Coldest War (War Series #2)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Proud

I thought Hiel would eventually tell me what it was. But it seems like it was something bigger than I thought because I haven't heard anything from Brylee later that day too.

Nag-away kaya sila? That sounds impossible. Una, hindi naman nakikipag-away si Hiel. Pangalawa, Brylee liked Hiel and I don't think Hiel will do something so upsetting for Brylee to distance herself from us.

Kaya nang makita ko si Brylee, I immediately tried to talk to her so I can help them fix whatever happened. After all, I was a sister to both of them.

Nasa isang tagong parte kami ng school malapit sa klase nila. Break time at sinadya kong puntahan s'ya nang hindi ipinapaalam kay Hiel. When I saw her earlier, she was alone and seems like she just took her lunch.

Nahihiyang iniwas ni Brylee ang tingin sa akin at hindi ko nakita ang usual na kinang ng mga mata n'ya sa tuwing nakikita ako. She's not even smiling. 

"Nag-away ba kayo ni Hiel?" I asked her worriedly. "Did he do something that made you upset?"

Agad na umiling si Brylee at nakita ko ang pangingilid ng mga luha sa mga mata n'ya. She's fiddling her fingers, hesitant to tell me the real reason.

"I'll listen to whatever it is, Bry," I said, encouraging her. "You know that I care for you."

Nanginig ang pang-ibabang labi n Brylee at tuluyan na s'yang umiyak. 

"Hiel doesn't like me," she cried, covering her eyes with her hands as she sobbed.

"What?" I asked, my eyes widening a bit. Why would Hiel hate her? "Hiel likes you, Brylee. You're his friend."

"Hindi, Ate," she shook her head and cried. "I told him I had a crush on him. Tapos. . .he told me that I wasn't his crush."

I gasped at what she said and I couldn't say anything. Dahil kung gano'n ang nangyari, I can't do anything about that. 

"Do you hate him now? That's why you're avoiding him?" I asked Brylee and she immediately shook her head.

"When I cried, he tried to wipe my tears. How can I hate him after that?" Brylee said, crying and I couldn't help but smile because I thought that it was cute.

That sounds very much like Hiel. Although Hiel is aloof most of the time, he's caring and considerate. He wiped her tears for her? Hindi siguro alam ni Hiel na kapag ginawa n'ya 'yon, lalo lang s'yang magugustuhan ng babaeng nagtapat sa kan'ya.

"I liked him more," Brylee cried. 

Naisip kong puwede ko s'yang tulungan. Mabait si Brylee. She's kind, cute, and bubbly. I like her. If there's anyone I'd want for Hiel, it's gonna be Brylee. 

"Pansinin mo na si Hiel," I told Brylee once she's calmed down. 

Pero kahit na hindi na umiiyak, dinig pa rin ang mga hikbi n'ya at halata pa rin sa namumugtong mga mata ang pag-iyak. Hindi n'ya maiangat ang tingin sa akin at nanatili pa ring nakayuko.

"Nahihiya ako, Ate," Brylee said and she bit her lip. "Now, he knows that I like him. I still want to be close to him but I feel like he'd hate me now," aniya at nanginig ulit ang boses.

Umiling ako kaagad at hinawakan ko ang kamay n'ya.

"You're his friend, Brylee," malambing kong sinabi at bumaba ang tingin ko sa lupa, remembering Hiel, and I couldn't help but smile. "You know that Hiel rarely makes friends but you're one of his. You think he'd hate you just because you told him you like him?"