Harder to Live (Villaraza Series #3)

23. Easy

23.
Easy

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That same night while I was in my room ready to sleep, that kid sent me a selfie of his. Namumula pa ang mga nakabukang labi at nakakindat sa camera habang naka-peace sign. Mukhang ini-enjoy niya pa iyong lip tint, ah.

Parang bata.

But I kind of like he was like this. Predictable and very transparent. Genuine and bold.

Yeah, I liked his selfie. Cute. He was cute. Like puppy cute.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at naalala ang nangyari sa mall kanina. After he pinched my cheek, nagpalakpakan ang mga tao. Kanina pa pala nila kami pinagmamasdan. Hiyang-hiya ako samantalang iyong bata, chill lang at nagawa pang kumaway.

Bakit ko ba kasi ginawa iyon? I shouldn't have applied that tint on his lips! Panigurado, gustong-gusto niya iyong pangyayari. He liked it whenever I was caught off-guard.

Scheming brat.

"Kailan due mo?" Lilian asked while offering me a tray of sandwiches. "Nakapagpa-checkup ka na ba ulit?"

Kumuha ako ng isa at kumagat doon. "Sa May. Sobrang busy nitong mga nakaraan kaya 'di pa 'ko bumabalik sa ob-gyn. Pero nagpaplano kami ni Iñovyz, one of these days."

Tumango siya saka inokupa ang bakanteng lounger. Binalik kong muli ang pagmamasid sa dalawa — kina Iñovyz at Heather na nasa pool at nagtatampisawan.

It was a Sunday. Birthday ni Randall kaya may kaunting salo-salo sa bahay nila.

Hindi pa rin kami ayos. Galit pa rin siya. Hindi pa nga sana ako pupunta kung hindi lang ako pinilit nina Lilian at Iñovyz.

Most of the visitors were in the house. Dahil ayoko sa mga tao at may ilang pamilyar na mukha, I chose to stay here in their pool. Iyon nga lang, feeling gago na naman iyong isa at sumunod dito hanggang sa dumating na rin ang pamangkin ko para tulungan siyang istorbohin ako.

"He's a good guy."

Nilingon ko si Lilian na nakangiting nakamasid na rin sa dalawa. Nang naramdaman ang tingin ko ay binalingan niya ako. "Parang bagay kayong dalawa."

"Shut up," malamig kong sabi at sumimsim sa iniinom na buko juice.

"He's funny; you're serious. He's talkative; you're silent-type. He likes people; you hate them. He's so full of life. Kabaliktaran mo siya." Her squinted eyes taunted me. "Opposites do attract, 'no?"

"Matanda ako nang walong taon d'yan."

"Oh, tapos? Is that an issue?"

I scoffed. "He's a baby."

Tumawa siya. "Yeah. Your baby."

I hissedM. Why was everyone pushing me to like that kid? He was everything that I didn't like.

I wanted my guys older than I did. Doon palang, hindi ko na talaga siya matitipuhan. He was too loud and talked nonstop. At iyong ngiti niya, lagi akong sinisilaw. Nakakainis.