Set Ashes In Flames

In Flames 7: Rivals

In Flames Seven

Gianna

"Gianna Rose Ignacio!" Kuya Vance came barging inside my room.

I groaned, eyes still heavy-lidded from a deep sleep. My head turned to my alarm clock. And it was still two am in the morning.

Kinusot ko ang aking mata at nag inat.

"Kuya naman! What are you doing up so early? Alas dos pa lang oh," turo ko sa aking orasan.

He snorted.

"I'm not up so early. I'm still up this late dahil sa mga readings ko. Law student, remember?" nagtaas siya ng kilay.

I shook my head then closed my eyes.

"Get some sleep, kuya. If you don't want to, h'wag mo akong idamay. Sinusulit ko nang nakakatulog pa ako nang ganito kahaba. Just welcome me to the club kapag college na ako."

Naputol ang pagpapadala ko sa antok nang alugin ni kuya ang balikat ko upang magising ako.

"Hey, sinong may sabi sa'yong pwede ka nang matulog? Mag uusap tayo," his voice was rigorous, and when I opened my eyes, he threw me a stony glare that I knew I had to get up this instant.

Giving up my precious sleep, I sat up on my bed. I tried to keep my head steady, for it kept falling backwards because I still felt sleepy.

"You let a boy at school court you?"

I internally screamed in frustration and shut my eyes tightly. Wala namang ibang source si kuya kundi ang bodyguard ko.

And I didn't even realize na pumayag akong ligawan ni Dexter sa harap ni kuya Maurice. I got too busy with other things.

"What's wrong with it, kuya? You can find love at an early age, it can't be stopped," rason ko.

"With love being the key word," kuya said. "Bakit? Mahal mo ba yung Dexter?"

Natigilan ako ngunit hindi nahahalata ni kuya dahil iniisip niyang inaantok lang ako kaya hindi ako makausap nang maayos.

"That's why he's going to court me. To earn my affection. Hindi ba yun naman ang purpose ng panliligaw?"

"You're being-"

"Hindi kailangang mahal mo na ang isang tao para payagan mo siyang manligaw sa'yo. It's a good thing that I fall in love while spending time and getting to know him. At least I know him as a person before I jump at the chance of being in a relationship. Kaysa naman mahal ko na bago pa siya manligaw. Baka naman masagot ko na agad kahit di ko kilala nang lubos."

Kahit na sobrang layo ng loob ko kay Dexter. And no matter how uncomfortable he made me feel. I don't know why I'm still determined to make this work.

"Ikaw kuya..." I began speaking. "Kung pagbabawalan yung taong gusto mo... I mean yung girlfriend mo, kung di siya pinayagan na manligaw ka. Anong gagawin mo?"

"I'll wait."

"But you'll still make moves on her, won't you? To make her feel that you're into her even when you're not courting her," panghuhuli ko sa kanya.

Ibinaon ni kuya ang kanyang mukha sa kanyang mga palad.

"Kahit pagbawalan mo ako, kuya. Like you, Dexter will still do things to show me how he feels. Whether he is allowed to court me or not, he will stay around me. Hindi na natin siya mapipigilan. "

At least that made him shut up.

He looked around my room to distract himself from his own defeat. Then he looked back at me and stared.