Every Bad Thing

Chapter Thirteen

I waited outside their room because their teacher hasn't dismissed them yet. Maraming pumansin sa aking estudyante para magpaalam, I said goodbye to them all. Hindi naman kasi ako snob. Even Vance who passed by winked at me after waving goodbye.

Ang kambal ko ang unang lumabas sa magkakaibigan kaya siya rin ang unang nakakita sa akin. Masayang ngumiti siya habang papalapit. "You didn't have to wait for me."

"Feeler." nakatawang sabi ko. "I wasn't waiting for you."

Napadpad ang mga mata ko sa bandang likod niya at nakita roon si Silas. Umayos ako ng tayo at lumapad ang ngiti sa pagkakita sa kanya.

Hadeon sighed heavily. "Why am I still not used to this?"

Hindi ko siya pinansin at humakbang ng ilan para salubungin si Silas sa paglalakad. "Hey! Kain tayo ng ice cream?"

"I can't." Silas looked really torn. "May practice ako sa cotillion."

Just like that, my mood turned around. Nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ko. This is why I didn't wanna join the cotillion in the first place. There will be practices and I won't get to hang out with him. I wonder if he thought of that when he joined? Or maybe he just didn't care at all.

I absentmindedly took a step back. Silas' forehead creased as he looked at me distance myself from him.

"That's okay." tumango ako. Smile, Laurene. "I'll just ask the guys."

"Laurene..." he started but I quickly turned my back and walked towards Hadeon who seemed to be waiting. Alam kong nakikinig siya.

"Twin! Let's eat ice cream." I cheerfully said.

Sumulyap muna si Hadeon kay Silas bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. Nag-angat siya ng kilay at tiningnan ang buong mukha ko. Bago pa siya makasagot ay may biglang sumingit.

"Did someone say ice cream?" my, our heads turned towards the door. Nakita namin si Orion na malaki ang ngiti at kakalabas lang ng classroom nila. 

"I'm game. Sino manlilibre?" inilibot ni Orion ang mga mata niya sa amin, na parang hinahanap ang sagot sa tanong niya. Napailing-iling ako at umirap. That caught his attention.

"Ikaw ba, Laurel?" he said in an overly-surprised voice. 

"Yup. I'll be treating everyone except you, Onion." I flashed him a sweet smile.

"Awe, L. That's not nice." he pouted like a wounded puppy. I shook my head. I'm not even annoyed at his quirks. I'm so used to it. 

"Come on, let's feed you ice cream para maging sweet ka sa akin." lumapit sa akin si Orion at umakbay. Napatingin ako kay Silas dahil doon. He's standing there, quietly watching us. There's not a hint of amusement on his face. Pati si Orion ay tumingin kay Silas at mapang-asar na ngumisi. "Bye, Gallego! Enjoy your dance."

Kumaway siya at humalakhak pa bago nagsimulang maglakad. He's locking the back of my shoulders with his arm. Kaya labag man sa loob ko ay natangay niya ako. I sheepishly looked at Silas and waved my hand goodbye to him.

 We used Orion's car. Sa harapan si Hadeon at kami naman ni Takumi sa likod. The whole ride to Kapitolyo was anything but quiet. The boys were loud. Nangunguna si Hadeon at Orion sa pag-iingay. Normally, I'd join them and mock Orion, but my mood already depleted the moment Silas turned down my offer.