Hey! Iya! Are you fine?
"Gaga ka ba? Ano ka ba naman Sav! Kitang umiiyak ehh" I can't remember how I got these kind of friends. I don't know if coincidence lang or sinadya talaga na lahat ng nasa circle, we all have foreign bloods. But I don't care,all I know is that if ever I got problems again with my family, I can always run to them.
" Sorry. I was just like uhhhh..."Nag-away pa talaga sila sa harap ng umiiyak. I guess Cairhyll is just really too harsh to Sav. That's like the first question that comes out of your mouth right? When you see people hurting, tired or crying.
"Ano?" She's starting it again. Cairhyll is like the type of person who seems really frank, yeah funny and noisy too. She's the noisiest among us seven. But, I know she has her really big problems.
" Was I really insensitive? Sorry na nga dibah.." Sav was like nervous already about what she just said so I decided to interrupt.
"No, Sav. It's fine, really. Harsh lang to si Cairhyll" Their faces lit up when they saw me smile.
"Stop that na. Where's Ari and Zai naba?" Xia asked us after a few minutes of silence.
My attention was diverted to Avril and Cairhyll who were whispering to each other. Av was pushing Cairhyll to Savannah's direction.
" Go. Say it na nga", Avril whispered to Cairhyll while she's pushing her to Sav. Honestly, her whisper was so loud.
"Oo na. May kasalanan din naman ako. I admit it na" Then, Avril stopped pushing Cairhyll already. Cairhyll started heading to Sav who's still quiet up until now.
In cases like this, Avril can be compared to a guidance teacher who fixes fights between students. She really has the kindest and purest heart. She always stands on the right side. In other words, she fixes our fights in the group. Though, I never really saw her fuming mad.
" Sav, sorry na. I know na concerned ka lang kay Iya. Pero, di ko lang talaga napigilan ang sarili ko. You know I have weird principles. Ang tanga lang kasi ehhh, kita na umiiyak, tinatanong pa, ano yun acting? " Cairhyll was like hiding a smile. That's how she really is frank. But, I know she was just kidding. That's how they fix fights.
"You're hurting me more naman ehh. It's like you slapped me and then you said 'tanga mo'." She started crying na. I thought ako yung may problema?
" Why were you crying?" Xia inquired me. Here it is again, it's like when they ask me of what happened, my tears are ready to fall na naman.
" Xia, mamaya nalang kapag nandito na sila Ari at Zai. I think Iya needs more reflection. Sav and Cairhyll, since bati na kayong dalawa, kayo na ang bumili ng food at ingredients dahil padating na ang cook . Pagod ako," Avril was referring to Ari. Ari, Zai, Avril, and Cairyll know how to cook. At least, I know how to cook rice, hotdog, boiled egg, noodles, bacon and spam. The models, Xia and Savannah know definitely nothing.
"Pagod ako ehhh. Bakit pagbati na ba dapat pagsamahin pagkatapos? Halas magkadikit na nga kami ni Sav ehhh," Cairhyll tried to stop the orders of Avril. Then, she acted like she's sticking to Sav. I laughed at Savannah's face. Then, Cairhyll turned to my direction.
"Hala! Tumatawa ka na pala? Akala ko may problema ka?" She's so bad. I was really trying to forget my problem.
" Uyyyyy....tawa na yan. But, share mo pa din problem mo samin mamaya. We'll listen," Xia said.
" Let's go na nga! Stop it Rhyll!" Cairhyll started sticking again to her.
" May lubid ka ba dito sa condo mo Xia? " Cairhyll asked Xia but she did not stop sticking to Sav.
" Bakit? "
"Itali mo kami ni Sav. Pupunta kami sa convenience store nang nakaganito. Masaya kasi."
"WHAT?! HEY! Don't!" Sav ranted.
"Stop that na nga Rhyll. Bumili na kayo ng makakain. Gutom na ako," Avril interrupted na.
Then the two went outside, I heard pa nga Cairhyll muttered "KJ."
"Hey! Where are you two na ba? " Xia is talking to Ari on the phone. She pressed loudspeaker after.
" Bakit? Bili pa ko ng makakain. Di ako makapag-aral kapag walang kinakain," Ari calmly replied not knowing that we waited for her for almost three hours.
"How about Zai? You two are together diba? You answered the call," Xia looks confused now. She looked at her phone to check if she called the right person.
"I guess, she is still scared of paying in the counter or cashier in a unknown reason, " I told her.
"She is in the counter, talking to the cashier," Ari spoke again.
"Yeah. I understand now. You better hurry, Iya got some problem to share. Let's lend her some shoulder and ears. Bye," Then Xia immediately ended the call.
I stood to help Avril prepare the table. I went to the kitchen after and I washed the fruits and vegetables Avril asked me to wash for the salad.
"Iya, kindly get the mayonnaise inside the ref. Thanks," So, I did what she said.
"Zai texted me that they're on their way here," She showed us her phone and she went back to the living room.
After a few more minutes, we heard approaching voices.
" Grabeh ka Ari! Paano pag walang stock sa mall? Hala! Baka ikaw pa umubos. Kawawa yung mga bata!!!Bata ka pa pala?" Cairhyll opened the door while still bursting out in laughter.
" Shut up. It's just that I don't know why I can't study without food. I'm scared I would end up sleeping instead," Aria reasoned out, looking a bit pissed right now.
"Mag music ka nalang kaya? Yung rock para di ka makatulog ,"Cairhyll argued.
"I can't focus ,"Aria replied.
"Exercise habang nagbabasa?" Cairhyll tried to suggest a new method of studying.
"That's weird. But, I know someone who does that!"
"Sino?" Cairhyll looked like she would burst out to laughter again because of weird studying methods.
"Tigilan mo na yan si Ari, Rhyll. Siya magluluto ngayon. Baka di ka bigyan, " Cairhyll immediately went quiet after what Zai said not until Aria answered her question a while ago. Ari pointed her finger at Zai who is heading the kitchen. Then, Cairhyll laughed really loud.
Zai went back to the living room, wondering why Cairhyll was laughing really loud.
" You! Hahahahaha! Really? You study-" Cairhyll can hardly talk because she is laughing so hard.
"What?" Zai is standing with her questioning look and waiting for Cairhyll to stop laughing so she can say her concern about her.
" You-hahahaha! Study haahahah!" Cairhyll still can't stop laughing.
" Say it properly, Rhyll," Zai tried to help Cairhyll who's really red because of laughter.
"Okay, here. You exercise and study at the same time?" She finally managed to say it.
"Yeah. You have a problem with that?" Her face still barely showing emotions.
I realized that Aria wasn't with us anymore when I smelled food. She already cooked pala. She left us while the two were busy talking about studying methods. Nagutom ako bigla dahil alam kong masarap magluto si Ari.
" Girls! Let's eat na! Handa na ang pagkain! " Avril shouted from the dining room.
We seated and they asked me to lead the prayer to bless the food because it's my turn. We started eating quietly after.
" Rhyl, tahimik mo ata," I asked Cairhyll who was looking somewhere behind me.
" I'm thinking," She simply replied.
"Luhhhhh....Nag- english. Seryoso ata iniisip mo?" Avril tried to ask her.
"Yeah. You speak English when you're serious," Savannah agreed to Av.
" How can you two do it?" Cairhyll suddenly asked, pointing her fingers to Aria and Zaianne.
"Do what?", Zaianne asked back.
" Ganito. Share ko lang. Na-shock ako kanina kasi umamin si Ari na totoong di siya nakakapag-aral pag walang pagkain. Tas, sabi pa niya si Zai daw di nag- aaral pag di walang exercise. Eh, panu yon? Pag nag jogging tong si Zai, umaalog yung notebook niya. Paano niya babasahin kung anong nakasulat doon?" Cairhyll looked so confused and worried for the studying habits of the cousins.
" Weird," I heard Sav and Xia muttered.
" I don't know. I guess yung sabi ko kanina sayo. Feeling ko makakatulog ako kung di ako kumakain habang nag-aaral," Ari answered first.
" I find it relaxing, simple as that. Then, di rin ako nakakatulog habang nag-aaral," Zai answered next.
" Diba mahirap magbasa pag gumagalaw?" Cairhyll asked again.
"I got used to it "
"Okay, " Cairhyll just said even if she still looks bewildered about the weird habits.
" I'll wash the dishes since I did not help you in cooking. " Xia volunteered. This is mostly the scenario after eating, salitan lang sina Aria, Zaianne, Avril and Cairhyll sa pagluluto. I always end up cleaning the table and sweeping the floor. Then, either si Sav or Xia ang naghuhugas ng pinggan. Sometimes, they help each other.
"I'll help," Sav offered.
I finished first and went to Ari, Zai, Av, and Rhyl who were busy trying to choose for the genre of the movie we are gonna watch. Mas mahirap yata para sa kanila ang pumili ng genre kaysa sa movie itself.
Tamang-tama na after we chose the movie, dumating na yung dalawang naghugas ng pinggan.
" Mas madali pag we're marami, " Xia told us.
Savannah seated between me and Cairhyll while Chrixia chose to sit between Cairhyll and Avril. The cousins, Aria and Zaianne are lying on the floor.
We watched three movies already and we also ate the food Zai and Ari brought. I told them that we better wash ourselves already because it's already 12: 51 a.m.
We finished brushing our teeth and other's are already ending their skin care routines. On the other hand, Avril and I were left because we are still about to start.
" Zariyah Ramirez, " She stated while washing off the foam in her face.
"Yeah? Why?" I asked while doing the same.
" You ready already?" She asked me.
"About what?" I asked back.
" Sharing your problems. You cried in front of us when you arrived. You can't deny that you have problems," Avril said. I always admire her for being kind and brave at the same time. But sometimes, I'm worried people would tend to abuse her kindness.
I almost forgot about that. Thanks to my friends.
"Yeah. Later, maybe. Before, we doze to sleep," I answered her.
"Family?"
"As usual"
We stayed in Xia's room since we're gonna spend the night here or shall I say dawn. Xia prepaed our pillows and blankets. Her bed is huge so Savannah, Avril and I can sleep with her in the bed. Aria decided to sleep on the sofa while Zaianne and Cairhyll will sleep on the mats.
"So Zariyah, spill it," Avril started the conversation.
"We'll listen, " Aria agreed. So, I decided that I will restrain myself from crying because I realized I have been stressing out and crying because of a family problem again.
"I overheard them talking again. Dad was so disappointed with my grades. But, I guess they were already high, right? Can't make them the highest possible grade though, 'coz I'm not perfect. I have flaws, I have mistakes. I just hope they would know that,"
"Contiue, Iya. We're still up," Zai went to the bed and sat beside me. The other girls also followed. They formed a circle around me.
"I can be good under pressure but not at all times. It's just that-" I stopped and sighed heavily, trying to stop my tears from streaming down.
"It's just that I don't understand why is it only me. How about my sister? She graduated but Dad never talked to her about work. He is even hell yeah ready to spend billions just for my sister's wishes and vacations. I don't know but he should also show me he loves me, right? I'm still his child. Even if he doesn't love Mom, it wouldn't change the fact that I'm her daughter,"
"I know they married for pure business only, with no love at all. But, does he really loathe me? He is willing to let me take over the Ramirez Hospitals just so that he can prove I don't got skill at all, that I will be the cause of the downfall of our family business. His words were like daggers in my heart, it made me doubt myself, my own skills and knowledge, " Now, I don't care if I look ugly because of the tears falling on my cheeks. What's important is that I can let this all out.
"He's my dad. I always see him as one. I talk to him with respect and obey his orders even if I'm hurting. I never complained. Before, I always say to myself. I guess, it wasn't enough. Prove yourself harder. There's always a next time,"
"But, now? I already realized. It's also tiring,"
"Shhhhhh.... we all go tired,"Sav said.
"The problem is not with you, " Ari is combing my hair to comfort me.
"It's him. He can't see what you are,"Zai stated.
"You've proven yourself enough, Zariyah," Then, they all comforted me.
They all agreed to give me a group hug so they did. I am really grateful right now, I have these friends. They never left me. I can't wish for more.
"Thank you. Let's sleep now," I told them.
"I'm tired. The chase to proving myself is exhausting," I whispered.
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#ForeverYours #ForeignGirls1