Rhythm of Life (Varduzco Series #1)

Sixteenth Rhythm

MASAKIT ANG ulo ko nang magising ako. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon para tignan kung nasaan ako. I sighed when I saw that I'm inside my room. This is the Varduzco brotthers' house and I'm here again.

Who brought me here?

Hinilot ko ang aking sentido at doon ko lang nakita si Zarina na nakaupo sa upuan malapit sa vanity mirror ko. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay bago umiling.

"Pinalitan na kita ng damit, you're so dirty earlier." she rolled her eyes, umakto pa itong nandidiri. "Why did sleep at the cemetery? Are you out of your mind?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niyang 'yon. "Sino ba kasing nagsabi sa'yong bihisan mo ako?"

"Hindi ba dapat nagpapasalamat ka sa'kin?" iritang sagot niya. "You disturbed me and your step-brothers when you went missing! It's not that I'm worried about you but they all did everything to find you!"

"Ano bang pakialam mo?! Hindi ko naman ginusto 'yang mga ginagawa nila kaya bakit parang utang na loob ko pa?!"

Napatayo siya mula sa kaniyang kinauupuan. Lumakad siya papalapit sa akin. "If you have any problem, tell it straight to their faces! Mind your actions, Rhythm. You're not the only one who's affected here."

She went out of my room as she slammed the door. I don't know what's her deal but I don't see any reason for me to say thank you to them. And what will happen if they heard about my problems? Nothing. They won't understand me anyways.

Muli akong humiga sa aking kama at binalot ko ang aking sarili ng kumot. I don't want to go outside because I find it really hard to face them.

I was about to close my eyes when someone entered my room. Hindi ko kaagad nahulaan kung sino ito dahil wala pa namang ibang gumaganito sa akin sa bahay na 'to.

"Hoy!"

Napasimangot ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Sniper. I haven't heard his voice for a while now so it's really shocking that he's here inside my room, invading my privacy.

"Ano?" tamad kong sagot, nakabalot pa rin sa kumot.

"Stupid." hinila niya ang kumot na nakabalot sa akin na naging dahilan para mairita ako lalo. Hinila ko rin ang kumot mula sa kaniya, pilit itong ibinabalik sa akin.

Napaupo ako sa aking kama, nakikipaghilaan pa rin sa kaniya. "Ano ba, Sniper?! Bakit mo ba ako ginugulo?!"

Kaagad niyang binitiwan ang kumot kaya naman halos tumalsik ako dahil sumakto ang bitiw niya sa paghatak ko.

Nakakairita talaga ang taong 'to!

"Ano bang problema mo, ha?!" I asked irritatingly.

"I'm not going to do this if they didn't ask me to!" tumaas ang garalgal niyang boses. He pinched the tip of my nose and it took me few seconds to stop him from doing it.

"Bwiset ka! Lumayas ka sa harapan ko!"

Sniper sighed heavily. He looked away as he scratched the back of his head. "Just go out in this room and eat with us."

Napahinto ako roon, hindi pa sigurado kung tama ba ang narinig.

Is he asking me to eat with them? I mean, haven't they heard about what happened to me and my mother?

Lumapit si Sniper sa kurtina ng bintana at binuksan iyon. "It's already morning. Last night, Ranger found you at the cemetery and he asked for Kuya Arrow's help. I'm not saying this to make you feel guilty sinasabi ko lang para alam mo."

Muli niya akong binalingan ng tingin. Walang siyang imik pero nanatili lang ang kaniyang tingin. I noticed that he's not shouting today and he's calmer compare before. I prefer him this way, a calm version of Sniper with some touch of arrogance.