The Calm in the Chaos (Trazo Real Series #3)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

"I can't believe you actually asked him to be your escort and 18th rose, Adi", Cain said, sounding so obvious that he was shocked.

"Naiinggit ka lang 'e! Huwag kang mag-alala, naisip naman din ni Adi na gawin kang escort at last dance niya kung sakaling hindi pumayag si Rafael. You're the runner-up, cousin. Be proud!", asar niya sa pinsan niya kaya natawa rin ako.

Cain rolled his eyes and sipped on his frappe. Foundation day sa school namin at week-long 'yon. Cain visited our booth and then waited until our duty is over para raw makakain kaming tatlo nang sabay-sabay.

"Hindi ko rin naman akalain na papayag siya. I thought he'd reject my invitation."

"Sa debut ko, sana pumayag si Ashton na maging escort ko at last dance ko rin", Hailey said while her eyes sparkled. Nangiti ako sa kaibigan. I will help her get my cousin to be her escort. I will do everything I can to make my cousin say yes. Para kahit sa debut man lang ni Hailey, makabawi siya.

"Tsk. Masyado mo namang binababa ang sarili mo para riyan kay Ashton. Offense intended, Adi, but I really hate your cousin's air. Lagi na lang niyang pinapahabol si Hailey sa kanya. Can't he say it straight to my cousin's face that he's not interested or that Hailey doesn't stand a chance?"

"Alam mo ikaw, ang bitter mo talaga! Nag-usap naman na kami dati at alam ko naman na hindi niya ako gusto. I can't do anything about his feelings but I can do something with mine. And I choose to show him that I like him."

"Kahit na. Ewan ko sa inyo talaga... you both deserve better. I don't mind you two being aggressive, doing advances on your crushes but really... dapat alam niyo rin kung kailan game over na. Kapag pareho kayong na-broken hearted, mahihirapan akong alagaan kayo pareho kaya isa-isa lang, okay?"

I smiled and rested my head on Cain's shoulder. I heard him say "tsk" but I didn't budge.

"Sweet naman. Huwag ka nang magalit. Ganito talaga kami 'e... parehong inspired", I said and giggled.

Patuloy lang kaming nagkuwentuhan ni Hailey at kinilig habang si Cain naman ay nakasimangot lang sa aming dalawa. I was too naive before that I didn't feel that Cain really liked me back in junior high but now that I've confirmed it by looking back at all his effort for me, masasabi ko ngang he really did like me. But I'm glad that he got over it and did not push himself further.

He knows that it is impossible and he respected it. Ngayon naman, nararamdaman kong hindi na niya talaga ako gusto at concerned lang talaga siya sa amin ni Hailey.

Just a month before my debut, the invitations were released. Simula na rin ng practice namin ng sayaw at lalo akong na-excite dahil simula sa weekend ay lagi ko nang makakasama si Rafael. Sinabihan ko na rin si Cain na huwag susungitan si Rafael dahil baka magtaka pa 'yon kung bakit ang sama ng tingin sa kanya ni Cain.

"Si Rafael Rances ang escort mo, hija?", si Papa nang maabutan kong nagbabasa ng newspaper sa may veranda.

"Yes, Pa", I said and smiled.

Magja-jogging kami ni Kuya Brandon at nakagayak na ako. Siya na lang ang hinihintay ko kaya narito ako sa may veranda.

"Mabuti at napa-oo mo siya. Kailan mo pa siya tinanong?"

"Last November pa po. Nasukatan na rin po siya ng suit niya last week."

"I see. It appears to me that you, two, are really close. May girlfriend ba siya ngayon o nililigawan?"

"P-po? Uh... wala naman po siyang naku-kwento sa akin, Pa. Bakit po?"

This is new to me. My grandfather would usually ask me about school or my opinion on some current events but now he's asking me about Rafael's love life. What made him curious about it?