Chasing Rainbows

6: Lanterns

Chapter Six

"Fiora!"

"Elisse!"

"Celeste!"

"Fiora Elisse Celeste!"

Isinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa unan at impit na sumigaw. Lecheng buhay 'to. Ngayon na lang makakatulog nang maayos dahil holiday, bibisitahin ka pa ng kamalasan. 

I got up from bed with a thud and immediately opened the door before they could wake up everyone living on this floor. As soon as I opened it, I was greeted by the two devils who ruined my day. 

"Ano nanaman bang kailangan niyo? Sabi ko naman sa inyo, hindi ako nagtitinda ng shabu," I snapped. 

They didn't answer me and just walked straight in without even removingtheir shoes. Bastards. Literal na sira na talaga ang araw ko. 

"Tangina naman," pagmumura ko. "Kitang puti 'yung basahan. Mahirap bang maghubad ng sapatos?"

Hindi nila ako pinakinggan at ipinagpatuloy lamang nila ang kanilang ginagawa. Nilalabas nila mula sa plastic bag ang iba't ibang uri ng pagkaing binili nila sa iba't ibang stall. Hinayaan ko na lamang sila at bumalik ako sa aking kuwarto total parang wala rin lang naman silang naririnig. 

"Aren't you going to eat with us?" Jedruth asked as an afterthought. I raised my middle finger. Kaninang tinatanong, hindi sumasagot tapos ngayon bigla akong kakausapin.

Nakukuha ko na ulit ang tulog ko nang bigla namang tumunog ang telepono ko. Inabot ko ito mula sa bedside table at mas lalo akong nabuwisit nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag.

"Jedruth! Nademunyo ka talagang hayop ka!" I shouted as I turned off my phone. I heard him laughing outside which made me even more annoyed. Kung hindi lang ako puyat, kanina ko pa siya sinakal.

Alas kuwatro na ng hapon nang magising ulit ako. Kaagad akong lumabas upang tignan kung umalis na ba sila. At ang mga animal, nag-iwan pa ng mga basura sa kusina. Naiinis na kinunan ko ito ng litrato at isinend sa group chat namin.

Fiora:

Thanks for the trash you left.

Jedruth:

You're welcome, princess.

Zayn:

You have a present from someone, by the way. I put it on the desk. It's the most beautiful gift I've ever seen in my entire life.

Jedruth:

Me too. Tell your admirer I admire him for giving you that. It's very special.

As soon as I read their message, I quickly checked it. I wonder what it was this time. When I got to the table, I couldn't believe what I saw. I expected it to be dandelions this time but it was a fucking grass planted on a fucking shoe.

"What on earth am I supposed to do with this?"

To be honest, I feel offended because who the fuck sends someone a grass as a gift? But oh well, I don't know this guy's intention on the other hand, so I'll let this slide. Maybe he isn't really my admirer. Perhaps he just wants to annoy me for some unknown reason. I read the letter that came with this grass.

Hi, Crescent.

Do you like your present? Even if that's just a grass, I put an effort to plant that. Anyways, it's your choice if you'll keep that or no. My whole point here is, try to be reckless one more time and if you die, I'll bury you myself and throw different variety of grass instead of flowers. You don't want that, do you?

What a nice way of saying take care. He's just like Zayn. Why can't they just say that they care for me instead of threatening me. But do they really care about me though? I doubt that. I assume too much but I also have trust issues.

I cleaned up the mess Jedruth and Zayn left in my kitchen and then took a shower afterwards. Although today is a holiday, may usapan kami nila Joss that we will meet each other today to watch the lantern parade.

I have no plans on going out today kasi ramdam ko pa rin hanggang ngayon 'yong pagod ko, but I had to because of Joss. Isa pa, it's my first time to watch a lantern parade. Para saan pa ang paninirahan ko dito sa City ng pansamantala kung hindi ko susulutin diba.

But I spoke too early...

"Fiora, aren't you enjoying the show?" Joss asked, his tone more teasing than questioning.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Yeah, ine-enjoy kong manoon ng mga ulo."

For reference, I'm only 5'1. How am I supposed to watch the show at this height? All I can see from here are the heads of other people.

Suddenly, Joss kneeled down and offered his shoulders. "I'll carry you."

Nataranta ako. Last time I checked, my weight is 48 pero hindi ko alam kung bumababa o tumaas ito ngayon. I don't even know if he can carry me for a long time. 

He looked at me but I shook my head. "I don't think you can carry me."

"I'm a member of the cheerleading squad, don't you remember? And I work out a lot, so I'm not weak." He pulled me closer to him. "Hop on."

I was hesitant but I had no choice. I wrapped my legs around his neck and held Aerika's hand for support so we wouldn't tumble. He managed to stand up and that's when I saw how beautiful the lanterns were. I stayed on Joss's shoulders for a minute to appreciate the show.

"I'm good." I tapped his shoulder, indicating that he could put me down already.

"Sure?" he asked and I nodded.

"Let's eat," I suggested. Wal akong balak panoorin 'yung parade hanggang sa matapos ito. Mabilis akong ma-boring.

Nang makapili kami nang kakainan at uupo na sana ako, may mga nakita akong hindi ko inaasahang mukha. They both winked at me and I glared at them in exchange.

Nagkunwari akong wala akong nakita at ibinalik ang atensyon ko sa mga kasama ko na nagsisimula ng magkuwento ng mga kung anu-ano.

Nakangiti akong pinapakinggan ang mga kuwento nila pero bigla iyong napalitan ng pagtataka nang lingunin ko si Zayn na ngayon ay nakatitig kay Joss.