Nox Castillo

Months and days flew by fast. Everything just passed by like a blur.

I never thought that the girl I always care for is a grown-up lady now.

She has developed a crush, yes, that's already given.

Halos araw-araw ba naman niyang bukambibig yang mga Amerikanong banda na yan. Backstreet Boys ba yun?

But, what I am not ready for is, when she started noticing our classmate and also one of our Varsity Players whose name is Andrei Santos.

Ces may not tell it to me or to our friends, Krisha and Janet, but her eyes automatically shines when she heard or knows that the guy is around.

And, it irritates me.

Alam ko na kaibigan niya ako.

I tried to talk her out of it but she denies it every time.

I guess, walang masama sa pagkakaroon ng crush.

Not until, I heard the impossible from one of my guy buddies, Ronan.

"Hey, kumusta si Ces?" He asked while we were playing at the basketball court inside our subdivision last weekend.

"Huh? Bakit? Ayos naman." I frowned and passed the ball to him.

"I heard Andrei rejected her just the other day. Dude, pinag-uusapan siya ngayon ng team nila. Nakakatakot baka ang pambu-bully nila na yon ang maging sanhi para magtransfer siya once na makarating kila Tita at sa States sila magmigrate. Not just transfer." He pointed out and I stopped in my tracks.

How dare he!

"Hindi ko alam ang buong pangyayari but talk it out with her. She must be down right now." Henry added and held the ball between his arm and sides.

"Thanks for the info, pre! Have to go." I said and hurried home. I showered quickly, changed into comfortable clothes and pulled out her favorite chocolate from our fridge and put it inside my pocket before I went to ring the doorbell at Ces' house.

"Oh, hijo! Tara pasok!" Tita Sol exclaimed when she saw me.
She's currently reading Reader's Digest at their small front lawn.

"Good afternoon po, Tita. Si Ces po?" I said with a smile.

"Andon sa kwarto niya. Nag-mamarathon na naman ang bagong biling pocketbooks niya last week." She laughed as she talked and I chuckled awkwardly. "Siya, sige na. Puntahan mo na doon."

"Sige po, Tita." I said and headed upstairs to her room. I knocked and heard her say, "pasok!"

I turned the knob and saw her sitting on her bed with her back on the headboard while engrossed in her Sweet Valley High pocketbook.

True enough, her eyes are swollen.

And it pained me.

"Bakit namumula mga mata mo?" I asked and approached her on the bed. I snatched away her book.

"Nox! Ano ba!" She exclaimed angrily, her forehead creased in irritation. "Akin na nga!"

"Nope. Sabihin mo muna bakit ka umiiyak." I shook my head and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Nakakaiyak lang ang binabasa ko." She said and sighed, "ngayon, give me back my book."

"Nope. Convince me more." I grinned snidely. I glanced at the book and read, "Starring Jessica? Funny. It's more like RomCom to me than a tragic one."

"Since when ka pa nagkaroon ng interest sa genres na binabasa ko." She scoffed and snatched it from my grasp.

"I know you from head to foot, Cecille Bianca Fernandez." I announced and pulled out the Hershey's Milk Chocolate she loves too well. "And I know this is your ultimate weakness."

She tried to ignore me so I placed it on top of her mattress. I saw her darting gazes at it and I got the chocolate again.

"Alam raw lahat. Samantalang noong isang araw, wala lang na dumaan ako sa gilid nyo nila Alicia habang naglalandian kayo." She mumbled which I heard too well.

"Nagseselos ba ang Ces na yan?" I teased and began to tickle her.

"Shit ka!" She protested and slapped my arm. "Tigilan mo ko, Nox!"

I tickled her once more and soon, we are laughing. Until she started to cry on my shoulders.

"Hindi ko naman inaasahang i-rereject niya ako." She sniffed. "I just want to tell him that I like him. Pero, kailangan bang ipahiya niya ako?"

"Di bale, andito naman ako. Sa akin, hindi ka iiyak." I said and she giggled.

"Banat yan, Nox!" She exclaimed and  exhaled.

"Hey, seryoso nga! Ako na lang kaya, Ces?" I mustered up the courage and  said it.

"Nice try, Nox." She smiled and suddenly, her favorite boyband sang in the background. "Kay Nick pa rin ako."

I shook my head and chuckled lightly.

So much for confession.

I deserve a try honey just once
Give me a chance and I'll prove this all wrong
You walked in, you were so quick to judge
But honey, he's nothing like me

💞💞💞

A/N:

Please play the Youtube video for better reading experience. 😊

All photos credits to their respectful owners.