My weeks became empty. My father is mad at me. He is always scolding me. Drink with friends. Go to school. Dito na lang umiikot ang buhay ko.

Today is sunday. Naka tayo kami habang nagdarasal. Me and my dad was born christian. So, nakatayo kami ngayon sa simbahan ng katoliko.

Everyone is quite while listening to the preach of the priest. As a respect to their beliefs. Sinusunod ko ang mga sinasabi ng pari. I consider myself as agnostic but it doesn't mean that I'm going to disrespect their faith and tradition.

Dad is always smiling at everyone. But I know it was fake. He looked like a high quality man. He is good to fake it. No wonder why my real mother left him.

I constantly think about my biological mother. My thoughts are filled with several what ifs. Nasaan ba siya? Buhay pa kaya siya? May kapatid kaya ako? Some questions that I wanted to ask my father, but I'm afraid to ask them out loud. He might be mad or worse.

Natapos na ang misa. Just as we left the chapel, I caught Kaidon leaving, too. Ni hindi ko nga siya nakita kanina. I laughed when he instantly ran in my direction after spotting me.

He was wearing white long sleeve partnered with gray pants ang black shoes. Habang ako, I was dressed in a below-knee white dress with puffy sleeves paired with one-inch beige sandals.

"Hypocrite ang baby ko na 'yan." Inakbayan niya ako. "Tara, tawagan natin si Khryza, samgyup tayo."

I shrugged. "Baka hindi pa tapos 'yong sa kanila?"

Well, we are all aware that Khryza is a religious one. Born again siya. But, our friendship is still strong despite our differences, ethnicity, and race. And that how friendship works. We respect each other decisions and variances.

"Tapos na 'yon. Hapon nga, tanga."

I nodded. I'm still empty right now. Still thinking about Dwayne and his girlfriend. Habang naglalakad kami. I stopped when I saw Dwayne. Nakatitig siya sa akin habang naka kunot ang noo. Ang mga mata niya ay naka tingin sa kamay ni Kaidon na naka akbay sa akin.

Gusto ko sanang bigyan 'yon ng meaning but I chose to ignore it na lang. Baka naiirita lang siya sa akin. Simula nung nalaman kong may girlfriend siya, iniiwasan ko na siya lagi-lagi.

While walking near them. I noticed that his glance stayed at Kaidon's hand. A moment later, he turned his gaze on me. I raised a brow. Bago ako sumakay ng kotse inirapan ko sabay flip ng blonde hair ko.

*****

"True ba? Mukhang may jealousy na nagaganap? Paano ang tingin?" Khryza asked, aggressively. I followed what she said. I let my brows collided and I gave them a dark gaze.

"Gano'n na gano'n!" I explained. Kakarating lang ni Khryza rito sa chosen place namin. We have been waiting her for almost 30 mins since hindi pa tapos ang simba nila.

"Wala na ba sila ng girlfriend niya?" malamig na tanong ni Kaidon. Nagtitigan kami ni Khryza. Even us, we didn't know the answer. I've ignoring him for a weeks. So, ni isang update about his life, wala akong alam.

"Baka kumululo lang ang dugo sa 'yo, Cadence? Kahit ako, if I were Dwayne, tapos nakita kita. I'll do the same. Baka nga lalapitan pa kita para sampalin," Khryza smirked.

"Same," nag second demotion si Kaidon.

I rolled my eyes. "I thought we're girls? Bakit parang ally kayo sa future ko?"

Binatukan ako ni Khryza. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Bobo ka rin, eh, 'no? May rules tayo, right?" tumingin siya sa amin ni Kaidon for her na sabayan namin.

I sighed.

"Rule number three, huwag magiging kabit no matter what happen," we all said in chorus.

"Oo na, titigil na nga, 'di ba?!"

Humagikgik si ate mo girl.

"Why?" I raised a brow.

"Ganito na lang... I will pick a random guy on my friend list then if you found something attractive, date him!" Khryza suggested with a creppy smile.

She literally stand up and sat beside me. Inilabas nanaman niya ang mahiwaga niyang phone like she always used to do. I breathe heavily and watch her.

"Let's start!" she said, excitedly.

"U-uh, okay, just go with the flow!" Idinikit ko ang sarili ko kay Khryza. She tapped her friend list then she started to scroll down.

"Good day, sir. What's your order?"

Napalingon ako nang may biglang umupo sa likod namin. My eyes turned like an eye of an owl when I saw Dwayne. He's with his cousin, the intimidating one. 'Yong mukhang nangangain ng tao.

Umayos sila ng upo at agad ni-approach ang waiter. I don't know but my world suddenly stopped when our eyes met. His facial expression is weird. I can't explain it.

"Hey, bobo. Inaabot sa 'yo 'yong menu. Reach it. Huwag puro landi," his cousin said it in a serious tone. Even his voice sounds intimidating.

Agad inabot ni Dwayne ang menu and handed it to his cousin. I saw him laugh like it didn't happen. I don't know, if I was about to laugh or something but seeing his expression melts me. He looks gorgeous while smiling.

"Anyway, p're. Kailan tayo bibili ng librong gift mo? Sama ako sa Santiago, ah?" nang-aasar na sabi niya. His cousin stared at him darkly. Even I, kinalibutan. "Hehe, sabi ko nga, p're. Tatahimik na ako. Kiss nga."

Natawa ako nang lalong kumunot ang noo ng pinsan niya. Dwayne is so different today. Hindi siya ganito sa school.

"Shut up, your voice is terrible. It's disrespectful to my ears."

Narinig kong natawa si Khryza. Mukhang narinig niya rin.

How... rude... If I were him. Mamahalin ko si Dwayne! I was willing to do everything just for him.

"Ano'ng titig 'yan?" Khryza muttered softly. "Bet mo pinsan niya, 'no? Ikaw, huh. Tirador ng Gonzales!"

"I'm not." I told her the truth. "I don't like his cousin, parang nangangain..."

Tumawa nang malandi si Khryza.

"Edi goods, gusto ko kaya 'yong kinakain ako," she said it loudly. Napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. Kahit 'yong mga nasa ibang table, their head turned to face Khryza's place. "Back to business! Gusto ko 'yong kakain na ako."

I laughed. She looks like she's trying to save herself from embarrassment.

"Pili ka na ng irereto ko!"

Lumapit ako. Kahit si Kaidon dumikit.

"How about him? Si Zantiel?" she suggested.

"Redflag 'yan. He consider his ex girlfriends as trophy," Kaidon replied.

"Oo nga, balita ko rin," Khryza nodded. I sighed.

"I'm not interested... huwag n—"

"What if si Kaidon! Since, kilala niyo na ang isa't isa before? What if mag work!" she interrupted me. Agad kumunot ang noo namin ni Kaidon after hearing her statement.

"No way!" I said.

"Seriously?" he said with a disgust tone.

"Luh, ang OA niyo naman, I'm just kidding!" tumawa-tawa siya. "So, ito! What if, you will date Kleor Kier Laguisma ’yong lead singer ng Metaphorically? He's so hot lalo kapag he do rapping and electric guitar?"

Napatango ako. Nakasama ko na siya noon sa singing lesson. I used to sing and I play violin. Minsan ako tumutugtog tuwing kampanya ni Dad, so everyone knows me with my talents.

"May tattoo, sis, oh!" Khryza pointed at Kleor's arm. Sumingkit ang mga mata ko. "Fuck! Ahas!"

"Tanga, ingay mo. Nasa kabila lang sila." Sinapak ni Kaidon ang ulo ni ate mo girl. Dahil sa gulat, sabay kaming napatingin ni Khryza sa likod. He is really here talaga. They were literally sitting behind us.

"Gagi, the arms!" mangiyak-ngiyak na bulong sa akin ni Khryza. So I moved my eyes on his right arm. "His veins fits the snake!"

I nodded. The snake that he chose is a cobra. Nakaikot ito sa buong braso niya hangang kamay which made him more hotter. He was wearing black polo partnered with white short na sakto ang haba. Kumakanta sila habang hinihintay ang mga foods nila.

“Iba na ’yong ngiti, iba na ang ’yong tingin,” he sang using his high voice pitch. I looked away nang tumingin siya sa akin. Kahit ang mga mata ko ay na sakanila Khryza na, I can still feel his gaze.

“Pigilan mo ako, Quendall, kapag ayaw mo sa kaniya ako kakana riyan," Khryza pressed my arm. “Ang ganda ng boses niya...”

Napaisip ako.

Not bad?

“Ano? Smash or pass?” Yinugyog niya ako. Napakamot pa ako ng ulo.

My heart stumps abnormally when he stand up and walk towards to our table.

“Hi,” he handed me his hand. Napalunok ako nang bumungad sa akin ang kamay niyang may tattoo. I don't know what to react. Seeing his hand like that in a closer view stunned me. Ang ugat! "If you don't mind, I'm Kleor, one of your classmate back then sa singing workshop? Remember me?”

“Smash...” I mumbled.

Binatukan ako ni Khryza. Kleor looked at the both of us weirdly.

“Sorry? Pardon?” he tried to smile. My God. He have a braces. It fitted perfectly on his teeth.

“I mean, yes. I remember you! Kleor Keir, right? The rapper?” I say it in a fastest way possible to ease the awkward environment.

Oh my God. So, insensitive, Cadence...

“Of course, you do. You're stalking me,” taas noo niyang sabi.

Kumunot noo ko. “Huh?”

“Look.” Itinuro niya ’yong phone ni Khryza na naka lapag sa lamesa. Kinurot ko ang hita ni ate mo girl nang makita kong naka stay pa pala sa phone niya ang account ni Kleor.

“Oww, hehe,” umiwas ako ng tingin. “Ano sadya mo po, kuya?”

Umiling-iling siya sabay hinga nang malalim.

“No one can deny the fact that your voice sounds good. Angelic...”

I fixed my posture then acted like a superior and looked at my friend with a big smile as if I was envying then that; Kleor, a very good singer in our town, complimented my voice.

Small things.

“Siraulong babae,” hinampas ako ni Khryza.

“Well, thank you, Kleor, such an honor. Small things.” I waved my fingers aggressively.

“You're so cute,” he chuckled.

Napakagat ako sa ibaba kong labi at napa tayo. Out of nowhere, I posed at Khryza and Kaidon.

“Cute raw ako!”

Nagulat ako nang tumayo rin si Khryza. Napakunot ang noo ko nang lumapit siya kay Kleor ay yumuko.

“Please, itigil mo ’yan, lumalaki na ulo ng Quendall,” si Khryza.

Tumingin ako nang masama sa kaniya. I hated my first name. Hindi ko gustong tinawag ako ng Quendall. Ewan ko, tunog maarte.

“Anyway,” Kleor nodded. “Uhm, how to say this?”

“Say what?”

“U-h, we need a singer? For our band... I guess, you're the right person we are looking for...”

Is he inviting me to sing?

I was about to utter a sentence but I stopped when someone interrupted me.

“Sila tito, Quendall, naghahanap din ng singer, gusto mo?” napalingon ako nang biglang sumingit si Dwayne. Naka tingin siya sa amin na parang nakikinig sa pinag-uusapan namin habang ang pinsan niya ay naka taas ang kilay sa kaniya.

“Ah? Ako?” nagtataka kong tanong. “Why?”

Bakit siya nakikisali?

“I asked her first...” tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Kleor.

“May karapatan siyang mag decline.”

Natawa ako sa istura ng pinsan niya. Kunot na kunot ang noo habang tinitignan si Dwayne.

“Dummy. I will be never like you, fighting over a girl? Imbelice. Know your worth,” umiling-iling si Ethan sa pinsan niya. Mahina ito, but narinig ko pa rin.

“Luh? Si kuya Ethan bumoses?” pagtatangol ni Dwayne sa sarili niya.

Umiling na ako at inilipat ko ang atensyon ko kay Kleor. He already have a girlfriend, tapos ano'ng gagawin niya? Gagawin niya akong mistress? Hell no!

“Kailan magsisimula ba ’yang banda?”

Ngumiti si Kleor. “Sasama ka?”

Tumingin ako kila Khryza na nakanganga. Huminga ako nang malalim at ibinaling ang tingin kay Kleor sabay tango.

*****

“Ang pogi pala ng pinsan ni Dwayne, ’no?” napatingin ako kay Khryza nang bigla siyang nagsalita. Lunes na at vacant namin ngayon. Kagabi pa sumasakit ulo kakaisip kung paano ko ipapaalam kay Daddy na sumali ako ng banda.

I gave my number kay Kleor the day he asked me to join their band. I told him na si Dad ang makakapag desisyon. I don't know if that stupid wifeless governor would agree.

“Si Ethan?” tanong ko. “Pogi naman lahat ng Gonzales, ah?”

Humagikgik si Khryza.

“No, I mean, he's hotter than El Isabel triplets! I stalked him on IG. Dalawa lang ang following. Si Dwayne at Eraserhead, pero famous. Then I checked his Facebook naka private. Saka wala yatang Twitter?”

“So, crush mo?” I grinned.

“Yes, I added him last night. Waiting ma accept. At alam mo ba? Balita ko, he never been in a relationship. Top student din. Mukhang greenflag.”

Natawa ako. Weekly may bagong crush si Khryza kaya hindi na ’to bago. Same line at paulit-ulit lang ang sinasabi niya, pangalan lang ang nagbabago. I can admit that Dwayne's cousin is attractive. Kasi halos lahat ng nandoon na babae ay naka tingin sa kaniya.

“By the way, pinayagan ka na ng Dad mo?” bigla niyang natanong. Huminga ako nang malalim at napahawak sa noo.

“Hindi ko pa natanong, eh? Ang layo naman kasi nila. Santiago. Doon na kaya ako tumira?”

“’Di ba, taga Santiago naman Daddy mo?” kumunot noo ni ate mo girl. “Taga roon nga yata mother mo?

What? Mother?

“Really?” I don't know what to say. I don't even have an idea where my real mom lives and looks like. “Where’s your source? Baka sa TikTok?”

Tumawa siya. “Gaga, nag thro-throw ka nanaman ng shades.”

“Pero sino nga source mo?”

“Hindi mo alam? Hala, ante, tagal nang kalat,” she looked at me with amusement. I shaked my head. “Ngi? Motherless ka na nga clueless ka pa.”

Sinabunutan ko siya. Kahit kailan talaga ang offensive ng bibig ng babaeng ’to.

“Gaga ka ba?”

Tumawa siya kaya natawa na rin ako.

“Base on what I heard. Your mother kuno is his girlfriend yata back then? Saka hindi sila kasal? Then, naghiwalay sila because of your arrogant lolo. Sa Santiago sila nagtago noon. But, we all know that the Cortez is powerful when it comes to politics. He force your Dad to leave your biological Mommy para maganda ang reputation ng father mo? You know, kasalanan daw kuno ang pagkakaroon ng anak kapag hindi pa kasal saka bawas supporter kaya ’yon, tinago nanay mo.”

I’ve been never interested about chismis before. But this, got my attention.

“What? Eh, mayroon nga ako, ’di ba? Edi mahahalata na may asawa siya?”

Ngumiwi siya sabay tinaasan ako ng kilay.

“Wala ka talagang alam sa buhay mo, grade 10 ka na, ah?”

I shrugged.

“From the very legit source. Walang eme, walang revision. Kinasal ang Dad mo sa isang hindi ko kilala, then ipinalabas na anak ka nila...”

Napakunot ang noo ko. Bakit hindi ko alam?

Ang dami ko na ngang problema dumagdag pa ’to.

“Kain kayo.” Inilapag ni Kaidon ang dalawang mango shake at fried chicken sa table namin ni Khryza.

“Saan ka galing?” tanong ni Khryza sabay kuha ng pagkain.

“Sa laboratory,” he uttered, sarcastically.

“Ginawa mo roon?” binuksan ni Khryza ang food na bigay ni Kaidon sa kaniya at nagsimula nang kumain. Napatingin kami ni Kaidon sa isa't isa sabay napahawak sa noo.

“Bobo, sa Cafeteria, kaya nga ako may dalang pagkain, eh? Ano'ng gagawin ko sa lab?” Tinaasan niya ng kilay si ate mo girl. “Common sense Yzania, ah...”

“Cadence!” napapikit nanaman ako nang marinig ang pangalan ko. “May naghahanap sa ’yo sa labas...”

Dali-dali akong tumayo at tumakbo papalabas ng classroom. Napanganga ako nang bumungad sa akin si Dwayne na may dala-dalang bouquet of red roses, which I love the most...

They said, red represent love... ngayon nasa harap ko na... does he really love me? How about his girlfriend? Did they already broke up?

*****
The Way He Loved Me
#UnconditionalLoveSeries
-kyahhhgorgeous

I'm very sorry sa napaka habang walang update, Gorjas! Don't worry, babawi ako. Try nating tapusin agad ang story nila. Love you! 🫶🏻

Love you!