Sunlight Deception (Isla Series #1)

07

"Bastos ka!" singhal ko habang pinupokpok ang libro sa ulo niya. He chuckled while stopping my hand.

"Hala! I meant surf!" he defended, his hand was now holding the book. He placed it on the table bago lumapit sa tainga ko. "Hmm, but we can do what you're thinking," he whispered and kissed the back of my ear.

Hindi ako nakaimik sa sensayon na dala ng ginawa niya. He laughed and shook his head when he saw my reaction.

"Nah. Come on, surf tayo." He stood up. Sinimangutan ko siya, naiinis sa hindi malaman na dahilan. "What? Mamaya na kita lalandiin, babe." Kinindatan niya ako.

Inismiran ko siya bago tumayo. Kinuha niya ang mga gamit ko sa lamesa at tinulak ako para maunang maglakad. Hinampas ko naman siya dahil muntik na akong mawalan ng balanse. He just laughed at me.

This guy is so mean! And annoying!

He raised a brow, smirking, when I glared at him. I let out an annoyed sigh before signaling him to follow me upstairs. Kawawa naman siya kung maiiwang siyang mag-isa dito sa baba.

Binuksan ko ang pinto at pumasok. Sumunod naman siya. I took my textbooks from him and placed it on the table beside my bed.

"Your room looks cute," Echo said while looking around the room.

"Thanks. Extra room lang 'to rito. May bahay kami diyan sa malapit," I said. Naalala ko na 'di pa pala ako nakabisita sa kabilang bahay. Wala rin naman kasing tao roon.

"Yeah, I remember. Hinahatid kita dati, 'di ba?" ngumisi siya. Kumunot ang noo ko, hindi naalala iyon.

"When?" I asked. He shrugged, smirking a bit. Hindi ko nalang pinilit. "Upo ka," sabi ko at tinuro ang sofa. Tinalikuran ko siya at lumapit sa closet para maghanap ng one piece.

Hindi siya sumagot pero naramdaman ko na lumapit siya sa 'kin. I felt his arms encircled my waist from behind. He was back hugging me.

Napahinto ang kamay ko sa ginagawa at dinama ang yakap niya sa akin. He kissed my shoulder, then my neck and stayed there for a while.

"Go on," he urged, shaking my body a bit.

Natauhan ako at nagpatuloy sa paghahanap ng one piece. He started planting kisses on my neck again. I felt him suck on it a bit, making the hair on my nape stand up. Madali kong kinuha ang white one piece at kinalas ang yakap niya sa 'kin.

"Magbibihis muna ako," sabi ko at halos tumakbo na ako papunta sa bathroom.

I looked at myself at the mirror and saw that I looked like a tomato!

What the hell?!

Nagbihis ako at tinali ang buhok ko. It took me awhile before going out. I felt a bit nervous again! Paglabas ko nakita kong nakatayo siya sa harap ng table and he was holding a frame. Lumapit ako para makita kung anong picture iyon.

It was a group photo of us. Kaming apat na babae, siya, Marco, and... Kito.

Oh.

"I miss him," sabi ko, nakatingin na rin sa frame.

"Yeah. I miss him too," halos pabulong na ang pagsabi niya nito.

"It wasn't your fault, Echo," I reminded and hugged him sideways. He hugged me back with one arm only and kissed the top of my head.

He let out a sigh. "It was."

Kito and I weren't that close since tahimik talaga ako noong bata pa kami at kay Cali lang talaga ako nakadikit. Tulad ni Jericho, maingay rin si Kito. He was very close to them, like brothers. He was our friend... He was my friend. He was one of us. But he left us.