A/N: I want to say thank you to @_snflower. I really appreciate the covers you made for the story. It made me happy, too. Thank you for putting some effort to make covers for this story. God bless you :)
Surprise mo mukha mo Seth!
"Ano bro? Nasurprise ka ba?" Seth keeps on laughing at Daron. Sa huli, wala na ding nagawa si Daron kung di tumawa nalang sa kagagawan ng kaibigan.
"I knew it! Haha! He'd go here if he'll see you a man trying to talk to you!" Seth continued.
"Ako lang naman yun! Tinapon ba naman yung T- shirt sa gwapo kong mukha," Seth playfully complained.
"Mas gwapo ako," Daron said with finality. Pinag- aawayan ba naman kung sino yung mas gwapo. Wala namang gwapo.
"Hala! Bro, may eyeglass ako," Seth said and then he winked at me.
"I don't need that. Di malabo mga mata ko,"
"Iyah?"
"Oo, bakit?" Natatawa kong sabi. I know Seth would ask for this.
"Sinong mas gwapo? Ako o itong unggoy na to?" Natawa ako sa tinawag niya kay Daron.
"Unggoy pala, ah!"
"Di na! Kanino ba yang T- shirt na yan? Iba yata yung amoy!" Seth complained when he saw that Daron was about to cover his face with the shirt.
"Napulot ko lang dun. Naisip ko lang baka puwede na tong itapon sa kausap ni Iyah," Daron said in a serious tone kahit mukhang di naman seryoso yung sinabi niya.
"Hoy! Baka may germs yan!"
"Ikaw ba yan Seth? Akala ko ba wala kang kinakatakutan? Kaya mong protektahan ang isang tao pero takot ka sa mabaho?" Daron laughed.
"Hoyy! Hindi ah! Takot lang akong maakusuhan ng theft!" Seth defended himself.
"Ibalik mo yan dun!"
"Nagtatagalog ka pala?" I asked Daron because I didn't expect him to be that fluent in Tagalog.
"Hahahah! English ka pala 'pag si Iyah kausap mo? Bakit, bro? English ba?"
"Englishera ka kasi!" Seth accused me. Kulang nalang iisipin ko talagang si Cairhyll na tong kausap ko. Ang ingay mo Seth! Sarap sabihan.
"Nagtatagalog ako kung tagalog ang kausap ko!" He laughed at my excuse.
"Marunong naman pala kayong magtagalog. Edi magtagalog kayo! Nag-english ako nung nabunggo mo ako kasi mukha ka talagang di marunong magtagalog!"
"And daldal mo," Daron said to Seth then he pulled me closer to him.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" He whispered.
"Sorry," I told him. I was about to face him but he didn't let me.
"I watched over them," He just nodded. Then he hugged me tightly from behind.
Seth made a fake cough.
"Mga bata, huwag na muna kayong umahon.May bawal kayong makita ," Di ko akalaing ang bobo din ni Seth minsan. What he just said made them turn to our direction.
"Hoy! PDA! Bawal yan. May mga bata," He calmly said, trying to suppress a smile.
The kids didn't react at all, like they're used in seeing us in this position.
"Don't tell me you kiss in front of them?" Seth exclaimed in disbelief.
Daron immediately covered Seth's face with the shirt.
"Hoyyy! Amm! Ang baho!" Seth complained then he immediately wash his face with salt water.
"Maligo na tayo!"
"Find your girl first," Hamon ni Daron kay Seth.
"I have girls!" Seth said.
"Girls, huh?" I asked. He confidently nodded.
"That's not what I mean," Daron said. "A real girl, bro"
"But, those starting with g and ends in n are what I really love!"
"I love my work!" What's his work, by the way?
"What work do you have?"
"Wala"
"Ang gago mo Seth. Kakasabi mo lang,"
"Yan! Tagalog pa more!" He teased me.
"Ano maliligo ba kayo or maliligo?" He bent down and started scooping water to wet us.
"Bantayan mo si Xyle at si Zaye since yan naman trabaho mo diba? Tagabantay,"
"Hoy! Malaki na yang mga yan! Pumunta ako dito para maligo muna! Hinihintay ko pa bumalik ang Daddy mo," Seth ran to the deeper waters, not waiting for us.
"Kuya! Balik po muna kami ni Xyle," Zaye asked permission to his brother.
"Kumain na kayo. I think tapos na yung niluto ni Manong," Daron tapped the head of his younger sister.
"Xyle! Dali na!" Zaye called Xyle.
We stayed a bit longer in the sea water since hindi na madami yung mga tao. The heat of the sun is just enough, too. The weather seems to allow us to bath and enjoy this moment. The huge waves reminded me of great power. When I watched the waves, I remembered my parents and how they treat me, the way they make me obey whatever they request or want me to do. I am completely aware that I am longing for their care and attention, specially my Dad's.
Nagulat ako na hindi pinakialaman ni Dad ang nangyayari sa buhay ko this past few months. I suddenly wonder kung alam ba niya talaga yung tungkol sa amin ni Daron. But, who am I kidding? Of course, he knows. He wouldn't let me do decisions on my own. He wouldn't want me to do something stupid. Maybe he approved of our relationship? I don't know. He didn't talk this out with me.
One things for sure, my sister is going home next year and not anymore this year. My sister has an interest for medicine but she didn't pursue the course. She chose modeling instead. So, I think this is the reason kung bakit mas pinili niyang ako ang magmana sa mga hospitals namin? That's the only reason I can think of. He wouldn't give me the hospitals and let me manage them because he believes in my skills. He always doubted me. I remember the time he told me that maybe I am not his daughter at kung totoo mang anak niya ako, I am his biggest mistake. He said that to my face.
"Are you hungry?" I snapped back to reality because of the question Daron threw to me.
"Di naman masyado," I answered him.
"What's wrong?" Di ko akalaing sa mga buwan na iyon. Nakilala niya na ako nang husto. Kaya niya ng sabihin kung may mali man sa mga kinikilos ko.
I can be an actress but not as good as Sav. At least, I can still convince others but not him anymore.
"Wala may naisip lang," I am grateful that he allows me to choose if I am ready to tell him or not. He never forces me to tell him things. He gives me the right to choose.
"Let's eat?" I just nodded and followed me. Iniwan na namin si Seth na mukhang di naman napansin yung pag-alis namin sa sobang layo niya.
We just ate the food they cooked and we took a short dip in the sea again. We watched the sunset. Naghalo ang kulay kahel, dilaw at ilang shades ng pink sa langit. I would always look at sunsets with gaiety in my eyes. It gives me warmth, knowing that I would experience another day tomorrow. He has given me the chance to see this day. I may not know what is His plan for me but whatever it is I know it is best for me.
"Let's go," Daron told us. We will still have a long drive this night. Plus, it's not a free day tomorrow. I can consider the day backbreaking since we did a lot of physical activities today. Umayon ang panahon sa gusto namin, that's why we stayed longer in the water than how we planned.
The day made me exhausted but it's gratifying to know that I found some time to relax even when if I am immersed with my studies.
After naming nagpaalam sa Daddy at Mommy ni Daron, dumiretso na kami pauwi sa Manila kahit alam naming sobrang traffic na. Di nanamin to naisip because of the relish we felt.
********
Weeks passed by. Daron fetches me and sends me to school. Di ko na masyadong nagagamit yung sasakyan ko since he insisted that he'll do that since yan nalang yung time na nagkakasama kami kasi malapit na ang finals. I didn't oppose because it's true. We see each other on classes but we don't talk a lot. We are always busy, both preparing for the finals. We can actually study together but we don't approve the idea. We can't concentrate for sure.
Right now, I decided to give myself a break from the early review. Pinagmasdan kong muli ang mga kulay na naghalohalo sa kalangitan. I have always loved the sunset.
I've read an article that says the sunset represents ending, twilight, beginning of darkness, change, transformation and nature. It symbolizes the beginning of darkness, always reminding me that I should always be thankful of experiencing even the most petty experiences in my life. Because every happiness is followed by sorrow. You wouldn't appreciate much the feeling of every merriment when you didn't have an idea of how sorrow tastes.
My phone rang and I felt a scrap of nervousness and vexation when I saw the name of the caller. Nawala yung plano ko na magpahinga.
"Where are you? Are you enjoying the view of the universe without me?" The girl on the other line said. She didn't even care to say hello.
I didn't answer her, though.
"You know Axel?" She said in an instant when she realized I won't answer her.
"You don't speak to me now, huh? Why? Is there a problem my sister?" Zaila Feliza Ramirez has always been Dad's favorite. Actually it's worst than that. He considers Zaila as his only child. I understood that he didn't love my Mom. I accept that he considers me a mistake. Despite the way he treats me, I still wanted to evince that he could ponder me as his daughter.
I cannot say that I am really considerate when it comes to Zaila. I can't imagine myself being altruistic for her sake. But of course I have to casually treat her when I'm in front of Dad.
"What do you need?" I asked her in a cold way.
"I am asking you! Do you know Axel?!" Nilayo ko yung phone sa tainga ko dahil sa biglaang pagsigaw niya. She easily loses her temper when it comes to me.
"Why?"
"So you know him?"
"Yes and why do you care?" I asked her. She always knew I am willing to fight back when I feel like she's already hitting below the belt. But of course, she always knew that I would never start a fight because I don't want to disappoint Dad.
"Ohhhhh....Okay," She's answering in a playful tone. She seems so amused with something.
"You called to ask me that?" I asked her.
She chuckled on the other line.
"I think you already know that I'm not going home this year, right? My vacation would be so short since I still have to study here..I called to say enjoy a life without Zaila Feliza Ramirez because when I come back, I'd make sure you'd live a parching life. Cool down, my sister," She ended the call. I'm not threatened I said to my self.
I calmed myself after the call. I hated her attitude from the very start. Alam kong ayaw niya sa akin. She doesn't need to put some effort to show that. Kung ayaw niya sa akin, ayaw ko di sa kanya. Ang pinagkaiba nga lang, puwede niyang isigaw sa mundo ang pagkamuhi niya sa akin. Ako naman, para akong pinagkaitan ng pagkakataong maipakita ang totoo kong nararamdaman.
Sinubukan ko siyang pakisamahan. I wanted a sister, too. I wanted someone to whom I could talk about my problems in life because I know my parents are busy. But, the opposite happened. If I wanted a sister so that I could share my problems to someone, she treated me as a pot. A pot where she could plant problems and watch them grow. She gives me all the problems she could give instead of helping me with my concerns about life.
Rhyll: Sure na yan? Di na talaga uuwi yung bruha mong kapatid? Haha.
Me: She called me and she said that.
Sav: Friendly manner? Awh..sister manner pala.
Xia: Hahaha Sav. Uyyyy Rhyll, she joked!
Me: Sav, that's close to impossible.
Me: Bakit di online yung tatlo?
Rhyll: Ewan ko. Baka naging busy. Ituloy mo na yung rest mo Doctora.
Me: Haha.
I chatted my friends to convince myself that what I was thinking can't be true. I mean it can! But, shut up, Iyah! I hope not.....
I hope so...
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#ForeignGirlsSeries1 #ForeverYours #ZaRon
Thank you for reading :)
-Pinkish_3007