"Here, apply this." sambit niya pagkapasok sa kwarto ko. We are now at home, and I thought he left already. Ako nalang kasi ang bumaba sa sasakyan kanina at pumasok sa bahay. Kaya nagulat ako ngayong nandito siya at pinuntahan pa ako sa kwarto.
He extended his arm holding an oinment that at first I thought its some kind of toothpaste. Kunot ang noong tinitigan ko siya. Mas inilapit sa mukha ko ang hawak na ointment. Ngumuso ako at kinuha na iyon. Akala ko kung ano na.
"Apply that instead of using betadine. Wala lang akong ibang mabiling gamot kanina doon kaya yoon ang ginamit ko sayo. I'm going now."
Ngumuso ako.
"Aalis ka parin?"
"They're waiting for me."
"Dapat kasi hindi mona muna ako inuwi."
"If you stay there longer either you or one those girls will need to be taken to the hospital."
"Ang galing ko 'no? Walang laban sa akin ang apat na mga bruhang iyon."
"Kung magaling ka tala
ARTIAS POV "You were already asleep when we arrived." He said looking intently at me. I blinked and looked away. I saw Iulian looking at us and standing in the door. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at sinigawan. "You scared me!" He chukled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. At hindi ko alam na gising ka pala at pupunta sa kusina." "Why were you holding a knife anyway? At bakit nakahoodie kapa?!" inakala ko tuloy na magnanakaw siya. Plus naka all black pa siya. Hindi naman malamig sa loob na bahay, sa kwarto lang talaga ni Kinglsey at hindi naman din maliawnag dito sa loob kaya bakit nakasuot pa sa ulo niya ang hoodie. "I was gonna cook, at may hihiwain kaya may hawak akong kutsilyo. Its cold inside KIngsleys room, why I'm wearing a hoodie. Hindi ko na tinanggal because I know no one will be there and everyone is asleep." I nod my head once and faced Kingsley. Sumulyap ako sandali sa m
Artia's POV "She's back to sleep." he told to his friend. Hindi na niya ginising pa si Artia. ANd he doesn't know if he'll just carry her and brng her back to her room or just let her sleep there at sa isang guest room nalang siya matutulog. But he doesn't want Iulian to know about it. Baka kapag nalaman na natuutlog sa kwarto niya si Artia ay mabanggit pa ito kay Courtney na pagsisimulan ng kanilang away. His girlfriend doesn't really get easily jealous but with Artia she's immediately jealous. Maybe like him before, hindi maganda ang pagkakakilala niya kay Artia specially when its about her getting linked with boys. They ate the ramen Iulian cooked. pagkatapos kumain ay pumanik na sa guest room si Iulian. Kingsley pretended that he'll go back to his room and sleep there but really just stayed outside his room and after few minutes he went back in on the second floor and entered the next room beside where Iulian is sleeping.
Artia's POV "Yes, tita?" My eyes immediately turned to Kingsley. Kasalukuyan namin kumakain ay may tumawag sa phone niya and by the looks of it I think its Ma. He looked back at me. Positive si mama iyan. "Yes." he answered again. TInasaan ko siya ng dalawang kilay at binigyan ng "anong pinag-uusapan niyo" na tingin. "When is it again?" He asked serious and frowned. I was in a frown too. Now so curious on what they're talking about. He asked when, is it a occasion? Event or what? or baka kung kailan sila uuwi? Umayos ako ng upo nang maisip na baka tungkol sa kasal ang pinag-uusapan nila. The three of us are just silent waiting for the end of Kingsleys conversation with the person on the other line which I think is my mother. "You're not coming home this, Sunday?" he asked next. Mas nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Now it seems like he's not talking with Ma. His tone turned casual, still polite but he don't sound like that wh
ARTIA'S POV I immediately noticed what Courtey is wearing. She's wearing a white and yellow stribped crop top shirt and a skirt paired with white shoes. I'll admit she have curves but my waist is thinner and I have abs, she doesn't. I glared at Kingsley. Grabe kung pagbawalan akong magsuot ng crop top at skirt dahil daw bata ang mga pupuntahan namin pero itong girlfriend niya nakasuot ng ganon. "I didn't know." He whispered looking stern. Kunwari hindi kami nagbubulungan. Umirap ako. Kung hindi niya pala alam e'di dapat bawalan niya si Courtney ngayon. "Hey," he greeted at her and kissed her on the cheek. Lumingon sa akin si Iulian matapos masaksihan din iyon. He smiled at me but I didn't. Nakakainis! Hindi ko naisuot ang OOTD ko for today dahil sa pagsusuway ni Kingsley tapos ito naman palang jowa niya magsusuot ng ganiyan at hindi man lang pinagsabihan. Courtneys eyes looked at me. She scanned my whole body. Nakasimangot akong
Artia's POV I blinked twice, flustered by his reaction. Nabigla ako dahil naalala niya ang kwento ni Iulian na sinabi ko kanina. Mukha siyang galit. Bago ko siya sinagot ay tinignan ko muna ang mga batang nakapaligid sa amin kung nakikinig ba sila. The kids are around 4 to 9 years old, I think. Kinabahan ako na baka narinig nila siya at madulas pa ang bibig at masabi iyon sa mga madre. Malalagot kami sigurado at baka paalisin na dito. I should be careful, since I'm here for the sake of my mother. I am representing our families name. Kung anong kasiraan ang gagawin ko ay kasiraan din kay mama. Kaya buti nalang ay walang pakialam sa amin ang mga bata. Lumapit ako sa kaniya para magkarinigan kami ng maayos kahit pa magbulungan lang ng sa gano'n maiwasan na marinig ng mga bata ang usapan namin. "Hush down, they might hear you." I said whispering. He just glared at me. I stared back at his sharp drowsy eyes. I've been wa
ARTIA’S POV "Anna! Don't be mean to our visitors." bulyaw sa kaniya ni Rita na isa sa mga nag-aasikaso sa ampunan. The kid even rolled her eyes on me. Inirapan ko din. Matapos umirap ay napadpad ang tingin ko kay Kingsley na nakatingin pala sa akin. I showed him a poker face and looked away. "Now, let's hear interesting story about you guys. What do you do at your age?" Rita asked to the kids. One bubbly girl voluntered to answer. She told us how her days goes by. What she do and who she spend her days with. Then other kids told their stories too. Lahat sila sa laro umiikot ang mga araw nila. Buong araw na nakikipaglaro sa mga kaibigan. Makikita ang saya at kuntento sa mga mukha nila. Ang sarap sigurong bumalik sa pagkabata. Ang akala ko noon mas sasaya ako kapag tumanda na ako dahil magagawa ko na ang mga bagay na gusto kong gawin. Mali pala ang akala ko. As you grow old, the problems in the world unreveals
Artia's POV "I guess she don't want to play so she wouldn't be called childish." Anna said sarcastic. I Looked at her with sharp eyes. "ANNA!" sigaw na ni RIta sa kaniya. "Pwede pu bang pumatol sa bata?" tanong ko kay Rita dahil malapit ng maisagad ng bata itong ang pasensiya ko. The story telling goes and I was thankful because their attention diverted to someone else and skipped to ask me why. But I know one person wouldn't skip asking me why I answered I can't. I could feel his stares since earlier. We locke eyes and I saw how he tried to read my soul. I avoided his gze afraid he could really read me. "Excuse me, I'll just go to the rest room." paalam ko at tumayo na. Rita gave me direction where I could find the rest room. Tumango ako at umalis na kahit hindi pa talaga naiintindihan ang direksyon na binigay niya. Magtatanong nalang ako sa mga madadaanan o makakasalubong ko. Ilang silid na ang nadaanan ko. There was
Artia's POV"Do you want it tight or just...?""Tight is fine, a bit loose is okay."An evil thought visited my mind. Kingsley doesn't like green jokes, so I'll drop one."So you prefer tight?" I asked double meaning.I don't know if Iulian understood the other meaning. But I heard him chuckled."Let's go." said Courtney serious. Pareho kaming napatingin sa kaniya. Ngumuso ako at mabilisan nalang hinigpitan ang pagkakatali ng apron ni Iulian."Thank you miss beautiful." pabirong sambit sa akin ni Iulian nang umikot na paharap sa akin. He was smiling with his dimples showing. I smiled at him too, then glance at the guy who I caught is staring at me with sharp drowsy eyes.I insisted to tie Iulians apron to divert my attention. Hindi ko nagustuhan ang naramdaman ko kanina sa nasaksihan. And I saw Iulian looking at me, afraid he might notice I was feeling jealous, I made an excuse and voluntered to ti