Chapter 16 - .15

Go Av! Go Rhyll!

We shouted when they entered the court. They have a game today. The whole week went fine after I told Gil about me and Daron. He's still treating me the same even after what I told him. This is actually the main reason why it's hard to just tell him that I wasn't interested with entering relationships.

"You fine?" Daron asked me. I nodded and smiled to assure him. He leaned closer to whisper something. " It's almost vacation," He whispered.

"The photoshoot?" I asked him. "We're traveling together. That will be our first time," He said, making me realize that it would really be hard to do our duties as medical students and models.

"No schedule yet?" I asked him so that I could manage my time during vacation. I promised na di ko papabayaan ang studies ko. Modeling won't be my priority. I can quit modeling if I have to.

"What did Tita A tell you?"

"Wala pa naman," I told him. We are whispering to each other because the noise inside the gymnasium is getting louder. He nodded and I listened to the cheers people have been shouting.

The game started well actually. Pero eventually, naging mainit din. Halos magkapareho lang yung scores nila palagi. If the other team scores, the other team will gain another score, too. I was so nervous for them. In the end, natalo sila Avril.

"Minamalas yata si Cairhyll," Zaianne teased.

"So ako yung malas sa team? Ha!" Cairhyll fired back. Si Zai talaga pag nasa mood mang-asar, wala yang pakialam kahit gusto pang matulog ng inaasar niya o kahit pagod na pagod na. That's exactly how Cairhyll looks.

"Defeat party!" Zai shouted.

Avril just laughed at the two of them while she tried to reach for her towel to wipe her sweat. I went to her and hugged her.

"Iyah, ang dumi ko," She complained. Alam ko namang sport tong dalawa. They know that in every game, sometimes you win and sometimes you get defeated.

"Congrats!" I told her. She smiled.

"Thank you," See? She didn't say 'bakit? talo naman kami, ah?'

"Zai! Nasaan yung pinsan mong si Aria Dae Ferguson?!" Cairhyll asked when she noticed that Aria is not anymore around.

"Pinauwi nila Tito," Zai said.

"Bakit? Di pinayagang gumala?" Cairhyll inquired.

"Ikaw yata yung dapat hindi payagang gumala kasi may nakakalamang na sa katalinuhan mo!" Cairhyll added.

"Di ko akalaing may makakalamang pa sayo Zai! Paano kaya siya nag-aaral? Di na natutulog?" Cairhyll continued talking.

"What's the name nga Chad Zael?" Zai's already glaring at Rhyll because she already sounded like she's teasing her. I also noticed the changes with Zai. Magaling nga lang siya magtago.

"Si Xia?" I asked to stop Cairhyll from annoying Zai.

"She has a very big problem," Sav answered. She's been so quiet.

"What problem?"

"She'd be engaged," Sav aswered.

"What?! Wala siyang sinasabing magpapakasal na siya! May nagugustuhan pala yun?" Cairhyll didn't get it. If Xia would be engaged to a man he loves, Sav should be happy when she'll announce the news. Instead, the look on her face is telling us that the engagement is the reason why Xia isn't going out today.

"When did she know?" I asked Sav.

"Anong when did she know malamang alam niya! Siya yung inofferan ng kasal dibah!" Cairhyll still didn't get it. Binatukan na siya ni Zai.

"Araayy ko naman! Zai!" She complained.

"Ilabas mo utak mo Rhyll," Zai told Cairhyll.

"Edi wala na akong utak? Paano na ako mag-iisip? Di na ako makaga-" Zai cut her off.

"She's not marrying the man he loves," Zai said.

"Oh shit! She's not marrying the man he loves," My gosh Cairhyll! Pinigilan ko lang talaga ang sarili kong masapo ang noo ko.

"Inulit mo lang yung sinabi ko Rhyll," Yeah right! Inulit niya lang sana alam niya.

"Yeah, I know," Naging seryoso na din yung isa. Nag-english ba naman.

"Sino? And bakit pumayag sila Tito?" I really wonder what the reason could be. I've known the parents of Xia and they have been good to her. It's hard to believe that they want their daughter to have a pragmatic marriage.

"Di ko pa alam. She doesn't know the person," Sav told us.

"What? Di niya kilala?" I told Sav. I can't believe they're allowing this!

"That's ridiculous!"

"Ano ba ang naisip nila Tito?"

"She tried to stop them but they won't listen. She's being locked in her room because Tito thought she's seeing another man," Sav worriedly said.

"Then let's help her! We have to wake the mind of Tito!" I hurriedly got my bag but Sav held my shoulder.

"Iyah, calm down. Okay? She doesn't want us to meddle with this one," Sav said.

"Calm down? Sav! She's marrying someone she doesn't love! She even doesn't know him!" I tried to change her mind.

"I tried, okay? But their guards didn't let me in," Sav shared.

"Tito warned me, Iyah. He said...that,"

"Said what, Sav?"

"He'll make us leave Xia if we meddle with this issue," She answered. No one wants that.

"Are there no other ways?" I asked her.

"Iyah, please...We've known Tito to be kind to us but we don't know what could he do," Sav stated. Yeah, that's true. Mabait ang parents ni Xia. That's the main reason kung bakit di ako makapaniwala sa ginagawa nila. They cared for her so much.

"I hope the man is a good man," Avril said.

"Sa tingin ko naman, if tito really cared for Xia. I mean is what he showed us was real care, di niya hahayaang mapunta lang si Xia sa isang tao na di makakabuti sa kanya," Zai added.

"Even if it's all for the sake of business," I hope they would really work. I don't want them to be like my parents or worse..

"I don't want Xia to experience what my mother is going through," I looked at Av when she said that. I can feel her pain. But I guess, masakit talaga yung sa kanya. At least, I can see my Dad in our own house. But Avril, after her Dad left, she never saw him. She didn't look for him, too. It's because she knows that his Dad doesn't care for her. When his Dad left, her Mom made her life a mess. But, she grew up to be so kind and considerate. How could she? Siya pa yata ang may karapatang magalit sa mundo but I never heard her complains.

I went to her and hugged her. I smiled. The girls also went to us for a hug.

"Iyah! You owe us a trip to Japan!" Sav shouted.

"Mount Fuji here I come! Maghintay ka sasabog ka pag nakita mo ako!" Cairhyll shouted. I guess we're back. I know we can get through this.

"Zai dalhin mo si Chad para alam natin kung ilang metres-," She was cut off by Zai.

"Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan, standing at 3,776 meters or 12,380 feet," Zai answered. She doesn't like topics involving Chad, huh?

"Para madoble yung facts!" Cairhyll tried again. She likes annoying Zai about Chad.

"Mount Fuji is a symbol of Japan. The mountain contributes to Japan's physical, cultural, and spiritual geography. In fact, Mount Fuji has been a sacred site for practicers of Shinto since at least the 7th century," Zai added.

"Oo na! Ito naman grabeh ka!" Cairhyll exclaimed.

"Sabihin ko kayang dalhin mo si Arch dito?" Zai fired back.

"Okay naman kayo diba?" I asked Cairhyll.

"Di yun puwede. Busy yun," Okay? Mukhang di talaga okay yung dalawa. I doubt if nagkita ba talaga sila? Or nagkausap man lang?

"Ngag-usap ba talaga kayo?" I voiced my thoughts out.

"Oo...naman!"

"Okay na kami!" She joyfully said.

"Uwi na kayo!" She acted like shooing Daron and me.

"Sige na nga pinapaalis mo na kami," I waved the girls goodbye. "Do you think na okay nga talaga sila ni Arch?" I asked Daron when he opened the shotgun seat for me. I didn't bring my own car because he insisted that he'll drive for me.

"'Pag sila na pinag-uusapan, umiiwas siya palagi. It's either she changes the topic or she acts like she didn't hear anything," I started sharing all my problems to Daron, including family issues. He already knows and he said he wanted to meet my parents. I told him I'm not sure my father would like me to have a relationship and he understood. I don't think father doesn't know anything about me and Daron. I'm sure he does. He has eyes for me everywhere.

"Baka busy lang talaga?"

"No. I don't know Arch that much. Nakilala lang namin siya base on Cairhyll's stories. I was thankful she's talkative and noisy. In that way, she can lighten the pain she's feeling kahit na di naman siya umiiyak sa harap namin,"

"She'll tell all of you soon, maybe," He started the engine and I looked at him. He smiled at me.

"I hope so," I said.

This is usually what we're doing if we have free time. We only have few, though. We go to their house and visit the twins. This time, we will grill some fish and take a dip in the sea since it's not so hot. The house of Daron is nearer to the city. Their family mansion , you'll just walk a few meters and then you can take a dip in the sea already. It's a bit far but the distance won't be a problem for them because they have a lot of cars.

We decided to just grill the fish when we arrive. Daron brought Kuya Renald since siya naman ang magaling magluto sa kanila.

"Kuya Axel! Bilis! I saw a starfish! It's color blue," Zaye shouted. I glanced at Daron because he didn't move to his place even if Zaye is already calling him.

"Xyle, call Kuya and ate Iyah, first!"

"Tulungan ko muna si Kuya dito. Is it okay if you go with them?" I nodded as a reply. He went nearer to where I am sitting. He offered both of his hands to help me stand up.

"Don't remove your dress. Sabay tayong maliligo," I just nodded because that was also my plan.

"Ate Iyah!" Zaye ran to me in excitement.

"Ate Iyah, Zaye is very noisy!" Xyle complained.

"People keep on looking at us whenever she shouts," Natawa nalang ako kasi sinasamahan pa rin ni Xyle si Zaye kahit nakakahiya na yung ginagawa niya.

"Ate Iyah, look!" Malapit lang yung dagat sa kanila. Ngayon pa ba siya nakakita ng starfish?

"Zaye you always see one when we go to the beach," Xyle tried to stop Zaye from dragging me.

"But, it's so beautiful!" She exclaimed, not minding the face of Xyle.

"I just stare at them. I don't want to touch them. I'm scared they'll die," Zaye said.

"Where's Kuya Axel, ate Iyah?"

"Tinulungan si Kuya Renald," I told her.

"You know how to swim po, ate Iyah?" Zaye asked me. I nodded.

"You want to?" I asked her.

"Xyle also wants too," She said.

"Let's swim, then!"

I removed my dress and I placed it in a big rock, not enough for the waves to reach it. Zaye held my hand while Xyle just walked behind me. I know they're use to the waves. They should be. Kawawa sila kung sakaling di sila sanay sa dagat. Malapit lang yung bahay nila sa dagat.

"You both know how to swim, right?" I asked them because I remembered the pool in front of their mansion. They could train there!

They both nodded.

"Who taught you?"

"Si Kuya Axel, po," I envy the invisible bond within them. They are really close. I was so sure that Daron looked after them when they're growing up. They're use with their Kuya around.

I looked back at the shore and saw that they're still busy with the food. Hindi rin madami yung tao pero meron din naman.

When the depth of the water is already fine for the two, we stopped to swim. I didn't swim a lot because I had to watch over them. Di naman malalim yung tubig, I just want to make sure that they'll be fine. I looked back at the shore and I saw a man,only wearing his shorts, coming to our direction. I can't see the face properly.

I looked away and I tried to find Daron. He's still busy helping Kuya Renald. I looked at the two again and pretended that I'm not bothered by the presence of that someone.

When a while ago, I thought he would just admire the scenery near us, I'm so sure he came here for us. Nilingon ko yung dalawa and I saw that they're really enjoying the swim. Di naman yata puwedeng yayain ko nalang sila pabalik dahil may dumating.

He stopped beside me and he coughed but I knew he just did that to catch my attention.

"I'm Se-,"

He stopped nung pinalo-palo ko siya.

"Seth! You freaking scared me!" I continued slapping his shoulders and he held his hands in surrender.

"Masakit," He said. That time, I realized that this is just our second time seeing each other again and my action a while ago was inappropriate.

"Sorry," I told him and I placed my hands down.

He chuckled and I faced him with a questioning look.

"The first time we met, you said sorry. Now, again!" He reminded me.

"Kuya Seth!" The two shouted. They ran towards Seth and hugged him. They also know him?

"I went to their house when Daron's father needed my help. These two kids don't have anyone to play with so I played with them," Seth explained to me.

"What you played with them?" I can't imagine a man with that built in his body playing with this two.

"I had no choice. No Daron spotted in the house," He said while laughing.

"Does Daron know that you came here?" He shook his head and he laughed at his own actions.

"I didn't bother to disturb him. Dumiretso na ak-," He didn't continue because a shirt flew to his direction. It covered his face.

I laughed and I faced Daron who threw the shirt.

"Surprise!" Seth shouted.

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#ForeverYours #ForeignGirlsSeries1 #ZaRon

Thanks for reading! God bless you and stay safe :)

-Pinkish_3007