Chapter 23
Castiel's POV
Today is Asher's birthday and we're currently here in their own private resort. Speaking of Asher, I suddenly remembered the way he looked at Raven when she was with Oliver last Monday after our performance.
I don't know but I think I can sense... jealousy?
He's mind is too complicated. It's like he can't even decide for himself. I just hope that he won't do anything that he will regret in the end.
"Hindi pa ba to tapos?" I can see that Levi is starting to get irritated.
We're actually preparing for the surprise planned by Bianca for him. She talked to us while Asher was not around and asked us to help her. At first we were hesitating but Asher's our friend and Yvette agreed so did I and then the rest of the group followed us.
"Is everything already settled?" Bianca asked.
To be honest, it's not like we're helping her. It's like we're doing the job for her. She's just standing there, bossing around and it's making me feel irritated too.
"Bakit hindi ikaw ang gumawa para malaman mo?" I heard Raven whisper beside me and that made me laugh. It's a relief that I'm not the only one who's feeling this way.
"Yup. Already done! So what's the next thing to do?" Yvette was the one to answer because it seems like no one really like to. I looked at Levi and Cassandra and they both look like they're about to explode. If this wasn't for Asher, I think no one from us would like to work with her.
"I'm going to go and get him at your house. Of course I'll be the one to do that because that will make him happy. Seeing ME, I mean. And he already promised that he will spend his day with me but I don't want to steal him away from you guys so I planned this."
"More like you gusto mo lang ipagawa sa amin lahat kaya mo kami sinama dito. Saksak ko sa baga mo si Asher eh." Raven whispered again. Oh is that what you call bitterness?
Bianca left and we're here sitting at one of the cottage. We're so tired and sweaty but I don't think I can even stand and change right now. I feel like my body will collapse any minute now.
"Geez I hate her. She was like 'I can't be sweaty because I will be the one to go to Asher and I don't want to look haggard in front of him.' Nakakairita!" Cassandra said while closing her fist like Bianca's in there and she's crashing her. If I'm not this tired at all, I would laugh at her.
Yvette sat beside me and used the towel she's holding to wipe my sweat. I felt my whole face heat up because of what she did. Everyone stayed quiet for a while and maybe just like me, they were shocked but when they had fully recovered, they teased us while laughing.
"Oh my gosh! Hanggang dito ba naman?! Pero masyado kayong cute na dalawa! Let me take a picture of you!" Raven said while holding her phone.
I was shy at first but I set that aside and put my arms around Yvette's shoulders and Raven and Cassandra started screaming like they are fangirling at something which made us all laugh.
"Like what the fudge! You guys are killing me! Kinikilig ako sa inyo!" Cassandra said.
We just stayed like that, teasing each other and laughing so hard, until we heard from one of the maids that Asher is already here.
Just like what we planned, I mean what Bianca planned, we ran and hide ourselves inside the house and turned off the lights so it would look like that no one was inside. We waited until they come inside and when we turned on the lights, we all screamed "surprise!"
We ran to him and hugged him. He was too shock to even say something. It seems like Bianca's plan really worked huh.
"Wow! Thank you. You all planned this?" Yvette was about to answer but Bianca cut her off.
"No I planned this ALONE, pero syempre alam ko kung gaano kaimportante sayo yung mga kaibigan mo so I asked for their help and I'm glad na pumayag sila maging parte ng plano ko."
"Wow! So ikaw lahat ang nagplano nito? Thank you!" Asher said while facing Bianca and then he hugged her. Napatingin ako kay Raven and I saw her looking away. If only I could punch Asher for being dumb, then I would. But he doesn't know anything, so what can I do?
I just hope he'll wake up soon enough before it's too late.
Cassandra's POV
Pagkatapos namin isurprise si Castiel ay lumabas na rin kami dahil doon naman talaga namin nilagay yung tables at foods para na rin tanaw namin yung beach. Meron naman shade na nilagay kaya hindi kami naaarawan.
"So hanggang kailan tayo dito?" Napatingin kami kay Asher at syempre hindi na kami sumagot dahil alam naman naming may pabibong mangunguna dyan.
"Nagpaalam ako sa Dad mo at pinayagan naman niya na magstay tayo dito hanggang bukas." Proud na sabi ni Bianca sabay pinulupot niya yung kamay niya sa braso ni Asher. Akala niya ata cute siya pero yung totoo mukha lang talaga siyang unggoy. Ang sarap niyang ibitin patiwarik. Nakakagigil siya.
"You asked my Dad? In personal?" Gulat na tanong ni Asher. Natigilan naman sandali si Bianca at mukhang nagiisip.
"Well, pinakiusapan ko si Yvette kasi syempre hindi pa naman ako kilala ng Dad mo at nahihiya akong magtanong sa kanya." Hindi ko naman mapigilan mapanganga dahil sa sinabi niya. Wow, talaga lang? Parang sa pagkakatanda ko ang sinabi niya lang kay Yvette ay gagamitin namin tong resort nila para maging venue ng surprise birthday party para kay Asher. Anong sinasabi niyang kinausap niya si Yvette para magpaalam kay Tito?
"Don't worry. Next time ipapakilala na kita sa kanya para hindi ka na mahiya kay Dad." Sabi na lang ni Asher tapos nginitian niya pa si Bianca. Hindi ko naman mapigilang mapairap dahil sa harap pa talaga naming lahat sila naglalandian.
Nagsimula na kaming kumain at nanahimik lang kaming lahat. Well, except kay Asher at Bianca na nagtatawanan.
Minsan na nga lang namin siya makasama pero parang wala lang naman kami sa kanya dahil nakatuon lang yung atensyon niya kay Bianca.
Bakit ba kasi ang tanga mo, Asher? Hindi niya pa ata nakikita yung totoong ugali ng babaeng yan.
"Why don't we go to the beach and swim? Sayang naman. Nandito na rin naman tayo." Biglang pag-aaya sa amin ni Levi. Sumang-ayon naman kaming lahat sa plano na 'yon.
"Ikaw, Bianca? Gusto mong sumama tayo sa kanila?" Wow, wala kang sariling pag-iisip at nagtatanong ka pa sa babaeng yan? Ano bang nangyayari sa utak nitong kaibigan namin na to?
Ang dami kong gustong sabihin pero alam ko naman na once nagsalita ako, makakapagsabi ako ng masasakit na salita na alam kong hindi magugustuhan ni Asher. Hangga't kaya kong magtiis, gagawin ko.
"I don't think I could. Medyo napagod din kasi ako so I think I'll just rest inside." Napagod? Saan? Sa pag-uutos? Grabe na talagang pagpipigil yung ginagawa ko pero kaya ko pa naman magtiis. Wag lang talaga akong sumabog bigla.
"I'll go with you." Napatingin ako bigla kay Asher dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Pero paano mga kaibigan mo?"
"Susunod na lang ako sa kanila mamaya. Wala kang kasama sa loob kapag sumama ako sa kanila." Bigla siyang tumingin sa amin. "Guys, sa loob muna kami." At bigla na silang tumalikod sa amin.
Napatingin ako kay Raven at hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng lungkot. Kita ko kasi sa mga mata niya na nasasaktan siya habang nakikita yung dalawa na ganon. Namimiss ko na yung Raven na palaban. Kapag kasi ganito na may kinakainisan kami, talagang pinaguusapan namin ni Raven pero ngayon parang wala siyang lakas at nanahimik na siya simula nung dumating si Asher.
"Jerk." Biglang comment ni Levi kaya naman napatingin ako sa kanya.
"I agree." Madalas kaming magtalo magpinsan pero hindi ko naman alam na sa ganitong sitwasyon pala kami magkakasundo. "Anyway, why don't we just enjoy ourselves? Kesa hayaan natin yung Bianca na yon na sirain tong araw na to."
Tumayo na kaming lahat at nagkasundo na magbihis muna bago magkita sa may beach. Mainit pero ayos lang. Hindi naman kami kasing arte ng Bianca na yon.
So yon bumaba na rin kami agad. Wala naman talaga kaming plano pero biglang nagkayayaan magbeach volleyball kaya go lahat.
Nahati kami sa dalawang team. Nasa team ko si Levi at Yvette habang si Castiel at Raven naman sa kabila. Fair na to dahil volleyball player naman dati si Raven.
Ilang beses na ako muntikan matamaan ng bola sa mukha dahil hindi naman talaga ako maalam. Puro iwas lang yung ginagawa ko pero puro katangahan pa dahil pumupunta ako sa side kung saan bumabagsak yung bola.
Masaya lang kaming nagtatawanan nang biglang dumating sina Asher.
"Hala ang itim at ang dirty niyo na. Mukha na kayong gusgusing mga bata." Biglang comment ni Bianca. Hindi ko naman mapigilan na maoffend sa sinabi niya. Di ata nauso sa babae na to yung kasabihan na "if you don't have anything nice to say, then shut up." After all, wala namang humingi ng opinyon niya.
Magsasalita na sana ako nang bigla akong hawakan ni Yvette sa braso. Pinigilan ko ang sarili ko at hindi na lang siya pinansin.
Umahon na rin kami maya-maya lang dahil naiinis kami sa boses ni Bianca. Pa-cute masyado tapos konyo pa.
"Okay ka lang?" Tanong ko kay Raven. Sala yung tanong ko dahil halata namang hindi pero gusto ko kasi siya makausap.
"Pinipilit na maging okay. Yun lang naman yung pwede kong gawin eh." Niyakap ko siya at dumiretso na kami sa cottege kung saan nilagay namin yung mga towel namin.
Nagbukas ng junk foods yung boys kaya naman nakikain na kami.
"Himala, hindi pa lumalabas yung pagiging war freak mo, Cass?" Natatawang tanong sa akin ni Levi.
"Yeah, akala ko nga kanina pa lalabas yung sungay ng babaeng 'yan eh." Dugtong naman ni Raven.
"Shut up. Bwisit na bwisit na ako. Akala mo naman kung sinong maganda, eh pabebe lang naman siya. Kung alam niyo lang kung gaano ako nagtitimpi kanina pa sa bruhildang yon. Kung hindi lang ako nakapagpigil baka-"
"Baka ano, Cass?"