A Fairytale's Mishap

CHAPTER 18: Night Sky

Kasalukuyan akong naglalagay ng iba kong gamit sa isang cabinet nang marinig ko ang mahinang katok. I am almost sure that's not Jake because I know he's not even going to knock in the first place. But I still need to ask, "Sino yan?"

"It's me." I let out a sigh of relief nang marinig ko ang boses ni Hershey.

"Come in. Door's open." Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagsisinop pero naramdaman ko siyang pumasok at umupo sa kama.

Hindi siya nagsasalita dahilan para tingnan ko siya. She's looking at me. "What? Is there a problem?" I asked.

Inikot niya ang mga mata na tila ba iritado, "Seriously, what's the deal between the two of you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You just met each other last Friday night. Today is Tuesday. But it's like you've been in a complicated relationship for such a long time already. I mean, don't get me wrong. I like you. I like you for him. Pero nagpapakatotoo lang ako. Don't you think it's too soon for you guys to be serious?"

"Well, I think you're thinking too much. I don't even know what you're talking about."

"Well, at least try to be honest with me, okay? Oh my god, seriously! One minute you were fighting. Then, you'd spend the night together. Pagkatapos, makikita ko kayo na bad trip na naman kanina."

Pagkagaling namin kanina sa pizza parlor ay dumiretso na kami ng uwi. Sakto namang naabutan namin si Hershey. At nakita niyang masama na naman ang timpla ko dahil na rin sa muling pag-ungkat ni Jake ng nangyari sa amin sa cabin house.

Itinigil ko ang ginagawa at umupo sa tabi niya. "I'm so confused. I don't even know how am I gonna handle this anymore?" I think that's the most honest answer I could give her.

"Why don't you take it slow? It's not so hard to figure out what happened to you guys at the cabin. I'm not judging you. Things like that happen. Kapatid ko siya at alam kong dapat hindi na ako nangingialam. But I like you a lot that I don't want you to mess it up."

Bahagya akong napangiti. Maaaring hindi mauubos ang Lavinia sa mundo. But I'm thankful that there's always that one sensible friend who stick by me. "So anong dapat kong gawin ngayon?"

"First of all, try not to fight each other."

"But it's your brother's fault. He always tries to get on my nerves."

"That's it! That's what I'm talking about. Could you at least try to stop pretending that you hate him? Kasi dun nagsisimula ang mga kadalasan niyong away."

"I'm not pretending..." depensa ko. But I know I don't sound convincing.

"Yeah, right! At least si kuya, ina-acknowledge niya na attracted siya sa 'yo. Wala masyadong pasakalye. Eh ikaw?"

Itinaas ko ang dalawang kamay na tila sumusuko, "What do you expect me to do? I'm a girl. That's what girl's do, right?"

"Oo, tama ka. That's what girls do. But you're not one of those girls, Kairi."

"So what's your point?"

"Stop acting and just be yourself. Show the real you. That's it."

It took a while before I respond. Is it too obvious that I was just acting? "I can't... I can't do that, Hershey."

"Why?"

Because it's more complicated than you think. I didn't say that out loud though. Instead, I sighed. "Okay, I'll try." That's the safest answer I could give.