Gleaming Part

....07

Chapter 7

"Thomas..." I tried holding his arm but he snatched away and held the bridge of his nose.

"Sabi ko sa'yo na sabihin mo eh! Ilang beses ka na pala binababoy eh! Bakit hindi mo man lang sinabi?" He shouted that made me close my eyes.

Huminga ako ng malalim at tinignan siya.

"Thomas, I hope you understand—" He went closer to me.

"Hindi ko maiintindihan. Hinding-hindi ko maiintindihan lalo na't ilang beses ka na binaboy. Ilang beses ka hinawakan. Ilang beses ka hindi tinuring na anak. So, no, Cadie. I would never understand!" Nanginginig siya kaya mabilis ko siya niyakap.

I felt how he breathes so heavily and after awhile I felt his shoulders shaking.

"Hindi ko maiinintindihan iyan. Hinding hindi ko kaya makita kang ginaganun. Iniisip ko pa lang nababaliw na ako. Paano pa kaya sina Kane? Sina Tita? Paano pa sila na halos kada oras iniisip ka nila? Cadie, please. Umalis ka na don." He hugged me gently.

I sighed and rubbed his back.

"Please, Cadie. Please." He cried more. Nanlabo na ang mata ko at hinayaan na tumulo ang mga luha ko.

I looked at Cameron wiping his eyes and looking away.

"Cameron." I called him. He looked at me and his eyes started to water again.

I spread out my right arm and he immediately joined our hug.

They both cried and I couldn't stop myself from crying. It's hard standing in tiptoe but this is all I can do to reach them.

It pains me seeing them like this.

"I'll be okay." I keep on repeating to them while I pat their backs.

"I will be." I whispered.

We had our early dismissal at nagpasyang bumili ng pagkain ang iba naming kaibigan. Kasama dapat namin si Eugene pero pinasama siya ni Thomas kina Grace. That's why they got the chance to talk to me. I don't really like talking and reminding about what happened. But, I might explode if no one will know, kahit isang tao lang nakakaalam, kahit isa lang. But, seeing them like this makes me very guilty.

I waited for them to calm down. Unang lumayo ay si Cameron at umupo na lang sa isang silya dito sa classroom.

I hugged my cousins tighter, "I love you." I kissed his forehead.

Tumango tango siya at humiwalay na, he looked at me and caressed my cheek with his thumb.

"Our kindness." He called to me that made me smile a little.

"I am strong." I said even though I'm in doubt.

He chuckled softly, "Of course, you are."

Pumikit siya ng mariin at inalis ang luha na tumulo sa pisngi niya, "Come home later, Tita and Kane should know about this." Napatigil kaagad ako.

"I...I think it's not a good idea, Thomas." Bigla naman siyang umiling.

"They need to know. Before, it's too...late."

"Food's here!" Iwinagayway ni Ashley ang isa sa box ng pizza at natawa naman kaagad kami.

No hint of tears and shouting was visible when they came back. I'm glad.

"I bought you this banana milk." Inilahad sa'kin ni Greg ang favorite drink ko.

I smiled and accepted it, "Thank you!" Tumango lang siya at bumalik na kay Grace.

I looked at Eugene creasing his forehead habang nakatingin kay Greg.

Lumapit naman ako sakaniya at niyakap sa patagilid.

"Kumukunot nanaman ang noo mo." He looked at me and he scoffed.

"Bakit hindi ka don kay Greg?" Napatigil ako at tinignan siya.

"Are you serious?" Hindi siya sumagot at sumimangot na lang.

I smirked and thought of something.

"Eugene, shoe ka ba?" He rolled his eyes.

"What? No. But, fine. Why?" I giggled and hugged him tighter.

"SHOEta kita." I mumbled that made him look at me.

Umawang ang labi niya na ikinatawa ko. Umiling kaagad siya at inilapit ang mukha niya sa mukha ko.

He snickered, "Hindi pa." Ngumuso ako at tinanggal na ang pagkayakap sakaniya at lumapit kay Ashley.

I saw him smirked as he grabbed a slice of pizza. Not breaking our eye contact he bites his pizza and winks at me.

Umirap talaga ako at narinig ko ang tawa niya. Sinagi ako ni Ashley at nakangisi ito.

"Kayo ha. Walang label ba iyan?" Sinabunutan ko siya at kinuha ang slice ng pizza sa kamay niya kaya ako rin ang nasabunutan.

"Shut up, Ashley. Ikaw nga walang special someone." Her lips formed into an O and she put her left hand on her chest.

"That's a foul, Millicent!" Ngumiwi ako.

"I told you not to call me 'Millicent'" Binelatan niya lang ako at kumain na.

"Ayieee!" I heard cameron shout and looked at where he is pertaining to.

Napangiti ako na nakitang sina Grace at Greg ay nakaikot ang mga kamay nila at kumagat sa pizza nila.

Natawa naman ako dahil ginaya ni Thomas at Cameron iyong ginawa nina Grace. Nagkatinginan kami ni Ashely at sabay kaming nandiri.

"No way!" Komento ko.

"Oh... so, hindi mo na ako love?" I laughed at Ashley's comment and gave her a flying kiss. She pretended that she caught it and placed it on her chest that made us laugh.

Napatingin ako sa likod naman at nakitang si Eugene ay nakangiti sa'min. The genuine smile that I always love to see.

Napatingin siya sa gawi ko. He arched his eyebrows. Ngumuso ako at pinalapit siya.

He sat next to me and he continued to watch our other friends.

"Sana all, may someone special." Komento ni Cameron na ikinatawa namin. Tinignan niya si Ashley.

"Pero iyong isa diyan wala na talagang pagasa!" Lumakas ang tawanan namin at binatuhan naman siya ni Ashley ng tissue.

"Walanghiya ka!" Ashley continue throwing tissues at Cameron while he was dodging it.

Nang huminahon sila, si Eugene naman na ang nagsalita kaya napatahimik kami.

"But, I hope that this someone I value the most is my endgame." Nanlaki ang mata ko. Napaubo ako at uminom kaagad ng banana milk habang nag hihiyawan sila.

Eugene rubbed my back as he smirked. Napatigil ako at may naramdaman na kakaiba.

Napatingin ako kay Thomas and saw him looking at me, he nodded signaling that everything's alright. Tumango ako at dahang-dahang kinuha ang kamay ni Eugene na nasa likod ko.

I intertwined our hands and just let it stay there. I saw him looked at our hands and chuckled.

"I love this." He squeezed it a little and that made me smile.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Cadie. I am willing to wait for you." Pertaining to me open up. My heart softened. This guy...

"I value you so much and I couldn't really bear seeing your sad eyes. I know something's up. If you're ready, I'm all ears." He whispered.

"Do you get me?" He caught my eyes and he looked at me softly.

I nodded, "I do, thank you."