His Broken Gem

HBG 20

Stella's POV

"Why did they make it looks so easy in the video? They are scammers!" I whined as I look at the video tutorial and at Shy's hair. She wants her hair in braids so I offered to help even though I don't know how to do it. I just search at MeTube for some tutorials and it looks easy. But when I tried it to Shy's hair, it turns messy and very loose.

"Ate, it's okay na po. Papatulong po ako kay Kuya—" Shy suggested but I cut her off.

"No, I'll try it again. I promise I'll do right thing this time," I said, determination in my eyes.

I comb her hair again and tried to follow the tutorial again. Shy was just patiently waiting for me, she didn't put a fuss about it. It's actually my 6th time trying to fix her hair kaya naman gano'n na lang ang galak ko nang maayos kong na braid ang kabilang side ng buhok niya.

I put a ribbon to cover the elastic bands that is securing the braids. Nilagyan ko na rin ang kabila, just doing everything slowly but surely. The door suddenly opens and I was distracted by that. Imbis na maipit ang clip ribbon ay naputol ang elastic band nito.

"Hindi pa ba kayo tapos diyan?" Sebastian asked holding Shy's bag.

I glare at him furiously and throw the comb at him. But unfortunately, he avoided it.

"I'm just about to finish but you suddenly entered and you distract me!" I burst.

"Ano ba kasi 'yan? Ba't ang tagal niyong matapos?" he said as he take a look at what we are doing. He laughs as he saw it, which results in another glare from me.

"Ako na! Ang dali-dali lang nito eh. Hindi aabot ng 5 minutes 'to," he said proudly. I scoffed at him and leave my place. I pointed at it.

"Then do it, huwag ka puro salita," I challenge him.

I saw him smirk as he took my place and fixed Shy's hair. I already did the left side, so he did the right side. My mouth gap as I saw him professionally braiding Shy's hair effortlessly. He's already done and tied her hair. He also grabbed a ribbon and did what I did on the left side.

"Done," he said proudly..

"Thanks, Kuya. Thank you, Ate Stella," Shy happily said and took her bag and ID.

"You..." I started. He looks at me, raising a brow. Pinapamukha sa akin na mas magaling siya. I scoffs at him at inasar na lang siya.

"Are you gay?" I asked him.

Nagsalubong naman ang mga kilay niya at napatawa kinalaunan. I huffed as I look at him holding his tummy with his head falling backward as he laugh.

"Of course not. Hindi porket marunong akong mag-braid ay bakla na agad ako," he answered.

"Ikaw? Kakababae mong tao tas simpleng braid 'di mo alam? Sure ka bang babae ka?" he joked.

I rolled my eyes on him and pushed him aside to leave the room. Ang yabang niya!

"Ate! Kuya! Male-late na po ako," Shy said as soon as I got out of my room.

I glance at the wall clock and saw that it's already 7:40 am. Did I really take that long in braiding her hair?

"Shoot. Let's go," I told her. I grabbed my car's key and wear my shoes when Sebastian suddenly pulls me back inside my room.

"Change your clothes, at least. Pupunta tayo sa school baka hindi ka papasukin dahil sa suot mo," he says while looking at me from head to toe.

I look down and notice my appearance. I'm still wearing my cotton shirt and loose white shirt. Take note that my bun is still messy.

"Right, I'll just change my clothes," I said as I rummage through my closet.

"Just change your shorts," he suggested.

I look at him in disbelief as I look at my appearance again.

"The shirt looks big on me," I exclaimed.

He looks away as he mumbles something na narinig ko naman. "Mas malaki pa 'yong sa akin kaysa diyan eh..." he whispered. "Iyong short na lang palitan mo, okay naman ang T-shirt eh. Saka wala na tayong oras, hurry!" he rushed me.

Napaisip naman ako and considered his suggestion. I change into pants and tuck my shirt in it. I fix my hair and decided to let it down. I used a clip to tuck my hair behind my ears and spray on perfume. When I am satisfied with my look, I already went out and wear my sneakers. I didn't bother to wear makeup. I'm not in the mood, I just put on a colored lip balm.

7:48 am when I check the time.

"Ate, you're so pretty po," Shy said smiling at me. I gave him a short smile and urge them to hurry.

Sebastian offered to drive the car and he did a full speed to reach school. Mabuti na lang at hindi gano'n ka-traffic. We made it in time as we reach the campus at 7:58 am. Nakasunod lang ako sa kanila habang naglalakad kami sa corridor ng school.

School is one of the places that I hate. It was just I suffered a lot from it. But when I saw the kids running towards the field, my uneasiness subsides.

Yeah, it's the opposite of my university.

"Good morning, Shy Andoline," a teacher greeted Shy. She must be Shy's adviser.

"Mr. Cortejo, you're just in time. Akala ko ay male-late si Shy ngayon, lagi kasi siyang maaga," she added as she talks to Sebastian. I bit my lower lip as I feel guilty. Nabaling naman ang attention sa akin ng guro.

"Are you with them, Miss," she asked. Si Shy na ang sumagot para sa akin.

"Teacher, siya po si Ate Stella ko. Ang ganda niya po 'di ba?" she giggles.

"Hindi ko alam na may kapatid pa kayo na babae?" the teacher asked, confusedly.

"Hindi po, girlfriend po siya ni Kuya ko," Shy proudly said.

I blink my eyes while Sebastian was clearing his throat and looked away. Napatango naman ang guro ni Shy bago ngumiti sa akin.

"Good morning, Miss Stella, I'm Shy homeroom teacher and adviser," pakilala niya habang nakalahad ang kamay nito.

I look at it. Napansin 'ata 'yon ni Shy kaya naman mabilis niyang hinawakan ang kamay ng teacher niya at hinila ito papasok sa loob.

"Teacher, late na po tayo sa klase," she rushed. Napatawa naman ang guro nito at tumango.

We bid our goodbyes and left the school. Tahimik lang kaming naglalakad papunta sasakyan. I halt when he opened the door for me.

"You don't have to act. No one's looking at us," I said as I look around to see almost nothing. It's a class hour so obviously it's peaceful outside aside from a few cars passing by.

"I'm not acting," he said as he held my hands and pulled me towards the passenger seat. "I'm a gentleman kaya 'wag ka nang magtaka," he said before turning around.

Tahimik naming binaybay ang daan pabalik sa condo when I notice something, iba 'yong dinadaanan namin.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked him.

"Hm?" he hummed, still looking at the road.

"This is not the way to the condo," I said looking around.

"I know," he said as he shrugged his shoulder.

"Wait a minute, where the heck are you bringing me?" I exclaimed.

"Maaga pa naman kaya dumaan muna tayo rito, for sure magre-relax ka ro'n," wika niya. Mag-cocomplain pa sana ako yet I realized that it won't work, he's stubborn.

Who's really the boss now?

Nakadungaw lang ako ako sa bintana. I was mesmerized when we cross the bridge and saw the view of the sea. It's blinding and shining due to the light provided by the sun. I forgot the time when I saw things like this, things that are not work-related.

Naging medyo masukal ang daan pero hindi naman gano'n ka bumpy ang dinaanan namin. Kung namangha ako sa tanawin sa tulay ay mas namangha ako nang makita ko ang tanawing nasa harapan namin. The car halt and stop.

I notice him open the door on his side as I was still admiring the view in front of me. Nang mabuksan ang pinto sa side ko nilingon ko ito.

Sebastian was offering his hand to me. After much consideration, I accepted it and went out of the car. A cool breeze welcomed my skin, fresh air with a light warmth due to the sun. He's not lying when he said that I'll be able to relax here.

We were at a cliff near the sea, it has railings kaya maari kang lumapit sa cliff.

"You like it?" he asked beside me, also looking at the beautiful scenery in front of us.

"Yeah," I said.

"Teka! Ngumiti ka?" he asked in disbelief. Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Just now, you smiled!" he said.

"I did?"

"Yes!" masiglang wika niya. "You should smile more often, you look more beautiful into it."

I turned my attention to the view in front of us. I smiled. I wonder how do I look like when I smile.

And now? I look like an idiot smiling in front of the mirror, inside the restroom. We are at a restaurant to eat lunch, we didn't notice that we spent so much time at the cliff.

I sigh as I give up smiling on my reflection. I look weird, forcing myself to smile. I decided to go back our table, naroon na ang order namin.

"Ako na magbabayad nito," he said when I took a sit.

"No, it's on me," I insisted.

"Ako na, ang dami mo nang nagasto sa amin," he said. Aangal pa sana ako ng biglang may nagsalita.

"Ali? Oh my god, it's you nga," an annoying voice said. I look at the owner of the voice and saw the girl from before.

She's...Lavender? Lavly? I don't know and I don't care. She's the annoying girl before na feeling jowa ni Seb.

"Lavenia?" Sebastian said. I rolled my eyes trying to ignore them, but the girl's voice was so annoying to my ears.

"Oh come on, Ali. I told you to call me Lav," she giggles as she lightly smack Sebastian's arm. I scoffed at her action, she's obviously flirting with him!

Ito namang lalaking 'to ay tuwang-tuwa pa. He's smiling while talking to her.

"By the way, I didn't saw you last night. The bar is kinda lonely without you," she flirts.

They're are really getting on my nerves. Can't she saw that Sebastian was with someone? Or they're just acting like I'm not around. I sigh and tried to cough to caught their attention. I successfully caught Sebastian's attention but this girl continues to ignore me.

"You're working later, 'di ba? You should! I miss you na kaya," she pouted.

I cleared my throat again, much louder than the first one. She hesitantly looks at me. I gave her a sarcastic smile.

"Oh. The girlfriend is here pala? I didn't notice kasi, I'm sorry," she said, returning my smile in another sarcastic smile. She doesn't even sound sorry.

She obviously doesn't like me. We'll, for her information, the feelings is mutual.

"Yes, and you're distracting us from our date. Would you mind to leave us alone?" I directly said, walang kahit anong pasakalye. I want her to leave but this bítch is really getting on my nerves.

"But I'm still talking to Ali eh, can I borrow him nalang?" she asked.

"No, now leave," I firmly said. Glaring furiously at her hoping that she'll feel my disapproval on her presence.

"I won't until Sebastian say so. Saka, it's not like I'm doing something eh, we are just talking, right Ali?" she implied as she turned her attention to Ali- I mean Sebastian.

I look at Sebastian or let me say, I glared at him challenging him to test my patience. He notice it and smirk.

The heck?!

"We'll..." he trailed off. "There's nothing wrong in talking with Lavenia."

Padabog kong binaba ang kubyertos na hawak ko habang naiinis na nakatingin sa kaniya at sa sinabi niya.

"Is that so?" I inquires. I gather my things not looking at him. "Then, I'll go ahead at baka makaabala pa ako sa usapan niyo," I said and make my way towards the exit.

I was about to get passed through them when he suddenly stop me by holding my hand.

"But sorry Lavenia, we're having our date. So I'll be thankful if you'll leave us alone," he said at Lavenia.