Believing Lies

SIXTEEN: The Tale of Amber and Her Third

Hindi maganda ang gising ko ngayon. I'm on a bad condition, paano kasi sumasakit na ang ulo ko dahil sa sipon ko. Dahil siguro ito sa pagtampisaw ko sa ulan noong nakaraang araw.

Pilit akong bumangon at pumasok sa bathroom para makapagligo. I took a hot shower kasi nilalamig ako. Hinayaan kong dumaloy sa katawan ko ang mainit na tubig habang minamasahe ang sintido ng ulo ko para maghilumin ang sakit. Hindi rin natigil ang sarili ko sa pagbahing at pag-ubo.

"Why are you wearing a jacket, Riley?" Mum put down her newspaper to talk to me.

"Are you okay?" Dad, while preparing the breakfast on the table.

Lumapit ako kay mommy at humalik sa kaniyang pisngi, ganun rin kay daddy na nasa kusina at nagluluto ng makakain. Lumapit rin ako kay Sofie na busy sa paglalaro sa Ipad niya.

"I'm fine mum, dad. Sinisipon lang ako at medyo nilalamig kaya ako nag-jacket. But Don't worry, I'm fine," I said and smiled at them.

"Medyo mainit ka," Mum checked my forehead down to my neck.

"I'm okay mum," hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at ngumiti.

"I will make you a soup para painitin 'yang katawan mo," said Dad, while tying his apron at his back.

"Thank you dad."

"Kailan pala ang Sembreak niyo anak?" Dad asked.

I looked at my back to face him. "After midterm exam dad," sagot ko.

"This week?" Dagdag niyang tanong.

"Yes po," sagot ko.

"Kung ganun I-set na natin ang bakasyon natin sa sabado?"

I just nodded and grin.

"Really dad? Excited na po ako mag-beach," said Sofie, stretching her arms and yells out in excitement.

Sea. Beach. Sky. Fresh Air and turquoise water. Excited na rin akong magbakasyon. Matagal na rin ng huling beses akong nakapunta sa beach kaya masaya akong makapunta ulit roon.

Napangiti naman kaming lahat sa naging reaksyon ni Sofie. Bakas rin sa mukha nila ang excitement.
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"Riley," Amber whined, slinging her arm across my shoulders, weighing me down. Her words were a little excited, though she always had a hyper voice when she spoke. But today, she is more energetic and dynamic. 

"Hmmm?" I hum in response.  Rolling my locker combination into the metal panel, the lock clicking open. Stuffing my other stuffs into the skinny compartment, having to angle it in one specific position to get it to fit, I pulled out my first book for my first class; Science.

"I have a very important Chika for you," she said, with her eyes that was filled with excitement and love? I knew it. She's inlove.

"Lovelife?" I asked.

"How do you know?" Amber, covering her mouth, eyes a little bigger. She's funny.

"Hindi pa ba halata? Ganyan 'yang itsura mo 'pag inlove ka," I closed my locker and sling my bag to my shoulder.

"Oh my god bessy, I think I found the one. The one who is the only," sabi niya. Hindi ko naman siya naintindihan.

"Pinagsasabi mo, Amber?" I said and chuckled.

"Basta. 'Yun na 'yon," aniya. Napatawa nalang ako ng bahagya. She's out of her mind.

"Then tell me. Who's that guy?" Alam kong aabutin kami ng siyam-siyam dito para lang ilathala niya ang love story niya. Paano kasi ang dami pa niyang pasingit 'pag nag kwekwento.