at my direction and shock was evident from his face. I went nearer to him and it was already freezing cold outside. So, I'mma make this quick. I'll try.
I looked at his eyes up above me and they were piercing through mine. "Hey." I muttered at him and he smiled and rather giving back a greeting after how many weeks or probably a month we didn't get to see each other he said,
"You're not mad at me anymore?"
And it was my turn to get shock. My brows furrowed at what he said. "What? Me mad? To whom? At you?" I cleared and he nodded.
"Hell no! I wasn't even mad at you. When did I got mad at you?" What is this misunderstanding?
"You're not mad?"
"No. I was never mad at you except those days when we were at school but I wasn't mad. Just quite annoyed at you at some point."
"Really?"
"Really really." I cleared. And silence fell onto us again. Is this the reason why he was ignoring me for weeks now? He thought I was mad? Fucking hell no.
He brushed through his hair which I just realized that gotten had much more longer since the last time I saw him. It kinda suits him.
"Not even after the..."
"The kiss?" I bluntly asked him.
"Y-Yeah?" He answered na medyo naiilang sa sobrang pagkaprangka ko.
"No."
"No?" He snapped back at me. "Hindi ka galit? Did you liked it?"
"What? No." Yes. Ah, who am I kidding. Of course, I liked it.
"Really now?" Getting cocky he retorted back at me which I just rolled my eyes at for like 360 degrees.
I hesitated for a bit. Biting my bottom lip and looking down, I answered him, "I don't know."
And there it goes folks, the silence and the wind surrounding us once again. I heard him laughed sarcastically which made me look back up. His fingers running through his black locks.
"All this time, I thought you were mad at me. I even distanced myself to you. Fuck." He scoffed under his breathe. He looked at me and in a blink of an eye he pulled me by waist closing the distance between us. He hugged me for heaven's sake. He hugged me.
Fraizer Hanz Zackermore hugged me.
"I missed you." I hitched. There is it again. That weird feeling in my stomach and my heart going rampage. I'm not stupid to not know what's happening but rather I'm just scared to admit it. To admit that.
I didn't what to do and just hugged him back. "Yeah. Me too." I said burying my face onto his chest.
After a couple of minutes we released each other. I could feel my face getting all flushed up. Ah, I must've lost my mind. How great. It's probably all the coldness surrounding us. Yeah, it's the cold making me all flustered.
"Hey," He called for me attention. "The gang and I are going to a trip. Xerna and other of your friends are going too."
"So?"
"Sooooo, I'm inviting you, ewan ko lang kay tita kung papayag siya, I mean after what had happened—" I cutted him off. What did he meant by trip?
"To where exactly?"
"The beach." The beach?!
"The wha–? In this cold weather? Ayos lang kayo? Hindi kayo nilalamig? It's December."
"Yeah. And we're in the Philippines. Mainit parin kahit December na." He said and laughed. I guess he does have a point, we are near the equator.
Do I have a choice? Been locked up inside the house for ages now. Might as well go, minsan lang naman. Before blowing a sigh, I smiled afterwards and said, "Sure. I'll go."