Twelve

I stopped from walking because we are already outside the park.

I looked around for a taxi to pass.

"Do you have a car with you or a driver?" He asked me curiously.

I shook my head while still waiting for the taxi. "No. I just commuted over here."

"I can drive you home, if you won't mind." He turned his body to me while I am facing the road.

"Thank you for the offer, but I prefer commuting."

He nodded at me. "Okay."

I looked at him for a moment, "you? How are you going to your resto?"

He pointed out a part of the park. "I have my car with me."

I nodded.

Silence fell from us. No one is talking. But this kind of silence is not awkward.

I can feel calmness between us.

But if he stared at me for longer, I might feel awkwardness.

"I haven't seen you smile, yet, since you woke up earlier." I heard him saying it.

I already did a few minutes ago. You just didn’t see it.

"What's with you wanting me to smile?" I seriously question him.

He sighed, "your smile is too precious to be hidden."

I didn't answer him and just looked at my feet I saw in my peripheral vision that he raised his arm, as if something was going on.

I looked at the palm of his hand, there I saw a taxi approaching towards us.

I straightened up and held one hand in my tote bag.

Zach opened the door of the taxi for me and I can see that he talked to the driver but I can't hear what he is saying.

"You go. It's safe."

I nodded at him and I walked closer to the taxi.

Before entering, I looked at him first ...

"Thank you, Zach" I smiled at him and held the door's handle so I could close it.

I saw from the window that he was stunned and stunned for a few more seconds before turning to the window and knocking.

I opened the window. "Be safe. Keep smiling, Carla." He smiled at me genuinely.

I smiled and nodded at him again. "I'll try. You too. Be safe. Bye."

He nodded at me, "Bye."

I just stared at him for a bit then closed the window.

"Brother, we're at Sander's." I told the driver so we could leave.

As I reached home, I just showed up to Nana and went straight to my room to transcribe again.

I have to work harder because it's allowance season again. For sure there are a lot of entrance fees because it's the 4th year. Excited at the same I was nervous.

I can sense that it'll be harder this time compared to last year. I can already imagine Jessie’s breakdowns.

I heard a knock on the door as I stood up to open the outside. I saw Ate Lesly.

"Yes please?" I opened it widely so she could enter.

He closed the door when he could enter. "How are you?"

I approached my study table and sat down. "It's okay."

"Really?" He answered me as he sat on my bed.

I rotated my chair in front of him. "Yes, Ate. I'm fine."

I need to assure her. I don’t want them to worry about me and Nana and Dad Danny.

"Are you working online? Aren't you tired? Didn't you go out earlier because you said you wanted to work outside."

I just nodded at him. She gasped at my answer.

"Carla, you don't have to work. Use the money your parents and siblings give you."

I shook my head, "Sister, you know I don't want to use that. Then I can."

She sighed again. "I know you can. But your class will start again, Carla. You will lose a good rest again if you combine work and study."

I can hear in her voice that she is concerned about me.

She is always like that. They are Nana. I appreciate them for that. But, I don't really want to use the money this family is giving me.

"Scholar kapa at your school. It's really good that your school allowed you to become a scholar even if you are not qualified because they know whose family you belong to."

"I'm qualified in academics, Ate." I answer him.

That's true. It was difficult for me to get a scholarship to school because I was not qualified.

Because I have to submit a bank statement as a requirement, eh my personal bank account that they made Mommy make too much.

It's almost like it's going to fall apart. It's good that I was asked to base it on my academic standing.

That was still a long conversation.

"Cleya !!" I close my eyes because of that shout.

"Omg! It's nice to come here in the Philippines! Omg! Happy birthday cous !!" it even grabbed me by both arms and shook me.

I kinda hate the energy she's giving and I don't feel the genuine words coming from her.

"thanks," I said softly and left that place.

"huh? I have a gift for you!" he was still chasing it but I just went up and hid in my room.

I checked my messages again but still nothing came that I was waiting for, I even checked some of my social medias but there's no response from him.

I feel torn. I always tease him about it but he doesn't say anything, he really doesn't want to.

I sighed. why is there still a dance dance? I'm only sixteen not yet eighteen. nakaka inis. I want him always but I never knew if he wants me, even for a moment I never felt that he needed me, that he would look for me.

I looked at the time on my phone. It's 1 pm already. it's saturday now ah? why can't he make at least a little time? even a no or yes reply he can't do, I guess he's really that busy that he can't make time of checking some messages, that's new to me.

The party started at four o'clock. they all sent their heart warming and plastic messages, I don't even know some but they wish me the best and things. Ayumi arrived late, her hair was still wet.

he approached me sitting in a chair in the middle. she handed me her gift wrapped in a pink wrapper.

"Happy Birthday bestie!" she hugged me tight and then suddenly I felt I felt like I am a new me but still have the same energy, lazy, no appetite, I don't feel like doing anything aside from sleeping and just watching movies in my room. I was almost scolded for saying I didn't want to go in because I was lazy and had no appetite.

and now my mom texted me after our driver sent me to school. I read his tinext to me.

‘You try cutting and you can’t really get home here! don't block me and your daddy! you are being educated so study well there! '

sounds concerned but actually not, puro utang na loob but did they ever thought of that they owe me something too? and I'm disappointed for not having that.

never mind. I'm also close to college. I can still endure them.

I looked at the time there's still 20 minutes before the start of the class. can i still I don't really feel like studying but I have no choice, if I don't take class my mother will know.

I got up and decided to go up just to avoid getting sick.

My exact erection was the arrival of the two on my side.

"Hey! Are you coming up right away?" it was Shawn, he sounds bubbly like there's something that didn't happen between us friends.

I didn't look at them, I just let them. after all even if they didn't do anything I still don't feel like I want to talk, I have to clear my mind and my heart before I decide to do something. "Awful! You always come in the morning! Shall we wait for Ayumi?" just like Shawn, Herb acted like it was our 3rd time to meet in the morning.

How can they be like that? act like nothing happened, like there's no problem, as if I ignored them? I kinda wish to be like them able to ignore the real situation ahead.

was that really easy for them? kay Ayumi? to her sister who I never knew would really ignore me as a woman who liked her.

I gripped the strap of my bag tightly, my eyes just on the ground, just in my path.

I started walking and they didn't even answer, I felt like sorry but not really, the pain my heart felt was more intense, I am really scared, I can't do anything for myself, to save my heart.

I didn’t look back, I ignored them and continued, as they did, acting as if there was no problem.  The class started when Ayumi was only two minutes late, her eyes looked heavy, I could sense her sadness and I also noticed that she often stared at me. Everytime I’m gonna look at her when she’s not looking I just remember that incident.

Garett's delivery to Chevy and it took us seven o'clock to wait, he let us wait, he ignored my outburst of attitude after he drove me home.

he ignored the pain I was feeling. I still remember the word he uttered, the heavy downpour as he uttered that word.

"I'm not responsible for how you feel! You choose it Cleya!"

"There's nothing wrong with me delivering Chevy!"

"If you have a problem with yourself fix it! My world doesn't just revolve around you."

Until now it is not clear what he meant by those words, even I who he was talking to did not understand anything. we’re both full -fledged in that situation.

I'm still hurt and nothing will change there. I looked at Ayumi once again. she was silent, frowning, if you look at her she looks sleepless.

Until now I can't think of talking to him, to say that I don't want to talk, I'm also confused with myself so I'm silent, I don't want to do something wrong that I won't forget and I'll bury every hour and day that will attack me. my sadness.

he almost saw me looking at him but I also immediately avoided and acted like writing to. notebook.

we finished class I didn’t go with them to eat, I became even more distant because three against one.

I didn't wait for them either and I felt guilty there but nothing and now I want to go home because it's not that hot.

I want to be happy first, reduce the pain, I want to go to the mall and let myself discover what's what and enjoy myself.

I was about to leave the hall when someone blocked your path and touched my wrist. "Let's talk," he said authoritatively and pulled me outside.

on the side of the building we stopped not far from the exit of the hallway.

"Can you stop being immature?"

I even raised an eyebrow because he said, Is that Immaturity? eh what can he do if I really don't want to talk?

what will I do? communicate plastic?

isn't he also immature because of what he does? the thickness of his face really! because I feel something for him he treats me like this!

pinapaasa!

I took a deep breath before answering. "Why do you think you're not immature?"

he still have no emotion on his face. "I'm not saying anything,"

"You really don't say anything because you're acting!" I ejaculated in disgust.

Actually, he has a point, he doesn't say anything because he does! and that is the truth.

"I'm not saying I'm mature right away, doesn't mean I'm in college I'm already that matured, I still have a lot of things to realize, maturity and growth doesn't stop Cleya," she said.

"And you're immature for giving me false hope!" I pointed at him and forced myself not to shed my tears.

he could not know that I was weakening because of his presence, that I almost seemed to give up.

"I didn't Cleya, you yourself provide interprets to my actions," she stared into my eyes as she let go of those words.

"even so you still said we would try!" reminding me of what he said.

He scratched his head. "forgive me,"

and now like this?

"Just ..."

"just ... talk to my sister, be friends with her again, even if it's just Cleya, yesterday my sister didn't talk to me because of what happened."

and because he mentioned that I remembered the question in my mind.

"Are you still together?" I boldly asked him.

and as usual he still has no emotion in his face, he still looking at me straight. "We're gone ... if that's what will give you peace of mind, just talk to my brother again so that I can calm down as well," he put both hands in his pocket and left first.

I followed him with my gaze and he stopped.

"I'm waiting for you in the car," he continued walking and I turned on my cellphone.

I need to fix everything, he said he's sorry. and right, I have to decide right away because somehow Ayumi has been my friend for a long time, she's been there for me and as her friend I have to protect her, her brother's fault is not her fault.

tinext ko si Ayumi.

'Let's go together?'

when I send a message to Ayumi, she is already calling.

I can't help but smile.

"hello?" I answer.

"waaah !! you're annoying! it's good that you answered! yes! yes! let's go together! if you take back what you said I'll tweak you!" he shouted on the other line so laughing I put the cellphone away from my ear.

"Of course! Let's go together and I won't take that back,"

I feel somehow relieved and I know this is not the end of what I need to fix.

I dropped the call after he informed me.

I thought Garett had left but he was just standing in the distance.

he has a small smile? or maybe it was just his expression because of the sunlight hitting his face?

"Do you want to eat?" he asked. before I left the orphanage. "Bye!"

They also waved back. I sigh as I get in the car. Manong immediately drove it to the restaurant.

I reached out to the director, a woman and sister Jen who were sitting. The director rented the place so we were the only people. Probably otherwise we would be confused here.

I smiled at them. "Isn't there anyone I can work with on the project yet?"

"She's coming," Jen said. "He texted Sophia." it was specific to the woman sitting across from us. "It's good that you can be with me just like you! It's a good thing that the director agreed to be here because I said you two are busy at your school." "He's here!" screamed Sophia, your woman with us at the table. "Thyro, here!"

My whole body was almost cold and I was statuesque in my seat. I didn't look at him as he approached us. I bit my lip and distracted myself by scrolling through my phone. I posted my pictures earlier at the resort. My jaw dropped when I saw who was the first reactor. It was him!

I heard direk's tikhim so I looked up. "Thyro, this is Chantrea. Chantrea, this is Thyro."

I stood up and held out my hand to Thyro. He accepted it and mocked me. "We're classmates, direk. I know her."

"Well, good to know," we let go of each other's hands. I sat down and focused on the director and what he had to say. "The roles are easy for the two of you since you two are used of wealthy life. Chantrea, your role here will be the spoiled brat girl who hates men and then Thyro came into your life. He made everything change. The leading girl will get crazy over him. It goes that way. You will also meet other artists who will be with you before the shooting. " the director uttered.

I nodded at what direk said. "Okay po, direk. That will be a great role since i was kind of spoiled brat," i said then i chuckled. Direk laughed as well as Thyro.

"An spoiled brat, I like you," Thyro said that made everyone look at him. I swallowed and averted my gaze.

We just ate and after a few discussions we went home. I was outside the restaurant while waiting for our driver. I felt someone behind me so I faced him.

"No driver?"