Scarcity of Chances

Chapter 28

It's been an entire hour since I went home but my face is still profusely blushing. I am lying on my bed, heart's at full speed, with the image of our kiss imprinted on my mind.

I cannot believe it! Kylo kissed me and I actually didn't stop him?

Why didn't I stop him in the first place?

Could it be that I... actually liked it? What else could be the reason aside from that dumb, Vine?

Dumiin ang kapit ko sa kobre kama habang nakasubsob sa malambot kong unan. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari. Sobrang dami ko nang iniisip pagkatapos ay dumagdag pa 'to. Kung ano-ano na ngayon tuloy ang naiisip ko.

Humugot ako ng isang malalim na hininga. Naalala ko ang sitwasyon namin kanina matapos gawin 'yon. Tahimik ang karaniwang madaldal na si Kylo. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa sandaling sandali lamang ang naging biyahe dahil sobrang lapit lang o sadyang pinili niyang manahimik.

Did he feel the awkwardness too? We were so close earlier but I was too distracted to feel his heart. The only beat I could feel and hear was mine!

I cannot even exactly remember how I went home. Ang alam ko lang, tinupok na ng memoryang iyon ang lahat ng ibang nilalaman ng utak ko sa mga oras na ito. Hindi ko na pala sigurado ngayon kung sasang-ayon ba ako na magandang memorya nga iyon gayong mas nakakabaliw pa ito kumpara sa sitwasyon namin.

My tingling thoughts were disrupted when I heard a knock on my door. I slowly get off my bed to open it. Behind stood all of my sisters here, gathered as if there was a scheduled meeting. Even our eldest was present. My forehead wrinkled inquisitively.

"A-Ate Leira? You're here. Where's Jade?" I softly uttered. "What do you need?"

Nagkatinginan sila bago sabay-sabay na humakbang papasok sa loob ng kuwarto ko. Magkasalubong pa rin ang aking mga kilay nang sinarado ko ang pintuan ng silid bago bumaling sa kanilang prenteng naghihintay nang paglaanan ko ng atensyon.

Ate Leira sat on the top of my bed beside Ate Lyka while Ate Amor settled on the floor. Inaya nila akong umupo sa pagitan ng dalawang nasa kama na siyang aking ginawa.

"Are you okay?" Ate Leira asked as she brushed my soft hair.

"W-What's this all about?"

Hindi ba't irita pa sa akin si Ate Lyka dahil sa desisyon kong hindi magdaos ng debut party? Bakit ngayon ay naririto siya kasama ng iba pang mga kapatid ni Irvine rito?

I heard Ate Amor's bothered sigh. "We heard that... you rejected Hans."

My jaw clenched. Oh, it was about that. They are all here to talk about how I rejected Hans?

"I-I did."

"Why? Did he do something bad to you? Did he hurt you?"

"We know how much you like him, Vine. So tell us what made you reject him? So you know, we can make him pay."

My jaw dropped. It was surprising to know that even all of them knew about Irvine's feelings for that man. That means I was right. Something was going on between the two of them that this bizarre circumstance intervened.

In that case, Hans is indeed pitiful. Irvine too.

Well technically, I am too.

Lahat kaming damay sa sitwasyong ito ay nakakaawa.

Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot. Paano ko ipapaliwanag kung gayong wala akong balak na aminin sa kanila ang totoong dahilan kung bakit ko siga tinanggihan? What other valid reason I could say without them doubting me?