The Lollipop Project [Gen L Society #1]

Chapter 20

Bumuga ako ng hinga. "Hintayin niyo na ako sa loob. Ano? Okay na po ba?"

The two guys nodded as they stepped inside the house.

"We'll give you five minutes," André yelled bago ako tuluyang pumasok sa kwarto ko.

Bahala silang maghintay diyan.

#

"Did I do all right?" Liatris asked the guy beside her as she looked at him with earnest eyes.

"Of course..." André paused, his lower lip sticking out as he unfolded his arms over his chest. "You did not."

Liatris scrunched her face, pushing the guy with all her might. Natumba si André at nahulog sa madamong papag.

Tawang-tawa naman si Liatris sa lalaki habang nakahiga pa rin si André sa damuhan.

Walang ibang tao ngayon dito sa malawak na golf course na parte ng rehab centre. Hindi ko alam na dito ang shooting location. Nung kinaladkad ako nina André at Logan, hindi naman nila binanggit na dito kami pupunta. Utos raw ni Jalen. Mukhang binago niya yung scenes na sinulat ko.

Ilang linggo na rin ang nakalipas simula nung unang beses akong pumunta dito. Hindi naging maganda ang huling alaala ko sa lugar na ito. Coming back here only made me remember that painful day I argued with my father... and I deeply regret it.

"Ate K!" Sigaw ni Liatris habang tumatakbo palapit sa kinauupuan ko. She propped herself down on the blanket next to me. "Okay ka lang?"

I nodded at her. "Mahilig ka rin pala sa film and photography?" Binaling ko ang topic sa kanya dahil ayaw kong mag-breakdown dito.

Liatris nodded as I noticed her smile slowly turning into a frown. "Yup, but mom and dad want me to do something else."

May reputasyon ang pamilya nila bilang nasa pulitika ang kanyang ama. Alam kong doon rin ang pupuntahan ni Markell in the future. Si Jalen naman ay tanggap nila ang pagiging doktor niya. Kay Liatris, akala ko magiging lenient sila sa kanya kasi unica hija at spoiled siya. Pero hindi rin pala siya makakalusot.

Setting down my pen and notebook on my lap, I turned to her. "Sinubukan mo na bang kausapin ang parents mo sa gusto mong gawin?"

She shook her head, puffing her cheeks in frustration. "Hindi rin naman nila ako papayagan."

"Bakit hindi mo subukan sabihin sa mama mo muna?" I suggested, only because their mom seemed more understanding than the senator.

She exhaled a sigh, setting her eyes on the small pond in front of us. "I don't know, ate K. It's just really hard."

I reached for her hand, tapping it lightly. There was nothing I could say that would reassure her, but it was the only thing I could do. "Malay mo naman, kapag nakita nila na happy ka sa ginagawa mo eh susuportahan ka nila eventually."

Liatris nodded in understanding. "Thank you, ate."

I flashed her a smile. "Walang anuman."

"Hey Tris! Come here!" André's voice interrupted our moment, waving his hands in the air from a distance.

Liatris hissed beside me, aiming daggers at the guy. "Ano na naman kaya yun?"

"Bilis!" André yelled, flailing his arms in the air and jumping up and down like a toddler.

"Ang kulit!" Liatris commented, standing up from her seat. "Wait lang, ate."

I just nodded at her as I watched her run back towards André. Kinuha ko ulit ang bolpen at notebook ko para magsulat.