7

"Trust me, okay?" Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at tumango naman ako. He smiled and rubbed my head. "See you in school."

"What the hell was that?" My Mom asked Dad angrily. Hindi siya pinansin ni Daddy. "Dominique!" Mom shouted.

"What?!"

"Bakit ka pumayag na tumira sa isang bubong ang anak mo sa isang lalaki? Are you out of your mind?" Mom was furious. Nanatili lamang ako na nakaupo.

"At bakit hindi? If that is the only way para matuloy ang pag-merge ng dalawang kumpanya then so be it! Walang mangyayaring masama sa anak mo. Halata naman na hindi siya type ni Sky kaya hindi siya gagahasahin! Sky is not that low to stoop down to your daughter's level." I heard a loud slap. Agad na umangat ang ulo ko. I saw mom crying.

"Ang babaw mo!"

"Don't start with me! Iyang nalang ang maiaambag ng walang kwenta mong anak para sa pamilyang ito! If only.. if only my dear Luna didn't leave. Edi sana wala akon problemang ganito! I have told you several time, Ericka, 'yang anak mong 'yan ang nag bibigay ng kamalasan sa pamilya natin!"

"Pwede ba, Dominique? Stop blaming Alexis for everything!" I could not bare seeing my parents fight because of me.

"M-mommy, huwag na po kayo mag-away. It's fine with me. Sky is a good guy naman po kaya alam ko na wala siyang gagawin na masama sa akin. I trust him," I tried smiling while holding my mom's arm. Nararamdaman ko ang panginginig ni mommy dahil sa galit.

Lumapit si Daddy sa akin. He looked down at me. Hate? Disgust? Or maybe both. I can't seem to name the look he is giving me. "Siguraduhin mo na matuloy ang kasal ninyo ni Sky, Soliel. That's the only thing you can contribute to this family." He coldly said and went upstairs. Hindi niya man lang ako hinintay na sumagot.

***

I drove to school the next day. I was never fond of wearing make-up but I had to today. Hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos kagabi and my dark circles are very visible so I had to cover them. nag drive-thru lang ako ng iced coffee sa mcdo at dumerecho na ako kaagad sa school.

I parked my car beside a white porsche. Hindi muna ako lumabas ng sasakyan at hinintay ko na lumabas 'yung tao sa loob ng sasakyan. I saw Sky getting out from the car. He was wearing a black polo shirt tucked in his black pants and he paired it with his Balenciaga shoes. Sinuot naman niya ang black backpack niya. I was planning to wait until he leaves pero nagulat ako when he went near my car and knocked on my door kaya naman binaba ko ang bintana.

"Y-yes?" Tanong ko. He smirked when he saw me.

"Yes?" He mocked me. "Get out and let's go." Kahit naguguluhan ako kay agad naman ako lumabas ng sasakyan ko. I took my bag from the back seat. Nagulat ako when he took my bag from me at siya na ang nag dala nito.

"Ako na-"

"Just shut up."

Hinayaan ko na lamang siya sa kagustuhan niya. Ramdam ko ang mga mata na tumitingin sa amin habang naglalakad kaming dalawa. "Ihahatid mo ba ako?" Prangkang tanong ko. Ngumisi naman siya at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

"Ano sa tingin mo?" He teasingly asked. I rolled my eyes at him at agad ko naman kinuha ang bag ko sa kanya.

"Kaya ko pumunta sa building namin mag-isa," sabi ko naman sa kanya.

"Okay, whatever," sabi niya at agad na nag lakad palayo. I sighed at nag lakad na din ako papunta sa classroom namin. I saw Stephanie inside the room studying. Pinuntahan ko agad siya.

"You look stressed," I teased her.

"Glad you're here! UAAP season is coming and we have to make plans na daw sabi ni sir," she told me. No wonder she's stressed out. I fished my phone out of my pocket and messaged our group chat so that we could have our emergency meeting this afternoon. Half day lang naman ang class namin today kaya we can make plans before the meeting.

I gave Stephanie the iced coffee that I bought for her. Her eyes sparkled when she saw the coffee at agad naman siya tumili at tumalon para yakapin ako. Few minutes later ay dumating ang prof namin. We finished our International Labor Laws class and I felt like it drained every last bit of me. Mabuti nalang at free cut ang last subject namin this morning kaya makakapag lunch kami ni Stephanie ng maaga at makapag plano kami before the meeting.

We went to the cafeteria after our class. Mabuti naman at hindi masyadong madami ang tao sa loob kaya nakapag hanap kami kaagad ng mauupuan. Si Stephanie na ang nag order para sa aming dalawa kaya ako ang natira sa table.

I was scrabbling through my iPad. Sinusulat ko ang mga possible agenda's namin for our meeting later. I was so focused with what I'm doing when someone forcefully placed their bag on top of our table kaya naman napa-tigil ako sa pag susulat para tignan kung sino ang bastos na gumawa noon.

I saw Sky smirking down at me. "Mabuti naman at tinignan mo na ako. I kept on calling you but you were so focused with what you are doing to even look at me," he amusingly said.

"Anong gingawa mo dito?" I asked him. He scoffed.

"You won't even offer me to sit?"

"What's the point? You will still sit down even if I don't ask you to," pambabara ko sa kanya. He chuckled a bit at umupo sa harapan ko.

"Who's with you?" He asked.

"My friend," I simply said and continued what I was doing a while ago before he interrupted me.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "A male species?" Halos matawa ako sa sinabi niya.

"Male species? Is that the new way of calling a guy now?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"So it is a guy?"

"Sis, wala silang sisig kaya I just bought you strawberry shake nalang... Oh! Hi there, Sky!" Masiglang bati ni Stephanie pero halata pa din sa boses niya ang pagtataka.

"Awwe," I pouted. "It's okay. Thanks, Steph," sabi ko at kinuha ang shake. I smiled after taking a sip. It's so refreshing!

"Is that your lunch, Soliel?" Naka-kunot noo na tanong ni Sky sa akin. Stephanie was confused pero hindi siya nag salita. Alam ko maraming siyang itatanong sa akin.

"Yeah. Hindi mo ba nakikita?" I said. He got up at walang sabi-sabi na pinitik ang noo ko. "Aray!"

"Eat food, Soliel Alexis. Food! Solid food! Hindi shake!"

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. " Wala nga daw sisig hindi ba? Eh gusto ko kumain ng sisig! Anong magagawa ko kung wala nang sisig?"

"Then eat something else! Damn it woman," he angrily said. He took his phone and called someone.

"Teka nga, close ba kayo?" Pabulong na tanong ni Stephanie sa akin. Sky was standing in front of us. Umiling naman ako which made Stephanie raise her eyebrow at me. "Snob kaya 'yan! Halos mandiri 'yan sa mga babae dito sa school yet here he is fuming mad just because you picked strawberry milkshake instead of eating sisig."

I smiled amusingly. "Hayaan mo siya. Baliw lang 'yan," we both chuckled.

Minutes after we saw someone walking towards our table. May dala-dalang paper bag. He stopped in front of our table and placed three big paper bags on top. "Thanks, Seb," sabi ni Sky. Tumango naman ang lalaki at umalis.

"Here, you picky eater. Sisig," matalim na sabi niya habang inaayos ang pagkain sa harap namin ni Stephanie. "You eat as well, Stephanie. Baka kapag hindi ka kumain ay hindi din kakain iyang kaibigan mong may saltik sa utak." Hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit kilala niya si Stephanie. Heck, almost everyone knows Stephanie.

Stephani chuckled and nodded. "Alright, alright. Baka mag-away pa kayong dalawa diyan. You'll eat with us, right Sky?"

Tumango naman siya at umupo na din sa harapan namin pagkatapos niyang ayusin ang mga pagkain. Halos lumaki ang mata ko. Iba't-ibang pagkain ang nasa harapan namin. May sisig, fish fillet, sinigang, and strawberry shortcake. Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Sky,hindi namin mauubos ni Stephanie ito."

He rolled his eyes at me. "I said I'll eat with you, didn't I? Tsss." Tumango naman ako at hinayaan ko na lamang siya. Kumain na kaming tatlo. Kitang-kita kung paano hindi mapakali si Stephanie. She kept on staring at both of us. Mukhang nahalata ito ni Sky.

"Eat first and I'll answer your questions later, Steph," Sky smirked. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Stephanie.

"So there is something between the two of you nga?" Umiwas naman ako ng tingin at nag patuloy ako sa pag kain. "I can't na talaga with the suspense! Sky! You tell me! Kasi I know wala akong makukuha na information mula kay Alexis. She won't tell me anything!" Reklamo ni Stephanie.

Tinignan ko ng masama si Sky. I know what's going on inside his mind. He gave me a sly smile. He rested his chin on top of his palm and looked at Stephanie who's giving him all of her attention.

"I'm courting your friend, Steph."