Rule #2: Ruling The Flames

Epilogue

Blaze Ryder de Ocampo

I knew she hated me.

I knew that from the start. She would always give me those side-eye glares and would pretend like I'm not there. She hates my presence. Having me breathing near her is considered as a suffocation for her. That's how much she despises me.

"Troyie!" Audrey said with her usual sweet tone. The one she never uses on me.

"Audrey," Troy answered with a smile.

Napatingin ako sa kanila habang nag-uusap sila. I could see the smile on her face as she handed him her gift. Ni minsan hindi niya ako binigyan ng regalo. Nor does she ever smile at me like that.

Nagtama ang paningin namin at kasunod non ay ang pag-irap niya sa akin. I don't understand her. What did I do for her to hate me this much?

"Wala ako?" tanong ko nung mapamigay niya na ang regalo sa mga kaklase namin. I wasn't expecting anything from her, but I was silently hoping she'd change her mind this year.

"Wala," she simply replied. "You know I will never give you a gift. I hate you."

"Audrey," tawag ni Trent na parang sinasaway niya ito.

She looked at him before smiling fakely at me. Pagdating kay Trent, madali lang siyang sumunod. Everything he says, she will listen.

She took a small box out of her pocket and handed it to me. It's a small black box with a white ribbon on it. Nagulat pa ako at binigyan niya ako nito. I saw how she glanced at Trent who only smiled at her. Sigurado akong sinabihan lang siya ni Trent na bigyan ako ng regalo. Pero kahit na ganon ay hindi ko maipaliwanag ang tuwa ko.

"Oh, ayan. Happy?" she said, with one of her brows raised.

Mine was the smallest among everyone else but it made me smile. After years of receiving nothing from her, she finally gave me something.

"Of course," sagot ko at ngumiti.

Umirap siya sa akin at nakipagusap na ulit kay Trent. Troy laughed and tapped my back. Both of them knew how much I like her. Kaya lang naman ako nag gigirlfriend ay para makalimutan siya. Dahil alam kong kahit kailan hindi niya ako magugustuhan. Medyo gago, pero ginawa ko lang naman 'yon dahil buong akala ko kaya kong kalimutan siya.

I thought it was just a crush. She's very pretty, with her straight black medium length hair and angelic features. Matangos na ilong at mahahabang pilikmata, pati na rin ang kurba ng katawan niya na parang kahit anong pasuotin mo ay babagay. Most especially her soft, pinkish lips that I would often stare at when she's speaking or whenever she's pouting about something.

There was no inch of imperfection on her face. Parang kahit anong anggulo ko tingnan ay wala talaga. She's the prettiest girl I've ever seen. We grew up together and not once did I ever see someone who would outshine her face. Tanging kakaiba siya sa lahat...

"Bakit hindi ka pa kase umamin?" tanong ni Troy nung minsan na absent si Audrey at kaming tatlo lang ang magkakasama.

"Ayoko nga... lalo ako iiwasan non e." sambit ko at napakamot sa ulo. "I'm fine with this. At least nakakasama ko siya dahil sa inyo..."

Troy chuckled. "E, torpe ka pala e! Nakailang girlfriend ka na, pero pagdating kay Audrey tumitiklop ka? E dapat nga sa kanya ka kumportable diba? Mas madalas mo siya kasama, mula pa nung mga baby kayo! Magkatabi pa nga daw kayo sa Nursery nung pinanganak kayo diba?"

Trent sipped on his juice while staring at the front. Tahimik 'yan, pero paniguradong nakikinig siya sa amin. Hindi lang talaga siya madaldal.