CHAPTER NINETEEN

AYEL'S POV

They both miss each other. They both crave each other's voices. It's freaking obvious that they wanna talk to each other, then why the hell are they not speaking‽

I don't wanna be the third wheel, but I definitely dislike this boring and awkward atmosphere!

"Both of you, stay here. I'll go inside the shop, alone. Just stay here and talk, d*mn it. I can't stand your awkward silence! If you wanna talk, then talk. My goodness!" Then I closed my car's door.

"Where are you going?" my cousin asked me.

"Gotta pick something up from the shop. Are you coming with me?"

He sat properly on the sofa and played with his phone. "Nah, tinatamad ako."

"If you say so. Good thing, I'll pick up Tine."

Jairo's movements were faster than the bullet. "On second thought, I'll go with you. I'm bored here." I was standing in shock but wanted to laugh, then cuz glared at me. "Ang bagal mo. Dalian mo na!"

And I still can't stop laughing.

~•~

KRISTINE'S POV

So... ano nga? Ayel naman eh!

Simula nang sumama ako sa kanila, ni 'di ako makatingin kay Jairo. 'Di rin naman niya ako kinakausap eh. But at least, I know na okay siya physically.

Pero teka... sino ba dapat yung unang magsasalita? Ako ba o siya?

A-Ano bang itatanong ko? Ayos ka lang ba? Kamusta ka? Ba't antagal mong 'di nagparamdam? Na-miss mo man lang ba ako—wait wait what‽

"So... umm... ba't 'di ka pumasok ngayon?"

Napaharap ako kay Jairo. "H-Ha?"

"I got a message from Bryle this morning, saying that you didn't wanna come to school." Tumingin siya sa akin. "Why, Kristine?"

"Ah.. eh... ano... 'di maayos yung pakiramdam ko..."

Bigla niyang hinawakan ang noo ko. "Are you still sick? Natrauma ka ba sa ginawa sayo nung mga g*gong yun? Don't worry that will never happen again, Kristine. I promise I'll keep you safe. I promise that I'll be by your side. I promise that I will never let you down again. I promise—"

"Kristine!" I heard someone shout.

I blinked numerous times and ended up staring at Jairo who was sitting pretty in his seat. His hands are on his lap not on my forehead or my chin. "Wha-what?"

"Anong what? Kanina pa kita tinatanong. Bakit 'di ka pumasok ngayon? Tapos bigla ka na lang tumulala." Bakas kay Jairo ang pag-aalala. "Ano? Masama ba pakiramdam mo? Gusto mo bang ipa-ospital na kita?"

I shook my head. "S-Sorry, may naisip lang ako bigla kanina." Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Ayos lang ako, 'di lang talaga maganda yung pakiramdam ko. Eh ikaw ba? Ayos ka lang?" Imagination lang ba yung kanina?

"A-Ako?" Parang 'di pa siya makapaniwalang tinanong ko siya.

"Ayy hindi, Jairo. Sarili ko yung tinatanong ko. Ayos ka lang ba self?"

Bigla naman siyang ngumiti at napailing. "Mukhang ayos ka na nga." All of a sudden, his face saddened. "I'm sorry."

Bigla naman akong naguluhan. "Ba't ka nagso-sorry?"

"Kung 'di sana kita niligawan, edi hindi ka napahamak."

"Ang bagal naman ng lalakeng 'yun. Baka naman 'di ka talaga importante sa kanya."

"Dapat ba yung isang babae ang kinuha natin?"

Kung si Jairo yung tinutukoy nilang lalake, then the other girl must be...

"Gusto mo bang lumayo muna ako sayo?" Jairo was sincerely looking at me.

Gugustuhin ko nga bang lumayo ka sa'kin lalo na't may nararamdaman na rin ako para sayo?

Ilang saglit kaming nakatitig sa isa't isa. I wanna say, No. Don't go away. Tama na yung ilang araw na pangungulila ko sayo. Dito ka lang please. But something inside me disagrees.

Paano na lang ang mangyayari sa akin kapag mas hinayaan kong mahulog ako sayo? You're just under a love spell. Once na mahanap mo yung totoo mong mamahalin, where will I be?

"Kristine?"

"A—"

Bigla na lang pumasok si Ayel sa backseat at nilapag yung paper bags niya. "Yehey! To the next shop! Promise, this will be the last shop for today. They told me that Soleil released a new line of bags, and it's a must to buy at least three." Tumingin sa akin si Ayel. "Don't worry, bestie, I'll buy you a bag as well."

"A-Ayel, that won't be necessary."

"But I like shopping for both of us."

"But—"

"Just one bag, Kristine. Please!" She even showed me her pleading puppy eyes.

I sighed in defeat. "Okay fine. Thank you."

"Yehey!" Tinapik ni Ayel ang balikat ni Jairo. "Come on, cuz! To Soleil's shop!"

Napailing na lang si Jairo. "Close na talaga kayo?"

Napangiti naman ako sa tanong ni Jairo bago ako tumingin kay Ayel. "Of course!" Sabay rin kaming natawa ni Ayel.

'Di katulad kanina, naging maingay na ang byahe namin papunta sa pangalawang shop, at hindi na mag-isang bumaba ng kotse si Ayel, dinamay na rin niya kami ni Jairo.

Nasa loob na kami ng shop and legit! Ang ganda ng loob! Coffee shop inside a clothing boutique! Then the interior design is vintage! Ang ganda talaga!

"You like it here?" Nakangiti sa akin si Ayel. Still in awe but I managed to nod at her question. "Well, order drinks for us, cuz. Tine and I will roam around the shop." Tumango rin si Jairo bago ako tuluyang hatakin ni Ayel paakyat sa second floor.

"Wow."

"I know, right? That's also my first word when I first entered this boutique. Anyways," Pinaharap ako ni Ayel sa kanya. "would you get mad at me if I tell you that..." She roamed her eyes around the shop before staring at me. "I'll buy you a dress, other than the bag?"

"Ayel..."

"Please, Tine! It's my first time having a real best friend so let me spoil you." I sighed. "If you want... in exchange for the dress and the bag, cook for me tomorrow."

"Okay fine, but please lessen the number of stuff you buy for me."

Ayel smiled widely. "I'll try." She winked at me before pulling me towards a dressing room. "Go inside and try everything that I'll give you. Oh! And don't forget to show me before changing."

Naiiling na lang akong pumasok sa dressing room at tumitig sa life-sized mirror.

I'm wearing a pair of denim jeans and a plain red shirt. Naka-doll shoes naman ako na kulay puti at nakatali ng messy bun ang buhok.

I looked like... I don't belong here.

Natigil ako sa pagtitig ko sa sarili ko nang makarinig ako ng katok.

"Hey, bestie! I brought five dresses, be sure to try them all out." Inabot sa akin ni Ayel lahat ng damit at sinampay ko muna yung mga yun.

"Ang gaganda naman." At nagsimula na akong magsukat.

~•~

AYEL'S POV

"I know what you're doing." Jai walked towards me and sat beside me.

"What? I just wanna buy her clothes." I took a sip of my iced coffee.

"You received the message earlier than me, tama?" I looked at him and smiled before turning my head back in the dressing room's direction.

Kristine showed up wearing the third dress. A long sleeve white blouse Korean casual dress. Perfect!

"That's the best one so far. It's simple yet pretty, don't you agree Jai?" I turned my head to my cousin, only to find out that he was staring at Kristine with adoration in his eyes. So I looked back at Tine with a big smile. "Yep! Definitely buying that!" I stood up and walked toward her. "I'm sorry, but we need to cut this shopping bonding short, bestie."

"Ayos lang, ano ka ba." She smiled at me before heading back to the dressing room, good thing, I stopped her.

"Umm... Wear that now, please?" It's pretty obvious that I made her confused so before she could ask, I already answered her. "We're having a family dinner and you're invited."