He's My Cousin!

[Ch.28] Cryptic Puzzle

Late update, super lame update. Babawi na lang sa next chapter.

Please do bear with my errors. No proofreading done. 

[Ch.28] Cryptic Puzzle

// Ayanna's Point of View

"Hey," Ella waved unto the indubiable sweet couple--- Francis and Lizel. Sometimes, I must admit, seeing them together reminds me of the squint memories Ian and I have shared. Francis and Ian had lots of similarities. Well, aside from being the MVP and captain ball of the team, both of them were sweet and thoughtful. I always think of Ian since we parted our lives. Paopao's obsidian black eyes which resemble Ian's have always been reminding me of our shared moments together. And honestly, I missed him. I miss my friend. I miss the solace he unknowingly offers me in times I need him. I long for his comforting touch and advices. I miss that guy-- I have been missing everything about him lately. But hey, I love Paopao. That's a fact, I am just missing Ian these past days. 

"Ella, Aya," Liz noticed us and gradually pushed Francis away from her. Nagtinginan kami ni Ella at nagkibit-balikat na lamang. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako sa nangyayari ngayon sa mga buhay-buhay namin. I knew everything was expedient, but I must say I was still feeling something was wrong within us... or should I say, within me? Everyone had moved on with what had happened. Everyone accepted the fact that Ian had done something wrong--- that it was over for me and him. I still have this guilt in me, I must say. There was still this diminutive purport of despodency that haunts me every night before I whip myself into my bed. For the record, I'm not commendably okay. 

"Busy ka ata. Sige, next time na lang, Liz," malumanay na sabi ni Ella sabay ngiti. It has been a long time since Ella and Anton drifted apart yet I knew that until this point in time, my best friend has been loving him. She was such a strong woman--- her smile was a facade that covers all sorts of misery she have gone through. 

"Hi-hindi naman," iniwas niya ang tingin niya sa amin at napansin kong namula ang mga pisngi niya. I have never thought Liz could have this hoity-toity. She has been a simple geek after all. "Saan ba ang punta natin? Tutal may practice rin naman sina France maya-maya, 'di ba France?" siniko-siko niya si Francis. Tumango naman ito sa amin.  

"If that's the case, tara sa library?" aya ni Ella sa kanya habang nilalahad nito ang kamay niya. Naka-upo kasi sina Liz at Francis sa damuhan ng garden ng university. Kung titignan mo nga sila kanina ay para bang mag-aakapan na sila. Mga pasaway. Napa-iling na lang ako.  

"Bye, Francis. See you later okay?" inabot niya iyong kamay ni Ella at nagpaalam sa boyfriend niya. Sabay-sabay kaming naglalakad papunta sa library nang biglang magsalita si Liz, "ang tahimik mo ata, Aya." I gave her a weak catachrestic smile. She then held me on my right shoulder and caressed the same spot. Para bang inaalo niya ako. The next thing I knew, halos masubsob na ako sa hallway ng annex building wing b! She hit me very hard on my back. Sinamaan ko iyong titig sa kanya.  

"What was that for?" tanong ko. Si Ella naman ay halos hindi na makahinga dahil sa patuloy niyang paghagikgik. Nag 'v' sign si Liz using her hand. "Masyado ka kasing seryoso. Alam mo, Aya, kung may problema ka ay narito naman kami. Huwag mong solo-hin lahat," she smiled to me.  

Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit ako nagkakaganito nitong mga nakaraang araw. Ngunit ngayon, mukhang napagtagni-tagni ko na ang lahat. I am blaming myself with what had happened to Ian in Los Angeles. I remember that time when he he said that if only I would wish him to stay, he would. I am still wishing I could go back to that point in time and ask him to stay with him. I feel guilty. I have been fooling him since the outset of our relationship. I wish I was smarter. I wish I didn't take him for granted.