Flickered By Innocence (Crossing The Line Series 4) ✅

F.B.I-25

I grabbed a scoof of my hair, hoping it could lessen the nausea that I was feeling. I slightly opened my puffy eyes and gasped upon realizing that I was not in my room. The roof doesn't have glow-in-the-dark stickers and the wallings are not colorful either.

"M-mommy?! Daddy? Nanny Fe? Mang Noel? N-nasaan po kayo?" I started to cry because of nervousness.

Someone gently slapped my face, and it made me snap back to reality. I turned my head on my side and saw Kyle laughing while covering his mouth. Ezra was sleeping peacefully on his left.

Nandito pala ako sa condo ni Levi.

Maingat kong inayos ang hinigaan ko dahil baka magising si Ezra. Alam kong pagod din siya kahapon dahil sa sunod-sunod niyang photoshoots pero pinili niya pa ring makasama kami kagabi. Gaya ko ay paniguradong malalagot si Kyle kay Tita Cynthia kapag nalaman niyang nalasing ang kanyang anak kaya 'di rin ito nakauwi.

"Bakit kaya ang ganda niya kahit tulog?" Kyle said in a soft voice, looking at Ezra.

Nakahalumbaba akong humiga sa kama para pagmasdan din si Ezra nang maigi. "Yeah, he looks like a male barbie."

Sinundan ko nang tingin si Kyle nung tumayo ito at lumapit sa bedside table ni Levi. Pagharap niya'y mayroon na siyang hawak na color pens habang nakangisi ang kanyang labi. He sat on the edge of the bed before he opened the cap of the marker.

"Zein, you like bright colors right?" Kyle wiggled his brows.

"Yup, I like rainbows." I gave him a smile without knowing what he was about to tell me.

Kyle took a picture of Ezra's colorful face after we made our piece of art. Ezra's eyebrows are now connected to each other, and his noseline is now detailed because of how Kyle drew it. The cheeks, forehead, and chin of Ezra look pretty with different shapes and cartoon characters, which were drawn by me.

"Mission accomplished!" malakas naming ani ni Kyle bago mag-apir.

Tumakbo palabas si Kyle mula sa kwarto nung magising si Ezra. Napansin kong nakatingin si Ezra sa hawak kong color pens kaya tinago ko iyon agad sa aking likuran. Binigyan ko siya nang matamis na ngiti ngunit huli na ang lahat nung buksan niya ang camera ng kanyang cellphone at pinagmasdan ang kanyang makulay na mukha.

"ZEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIINNNNN!!!"

Tanghali na nung dumating si Mang Noel sa condo ni Levi para sunduin ako. Kasalukuyan akong nakadungaw sa bintana ng van nung tumunog ang aking cellphone. I cleared my throat before answering my mom's call.

"Baby, where are you?! Kanina pa kita hinihintay dito sa resort. Saan ka ba natulog kagabi?" She exclaimed.

I scratched my head, trying to think of a good reason. "M-Mommy, nag-sleep over ako kila... Levi. Tama! Natulog ako sa kanila."

My mom chuckled. "Wag ka nang magsinungaling, halata ka masyado, anak. By the way, did Mang Noel pick you up?"

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Yes, mommy. Nakasakay na po ako sa car."

I heard her squealed. "Naku! Pakisabi kay Mang Noel na ihatid ka niya agad dito dahil may mahalagang bisita sa resort."