Through the Light and Dark (Saudade Series #1)

Kabanata 11

Warning: SPG
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Kabanata 11

That man

Noong mga nakaraang linggo ay nilunod ko ang sarili ko sa pag-aaral dahil midterms at finals na namin. Siyempre, kinailangan kong pagbutihan dahil ayaw ko namang maalis sa Dean's Lister ngayong 1st semester.

Si Von at ang mga kaibigan ko ay ganoon din. Pare-parehas kaming naging busy. At lalo na si Vannah! Halos hindi na nga magparamdam sa amin, pero naiintndihan ko naman.

Parang isang ihip lang ng hangin at Disyembre na. Ang bilis! Huling simbang gabi na bukas!

Isang buwan na rin pala kami ni Von... It was just a simple yet so memorable. We just celebrated it at my parents' house. My brothers and my dad invited Von to drink. Daddy Jirch was so contented that day. I could see him smiling that day... like he had no problems at all.

Another reason why my heart was so happy because it seemed that Kuya JC and Von were now on good terms. Nagbabatian na sila at hindi na madilim ang mga mata sa tuwing nakikita ang isa't isa.

Hindi na rin muna ako tumutuloy sa condo ko at doon muna sa dating bahay, kina Daddy. I just felt that I needed to be with them... I miss their warmth of care. But once the new year is over, I would move to my unit again.

Si Mommy naman, labis kong ipinagtataka sa tuwing nakikita ko siyang umiiyak sa pagsapit ng gabi. Kinabukasan ay mapapansin mong mugto ang kaniyang mga mata.

I gave her words of affirmations. And I told her that I was not a kid no more—that I would listen. But as expected, she just said that I would not understand because I was still a kid.

It seems like I was living in a house that were full of secrets.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at napabalik sa tamang huwisyo.

"Stupid, Alain. He couldn't stop biting his lips to stop himself from smiling inside the church." Von shook his head as his forehead creased.

"Loko 'yan, eh! Biglang nawala 'yong tawa niya no'ng siya na ang kakain ng ostia." Harvey chuckled.

Katatapos lang naming magsimba. Kumpleto sana sila kung narito si Antoine. I heard that he attended the mass with his... girl?

Sumilay naman ang matamis na ngiti ni Von nang lumapit siya sa akin. Iniabot niya ang Macao milktea.

I bit the insides of my cheeks but I ended up biting my lower lip in romantic excitement.

"Alam na alam kung ano'ng favorite ko, ah?"

Itinusok ko ang straw sa hawak kong milktea at humigop doon. I eyed him and chewed the tapioca pearls.

"Of course." He raised his brow up and down, feeling confident. "How about mine, do you know?" Humalukipkip siya, nakaangat ang gilid ng kaniyang labi na para bang kapag wala akong maisagot ay mayayari ako.

"Patay tayo riyan."

I just glared at them and snorted. "Paano ko makalilimutan 'yon? Eh, halos lahat na nga ng bagay ay alam ko na sa 'yo!" I hissed.

"So, ano nga?"

I took a deep sigh and held his hand to caress it. "Hindi ka mahilig sa milktea, baby." I softly chuckled. "Tamang imbento ka nga lang ng flavor sa Starbucks. Pink drink, right?"