Alone with the Cold Weather (Guerra Entre Familias Series #2)

CHAPTER 2

"Grabe! Ang hirap ng math!" reklamo ko. Napahimas na lang ako sa sentido ko dahil sa stress.

The subject I really don't like the most in school is math. Naduling na ako sa mga equation na pinagawa sa'min kanina!

"Kaya nga," sabi sa'kin ni Andria na nakapangalumbaba. "Hindi ka ba nagugutom?" tanong niya naman kay Danna.

Tinignan ko si Danna. Sinusubukan pa rin niyang intindihin ang lesson kahit recess na. "Mauna na lang kayo kung gusto niyo. Aaralin ko na muna ito," aniya.

I pouted. "Oh! Okay then, bibilhan ka na lang namin ng pagkain," sabi ko bago hinawakan ang kamay ni Andria. Tumayo na rin siya at nagpadala sa hila ko. Wala nang sinabi si Danna.

"What do you think she wants to eat right now?" tanong sa'kin ni Andria.

I bit my lower lip and didn't help but scratch my head. "I don't know." Dapat pala nagtanong kami. "Teka." I took my phone from my pocket and texted Danna.

Ako: Beshy, I'm sorry I forgot to ask you. What do you want to eat?

Ilang saglit pa ay nag-reply na rin siya.

Danna: Anything's fine.

I looked at Andria. "Kahit ano daw, besh. Let's just buy her favorites."

She pouted. "Okay. Share tayo sa bayad."

I bought ice-cream, burger and French fries for myself. Andria bought smoothie, pasta and pizza. We bought milkshake, siomai and shanghai for Danna.

Pagbalik namin sa classroom ay ganun pa rin ang ginagawa niya.

"Kumain ka na muna! Mamaya na 'yan," sabi ko sa kanya. Danna pouted. "Huwag ka magpalipas ng gutom," dagdag ko pa.

She sighed. Sinarado niya ang libro niya at nagligpit na bago kinuha ang tumbler at uminom. "Salamat dahil binilhan niyo 'ko ng pagkain. I appreciate it."

"Ikaw pa ba?" sabi ko.

"What's the purpose of drinking water before eating snacks? Last month ko pa napapansin 'yan," takang sabi ni Andria.

"I'm on a diet," aniya na ikinalaglag ng panga namin.

"Payat ka na, beshy! Okay ka na," sabi ni Andria.

Sang-ayon ako sa sinabi ni Andria. Danna already has a good figure. Sa pagitan naming dalawa ay parang ako pa nga ang kailangang mag-diet. Sa'ming tatlo ay pakiramdam ko ang pinaka.. Let's just say —— mataba? Both Andria and Danna are very slim. Ang katawan ni Danna ay pang-sports habang ang kay Andria naman ay pang-model.

Danna blinked twice. "Malapit na ang intramurals," aniya.

Siguro kaya niya ginagawa iyon kasi siya ang muse ng buong grade 8 at player rin siya ng volleyball.

"Ikaw bahala," tugon ko.

What else can we do about it anyway? Katawan naman niya iyon. I think it's okay to worry and give opinion if ever she asks but we don't have the right to decide for her body.

"So, nagkita na kayo ni Azi dito sa school?" tanong ni Danna kay Andria habang kumakain kami.

Oo nga pala, tinanghali ng gising ang best friend namin. Muntik na ma-late. Buti na lang hindi napagalitan ng teacher.

"Yes," Andria blushed unconsciously and answered with all smiles. "I accidentally got bumped into him earlier. Mabait naman pala siya."

Danna and I glanced at each other. Both of us didn't help but smirk.

"What do you think of him, Andria?" I asked.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What do you mean?"

"Ano ba siya para sa'yo?" Danna helped me.

Andria pouted and thought about it for a little while before answering. "He's a good friend. Almost close to being a brother."

Danna raised both of her eyebrows while I blinked twice. "Is that all you think about him?" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong.

She looked at us innocently. "Yeah. Why?"

Danna faked her cough. "Oh nothing, beshy." Then she drank her milkshake.

Tumikhim naman ako. "We were just asking."

Our recess went well. But something happened during our Filipino class.

"Ms. Danna Lorena Tan!!!"

Our lecturer didn't help but raise her voice because she called Danna to answer her question regarding the topic but wasn't responding. Tulala siya at parang malalim ang iniisip. Nakasagot naman siya ng maayos pagkatapos no'n pero hindi ko pa rin napigilang mag-alala.

"Is there something wrong, Danna?" I asked her after classes ended. Naglalakad na kami palabas ng classroom. Uuwi na kami ni Andria habang si Danna naman ay may training pa.

"Wala naman. Bakit?"

"Kanina noong tinatawag ka ng Filipino teacher natin ay tulala ka," sabi ni Andria.

"May naalala lang ako bigla. Sorry kung hindi ko kayo narinig kanina."

I tapped her shoulder. "You can tell us anything, Danna. Feel free."

She gave me a small smile. "Salamat."

Naputol ang pag-uusap naming tatlo nang bigla na lang tumunog nang sabay-sabay ang mga phone namin. We took our phones out and checked it.

Elliyah Monreal: Casual party on Saturday night. 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. at Monreal Palace Hotel. Whole school is invited.

May options na nakalagay do'n. We're free to decide if it's either accept, deny, or not yet sure.

I looked at my two best friends after reading it. "A-attend ba kayo?" tanong ko.

"It's clear that I can't," si Danna. Nakita kong pinindot niya ang deny option. "I'm very busy. You guys can go without me if you want to attend."

"Magpapaalam muna ako," si Andria.

I'm sure my parents will allow me. They're not that strict like Tita and Lola. Going to that party will be fun pero iba pa rin kapag may kasamang kaibigan do'n. Sayang lang talaga at hindi makakasama si Danna. I looked at Andria. "Please let me know if you'll come."

"Okay."

After that, we part ways. Danna went to training while Andria and I went home.

When I got home, I immediately changed my clothes before laying down in bed while holding the necklace Alex gave me. I don't think I have something important to do right now. Wala rin naman pa akong naiisip gawin.

During winter when I was still in The US, I would wear lots of layers of clothes or always go near the fireplace to stay warm. I'm actually weak against the cold but I learned to love it because of him.

So everytime I think of snow, I remember Alex. And he makes me remember snow as well everytime I think of him.

Ilang saglit pa ay may bigla na lang pumasok na ilaw sa utak ko. "Snow," sabi ko pagkabangon mula sa kama ko.

I went to my hobby room while still holding my necklace. When I reached my desk, pinatong ko do'n ang necklace ko at kinuha ang sketchpad ko. I sat down in front of my desk and took out my coloring pens. I took my phone from my pocket and played some music before starting sketching my ideas.

I let out a smile when I finally finished my new sketches. I looked at the time and realized that it's already evening. I posted a picture showing my desk from afar and wrote a caption.

Caption: love, miss snow.

Loving and missing snow.

After posting that, I started scrolling through my socmeds. I reacted to Andria's post which she posted minutes ago. It shows a picture of the crescent moon. I also reacted to Danna's post which she posted just now. It's a picture of her drinking her energy drink while sporting her training outfit, showing her perfect figure.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto ay tinamad na ako sa pag-scroll kaya pinatay ko na ang phone ko at niligpit ang mga kinalat ko sa desk. I took my necklace with me when I left my hobby room.

I let out my hand as the precious gems are falling from the sky, bit by bit. I pouted when one of them melted the moment it touched my skin.

"Do you like snow?" he asked.

"I like how it looks." I looked at him. "What I don't like about it is that it melts. And it's cold! It's hard to feel it, though."

He smiled. "It can't be snow if it's not cold."

I immediately opened my eyes when my spirit awoke. I looked at the time and realized that it's still nighttime.

I... dreamt about him, again.

I looked at my right hand when I realized that I'm still holding the necklace he gave me. Hindi ko na napigilang umiyak.

With the necklace worn by my hand like a bracelet, I put it close to my chest and held it using my other arm. Hugging it as if I'm hugging him.

Sometimes, I dream about him during my sleep when I was still in the Philippines. Everytime it happens, I wouldn't want to go back to sleep again and just cry the whole night. Nakakatulog lang ulit ako dahil sa pagod kakaiyak.

One of the painful realities I've learned is that life doesn't just stop easily even if there are people important to us who come and go.

So all I can do right now is to live and hope that we can somehow meet again someday.

"Hindi ako makakapunta sa party ng mga Monreal."

I looked at Andria when she said that. Nasa classroom na kaming dalawa pero wala pa si Danna. "Bakit?"

"My family and I will have dinner with the Villafuertes at Saturday. I'm sorry." She held my hand. "You can go without us if you really want to attend. Don't worry."

I bit my lower lip. Parang ayaw ko na pumunta do'n. Wala akong kasamang close friend. I find it hard to go to parties without Danna and Andria. Kapag kasama ko kasi sila, kahit papaano ay komportable ako. Pero kapag hindi ko sila kasama, parang mas gugustuhin ko na lang na lamunin ako ng lupa kesa pumunta sa parties.

Nakita ko ang pagpasok ni Erika sa classroom. I sighed heavily when I realized that I'm still in deep thoughts.

"Diego!" I looked again at Andria when she called our classmate.

Lumapit sa'min si Diego. "Bakit?" he asked, smiling.

"Pupunta ka ba sa party ng mga Monreal?"

Diego's smile gradually vanished. He pursed his lips and caressed his nape. "Well.. I'm not sure."

"Why is that, Diego?" The three of us looked at Erika when she suddenly butt in.

Binaba ni Diego ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa batok niya at seryosong tinignan ang nagtanong. "You know why."

Andria and I don't know what he's talking about so we didn't help but look at each other. Nagkibit-balikat na lang si Andria sa'kin.

"You're invited too. Pwede kang pumunta kung gusto mo." Then Erika looked at me and smiled at me sweetly. "Pupunta ka ba?"

I bit my lower lip before looking back at Andria. She smiled at me as a sign of giving me courage so I looked at Diego.

"Ikaw ba Diego? Pupunta ka ba?"

Diego is not one of my closest friends pero minsan naman ay nakakausap at nakakakulitan ko rin siya so.. I guess I can also consider him as a friend na rin? Mabait naman siya.

Diego sighed. "Oo na. Pupunta na ako. Ikaw ba?"

I looked back at Erika. "Pupunta na rin ako."

Hindi ko sure kung magtatagal do'n si Diego pero baka sumaglit lang ako. Bahala na siguro.

I don't know but at that point, I didn't want to disappoint Erika for not accepting their invitation. I was still hesitant to decide if I'll go without Danna and Andria but I thought about it again when Erika actually asked me. Siguro dahil nababaitan talaga ako sa kanya.

Erika smiled even more. "Great! See you on Saturday." Pagkatapos no'n ay pumunta na siya sa upuan niya.

I looked at Diego. "Nahihiya ka ba na baka malaman ng mga Monreal na crush mo ang pinsan nila kaya nagdadalwang-isip ka pa kanina kung pupunta ka?"

I bit my lower lip as soon as I finished my question. Hindi ko na kasi napigilan ang sarili kong bibig.

Hay nako talaga, Franchescalyn!

"Hindi 'yon ang dahilan ko." Then he smirked. "Eh, ikaw? Bakit tinanong mo muna ako bago ka um-oo? Hula ko, naghahanap ka ng kasama 'no?"

"Oo." I shyly smiled at him. "Tutulungan kita sa crush mo kung gusto mo."

He chuckled and tapped my shoulder. "Okay fine. We'll go there. Pero huwag mo na akong tulungan kay Erika."

I smiled even more. "Thank you."

"I'll pick you up at your place. 6:40 p.m. sharp."

Hindi naman iyon date. Sasamahan niya lang ako. "Okay."

Pagkaalis ni Diego ay binalikan ko naman si Andria. "Thank you sa pag-encourage, beshy."

She giggled. "Anytime. I know you can do it."

When classes ended and I got back home, nagpaalam ako sa parents ko at pinayagan naman nila ako gaya ng inaasahan ko. So when Saturday night came, nag-prepare na talaga ako.

I wore my oversized yellow long sleeve and short black skirt with a pair of black boots. I let my hair down and put some makeup on. I also wore some accessories and took my black Chanel clutch bag with me.

When I got outside, Diego was already there. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto nang makita ako.

"Thank you!" sabi ko.

Nang makapasok na ako sa loob ng sasakyan niya ay pumasok na rin siya at tumabi sa'kin. Ilang saglit pa ay nagsimula nang magmaneho ang driver niya.

"Pupunta din ba do'n ang mga kaibigan mo?" tanong ko bigla.

"Oo."

"Alam ba nila na kasama mo 'ko?"

"Hindi."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi? Baka kung ano isipin nila."

"Alam naman nilang hindi ikaw ang crush ko. Tsaka kilala ka naman nila."

When we reached the Monreal Palace Hotel, the car stopped in front of the place. Diego opened the door and both of us get out of the car. Pagkaalis ng sasakyan ay pumasok na kami sa loob. May nag-assist sa'min para makapunta sa mismong room ng party.

Pagpasok namin do'n ay medyo marami nang mga tao. May mga sumasayaw na at naglalaro. Parang may mga tao na rin sa pool. Ang iba naman ay mga nag-uusap lang. May mga napatingin sa'min kaya nakaramdam ako ng hiya. Napatingin ako kay Diego nang bigla niya akong inakbayan.

Malakas ang music kaya para marinig ko siya ay bumulong siya sa'kin. "Okay ka lang?"

"Oo."

You can do this, Francine. Okay lang 'yan. May friend ka namang kasama.

Nang makita namin ang mga kaibigan niya ay nilapitan namin sila. Apat silang nakaupo sa isa sa mga mahabang sofa.

"Yown naman si Buenavista! Dumating na rin sa wakas!" The one who spoke looked at me. "Hi, Francine!"

"Kasama mo, bro?" tanong ng pangalawa.

"Oo," si Diego.

"Nasaan sina Tan at Monteverdi?" tanong sa'kin ng pangatlo.

"They're both busy," sagot ko.

"Nandun ang crush mo, Diego," sabi no'ng pang-apat sabay turo sa kinaroroonan ni Erika. Nakita naming nakatayo siya at may kausap na babae.

Ilang saglit pa ay napatingin sa direksyon namin ang kausap ni Erika. The girl pointed at our direction which made Erika look at our way.

Walang anu-ano'y bigla na lang iniwan ni Erika ang kausap niya at nagsimula nang maglakad papalapit sa'min.

"Hi! Are you guys having fun?" aniya nang makalapit.

"Yup! Nice party!" sabi ng isa.

"Thanks!" Erika looked at me. "Do you wanna come with me, Francine?"

"Uhm, okay," I answered.

Then she looked at Diego. "Is it okay if I borrow her?"

"No prob," maikling sabi naman ni Diego sa kanya bago tumingin sa'kin. "Sasabay ka pa ba sa'kin mamaya?"

"I have someone to pick me up later." I smiled at him. "Salamat."

He smiled back and gave me a nod. Pagkatapos no'n ay dinala na ako ni Erika sa sofa nilang magpipinsan. Naabutan namin na nakaupo do'n sina Elliyah, Lui, Pia, at Timothy Monreal. All of them greeted me.

"Sit down with us!" Pia said, smiling. I sat between Erika and her.

"Nasaan na siya?" si Erika.

"I saw him talking with someone earlier," si Timothy.

"That guy can be anywhere," si Elliyah. She sighed and looked at me. "Are you with someone?"

"I came here with Diego."

Medyo kumunot ang noo niya. "Buenavista?"

"Yes."

"Where is he?" si Pia.

"He's with his friends. I was with them when Erika borrowed me and brought me here."

Both Pia and Elliyah looked at Erika.

"Bakit hindi mo sinama dito?" si Pia.

"It's obvious he doesn't want to."

"Did you even ask him?"si Elliyah.

"No." Erika sighed. "Okay fine. Yayakagin ko na rin siya dito." Pagkatapos ay umalis na siya at pinuntahan si Diego.

Nagulat kaming lahat nang bigla na lang dumilim ang buong room. It only lasted for 5 seconds and when the lights came on, a familiar guy is already sitting beside me.

I looked at him and he gave me his dazzling smile. "What's up, emerald?"