Sunlight Deception (Isla Series #1)

06

"Focus, Amelie. Please, focus..."

Nandito ako sa cafe habang nagbabasa ng libro tungkol sa Macroeconomics. Ito lang ang ginagawa ko sa dalawang linggong nakalipas. I was trying to understand every word pero hindi ako maka concentrate.

I really need to focus!

It's been two weeks since the engagement party of Ate Aya, but I still can't forget about what happened. I tried to avoid Echo as much as I could kasi nahihiya ako.

Whenever magkasama kami nila Cali tapos makikita namin si Echo, nagpapaalam ako agad na may gagawin. Pag nag-aaya naman sila, minsan hindi nalang ako sumasama. Hindi rin siya nagdu-duty rito sa café.

I know that it was just a kiss. But... it made me feel different. Hindi pa rin ako ready na harapin o kausapin siya.

Napaangat ako ng tingin noong nag ring ang phone ko. Tiningnan ko kung sino ang tumatawag at nakita na si Cali pala. Kinuha ko ito at sinagot.

"Hi!" masayang bungad niya.

"Ano?"

"You really can't say 'hello'?" tanong niya, tumatawa. Napairap naman ako kahit na hindi niya ako nakikita.

"Ano nga kasi," iritang tanong ko at binaba ang libro sa table. It was useless studying anyway. I can't even remember any word that I've read!

"There's a party later."

"Busy ako," palusot ko. Of course, I wasn't. Hell, all I do is read all the textbooks I brought and end up learning nothing! I wanted to go, but I know that Echo would be there that's why hindi ako pupunta.

"Please? Lagi ka nalang 'di sumasama sa amin." I know she was pouting when she said that. Natawa naman ako dahil naiimagine ko ang mukha niya. Paniguardong mukhang kuting!

"Saan ba?" I asked. I really wanted to go. Who doesn't want to party, right? It's summer!

"Sa Espanyol! Sama ka, ha?" She sounded really excited.

"Try ko lang. 'Di pa sure, okay?"

"No. Sasama ka! We'll pick you up. Bye, see you!"

Binaba ko ang phone ko sa lamesa at napabuga ng hangin. Pinatong ko ang ulo sa taas ng textbook ko sa lamesa at paulit-ulit tinama ang ulo ko roon.

Paano na ito? I was sure Jericho would be there.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at umayos ng upo. Tumingin nalang ako sa dagat, pinapakalma ang sarili habang nag-iisip.

Nakikita ko naman si Echo paminsan-minsan, hindi naman siya umiiwas sa 'kin, eh. He tried reaching out on IG, on text, and even sa personal. Kapag malapit siya sa 'kin, umaalis kaagad ako. I just felt really shy about what happened.

'Di ko naman pinagsisihan ang nangyari, nahihiya lang talaga ako. I don't usually kiss a guy unless he's my boyfriend. That's just not me. Si Raya siguro. I laughed at that thought.

Nag-focus na lang ulit ako sa binabasa ko. I finally understood some lesson when I accepted the fact that I really can't avoid Jericho in this small island. I spent my whole morning reading the book and stopped around lunch time.

I started to run through my social media accounts to check for news. But instead of news, I saw Jericho's latest post. It was just a simple half-body picture of him. He was wearing a white t-shirt that fitted him perfectly. He had a smirk on his lips and his hair was messy. His arms were crossed in front of him. which made his arms look more emphasized.