Tahimik na nagba-browse si Scar sa social media nang mapansin niyang nagbubulungan si Meth at Bryce sa tabi niya. Maya-maya pa ay kinalabit ni Stephen si Bryce at may tinuro sa may pinto. Agad namang lumingon si Meth sa direksyong itinuro ni Stephen at naglakad papunta doon.
“What are you guys up to?” tanong niya kay Bryce.
“Huh? Nothing. Someone is just looking for Meth,” pasimpleng sagot ni Bryce.
Tinignan niya ang direksyon na pinuntahan ni Meth ngunit hindi niya na makita kung sino ang kausap nito. Maya-maya pa ay pumasok na itong muli sa classroom na may dalang inumin.
“Kanino galing `yan?” panunuya niya at nang-aasar na tinignan si Meth at ang dala-dala nito.
Ngumiti si Meth at inilagay ang hawak na inumin sa harap niya. “That’s for you.”
“From whom?” she eyed Methuselah suspiciously.
“You know who,” may bahid ng pang-aasar ang tinig nito bago umupo ul
Dahil sa pag-uusap nila ni Stephen, mas nagkalakas ng loob si Aisha na lumapit nang muli sa mga Royals. She realized that even if 10 years already passed and many things about them changed, they will always be her childhood friends. They were the people with whom she spent her precious memories with and she wanted it back. Even though they couldn’t go back to how they were before, they could create a new set of memories for who they are now.Especially for Scar. Kahit pa alam niyang iniiwasan siya ng dalaga ay gumagawa na siya ng paraan para pansinin siya ulit nito. She noticed that Scar still has a soft spot for her and she really wanted her friend back into her life. Scar is one of those irreplaceable people that she cherished so she wouldn’t give up on her.Napangiti siya nang makita niya si Scar na mag-isang nakaupo sa bench sa ilalim ng puno.“What are you doing here in the middle of the day?” sabi niya rito at nilapag ang sandwhich
Huminto ang sasakyan ni Meth sa Galaxy hotel kung saan gaganapin ang isang dinner na kailangan daw ay kasama ang buong pamilya. Inilibot niya ang kanyang mata at nakita niya sa Bryce na nag-aabang sa main entrance.“Dad, whom are we meeting?” tanong niya sa ama pero hindi siya pinansin nito. Nagpatuloy lang ito sa paglalakad at sinalubong ang pamilya ni Bryce. Wala na siyang nagawa kundi sumunod dito.“Meth, hija. You’ve grown to be a fine lady,” mahinhing bati ng ina ni Bryce sa kanya.Gumanti siya nang ngiti. “Thanks, Mrs. Ward. You look stunning today.”Mrs. Ward still looked like she’s in her late 20’s though she knows that she’s already in her early 40’s. It felt like she just grows lovelier with age and she somehow felt envious because she looked like she was a happy wife.“Eric, your daughter sure knows how to flatter an elderly,” biro naman ni Mr. Ward.Mah
Habang nasa swing ay nakangiti si Aisha habang pinapakiramdaman ang malamig na hangin at pinagmamasdan ang buwan. She is in their neighborhood park because she suddenly felt lonely at home. Dahil nagpunta ng Korea ang lolo niya at tanging mga maids lamang ang kasama niya sa bahay ay naisipan niyang mag-ikot sa kanilang subdivision.Inilibot niya ang paningin sa paligid niya at bigla ay naalala niya ang kanyang kabataan. She used to be a happy and bubbly kid who would run around and fill the place with laughter. Maybe it was because she had a loving and supportive mother who made sure that she was always happy.Her mother would always allow her to go in that park because she knew that Scar would also be playing there. She always told her that she needed to socialize with kids her age and make friends with them. However, instead of making friends with Scar, she ended up fighting with he rmost of the time. Naalala niya na ang madalas nilang pag-awayan noon ay ang pagsakay
Dahil sa nangyari ay maganda ang mood ni Aisha kinabukasan. Nakangiti siya habang tinatahak ang daan papunta sa una niyang subject para sa araw na iyon.“Did something good happened yesterday?” masayang tanong ni Sven nang makasalubong siya nito. Agad-agad ay sinabayan siya nito kahit pa nasa kabilang direksyon ang unang klase nito.“Yeah. I’m somehow breaking through,” nangingiting sagot niya.“Okay! Since it’s a good day, let’s ditch class,” wika nito at hinila siya papunta sa parking lot.“Hey! Where are we going?” tanong niya rito.He just shrugged and opened his car door for her. Agad naman siyang pumasok sa sasakyan nito at nagtatakang pinanood itong magmaniobra palabas ng University.“Don’t you know how much my grandfather paid for that class?” she said with a hint of guilt. Since she had been working as a part-timer, she knew the value of money and sh
Matapos ang gabing iyon ay ilang araw ring di nakita ni Aisha si Sven. Hindi niya naman masisisi ang binata kung iniiwasan siya nito dahil sa ginawa niya rito. Truth be told, she was scared when he dropped on his knees and proposed to her. However, she was more scared of what she would do if she didn’t leave at that time.Alam niya kung gaano katindi ang nararamdaman niya para kay Sven pero ayaw niyang magdesisyon sa bugso lang ng damdamin. Ayaw niyang magkamali katulad ng kanyang ina na mas pinairal ang emosyon at nasaktan lang sa huli. She doesn’t want to cause another heartache for her grandfather. When she realized how hard it must be for her grandfather, she promised herself not to commit the same mistake again.“Are you okay, sweetie?” malambing na tanong ng kanyang lolo nang makita siyang malungkot na nakatingin sa buwan sa kanilang balkonahe.She was admiring the moon again. She liked how comforting it was to watch it gleam in the
The hall was brightly lit and the atmosphere was set by a piece of lively yet sophisticated background music. The guests were all wearing formal dresses and the servers were walking back and forth as they distributed champagnes and wines. The engagement party was held in Galaxy hotel’s function hall and the Ward’s surely wanted to make it to be perfect.Halatang pinag-isipan at pinaghandaan talaga ng dalawang pamilya ang party. Hindi maitago ni Aisha ang mahinang pagtawa nang makita ang mga pekeng ngiti ng dalawa habang binabati ang mga bisita. Mukhang hindi pa rin komportable ang dalawa sa sitwasyon nila ngunit nakakatuwa na nakikita niyang sinusubukan ng mga ito na tanggapin ang desisyon ng kanilang mga magulang.“Congratulations, bro!” natatawang pang-aasar ni Stephen kay Bryce.Naiilang naman na ngumiti si Bryce nang marinig ang masaya at medyo nang-aasar na pagbati ng kaibigan. “I’m glad that you guys came.”
Kagaya ng dati, hinayaan lang ni Stanley si Aisha na umiyak. Nang lumakas ang paghikbi ng dalaga ay niyakap na siya ng binata at marahan nitong hinaplos ang buhok niya. Dahil sa ginawa nito ay mas lalong napalakas ang kanyang paghikbi at niyakap niya ito ng mahigpit. Gusto niyang ilabas lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman niya ngayon. Gusto niyang sabihin dito kung gaano kasakit ngunit tanging mga hikbi lamang ang lumalabas sa labi niya.“Just cry your heart out, Bella. Stan is always here for you,” masuyong bulong nito habang hinahagod ang likod niya. His voice was soothing for her but it just made her emotions grew intense.Hindi napigilan ni Aisha na mas umiyak pa. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit mas sumasama ang loob niya sa tuwing may nagcocomfort sa kanya,“You’re also in pain, but why I am the only one being comforted?” naiinis niyang tanong pero patuloy pa rin sa pag-iyak.Stanley bit his lips. Hearing her, the person s
Na-late ng gising si Aisha kinabukasan kaya nagmamadali siya nang makapasok sa campus. Sa kanyang pagpasok sa gate ay nakita niya si Scar na halos kakalabas lang rin sa sasakyan nito. Nginitian niya ang dalaga at nang makita siya nito ay agad siyang hinila papunta sa studio ni Bryce. Nakangiting nagpatianod naman siya rito dahil vacant niya pa naman at ilang oras pa bago ang susunod niyang klase kung saan kaklase niya ang Royals.“You should always hang out with us,” sabi ni Scar nang makarating na sila sa studio.Maliban kay Stanley, lahat sila ay napatitig sa pintuan nang makita silang magkasamang pumasok ni Scar sa studio. Napatayo si Bryce at itinuro sila na mukhang hindi pa yata makapaniwala.“Am I dreaming?” tanong nito at kinusot pa ang mga mata.“Why, Bryce? Did you not sleep well last night?” pang-aasar ni Scar at ngumiti.“Whoa!” sabi naman ni Stephen at itinuro si Scar. “It’s be