Between the Rainbow (Strawberries and Cigarettes Series #1)

Chapter 13

Little Demon

I was so pissed that I called Mom just to rant about it! I need a new phone! Kung pwedeng galawin ko ang funds ko makabili lang, gagawin ko. Anong android pinagsasabi niya? And seeing the black screen of my phone will only worsen my anger.

"Oh Brent!"

I was about to talk when she looked so sad.

"Nalaman ko sa Tita Solene mo na ayaw raw mag birthday ni Shiloh..."

My anger turned into dust as soon as I heard it.

"When is his birthday?" I asked.

"This month! He's turning nineteen!"

"Turning? I thought he was already nineteen?"

"Talaga? He's turning nineteen, Brent! Kaso baka ayaw niya kasi nalaman ko sa Tita Solene mo, noong mismong birthday niya, namatay ang Lola niya kaya hindi nakapaghanda kasi naging burol pa ng lola niya."

Oh... Knowing that he has a frame with his grandma. I could sense how much he was affected when she died.

"Baka pwede mong i-treat sa birthday niya? I'll give your allowance in advance."

"I need my funds too, mom."

"Bakit?"

"My phone died."

Bumuntonghininga siya. "Ano bang mga pinaggagawa mo sa mga gamit mo at nasisira?"

"The demon in my condo broke it," I murmured.

"Ano?"

"I said send my funds, please. I need the money."

Sunod sunod ang pagpipigil kong magdabog sa sumunod na mga araw. I cooked food for breakfast, and he would present to wash the dishes, which became our own routine in the condo.

He never said sorry, and I'm not sure if he blocked her. Hindi talaga nababali ang isang 'to. Guguho nalang siguro ang mundo pero si Shiloh, hindi pa rin matitibag bumagyo man o bumaha. Mas gugustuhin pa siguro niyang malunod at magpalutang lutang sa tubig kaysa humingi ng tawad! Baka kahit lumindol ay gusto nalang niyan magpalamon sa lupa!

"Pass me the water," turo ko sa pitsel sa umagang iyon habang kapwa na kami bihis na bihis para pumunta sa school mamaya.

"Abot mo naman," he answered in his usual cold demeanor.

I sighed and licked my lips. Kahit siguro maputulan ako ng kamay hindi yata ako nito tutulungan. Kung ito lagi ang kasama ko...tatanda agad yata ako sa kunsumisyon.

"Come to me after your subjects. Kung wala ka pa sa limang minuto, iiwan na kita," I said and stood first to my irritation.

"Edi magtataxi," I heard him whisper.

See? Singtaas na ng bundok ang pasensya ko, pero itong pride ni Shiloh ayaw magpatalo.

He's such a pain in the ass. As far as I remember, he's the one who was at fault. But then, as I tried to remember where it all started, it was my fault since I ended his call with Angela.

Kumalma ako saglit habang nagmamaneho na. I cleared my throat and maneuvered the car swiftly as I drove to the parking lot of the school.

"I'm sorry, by the way," tikhim ko. "I won't do it again. I'll just talk to Angela later and apologize too..."

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kalsada, medyo kabado ngunit hindi ko lang pinahalatang kuryoso ako sa reaksyon niya.

Now that I apologized, he might apologize for what he has done to my phone too? And he might...block Verena? Dahil kung gagawin niya ang lahat ng 'yan, huhupa talaga itong galit ko. I might be having a good day with my broken phone. So what, right, Brent?