Series:
Part Time Series 1: Chasing Captivated Dreams
DISCLAIMER!
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used in a fictional manner, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events are purely coincidences.
PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME!
I know I'm not a professional author, but please don't plagiarize my story, pinaghirapan ko parin ito. Suntukan tayo pag nagkataon. (Charot, basta wag nyo gawin kung ayaw nyo magkatotoo.)
RESPECT!
Again, I'm not a perfect author but please bare with my grammar and typos, I'll do my best to update.
©All rights reserved
© Authorxhitect 2020
Note: Do not distribute, transmit, publish, display, modify, or create derivatives from the contents of this story.
And also my story is only written in WATTPAD ONLY if you have seen my story on any website don't click that, My stories are only written in wattpad only, nothing more and nothing less.
Again, do not plagiarize my written work! If you do it, I'll make sure you'll be punished by the authorities.
SOME PARTS OF THE NOVEL HAVE BEEN EDITED. IN-LINE COMMENTS PER DIALOGUE ARE GONE. The comments per line that you will see are the NEW comments after the change.
Important note: This series contains mature content, it includes strong language that isn't suitable for other audience, this series is not too heavy but not too light, and it grips with social issues (e.g., violence, child abuse, Gender Inequality, etc..) And also mental issues (e.g., Anxiety, depression, Post-traumatic stress disorder, etc..) So if you're looking for something perfect, you won't find it here.
Date started: July 21, 2020
Date ended: June 7, 2021
(This is the latest version of Enjoying Your Chase, please be informed that there are scenes that have been deleted and added, thank you!)
☾︎
PROLOGUE
"Tangina ganito ba talaga kahirap magtali ng Lace?!" Inis kong singhal bago ibinato ang sapatos sa gilid, this is so frustrating!
"Noona...." Napatingin naman ako sa maliit na batang yumuyugyug sa dulo ng aking damit.
"Shit." Agad akong napamura ng nakita ko yung kapatid ko na nasa likod ko, napatayo ako at tiningnan ang kanyang kalagayan.
"Natamaan ka?" Nag-aalala kong tanong, umiling naman siya.
Napabuntong hininga naman ako tsaka binuhat siya, "Bakit ka nandito Cyan? May problema ba?" Tanong ko sa aking kapatid.
"T-Tropa... Baba..." Hinihingal pa siya kapag magsalita dahil bata pa, normal lang 'yun sa bata, tutal singko palang naman ang taon niya.
"Bakit nasaan si Sian?" I asked my little brother.
"Luto siya food... Alis dada." Sagot niya tsaka nilaro ang aking kamay, napaiwas naman ako ng tingin sa kanya.
I can't really blame Cyan; no one else at home is teaching him to speak aside from the two of us, Sian and me. But I haven't been able to teach her as I used to because I've become busy.
I don't know why he always calling our dad 'dada' kung si dad mismo ay hindi siya itinuturing na anak.
Binuhat ko si Cyan at lumabas sa aking kwarto, pagkababa ko ay bumungad sakin ang tatlong babae na pormado pero mukha silang lalaki kung nakaupo, yung isa nakabukaka ang dalawa niyang hita, tapos yung isa naman nakabaliktad.
"Ay pucha bano naman oh! Walang ambang amputa!" Sigaw ni Jeon tsaka sinapok si Zahira.
"Pabuhat muna! Ngayon lang ako nag tank!" Sigaw niya pabalik.
Hindi ba nila napapansin na nandito na ako? Ang manhid naman nila oh, kaya walang nag cru-crushback sa lagay nila e.
"Tanga! Mag gusion ka oh!" Sigaw ni Chaly kay Jeon. "Hm! Bobo naman, Jeon!"
"Tanga..." Napatingin naman ako sa kapatid ko na nagmura ng malutong. "B-booo... Bo... Bobo..."
"Hush..." I quickly covered Cyan's mouth before he could say what he was about to say next.
Nagkunot ako ng noo at lumakad papunta sa kusina para kumuha ng takip ng kaldero. Pagbalik ko, ibinagsak ko ito sa harap nila.
"Naknampucha!" Napatalon naman ang tatlo sa kanilang upuan na parang pusang nagambala sa tulog.
"Wag nga kayo magmura sa harapan ng kapatid ko! Ginagaya niya yung sinasabi nyo oh! Tanga!" Sigaw ko sa kanila at sinenyasahn ko silang manahimik.
"Tanga!" Pang-gagaya ulit ng kapatid ko.
Nanlaki naman ang aking mata tsaka tinakpan ulit ang kanyang manipis na labi, "Huwag mo kami gayahin ha? Bad kami."
"Ikaw lang, nandamay ka pa." Jeon chukled, malamig ko lang siya na tinignan.
"Bad? W-why are you... b-bad?" Kumunot ang kanyang noo.
"Because we say bad words, and that's.." Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang tatlo, "Bad." Giniit ko ang salitang iyon.
"What is a bad word?" He asked innocently, shit. This is why sometimes I don't want them to come over. Nade-demonyo ako.
Napabuntong hininga naman ako tsaka napakamot sa batok, "Bad word is... Basta ang hirap ipaliwanag! Pag may nakarinig sayo na nagsasabi ka ng bad word ay kukunin nila dila mo at hindi nila iyon ibabalik, gusto mo mangyari yun sayo? Wala ka nang pang-dila ng Ice cream sige ka." Panakot ko.
"What? Is that even possible?" My brother asked.
"Then try it. Hindi mo na matitikman ang strawberry Ice cream bahala ka."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Never? Never ever?"
"Never. Never ever."
Mukhang takot naman siya sa aking sinabi kaya agad syang umiling, "No Noona! I still want t-to taste... Ice cream!"
"Hehe..." Napatingin ako sa tatlo, "Gomenasai... Ice." Paumanhin ni Jeon.
"Wag nga kayo magmura sa harapan ng kapatid ko! Mamaya pag may nag-away sa kanya baka murahin nya ito." Wika ko sa kanila.
"Normal lang naman yun ha!"
Sainyo, oo. Sa akin, hindi.
"Bulok nga ito mag ML!" Singhal ni Jeon tsaka sinapok si Zah, she just glared at her.
Makapag bulok naman si Jeon, eh epic palang siya samantalang si Zah ay mythic na.
"Why are you three here? Are you going to cause trouble again?" I asked in annoyance, knowing there were only two possible answers—they either came here to hang out at home or to invite me to go out. I just want peace and quiet. Why do I need these pests at home for? They're just lucky they didn't encounter dad here.
Nanunuod kasi ako ng technique kung paano itali ang lace ng sapatos, wag nyo ako maliitin, pero hindi talaga ako marunong magtali ng sintas. When I was still a child, I wasn't given shoes with laces, so I got used to it back then, and until now, I don't wear shoes with laces. I don't know why it's difficult for me to tie a simple lace; I can't even tie a ribbon, so how much more tying shoelaces?
"Gala tayo Icehelle, laro tayo sa arcade." Yaya ni Chaly, I knew it, gusto lang talaga nila ako guluhin.
"No," I replied, gently setting Cyan down to play with his toy on the floor.
"Sinayang lang namin ang pera namin para sayo, tapos hindi ka sasama? Attitude ka?!" Inis na wika ni Jeon, bakit sino ba nagsabi na pumunta kayo rito? Tss.
I just rolled my eyes and looked at them apathetically. "Why is it so sudden? I'm in the middle of something," I said. In short, I don't want to come along.
Why do extroverts like these fools want to hang out with an introvert like me? They're ruining my inner peace!
"You're in the middle of watching a tutorial on how to tie a shoelace, am I right?" Chaly grinned, I just glared at her.
"Basta sumama ka samin," Nagpupumilit si Zahira tsaka ngumuso.
Hayst, hindi nila ako tatantanan, next time sabihin ko sa kanila nag bakasyon ako habang buhay, para hindi nila ako guluhin sa bahay.
Napahawak naman ako sa aking sentido tsaka tumango, "Hintayin nyo ako."
I went inside my room and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower and change of clothes. I decided to wear a simple plain sky blue fitted shirt that complemented my complexion, paired with a white pipe shorts that felt comfortable for the day. To complete the look, I chose a stylish pair of white Converse shoes. Before heading out, I let my brown hair down, allowing it to flow naturally over my shoulders and below my waist.
Itong sapatos ang paulit ulit ko nalang an sinusuot, dahil ito lang ang walang sintas, marami akong mga sapatos na may lace, alam kong sinasadya ni dad na bilihin ang mga yon dahil alam niya na ayaw ko, irarason niya nalang na ibibigay niya sa isa niyang anak.
Hindi ako maabot ng demonyo kaya binigyan niya ako ng isang tatay na nagreregalo ng sapatos na may sintas.
"Let's go," I saw them playing with Cyan. I took Cyan from them and brought him to the kitchen where Sian was.
"Ikaw muna mag-alaga kay Cyan, babalik rin ako ng maaga." Paalam ko
There are three of us siblings, I'm the eldest. The second one is Sian Cedrick, and we're only a year or two apart. And the youngest is Cyan Austine, our half-brother.
Our family has a Korean heritage, that's why my brothers call me 'Noona,' which means 'older sister' in Tagalog.
"Okay, Noona." Sagot niya, tumango naman ako tsaka ibinaba ko si Cyan. Pinantayan ko siya at kinurot ang kanyang matabang pisngi.
"Aalis si Noona, pakabait kay hyung ha?" Sabi ko sa kanya, I still love and treat Cyan as my whole brother, wala akong pakialam kung half siya or whatever, as long as nandito siya kasama si Sian, he is safe, and I'm sure.
"N-Noona... Pwede ka ba bumili ng c-coloring book?" He asked and bite his finger.
"Hey, that's dirty." I removed his hand from his mouth, "Yes I'll buy you some coloring books, but you must behave with hyung while I'm gone."
"A-arasseo!" He answered and gave me a salute, I just gave him a smug smile and got up.
"Hoy Sian, alagaan mo si Cyan ah? Pag may nangyari sa kanya, ipapakain ko sa'yo yung medyas mo na ilang taon ng hindi nalabhan." Banta ko sa kanya.
He just chuckled at me, "Scary, Noona."
I just rolled my eyes and hugged Sian Lightly, "Mag ingat kayo dito." I said before leaving the kitchen.
"Let's go... I can't stay long because my two siblings need me," I said to them. My priority is my two siblings; they are my hidden treasure. They are all I have left.
"Ang sweet naman!" Singhal ni Zah, "Noona Icehelle pwede bilihan mo ako ng waffles?" She acted like a kid in front of us.
"Do I know you?" I asked with a cold tone, causing her smile to disappear.
"Sino ka rin?" She flipped her hair, acting all sassy. "Respeto naman sa magaganda, oh."
They just chuckled before leaving our house—with me. As we walked, I couldn't help but watch them, listening to every word they exchanged. However, I felt a slight distance between us as it seemed like the three of them were enjoying their conversation.
I paused for a moment as I accidentally dropped my earphones on the floor, so I bent down to pick them up. When I stood back up to look at them again, they were already far out of sight.
The sun's rays hit my eyes, and the gentle breeze embraced me as I watched the three of them walking away from me.
Napabuntong hininga ako.. lagi nalang ba ako ganito? Wala akong magagawa kundi habulin sila.. bakit hindi pa ako nasanay?
I quickly caught up with them, and it seemed like they hadn't noticed that I was behind them. None of them realized if I had caught up with them or not.
Nag earphones nalang ako at nagkunwaring hindi ko sila kilala. Sila kasi yung tipong sasakay ka lang ng jeep, mawawalan ka na ng dignidad. Maingay at madaldal kasama ang tatlo, at ang hirap nila sabayan. Minsan nga ay pinababa kami ng driver dahil sa ingay nila, tapos ako na nananahimik ay nadadamay parin!
Sometimes, I just want to have my old life back. I know I'm not that quite talkative, I just want some peace and quiet, because in our house, the chaos inside is enough to seek peace.
It's only peaceful when dad is not around, and I just want to live a simple, orderly life.
"Hoy!" Nagulat ako ng may nagtanggal ng earphones ko at sumigaw sa aking tenga.
Huwag n'yo ako kausapin, hindi ko kayo kilala.
I just glared at her, "What?"
"Nandito na tayo oh!" Singhal niya pabalik, napairap muna ako bago lumabas sa Jeep.
She's Jeon, the loudest among the four of us. She's the type who's intellectually sharp when it comes to philosophical discussions, but tends to struggle with her studies. She's half-Filipino and half-Japanese, half diablo na rin.
"Ano hinihintay mo diyan Icehelle? Bagong taon?" Sakristo niyang tanong at inaayos niya ang strap ng kanyang bag.
She's Zahira, the most easily irritated among us. She's the type who loves picking on others but becomes silent when she's the one being teased. Sometimes, she's too hot-headed and impulsive in her decisions.
"Icehelle!" Tawag sa akin ni Chaly, "Ang huling makakapasok sa mall ay manlilibre!"
I sighed and ran towards the mall entrance. Since they always keep their bets true, I had no choice but to go through with it.
Pasensya na, gipit ako. Tanginang mga libre kasi na yan, magpapabili sila ng mga gamit na higit isang libo.
So she's Chaly, the one who's proud of Jeon and Zahira whenever they do something stupid, but when it comes to grades, she's just the same. However, she does scold both of them to improve.
Sila pa yung ikalawang tao ang tumatawag sa'kin ng palayaw na hindi ko inakala na magiging palayaw ko.
"Yelo!" I just glared at Jeon who called me, kita nyo ang ibig kong sabihin?
"Ano?"
Letse ka, Ruby.. kung hindi nila narinig ang pagtawag mo sa'kin, hindi rin sana yelo palayaw ko sakanila.
"Wala lang, ang pangit mo." Sagot ni Jeon tsaka humalakhak, hayop.
"Sml?" Taas kilay kong tanong, inakbayan niya lang ako bago hinila papunta sa arcade kasama ang iba.
Naglaro naman kami sa arcade tulad ng pinag usapan namin, pero na-stuck kami sa prize claw.
"Sige isa pa!" Sigaw ni Zah tsaka naghulog ulit ng limang piso, naka ilang hulog na sila ng five pesos, buraot na prize claw.
"Hindi n'yo ba alam na inuuto lang kayo niyan?" Tanong ni Chaly, "Mga uto-uto na nga kayo, tapos nagpapa-uto pa kayo sa ganyan."
Lumapit naman ako sa prize claw at naghulog ng 5 peso, "Oh Yelo! Sabi ni Chaly wag tayo magpapauto diyan!" Wika ni Zah.
I decided to ignore them and focused on the claw machine. I tried the technique I saw on TikTok, and guess what? I managed to get not just one but two stuffed toys. One Pikachu and one Doraemon.
Napanganga naman ang tatlo sa nakita nila, ngumisi ako bago kinuha ang dalawang stuff toy "Paano yan? Nauto ko yung prize claw?"
"Yelo— I mean Icehelle! Akin na lang yung pikachu!" Parang bata na asik ni Zahira.
How can she be so... Plastic?
"Mag effort ka ng sa'yo." Sagot ko.
"Eh ikaw nga parang wala kang ka-effort-effort na laruin ang prize claw! Naka tsamba ka lang!" Wika naman ni Jeon tsaka bumelat ng mapait.
"Tsk, kumuha kayo ng sainyo. Basta para kay Cyan ito." Sabi ko, ngumiwi naman ang dalawa sa aking sinabi.
"Cyan nanaman, spoiled masyado ang bata sa iyo." Saad ni chaly, malamang, kapatid ko siya, kapatid ko ba kayo?
"Tsk... Cyan is special, okay?" Sagot ko.
He's the only thing that I've got, when I see Cyan, I don't feel pity or hatred, I just feel someone's presence.
I love both of my siblings so much. I love them so much that I'm willing to do anything just to give them the life that they want and deserve to live, even if it's losing my own freedom.
We finished playing at the arcade, and they got a bit bored, so we hung out in the Videoke room. Since we entered the mall, I've been wanting to go home already.
"Bibili muna ako ng coloring book sa NBS." Paalam ko sa kanila, alam kong hindi nila ako narinig kaya lumabas na ako.
I just sighed, trying to figure out why I was feeling this way. Was I being too sensitive? It's not like they intentionally left me out, right? Maybe it's just my own insecurities getting the best of me.
I went straight to the National Book Store, and as Cyan requested, I bought him a coloring book.
Cyan isn't spoiled, but he deserves everything he wants because he works hard for it. He gets high grades, and he's the kindest and sweetest person that ever existed. That's enough for me to give him a reward.
I left the store, carrying quite a few things because of the stuffed toys I won and the coloring book I got for Cyan. I couldn't help but feel deeply attached to him.
Tumigil ako sa paglalakad ng nadaanan ko ang turks, wala nang paligoy ligoy pa kaya bumili ako, this is one of my favorite food. Kaya habang naglalakad ako ay kinakain ko yung binili ko sa turks, andami ko pang dala.
Ang tanga mo talaga Icehelle! Pwede mo naman kasi iniwan sa kanila ang mga gamit! Napasampal nalang ako sa aking noo dahil sa naisip ko, bakit hindi ko iyon naisip kanina?!
"Hoy! Bumalik ka dito!" I was surprised when I turned around as I heard people shouting.
I quickly moved aside as a man ran towards me, appearing to be chased by someone. To my shock, he threw a black crossbody shoulder bag away from him.
I was about to approach the bag to pick it up, but I stopped when another man caught my attention. He was also running towards the direction of the man who had thrown the bag earlier.
"What the hell," my eyes twitched as I noticed that he was wearing heels. I couldn't help but bite my lip, trying not to burst into laughter, especially in public. He looked... I couldn't quite put my finger on it—charming, perhaps? But why was he wearing heels?
Ang talang. Siya lang yung nakita kong lalaking tumatakbo na naka heels, But I'm not judging him, hindi ko pa naman alam ang side ng story e.
"Oh my gosh may lalaking naka heels!"
"Loh sayang ang gwapo pa naman niya!"
"Ay puta bakla!" I rolled my eyes when I heard that.
"Isa ata yan sa mga dancers sa adonis gay bar!"
Gusto kong matawa dahil sa sinabi nung isang babae, totoo naman na mukha talaga siyang lalaki, pero bakit naka-heels? Baliktad na ba talaga ang mundo?
When our gazes met, I quickly swallowed and averted my eyes, pretending as if I hadn't seen anything. I acted as if there was nothing unusual happening around me.
"Huy gilid!"
I was totally caught off guard when he accidentally bumped into me. And when I finally opened my eyes, guess what? We were both on the ground!
My heart was racing like crazy. His face was so close to mine that it felt like our lips were about to touch.
And then, I zoned out for a moment, and it hit me! I swear I've seen those eyes before.
But what struck me the most was the sadness in his gaze. Like, why did his eyes look so empty?
Nang matauhan ako ay hindi ko mapigilang tumayo sa aking kinalalagyan tsaka pinulot ang aking mga gamit, malinaw na malinaw sa akin ang pagmumukha niya.
"Huy..." Nagulat ako ng tinawag niya ako, nakatingin ako sa kanya, dahan dahan siyang tumayo at medyo nanginginig pa ang kanyang mga paa.
"A-Ako?" Tanong ko sabay turo sa sarili ko.
Marahan siyang tumawa at tumingin sa magkabilang sulok bago ibinalik ang tingin sa'kin.
"Sino ba kausap ko?" He asked. "Ito ba?" Itinuro niya ang standee ni Daniel Padilla at ni Kathryn Bernardo.
I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic chuckle. "N-nagawa mo pang magbiro ng ganyan sa lagay mo, huh..." I said irritably, as I gathered all my belongings. I was about to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.
"Where did the thief go?" he asked, his eyes filled with desperation as he looked at me. I shot him a dark gaze, irritated by the question, before reluctantly pointing to the right side.
As we both tried to compose ourselves from our tumble, I couldn't help but steal glances at him. He had this effortless charm that made him stand out in a crowd.
His jet-black eyes were intriguing, especially with those long, gorgeous eyelashes framing them. His short, unkempt brown hair gave him a carefree aura.
His pointy nose and fair eyebrows added a touch of elegance to his features, and his almost tanned skin hinted at a hint of adventure in his life. But what truly captivated me were his rosy cheeks, giving him a youthful and endearing appearance.
His sharp nose and fair eyebrows gave his features a touch of style, and his rose beige skin. His reddish cheeks, though, which gave it a fresh and attractive aspect, really captured my attention.
And those lips... They appeared so warm and alluring since they were velvety and had a light pink color.
His body had a slight muscular build, with well-toned biceps and broad shoulders that added to his overall attractiveness.
Damn, I never saw someone as handsome and flawless as him!
"Thank you, and I'm really sorry." Yumuko siya ng konti bago ulit tumakbo.
Siya lang ba? Siya lang ba yung lalaki na nakakatakbo kahit 2 inches ang heels? Dahil ako hindi ko kaya magsuot ng heels, kahit 1 inch pa yan.
Nagulat ako nang bigla itong bumalik sa'kin, mukhang hingal na hingal, "Miss... Favor?"
"What?" I asked.
"May bente ka?"
I blinked twice, "H-huh?" Did I heard that right?
"Bente, twenty pesos po." He replied.
I couldn't help but to squint my eyes, "Para saan yung twenty pesos?"
"Pamasahe, po." Magalang niyang sagot. "Nasa bag ko kasi ang wallet ko, pero kahit makuha ko wallet ko ay baka kinuha na rin ng magnanakaw yung pera ko."
Walang hiyang lalaki! Nabunggo na nga ako, kinotongan pa ako!
Napairap na lamang ako bago binigyan siya ng singkwenta, "No go."
"Thanks, mahal ka talaga ni Lord." Agad naman siyang tumakbo nang tanggapin niya ang pera na binigay ko, na para bang wala itong suot na heels.
But then I suddenly realized that the guy actually threw the bag to the side!
"Hoy yung bag mo!" I shouted, but it wasn't enough to catch his attention as he was already far away.
Napakamot naman ako sa aking batok tsaka hinablot ang bag sa sahig, parang kanina lang ay naghahanap ako ng mapag lalagyan, ngayon ang bilis ng aking biyaya.
I glanced at the people staring at me, and a wave of embarrassment washed over me, and in that moment, I wished I could bury myself in the tiles.
Trying to regain my composure, I decided to leave the scene. I chuckled to myself as I walked, replaying the image of the guy in heels trying his best to run gracefully, determined not to stumble.
"How did he even manage that?" I laughed while walking. This is definitely not my usual reaction to random encounters.
Part of me wanted to find him and learn more about that stupid, but I decided not to waste my time. I don't usually go out of my way for guys like him.
"Kanino yan?" Bungad ni Zahira nang nakarating na ako sa videoke room, "Nakuha mo nanaman ba yan sa prize claw? Sinong santo ang nakabantay sayo ngayon, ba't ang swerte mo?"
Anong swerte, e nakotongan pa ako ng singkwenta.
I let out a sigh before sitting next to Chaly. "There seems to be a thief in the mall earlier. He was being chased, and he ended up throwing the bag at the floor," I explained. "That's how I got it."
"Tapos?" Sabay sabay nilang tanong, kita nyo? Mga chismoso't chismosa.
I paused for a moment, trying hard to hide my laughter. "The guy who got robbed... he was wearing heels."
Chaly and the others stopped for a moment, exchanging glances before bursting into loud laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Grabe, damang dama ko ang tawa nila, feeling ko bumahing na ang lalaking yun.
"PUTA BAKLA?!" Tanong ni Zahira tsaka humalakhak ulit.
I rolled my eyes. It's ridiculous how people can be so quick to judge others based on their appearance. They seem to have this knack for making assumptions about people without knowing the full story. Tsk, people can be so narrow-minded.
I decided not to dwell on their judgmental attitudes and continued with the conversation, keeping my emotions in check. It was just another reminder of how important it is not to judge a book by its cover and to be more open-minded and accepting of others.
"Gwapo?" Tanong ni Jeon, "Baka isa yon sa mga macho dancers don sa adonis gay bar."
Napaisip naman ako bago sumagot, grabe naman itong mga ito, dancer ng adonis gay bar? Pwede, malay natin totoo nga.
I couldn't help but reply honestly, "Well, yeah, he's kind of handsome..." There, I said it. No need to lie. Truth is, he is really good looking.
Chaly and the others looked at me with surprise, probably not expecting me to be so candid about it. I quickly added, "But that doesn't mean I'm interested or anything. It's just an observation."
Deep inside, I couldn't deny the fact that I found him attractive. But admitting that out loud was a whole new level of vulnerability for someone like me, who usually keeps their emotions tightly guarded. I decided to brush it off and focus on other things, not wanting to give my friends any more reason to tease me. After all, being honest about my feelings was a step I wasn't quite ready to take yet.
"Ay yes gora, kakainin, papakasalan hahalikan, hihimlayan, mamahalin habang buhay at patay kaya i-shoor shoot gora gora na!!" Singhal ni Chaly, dahilan para mapairap ako. Basta usapang gwapo nga naman.
When they finally got tired of singing, we decided it was time to head home. It was already getting late since we spent some time hanging out at the park and playing Mobile Legends. As I arrived home, I saw Dad sitting at the couch, talking to someone.
"Ano ang kailangan ni Blaire? Sige bibilihan ko siya..." Rinig kong wika ni dad, I overheard Dad saying on the phone. "She wants a brand new phone? Sure, I'll buy her an iPhone... and a MacBook too? No problem, we'll go shopping tomorrow."
I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions hearing Dad's words. How could he be so indifferent to us, his real children? It hurts to know that he was willing to go above and beyond for his child with his mistress, while we, his own flesh and blood, seemed to take a back seat in his priorities.
With a heavy sigh, I tried to shake off the hurt and frustration. It wasn't the first time I felt this way, but it still hurt nonetheless. I silently walked past him, feeling resentment and disappointment towards my father.
Dumiretso naman ako sa kwarto ni Sian, at tama nga hinala ko. Nandoon sila kasama si Cyan.
"N-noona!" Cyan ran towards me when he saw me, and I quickly knelt down to be at his level. I hugged him tightly.
Well, at least I have these two.
"How's your day with Hyung?" I asked and messed up his brown wavy hair, he is so cute.
"Okay!" He shouted and gave me a thumbs up, "W-We played... NBA!"
Tumingin naman ako kay Sian na nakahawak ng kutsara, "Noona... Wala akong ginawang masama kaya wag mo ako tinitignan ng masama."
I just raised a brow, "Hindi naman kita tiningnan ng masama ah? Ano binulong ng santo sa'yo?"
I couldn't help but smile as I looked at the drawing Cyan proudly held up. It was a sweet illustration of the three of us—me, Sian, and him.
"Wow, you're good. Cy." I smield slightly as I pat his head, "Great job, I'm so prod of you."
"Me too." Sian answered with his mouth full.
Cyan beamed with joy, his eyes shining with happiness at our praise.
"By the way, here's your reward for being behave."
"L-Lemme see!" he said excitedly, and I couldn't help but grin as I showed him the coloring book he asked me to buy, along with the stuff toy I won earlier. He clapped his hands in delight and eagerly reached for what I was holding.
Cyan's eyes lit up with joy, and he hugged the stuff toy tightly, as if it was the most precious thing in the world. "T-Thank you, Noona!" he said, beaming at me.
As I ruffled his hair affectionately, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Seeing his happiness and gratitude made my heart filled with warmth. Despite everything else that was going on, moments like this, when I could bring a smile to my little brother's face, made it all worthwhile.
I looked at Sian who is looking at us, "Ano?"
"Ehh ako noona? Wala akong regalo?" He asked childishly.
I just rolled my eyes before sitting beside him, "Grumaduate ka muna ng senior high, bibilihan kita ng kahit anong gusto mo."
"Totoo?"
Tumango naman ako, "Wag ka lang magpaka-gago, basta pag grumaduate ka, ibibili ko lahat ng gusto mo."
"Sabi mo yan ah! Wag talkshit noona." Sabi niya, umiling ako tsaka tinaasan siya ng kilay.
"At kailan naman ako nag talkshit?" Inis kong tanong.
"Nung sinabi mo na bibigyan mo ako ng skin! Nasaan na yun? Tatlong taon na ang nakalipas oh!" Wika niya, iba yun.
"Binigyan naman kita ng skin ha."
"Noona.." nangingiyak nyang hinila ang sleeves ng aking damit, "Skin ng ML! Hindi chicken skin!"
I chuckled as I remembered that moment. Akala ko talaga ay chicken skin ang hinihiling niya, kaya nagluto ako ng marami, tuwang tuwa naman siya noon, pero hindi niya alam na yun na pala ang pinaka regalo ko sakanya.
"You didn't specify it." Wika ko tsaka tinapik ang kanyang balikat bago tumayo.
"By the way, noona... Kanino yan?" Sian asked, pointing to the shoulder bag hanging on me.
I glanced at him for a moment before responding, "I found it earlier, so I decided to keep it." It was a half-truth, but I didn't want to get into the details of the encounter with the guy in heels. Besides, it wasn't really stealing since the guy had thrown it at me.
I quickly showered and changed into my cozy pajamas before leaving the bathroom and heading to my bed. I couldn't help but feel a bit jet lagged because the day had been full of anticipation. My thoughts were still racing on what had happened at the mall and our encounters with the man wearing high heels.
As I lay there on my bed, I couldn't help but think about the encounter with the guy in heels. His face lingered in my mind, the closeness of our body still fresh in my memory.
I brushed my fingers against my lips, as if trying to erase the lingering sensation of the almost-kiss.
"What the hell, Icehelle!" I slapped both my cheeks using my bare hands.
It was unsettling to realize how close we were, how our lips were mere inches apart. I wondered what had led me to almost do something so impulsive, especially with a stranger. Shaking my head, I tried to push the thought aside.
I stood up and picked up the shoulder bag that I had set aside earlier. Since I was in a rush earlier, I hadn't had the chance to go through its contents. Now, with a moment of calm, I decided to take a look inside.
Binuksan ko naman ang pang-unang zipper at wala namang laman kundi ang kanyang wallet, at totoo nga! Five pesos nalang ang laman ng kanyang wallet!
Sinarado ko iyon at binuksan ang pangalawang zipper. Nang binuksan ko iyon ay may bumungad sa akin na isang handkerchief, kinuha ko naman iyon tsaka inamoy.
"Amoy lalaki." Wala sa sarili ko'ng wika.
Katangahan Icehelle.... Lalaki naman talaga siya.
As I examined the contents of the bag further, I found a color blue handkerchief with a name tailored on it, "Li." So, his name is Li?
Inilapag ko naman iyon sa journal ko at ibinalik ulit ang atensyon sa bag.
Wala naman siyang gamit masyado, so ganito lang ang dala ng lalaki? Isang handkerchief at pabango? Nag bag pa sila!
I closed one zipper and opened the last one, revealing a keypad phone inside. I tried to turn it on, but it wouldn't open, probably because it was low on battery.
However, my attention was drawn to a 2x2 picture of a girl. I carefully picked it up and examined it closely. She was a beautiful girl with round black almond eyes. Her smile was radiant, and her eyes sparkled with joy.
"Ah, hindi talaga bakla yung lalaki, mukhang may girlfriend," I said, observing the girl in the picture more closely.
As I scrutinized the photo, I couldn't help but wonder about their relationship. Were they a couple? Or maybe they were close friends? The thought of them being together sparked a mix of curiosity and intrigue within me.
Ibinalik ko na lahat ng gamit sa bag niya at itinabi nalang sa gilid.
As I lay back down on my bed and stared at the ceiling, I couldn't help but think about the guy in heels again. Despite his hilarious appearance, there was something about him that seemed serious and genuine. It was as if there was more to him than met the eye.
"Sino ka ba, Li?" Tanong ko sa kawalan, hindi ko napansin na unti unti na pala akong pumipikit hangga't sa makatulog ako.