Embracing the Fire

Four

Changes

" Bakit isa lang? Ang kuripot mo naman ata? Anak ka ba talaga nila Tita Cynthia at Tito Ronald?"

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapa irap. Parang hindi rin siya anak nila Tita Alice, ang ingay.

" Dalawa 'yan, puro ka kasi daldal." sagot ko rito.

Kinuha nito sa kamay ko ang bitbit kong paper bag at ginulo ang buhok ko. " Nice hair, cous! By the way..."

The way he smirk, I knew what he will say kaya inunahan ko na. " You're welcome. Huwag mo nang ituloy kung ano mang kabaliwan ang sasabihin mo."

" Why? I will just say that you should be on my after party later." saka siya ngumisi ulit. Alam ko namang hindi iyon ang dapat niyang sasabihin.

Pinipigilan kong huwag ilipat ang tingin bukod sa pinsan ko dahil isang maling tingin lang ay makikita ko na naman ang pares ng mga matang nagdudulot ng kaba sa akin.

" Oo na! "

" Want to say hi to my best friend? Ar—"

" Zion, let's eat na. I know you're all excited to your after party." putol sakaniya ni tita Alice.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin ng pinsan at mabilis na akong bumalik sa upuan ko. I gave my death stare to my cousins especially to Crayon, I believed her!

She fooled me.

Halos ipagpasalamat ko nang lumabas ang mga kasambahay kina tita Alice dala-dala ang mga pagkain.

There are many prepared foods. And almost all of those are my favorites. I slowly took the food so that I could taste all of it. Never minding that there are pairs of eyes I can meet. My full attention was only on the food.

" Saan ka? " tanong ni Aya.

" Bathroom." sagot ko.

I've spent almost all of my time here with Aya, so I know this place inside and out. I went to the bathroom first since I was excreting after eating.

When I'm done. I was about to go out again when I fucking saw the least  person I wanted to meet. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Parang biglang sumikip ang napaka laking kusina nina Aya.

Though I didn't want to look at him, I also didn't want him to believe that I was avoiding him out of nervousness. Though I'm actually staying away from him since I just... Even though I dislike having him here, there is little I can do at this point because it is just the two of us.

But as I turned to face him, I noticed that he was giving me a serious stare. An increasing amount of anxiety pounded in my heart. I hate to feel like my heartbeat is becoming more erratic.

Hindi ko mahanap ang mga salita. Should I strike up the conversation first? Why do I? The thought that I will again be the one to initiate interaction bothers me.

It annoys me. Lalo na at sakaniya pa, there is no way that I will initiate conversation.

But even before I make up my mind, nagsalita na siya. " Are you done? " sabay turo sa pinto ng bathroom.

Lumingon din ako roon. Boba. I nodded. " Uh, yeah, you may go."

I made the decision to cut the talk abruptly. I'd better go as I might say something I regret as well.

Ano? Iyon na 'yon? He will not say anything? Ano bang dapat niyang sabihin, Hestia? Kumusta ka na? Do you have a boyfriend na? Stupid.

" Wait! "

Huh? Did he call me? Does he have something to say? Why do I like it so much? I thought I didn't care? Oo nga, hindi nga. Wala na akong paki. I was just surprised when he called so I turned around.