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Special Chapter 4: The Day When Solace Almost Quit

Rio tricked her. But it was her friends who made her stay. And it was enough.

Because, as long as she's playing this game. Then, maybe they can save him.

"Iv." narinig niyang tawag ng kakambal kaya bigla siyang napatingala. My face kissed the tree in an instant. 

Solace laughed. "Tanga."

Kanina niya pa napapansin ang pag-alis ni Rio sa mundo. Madali lang namang basahin ang mga expresyon nito dahil magkakambal sila. And when Rio is entranced, his face goes stoic. Solace noticed it and pulled him up from his thoughts when he was too close to the tree. In her defense, she even saved him. Kung hindi niya ito tinawag, nabunggo na ang kakambal niya.

Nakakahiya naman iyong pangyayari para isang so-called Anima. Solace still laughs at the title. It's so cringe. Kagaya ng thief title ni Feyre na paborito nitong ipagyabang.

"Hoy, ikaw," naglakad palapit si Rio sa kakambal. "Kanina pa ako nagtitimpi sa'yo. Respect your elders!"

Solace frowned. "Duh, we're twins."

"Naipanganak ako sa'yo two minutes earlier!"

"So sinasabi mo na ngang matanda ka na, Rio?"

Rio's head snapped to the direction of the new voice. Nanliit ang mata niya nang makita si Astro na nakaupo sa isang bato. Nakatayo din si Halcyon sa likod niya na busangot ang mukha. Both of them glared at him before sighing and looking away. Mukhang hindi naging maganda ang pag-iwan ni Solace sa kanila.

Ano nga ba ang ginagawa nila dito?

He turned to his twin. "Sis, ano 'to? Meeting ng mga manliligaw mo?"

As expected, kumunot ang noo ni Solace at tumingin sa kaniya na para bang tinubuan siya ng dalawang ulo. "Pinagsasabi mo?"

Solace is so oblivious, Rio sighed. You can stand in front of her, professing your love and she won't even blink an eye. Pero napakabilis kapag away na. Napapa-isip talaga siya minsan kung worth it pa ang pag-blackmail niya sa mga manliligaw nito noon. They can court all they want and Rev will treat them like they just want five pesos.

"What am I doing here, sis? Saan kita tutulungan?" Rio glanced at the two other boys with distaste. "You want me to kill them."

"Alam mo it really bugs me," panimula ni Halcyon at lumapit sa kaniya. Beside him, he can see Solace squinting her eyes while looking at a different direction. "Hindi ba't you like me back then, and now you're always attacking me. Are you still better?"

Rio gaped. Astro choked. At umuwang ang labi ni Solace.

"What the fuck?!" tumaas ang boses ni Rio. "Kailan lang, pre?!"

"Weren't you my fan back then? At isa pa, we even dated once-"

Mas lalong nalaglag ang panga ni Solace kahit na nakatingin pa rin sa kung saan. She also looked quite frustrated now. 

Astro abruptly stood up and pointed at them. "You guys dated?!"

Aawayin na sana ni Rio si Halcyon, but something about Astro's tone made him look at the guy. "Anong problema do'n?"

Napakurap-kurap si Astro habang naka-awang pa rin ang labi. "Is that why you both act like bitter exes?"

Parehong natigilan si Rio at Halcyon. The latter glared at Astro with all his might, and took a glance at Solace who now looks annoyed. "It was only one date," panay ang tingin niya sa direksiyon ng babae. He doesn't know why she looks angry. Narinig niya ba ang pinag-uusapan nila at naiinis siya?