Xyla’s POV

“Dig in.” Tiningnan ko lang yung pagkain tapos si Creature.

“WOW! Just… WOW!” I sarcastically said.

“What?”

“Ganito ka ba manligaw? Sh’t! Kasi kung oo, sasagutin na kita.” Nabulunan siya at nakita kong gulat yung anim na nakaupo sa katabi naming mesa.

“Sasagutin na kita ng sapak.” I heard the six boys laugh a little while Karren and the gang were laughing horridly.

“Don’t laugh at me Ugly sissy.” He said and gave Karren a death glare.

“Sorry Kuya! Hahahaha!”

“Just be thankful that I’m courting you. Of all the girls running for me, you’re the luckiest that you’re the first girl I ever courted.” Napakahonest niya. That’s one thing I like for a man but…

“Woah, really?! Ang swerte ko nga naman oo o! Hear that guiz?” Nakangiti namang tumango-tango yung apat. I smiled pleasingly and looked at Creature.

“D^mn it Khier! I’m so thankful that you’ve choose me over those million girls running for you. I’m so d^mn lucky… very very lucky.” I said and wipe my invisible tears. Hinampas ko yung mesa kaya halos tumalbog yung plato’t napatingin samin lahat. Seryoso kong tiningnan si Creature na halatang gulat na gulat.

“Is that what you want me to say? Oh freaking no! I’m so d^mn unlucky. I don’t know what’s you’re purpose for wooing me. Is this one of your pranks? ‘Coz to tell you this, I-AM-NOT-A-TOY.” Seryoso kong sabi sa kanya saka nagwalk out. I heard murmurs around. Nakikisabay pa sa init ng ulo ko ‘tong mga taong ‘to. I stop and glare at everyone kaya nanahimik silang lahat. Tuluyan nalang akong lumabas at dumiretso sa office ni Tito at di na ako nagulat ng maabutan ko si Kuya Zhayb doon. Sinalubong niya ako agad ng yakap. Tito’s not around because he’s sick so Kuya Zhayb was the one who’s acting for him.

“What happened? You look horrible.” Sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin.

“Kuya I…”

“You what?” Tiningnan ko lang siya’t nakangiting nakatingin lang siya sakin. Ba’t ang gwapo-gwapo ng pinsan ko? Nakakadistract.

“You’re distracting.” I said and he furrowed his brows. I sighed and look down.

“You know what Papa did right?”

“What? That courtship thingy?” I nod.

“Is just that… those boys… I don’t want to hurt even one of them. They are all so special to me and… I don’t know what or how should I handle this. Just imagine Kuya… thirteen boys and I was just one. Tapos… yung isa, nakakabigla pa dahil siya pa ang nangahas na sabihin kay Papa na liligawan niya ako wherein, he’s my foeman. Not as in a foe but… Aish! Lagi niya nalang kasi akong inaasar. Although we’re in a group at medyo close kami, you can’t take the fact that we or I hate him sometimes. So, I’m confused about his real purpose. Kung nililigawan niya ba ako dahil gusto niya ako o para may maasar siya o para---” Kuya Zhayb stopped me from speaking.

“Xandria, you’re still a baby. You’re so innocent about love.” Love my butt. Mabubusog ba ako sa love na yan? I scrowl and pinched the throw pillow.

“You know, there’s this girl that hated me most because I always tease her and do practical jokes to her but, I’m just doing that to hide my feelings for her and for her to notice me. But even I showed to her that I really hate her, the truth is… I really like her.”

“Kuya what insanity is that? You like her but you do those things?” Ngumiti lang siya.

“What I’m telling you is… some guys are not showy. They keep doing practical things just to get the girl’s attention. They may not show it or tell it but you may know it by just looking at their eyes. Eyes can’t hide anything Xandria. You may fool one’s feeling but you can’t hide what it is telling.” Napatunganga lang ako. Ganon ba yon? He just mess my hair and I just fixed it and smiled. It’s good to have a big brother giving you a good advice.

“Thanks Kuya.” Ngumiti lang siya. Iniwas ko yung tingin ko’t baka malusaw ako sa titig niya. I cleared my throat.

“So tell me, who’s the lucky girl?” I heard him chuckled so I looked at him but he’s just looking at me.

“You really don’t know anything. Sino pa bang ginagawan ko ng practical jokes kundi ikaw?” Huh? A-ako? So…

“You’re the girl I’m telling Xandria.” He said and smiled more. I felt blood rushed to my cheeks. This is not acceptable. Bakit ako?

“Uhh… I forgot, may next class pa pala ako.” I said and stood up. Tumayo rin siya.

“Its lunch remember? Mamaya pa ang continuation of classes.” I face palmed at narinig ko siyang tumawa. I then heard my tummy groaned.

“Mukhang hindi ka pa kumakain. Let’s go, I’ll treat you.” Hinatak niya nalang ako palabas at isinakay sa kotse niya’t kumain sa labas.

Bel’s POV

“Pakibantayan nalang siya. Mukhang napagod eh.” Sabi ni Kuya Zhayb. Hinatid niya kasi si Xyl dito sa bahay at mukhang pagod na pagod ang best friend ko dahil tulog na tulog siya. Napatango-tango nalang ako.

“What did you do to her? Why she’s tired? Are you one of her suitors?” Sienna asks. Di ko alam kung matatawa ako o ano. Kuya Zhayb just chuckled. Grabe, kung hindi lang pinsan ni Xyl ‘to, baka kanina ko pa siya sinunggaban. Ang gwapo walanjo!

“Ginala ko lang siya kaya mukhang napagod siya and I wish I am but I’m not his suitor. I’m her Kuya. We’re cousins.” I looked at Sienna and she averted his gaze but I saw her blushed.

“Sorry.” She said and Kuya Zhayb just smiled.

“Hala! Paano yung kotse niya? Pano yung anim? Naku! Baka hinahanap na nila siya ngayon! Hapon na pa naman at di pa umuuwi yung mga yon!” Patay! Nakarinig ako ng mga nagtatakbuhang yabag at bigla nalang nagbukas yung pinto’t kita kong humahangos yung anim.

“Oh, here they are. Sorry if I drive her home. Hiniram ko lang si Xandria pero nakatulog siya kaya inuwi ko nalang.” Kuya Zhayb said to all of them. I heard them sighed. Agad namang pumasok si Luhan saka siya tiningnan. I cleared my throat.

“Iwan muna natin si Xyl para makapagpahinga siya.” Kinuha ko yung susi ng kotse niya’t nagsilabasan naman kaming lahat.

“Kuya Zhayb, itong susi ng kotse niya.”

“Sige, ipapahatid ko nalang sa driver ko ang kotse niya dito. I need to go. ‘Kaw nang bahala kay Xandria.” I nods and so he leaves.

“Kanina pa ba siya dito?” Tanong agad ni Tao.

“Hindi. Kararating lang nila.”

“Jeez! I thought she’s missing.” React ni D.O. Grabe naman sila kung makapag-alala.

“Hey, I think you better call Khier. Baka naghahanap pa yon hanggang ngayon.”

“Kaw nalang.”

“Ayoko, kayo nalang.” Aba’t nagtutulakan pa sila. Just because Khier’s their rival?

“Ako na ang tatawag. Nakakahiya naman sa inyo.” Tinawagan ko naman agad yung tao at ipinaalam na nakauwi ng ligtas ang prinsesa nila. Tsk. Napakaswerte ni Xyl to have lots of Prince surrounding him. Ako kaya? Kelan ko mahahanap yung prinsipe ko?