ADK V: Dark Kismet (✔️)

Chapter 4: When Snow Was No Longer White

Chapter 4: When Snow Was No Longer White

Sanay na si Diara na sumasandal si Jayven sa kanyang balikat. As always, he smelled so good.  Medyo mahaba ang kanyang straight na buhok hanggang balikat na bagay naman sa kanya. At kapwa sila nananahimik habang nakatingin sa kalangitan. So peaceful, something that was pretty unusual in her real world, sana iba na lang ang buhay niyang nakagisnan. Her life was a mess if they would ask her. But then again, iniisip ni Diara na lahat naman ng tao ay may kanya-kanyang gusot sa buhay—even her bestfriend.

They’d meet in an unexpected ways, pero kung siya ang tatanungin, hinding-hindi niya ‘yon babaguhin. She was almost to her death when Jayven came and rescued her without even asking anything in return. She was trapped and lost, but he made her feel safe and warm. Jayven never made her feel any coldness. He was her little sunshine.

“Mukhang napapalapit ka na sa Ivan na ‘yon ah,” he said. Hindi naman siya nito tinitingnan, pero nakasandal pa din ang ulo nito sa kanyang balikat. Kung may makakakita man sa kanila, iisipin talagang hindi lang sila mag-bestfriend, “H’wag ka doon dikit ng dikit, Diara. Lalo na sa mga lalaking katulad n’un. He thinks he’s too handsome, na pwedeng paibigin ang lahat ng babae sa kanya nang wala man lang kahira-hirap. Don’t trust a man who had almost everything—“

“Enough JV,” putol niya pero hindi naman tumataas ang kanyang boses. Yeah, he was his little sunshine—annoying little sunshine. Overprotective. “ He’s just a new friend,” na halos hindi niya masikmura ang endearment niya para kay Ivan.

A prey would never be a friend to a predator.

Bigla na lang tumayo si Jayven sa kanyang harapan at mukhang gusto siyang sermunan. What she really liked about him was that he could control his temper but his own eyes deceived him.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he arched his brow and gave her a sinister stare, “New friend? You never like friends. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ka nagtatiyaga sa akin, Diara,” napabuntong-hininga pa siya bago nagsimula ulit, “Hindi naman sa nagrereklamo ako. It’s just that, I don’t trust that man for you. I mean—“ bigla na naman siyang huminto sa pagsasalita habang napakamot pa sa ulo, “Don’t be fooled—“

“Just trust me,” pangiting sabi ni Diara, “I’m too clever to be fooled, JV.” She assured that.

Inilapat pa niya ang kanyang likod sa damuhan habang nakapikit at ninanamnam ang sariwang simoy ng hangin.

“You’ve already been fooled.” Parang nagskip ng isang heartbeat ang puso ni Diara sa sinagot ni Jayven. She was still closing her eyes but she still could feel his intense gaze towards her, “You make me your bestfriend. ‘Yong lalaking laking bagsak sa klase, laging nagcucutting classes, laging pasimuno sa bullying, at laging laman ng Principal’s office.”

Gusto ng matawa si Diara sa pag-eemote ni Rayven pero pinipigilan lang niya ang kanyang sarili. Ganito palagi ang nangyayari sa tuwing may isang taong manghihimasok sa buhay niya. He was a bit selfish but it made her smile.

“Iiyak ka ba sa harapan ko?” she asked sarcastically.

“This is no joke, Diara.” And there he went again. “Alam mo naman na nagtataka silang lahat kung bakit naging magbestfriend ang isang babaeng brainiac sa lalaking badboy. Hindi mo ba ‘yan naiisip? Hindi mo ba naiisip na medyo weirdo ang mga ugali natin kapag magsama?”

“Okay. Fine. I’ll tell them, I don’t want you to be my friend because there is a rule states that you need to be qualified—“she smiled wickedly as she opened her eyes and met his worried ones. He was definitely his sunshine after the rain, “Mukhang mas nakakatakot pa ako sa’yo eh…sa totoo lang.”