Twisted Hearts Book 1: The Beauty Tames The Beast

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Tulala akong bumalik sa kwarto ni Alas. I received tons of texts from Cara and Camelia, telling me to go to school tomorrow because they miss me already. If I haven't heard their conversation a while ago, I could've replied with eagerness to them but now, I could only stare at their text messages and tries not to get hurt.

Maingat kong itinulak ang pintuan sa kwarto ni Alas. I found him sitting on his bed, chewing the banana cake lazily while his mother is on the phone. Nginitian ako ni Tita August at tumalikod saka muling kinausap ang nasa telepono.

Ang galit na nararamdaman ko para kay Alas kanina ay unti-unti nang naglalaho. I weakly grabbed my shoulder bag lying on the couch and waited for Tita August. Walang imik si Alas. Alam kong ramdam niya ang aking presensiya sa loob ng kwarto pero wala siyang sinasabi.

Nang matapos si Tita August sa pakikipag-usap ay saka lamang siya humarap sa akin.

"Are you going home, dear?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, Tita. Baka hinahanap na po ako ni mommy," sagot ko.

"Okay, sure." Aniya. "I'm sorry I can't drive you home. May iniutos kasi ako kay Zero at hanggang ngayo'y hindi pa bumabalik. Walang magbabantay kay Alas."

I chuckled softly. "Okay lang po ako, Tita."

"She's not a kid, mom. She can go home by herself." Sabat naman ni Alas.

Tita August threw him a sharp look even though he couldn't see her.

"Anyway, I've got to get going. Magta-tricycle lang po ako." Lumapit ako sa kaniya at dinampian ang kaniyang pisngi. "Bye, Tita."

"Take care, dear." Anito. Bago pa man ako makahakbang palayo sa kaniya ay hinawakan niya ang aking braso. Napatingin tuloy ako nang may litong ekspresiyon sa aking mukha. "You're going to come back here tomorrow, right?" she asked with a hopeful expression in her face.

I smiled tightly. "Siguro po. After class if I don't have anything to do."

She sighed in relief. "I'm glad. Thank you, Belle, really. Mag-iingat ka sa pag-uwi."

I nodded my head. "Bye, Tita."

Binalingan ko lamang si Alas ngunit hindi ko siya inimikan. Mabilis ang aking hakbang palabas ng kaniyang kwarto.

---

Hinintay kong matapos ang practice ni Jayden sa basketball bago ko siya napagdesisyunang kausapin. Nakaupo ako sa bleachers. As usual, I bought him a drink. He came running towards my direction with his sweat, dripping on his hair. Other girls giggled from behind. But I couldn't feel the same affection like I had before every time he runs towards me.

"Hey, babe." He grinned and snatched the Gatorade from my hands. He took three long gulps and sighed. Akma niya akong hahalikan nang iiwas ko ang aking pisngi sa kaniya. Jayden scowled. "What's wrong?"

"Can we talk?" mahina kong tanong sa kaniya. "In private?"

He let out an irritated sigh. "What is it this time, Belle? I still have a practice."

"But you're already done—"

"I'm going to do overtime today." Anito nang may seryosong mukha. "So whatever it is that you'd like to talk about, just say it here."

I grabbed my shoulder bag from my side and got up. "Then maybe I'll just talk to you tomorrow."

"Belle!" galit nitong asik sa akin. Napalingon ang ilan niyang teammates sa aming direksiyon at ang mga babaeng nasa likuran naming dalawa.