Coldest War (War Series #2)

Chapter 6

Martin grinned as he stared at me before he pinched my cheeks. Nakangiti ko s'yang tiningnan at nang bitawan n'ya ang pisngi ko, tumalikod na s'ya para dumiretso sa mga kaibigan.

"Ate, is he your boyfriend?" Excited na tanong ni Brylee nang makaalis na si Martin at agad akong ngumiti sa tanong n'ya.

"Yes," I answered, slightly feeling shy because it's the first time I had a relationship.

"Wow!" She said, amazed. "Ate, you're so mature! I want one when I reach your age too!"

Napangiti ako at pinisil din ang pisngi ni Brylee. 

"Don't rush, okay?" I chuckled.

Brylee stared at me and I saw how she blushed. 

"Did you confess to him. . .or was he the one who told you he liked you?" She asked. 

I watched her curiously. 

"He confessed to me," I said.

Nakita kong kuminang ang mga mata ni Brylee at mukhang lalong na-excite sa sinabi ko.

"And then?"

"Tapos tinanong n'ya ako kung puwedeng manligaw," bahagya akong tumawa. 

"Wow!" Excited na reaksyon ni Brylee at mukhang napa-isip s'ya, namumula ang mga pisngi at parang nahihiya nang kaunti. 

"Bakit? Ikaw ba? Sino ang gusto mo?" Medyo may panunudyong tanong ko kay Brylee at parang lalo s'yang nahiya dahil sa tanong ko sa kan'ya. 

"Eh, Ate," she shyly said, "you know him so I can't tell you."

Hiel?

It was the first name that I thought of. Si Hiel lang naman ang kakilala ko na kakilala rin ni Brylee. Unless Brylee likes a boy from my class. . .or from Grade 6. Pero paano naman magkakaroon ng kakilala si Brylee sa Grade 6?

If it's Hiel, I won't get surprised. Parating inaasar sina Brylee at Hiel sa isa't isa dahil sila ang parating magkasama. I don't know how their friendship started but ever since Hiel started elementarily, Brylee has been with him. 

"I promise, I won't tell a soul," I said.

Gumuhit ang pag-aalinlangan sa mukha ni Brylee pero nakita ko rin na gusto n'yang sabihin sa akin kung sino ang nagugustuhan n'ya.

"Ka-close ko ba?" Pag-uunti-unti ko sa pagtatanong.

Lalong nailang si Brylee kaya lalo akong nagkaro'n ng hinalang si Hiel nga ang nagugustuhan n'ya. 

I guess, Hiel is not that hard to like. He's quiet yet he's kind too. He's aloof but he's considerate. Not to mention that for his age, he's handsome and cute. 

"Starts with a letter H?" Panunudyo ko at lalong nahiya si Brylee dahil do'n.

"Eh, Ate!" She groaned. "Alam mo naman ata," she pouted and she seemed upset.

She looks really pretty. Mestiza at bilugan ang mukha dahil bata pa. Her round eyes are so expressive. Ang mahaba n'yang buhok, maganda rin at parating naka-ayos. It's like that today too. 

"Sino ba?" I chuckled. 

"Secret lang, Ate?" She asked, still a bit hesitant. 

"Oo!" I smiled at her. 

She went near me and tried to whisper in my ear. Bahagya akong yumuko para marinig ko nang mabuti ang sasabihin n'ya. When she finally whispered his name, I knew I was right.

"It's Hiel but please keep it a secret?" May halong pagmamakaawang sabi ni Brylee.

Napangiti ako at tumama ang mga tingin ko sa mga estudyanteng papalapit sa amin. That's when my eyes landed on Hiel who was looking at us with his empty yet innocent eyes.