Spellbinding [revising]

CHAPTER ONE

ASTRA NIEVERA
Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag matapos kong ligpitan ang mga gamit ko sa bago kong kwarto. Pinunasan ko ang mga butil ng pawis sa noo ko. Humiga ako sa lapag at kinapa ang bulsa ko. Chineck ko ang phone ko dahil malamang ay galit na galit na naman sa'kin mga kaibigan ko dahil hindi na naman ako nagpaparamdam sa kanila. What do they expect? Na makikipaghuntahan ako sa kanila buong araw habang naglilipat kami ng gamit. Napairap naman ako dahil bumungad sa'kin ang sandamakmak na text ni Keesha sa akin. Nireplyan ko siya ng dalawang emoji. Isang smiley at isang puso, para lalo siya mainis. Napabuntong hininga ako bago tumayo at pagpatuloy ang paglilinis ng kwarto ko.

I was exploring my clothes when I found something underneath my pile of scarfs. It was a polaroid. I stared at it and smiled to myself. It was our first picture in freshman year. I laughed to myself because we look so disgusting in this pictures. Braces, uneven skin tone and oily faces. But then, I slid it in my purse and went back to arranging my clothes.

KEESHA BUENAVENTURA
Muntik ko nang mabato ang cellphone ko sa reply ni Astra. Nagtatanong ako ng maayos kung kailan niya ba balak magenroll at nireplyan ako ng dalawang emoji. Inis kong inilapag ang cellphone ko sa table at uminom nang tuloy tuloy sa iced coffee na inorder ko.

"Pwede makishare?" Napataas naman ako ng tingin sa nagsalita. Nakangiti ito sa'kin at may hawak na tray. Alinlangan akong tumango dahil kahit ayaw ko, puno ang cafe ng customers kaya wala akong ibang choice kundi hayaan siya.

"Sorry, ha? Mukhang bad mood ka ata, wag ka magalala, hindi naman ako magiingay." Tumango na lang ako at nagscroll sa cellphone ko. Hindi pa rin nagrereply si Astra sa mura ko kaya naisip ko na sugurin na lang siya sa bahay nila para kahit papaano ay mabwisit ko siya bilang ganti.

"I'll go ahead." Paalam ko sa katabi ko. He looked at me and smiled. Napakunot naman noo ko sa ngiti niya. What is he smiling for? I took my bag and headed out of the coffee shop. I should have booked early but this is also unexpected, so I have no choice but to wait for a taxi. My phone beeped continuously so I unlocked it. My messages were filled with my friends' whereabouts. I rolled my eyes and told them I'm checking on Astra today. Baka kasi patay na s'ya, such a pity. Good thing Stefana is free today and she'll pick me up. Naglibot muna ako sa mall, trying to find something interesting. I ended up in a music store, the thing I am obsessed with are vinyl records. They look so aesthetic and gold. I purchases four records.

"Hello? Where are you?" I asked right after I picked up Stefana's call. Patuloy pa rin ako sa paglingon sa mga shops habang naglalakad na papunta sa parking lot ng mall.

"I'm right in front of the mall. Should we buy some salad before raiding her? I'm starving." She asked, I snickered. I was in the elevator when the call ended. Dumiretso na ako sa harap ng mall and I found her sticking her tongue in a lollipop.

"Seriously, Stef? When will your mouth be unoccupied with food?" She whined when I asked. Pumunta na kami sa sasakyan niya habang nagaargue. She kept defensing her eating habit, not that she's unhealthy or has a body problem but it's really bothering because she can't stay long having nothing to chew.

"Wag mong sanayin sarili mo sa ganyan, Stef. I'm telling you I think you have to consult your psychologist." I advised while getting of the car. Binati naman kami ng mga kasama ni Astra sa bahay nila. We went upstairs and found ourselves blocked by tons of boxes.

"I think she has the problem." Stef mumbles while looking at the towers of box in front of Astra's room. Umiling ako at itinabig ang ibang box gamit ang paa ko. I reached for the doorknob and opened it, finding Astra so busy in her dirty clothes.

"Astra, taking a bath is kind of essential." Stef remarked and sat in Astra's bed, the girl rolled her eyes and continued unpacking her stuffs.

"Why are you here? I'm busy." She answered, I sat beside Stefana and looked at Astra.

"We're here to help." I said, napatingin naman sa'kin si Stefana.

"We are?" She asked. Tumawa naman si Astra and quickly went back to her stoic state.

"Very funny." Astra retorted, she picked a new box from outside and opened it. Napakunot naman noo ko dahil sa ginagawa niya.

"Why are you doing this, Astra? You have tons of people who can help you." I asked again, she just glanced at me and continued putting throw pillow out of the box.

"You know I don't like people touching my things. I just can't bear to watch them rummaging my things." I hummed in her answer.

"When should we enroll?" I changed the topic. Stefana shrugged and focused on her lollipop. Astra didn't bother to answer me. I grunted at them, I know they don't want to but we had no choice.

"We can't do anything about it, girls. It's our fault anyways." They all looked at me like I said something that offended them. I was just telling them the truth.

"We did not stole the exam sheets. Sadyang nandun lang tayo nung time na nawala 'yon. It was not our fault, it was a set up." Stef retorted and Astra scoffed. We got kicked out of our previous school because someone tipped the principal that we are responsible for the exposure of exam sheets. Everyone was turning against us and the admin decided to kick us out. It was devastating because everyone started spreading rumors about us and our families almost grounded us for something we didn't do.