Never Stopped Loving You ✓

chapter 9

Nagdaan naman din ang ilang araw at sa wakas gumaling na din si Arianne. Naglaho na ang kanyang lagnat kaya sa pagkadismaya ko ay siya ay tuluyan ng umalis muli sa tahanan namin para bumalik sa bahay niya. As much as I was concerned for her, she didn't want to leave her mother all alone as she told me on how her father has gotten very violent ever since her siblings decided to live with her Tita Ella.

Sa wakas din, nagkaayos na kami! Hindi na niya ako gino-ghost at pinapansin niya na din ako, and I was finally back to my usual self, the happy ol' giddy Ced na palagi nilang hinahanap.

“Good mood kana ah, ano, kamusta kayo ni Arianne? Move on naba?”

Nagtanong si Anthony sa'akin.. Ang aking kaibigan na hinding hindi nanawa sa pag-comfort sa'akin sa tuwing ako ay nagluluksa dahil ni Arianne.

“Okay na ako, pero hindi pa nakakamove on. It turned out to be much better pre. Nagkaayos na kami.”

Nang sinabi ko ito ngumiti naman si Anthony at ako ay tinapik tapik sa balikat.

“Buti naman!” saad niya habang ako ay napatawa,

“Akala ko talaga walang wala na ang Cedrianne.” he teased as I raised an eyebrow while smirking a little bit.

“asus! Gusto mo nga ako mag-move on sakanya noon, e.” ng sinabi ko ito siya ay tumawa.

“Oo, kaso hindi ka naman nag-move on diba? You decided take another step.”

I smiled at him.

“Salamat nalang, pre.”

He just nodded as he went to find my sutil little sister, Ayri. I don't even know why but he seems to be attatched to her at some point! Palagi na niya lamang hinahanap at inaasar ang aking kapatid. Of course, palagi siyang nagsusumbong sa'akin. Pero hinahayaan ko na lamang si Anthony mang-asar, problema na ni Ayri 'yun! Alam ko naman kaya niyang suntukin si Anthony straight in the nuts after all.

Since palaban naman din ang isang Ayri!

I laughed to myself, vaccant hours namin ngayon kaya maari muna kaming mag-pahinga. Nais ko sanang pumunta sa library at baka sakaling mahanap ko din si Dora, este si Arianne.

Palagi na lamang din siya nag-uuli kung saan saan, tapos hindi naman din siya nagtetext sa'akin! Baka mamaya asa calumpang na siya, tapos ang depota ay malapit lapit na din tumalon ng hindi ko naman din alam.

Nang hahakbang muli ako, biglaang may tumawag sa'akin na familiar na boses.

“Ceddie!” parinig ko at ako ay lumingon.

Tila ba ang mabibigat na mga bato sa balikat ko ay tinanggal, habang ang kaba ko na nalagabog sa dibdib ko ay natunaw. Nandito na siya, ang aking Arianne Clarisse Ramirez, na may dala dalang... box?

Para saan kaya 'yun.. Or more specifically, para kanino?

Kutob ko ay para sa lalaking kinakasama niya. Boyfriend niya ba 'yun?

“Hello, Ari. Good morning, ano ang dala dala mo?” tanong ko, pretending to be curious habang tinulak ko pabalik ang selos na nakulo sa dibdib ko.

“Good morning din sayo, Ceddie!” she beamed as I smiled a little. Such an adorable ray of sunshine...

So pure and innocent.

She immediately handed the box to me to which my eyes widened. Para sa'akin ba 'to?

“For you, aking Ceddie!” she yelled gently.

I accepted the box. Once I opened it my eyes widened to see a small teddy bear, roses, chocolates and cupcakes aswell. God damnit Arianne! Always so thoughtful when it comes to gifts. My eyes wandered to see an apology letter, apologizing for her actions and thanking me for explaining further.

“I thought you deserve an apology from me after what I've caused you, Ceddie. I hope you appreciate it.”

She continued as the smile on my face grew bigger.

“I appreciate it more than you think I do, Ari. Salamat, kahit hindi ko naman din deserve ang mga ganito.”

She giggled.

“That's not all though!” saad niya at napatirik ako ng kilay. She handed me a bracelet.. A friendship bracelet.

“Para saan ba 'yan, Ari?” I questioned as she smiled.

I wore the friendship bracelet and saw on how her name was written on it, full of beads and designs of all sorts as she showed me hers.

Nakalagay din ang aking pangalan sa kanya, to which I smiled, a crimson red painting my cheeks.

“Ito ay isang remembrance Ceddie! Kasi, baka sakaling tayo ay magkahiwalay, hindi natin makakalimutan ang isa't isa, dahil our names are on each of our bracelets! ”

“ 'wag mo tatanggalin 'yan ah!” sigaw niya, puffing her cheeks out as she placed her knuckles on her waist.

“Noted po, Madam.”

She smiled confidently, as I giggled at her, pinching her cheeks as she howled in pain.

“Aray!” she shouted as she rubbed her cheeks.

“Cute mo.” I muttered as she stared at me.

“Pabawi!” saad niya at ako ay umiling.

“Kapag meroong nalipad na baboy, Ari. Papayag ako.”

She looked up at the sky.

“Hala! Ano 'yun? May nalipad na baboy!”

Being the oblivous boy I am, I ended up falling for her trick as I looked up at the bright sky that blinded my eyes. Until I felt her pinching my cheeks aswell as I was startled habang siya ay napatawa.

My Muse.

Not only did I fell for her trick, but I also fell deeply inlove with her.

Nagdaan ang ilang minuto at kami ni Arianne ay dumiretso sa Library, bakit?  Hindi ko rin alam sa babae ko e. Apparently she wanted to catch up on Shakespeare's books, to which I politely accepted the offer of coming with her.

After all, huge fan din ako ni Shakespeare! Mahilig din ako magbasa ng kanyang mga poetry tiyaka libro. Especially the most famous one, Romeo And Juliette. A tragedic book na gustong gusto ni Arianne basahin, kahit alam ko luluha siya dahil sa pait ng librong 'yun.

“Ari.. You should really tone down with the Romeo And Juliette.. Baka umiyak ka.”

I warned her as she looked at me while scoffing.

“I'm not weak, Ceddie!” she boasts as I placed a finger on my forehead.

“I'm not saying you're weak, baka mamaya mapula mata mo pag pasok sa classroom.”

She shook her head as I just allowed her. Sige, you're truly testing my patience Arianne Clarisse. Tingnan natin kung Hindi ka talaga iiyak sa lagay na masakit ding basahin 'yang librong 'yan.

I watched her gently grab the book as I also grabbed one as well. Pero hindi ko planong basahin, plano kong obserbahan si Arianne. This girl is absolutely stubborn!

Maya Maya napapansin ko na namumula na ang kanyang mata, habang ang ito ay nagproproduce na ng tubig.

'Yan na ang sinabi sa hula e.

I sighed, grabbing a tissue from my bag, stubborn girls truly need a lesson para lamang madala.

“Oh, Ano?” tanong ko as she closed the book as I continued to wipe her tears away.

“Masakit ba?”

“S-Shut up, Ceddie!” ngumuso siya.

Cute talaga niya, haix.