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CHAPTER 30

Khyrieze Llanelli Villaraigosa's POV

"Is everything settled?" Tanong ni Daddy kay Kuya Ben na katatapos lang ayusin ang mga gamit namin sa likod ng van.

"Opo Sir, nailagay ko na po lahat nung nakaayos sa sala kanina" Pagsagot nito. Marahan lang tumango si Daddy bago kami balingan.

"Kayo girls, okay naba kayo- teka, nasan si Hyve" tanong nito at tumingin tingin sa paligid.

"May sinundo sa labas Dad, sasama daw yung mga friends niya" sagot ni Ate Elia dito. Tumango lang si Daddy dito bago kami pasakayin sa loob ng Van. Bigla akong kinabahan kahit na alam ko na imposibleng makasama siya 'cause she's living outside the Philippines, but still, there's a part of me that always felt uncomfortable whenever I heard Ate Hyve's friends are coming.

"Get inside girls, mag car nalang kami ng Mommy niyo. I forgot na nagpaalam kagabi yung Ate niyo na may isasama siya." sabi nito. Pumasok nako habang sila Ate Lalein at Ate Elia ay busy sa cellphone nila.

"Ahm Dad, Pinapapunta kami ni Ate Hyve sa entrance ng gate nag taxi lang daw kasi yung isa niyang friend and it brought a lot of stuffs. Gagamitin nalang namin yung SUV dahil hindi sila kasyang lima sa car ni Ate Bianca kung dun din ilalagay yung gamit." pag explain ni Ate Elia.

"Alright, make it faster. Baka tanghaliin tayo sa biyahe" He said bago ibigay ang susi. The hell? Sino naman kaya yung nagdala nang maraming gamit tapos hindi pa pinapasok dito sa loob yung taxi? Tsk! Tangkang isasara na ni Daddy yung door pero nagsalita ako.

"Hindi ba pwedeng sila nalang ang bumukod Dad? Since marami naman pala sila" I asked. Pero umiling naman si Daddy.

"I don't like the Idea, para naman hindi sila welcome sa trip natin kapag ganon. I know that you are not comfortable with them but can't you just move on since they are not the one who hurts you, they are not Brit-" I immediately cut him off.

"Fine, just don't mention her name" I just said para matapos na. Napabuntong hininga lang si Daddy before completely closing the door. Umayos ako ng upo at nagkabit ng earphones bago sumandal sa bintana at ipikit ang mata. I chose to sit on the back while hoping na tabihan ako ni Ate Elia at Ate Lalein mamaya kapag dumating na sila.

Minutes had passed nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng van. I didn't bother to look at them, I don't want to act like everything is okay. I felt and heard everyone na umupo na sa pwesto nila. But still, wala akong nararamdaman na tumatabi sakin. "Sige na Ate umupo ka na diyan, tulog naman siya so wala siyang magagawa kapag nasa byahe na tayo" I heard Ate Elia said that. Wait, what? Hindi sila ang tumabi sakin? Aish!

"Don't tell me natatakot ka na sa kapatid ko Bri" and with that, after hearing Ate Hyve saying that name. My eyes immediately opened and my heart suddenly felt unfamiliar the moment that I saw her.

"Llanelli" She mouthed. I forcefully removed my earphones while looking at her firmly.

"What are you doing here?" kunot noong tanong ko.

"I came home to celebrate Christmas wit-" I immediately cut her off.

"I don't care what's your reason why are you here in the Philippines, what I'm asking is why are you here, sa tapat ko?" mariin na sabi ko sa kanya. I saw pain written on her face before looking at my sister.

"I heard na uuwi kayo sa farm, I wanted to visit my grandparents there and since pupunta naman kayo doon, your Ate invited us" She explained. Marahan akong napakamot sa noo ko.

"Then why are you sitting beside me? Am I the one who invited you?" I said still looking at her directly at her eyes.

"Is everything okay here?" Napabaling ang tingin ko kay Daddy. "Anak? What wrong?" he asked. Umiling lang ako dito bago umayos ng upo at tumingin sa labas ng bintana.

"Umupo kana Ate Bri" walang ganang sabi ko nalang because I had no choice. I guess everything was set up, it was planned. Bakit sa dami ng uupuan sa tabi ko pa siya mauupo, bakit dito pa nila pa uupuin yung babaeng ayoko nang makita sa buong buhay ko. Pumasok na ito at sinara na ni Daddy ang pinto. Maya maya pa ay umandar na ang sinasakyan namin. Nagsimulang mag kwentuhan sila ate at mga kaibigan niya, nakikisali nadin yung dalawa ko pang kapatid but kami ng babaeng kasama ko dito sa likod ay nananatiling tahimik.

"I'm sorry baby" napalingon ako dito ng bigla itong bumulong. Kinunutan ko lang siya ng noo bago buksan ang cellphone ko. I don't wanna listen to her drama. I composed a message and immediately send it to Rian.

To: Labi ❤️

Nakaalis na kami, I'll be missing you... Sunod kayo agad please :(

Sent

Wala pang isang minuto ay tumawag na ito.

*Kring! Kring! Kring!*

Agad kong kinabit muli ang earphone ko bago sagutin ang tawag. "Miss mo ako? Pero ang tagal bago sagutin" Rinig kong sabi nito.

"I plug my earphones pa kaya, kalma, behave naman ako dito" I said. Narinig kong kumontra pa ito.

"Sabi mo e. So sino sino kayo" biglang tanong niya kaya napatingin ako sa katabi ko na nakatingin din pala sakin.

"Sila Mommy nag Car, kami nila ate with her friends naka Van" Pag explain ko. Im sure tumatango - tango pa ito ngayon.

"Hmm, magaganda?" tanong niya pa kaya napangiti ako. Selosa talaga.

"Mas maganda ka, don't worry" bulong ko naman.

"E bakit bulong lang?! Sabihin mo ng malakas!" reklamo nito kaya napailing ako. I like this side of her, yung clingy sakin but not this time.

"You know that I hate being center of attraction diba, tapos gusto mo isigaw ko yun? I swear mas maganda ka sa kanila" dugtong ko pa pero hindi ito kumibo.

"Sino ba yung nanjan" seryosong sabi nito. Napasuklay nalang ako sa buhok ko at napa-buntong hininga.

"Mas maganda ka Rian" I said. I didn't shout it out nor whispered. I just said it with all of my heart and because tumahimik ang lahat, I know, they heard me.

"Bunso! Si Rian yan? Hi mo ako!" biglang tawag ni Ate Lalein sakin. Well, I guess she's the only one who's on my side. I'm thankful na kahit papaano, may ka close si Rian sa fam ko. Though okay naman na sila Mommy sa kanya but still iba parin yung energy ng pag welcome ni Ate Lalein kay Rian

"Ri, I loud speak kita ha? Ate Lalein wants to say Hi" I said. And immediately removed my earphones. Bago bahagyang ilapit kay ate Lalein na nasa harap namin yung Phone ko .

"Alright Lab" she answered kaya napalunok ako. This girl is really unbelievable.

"Oy! Oy! Oy! Rian hindi ka nagsasabi na kayo na pala ni Khyrieze! Jeez kelan pa?!" Ate Lalein teased.

"Hala! I'm sorry K, akala ko naka earphones ka pa" natatawang sabi ni Rian but I know her, she already know that she's on the speaker kaya niya sinabi yun.

"Don't worry girl hindi ko muna sasabihin kila Dad, but I dont think ganon yung gagawin nung iba pa naming kasama" Natatawang sabi ni Ate Lalein kaya napapailing lang ako.

"That's fine, sasabihin din naman namin once we get there. So please, everyone who's listening, I'm asking a favor" She says. Napatingin naman ako sa mga kasama namin and they are all looking at the girl beside me kaya napatingin ako dito and I saw her looking at me hopelessly. Why the hell she's showing me a lot of emotions? Samantalang dati, napaka tipid niya. "Hello?" Rian speaks kaya napatingin akong muli sa phone ko.

"Just don't hurt our sister" Ate Hyve said.

"I won't, hindi ko naman ugali na manakit ng taong walang ibang ginawa kundi mahalin ako" She said sounded like she's pointing to someone. Wait, where is she coming from? Wala pa naman akong na-ikwento or nasabi sa kanya about my past.

"Prove it" Biglang sabi nung katabi ko.

___________________

If you gave someone your heart and they died, did they take it with them? Did you spend the rest of forever with a hole inside you that couldn't be filled?