Fated Souls

XX.

Keziah's POV

I am walking at the hallway on the way to our cottage.

"Cali, si Elijah?" I asked nang makasalubong ko siya.

"Hindi ko sure e. Pero ang sabi niya mauna na raw ako. Maybe nasa may malapit sa live band."

"Oh, okay." Sabi ko at tarantang tumakbo.

I really want to ask him why is he avoiding me. Hindi ako mapapalagay nang ganito kami dahil hindi ako sanay.

I want the annoying but sweet Elijah back.

*Play the music above*

I was running papunta sa kung nasaan ang live band. He really loves watching that kind of stuffs. Malapit na ako sa may banda when someone pulled me in a hug. He's scent is familiar.

"Elijah." I whispered.

We stayed like that for a moment before he let go of me and looked at me. Pinagmasdan niya ako kaya nakatingin lang ako sa kanya.

"Zia?" He finally talked.

"Y-yeah?"

"Do you like Thane?" Why is he the one asking me? And why is he asking me that?

"What? Of course not." I answered.

"How about me?" Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya at sinusukat kung seryoso ba siya. "How about me, Zia? Do you like me?" He asked again. Hindi ko mahanap ang boses ko para sagutin ang tanong niya.

Do I like him?

"Whenever you're near my heart stops beating as well as it beats faster. I'm a crazy bastard that is not so sure kung ano ba talagang nararamdaman ko. But now, I'm so sure that my heart beats for you. It's so cringey but the hell I care, this is how I feel for you, Zia."

"Avoiding you is really hard for me, Zia. I don't know how to hide it because I'm afraid... I'm afraid that you won't feel the same way like I do... So tell me, Zia... Do you like me the way I like you?"

I really can't think of anything. I already got the answer to my question. Eithan is right.

"I like you... The thought of you avoiding me makes me feel like I'm a puzzle with a missing piece... I like you, Elijah... I like you the way you like me." I finally said.

I do like him. Now I know the answer. And I'm willing to tell him that because he deserves it. He deserves everything in this world. He flashed the brightest yet genuine smile and hugged me again.

"Seeing you close with other guy makes me want to do something I shouldn't do... Call me selfish, but I don't want any other guy making you smile like I do. I don't want anyone to protect you, but me. Let me protect you, Zia. Just me." He said while still hugging me. I just tap his back while hugging him back and smiling like a woman high with love.

"Are you jealous?" I jokingly asked.

"Damn, I am." He replied and broke the hug. "Siya palagi yung nauuna whenever you needed someone to save you. And I'm just the second lead that can't be your main hero. So, I am. I'm freaking jealous." Dagdag niya at umiwas ng tingin.

I chuckled and held his hand.

"I don't need a hero, Elijah. Therefore, I don't need Thane, or any other guy. All I need is the annoying yet sweet Elijah. So, can I have him back?"

"He's all yours." He then smiled kaya ngumiti rin ako.

He's so lovely. How can I not like him? Inayos niya ang kamay kong naka hawak sa kanya and intertwined our fingers.

"Let's watch the band." He said kaya tumango naman ako at sumama sa kanya.

Nang ma bore ay nagaya na siyang bumalik ng hotel room. Hinatid pa niya ako sa harapan ng pinto namin without letting go of my hand.

"You take a rest now." He said.

"You too."

He was just looking at like me like he doesn't want to let me go. Hinampas ko siya sa may balikat niya and he just chuckled and let go of me. He then lean forward and kissed my cheeks.

"That's enough for now." He smiled. "Goodnight, Zia." And then he left kaya tulala lang ako habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

What just happened? Did we just confessed to each other? What the heck?

Wala na akong nagawa at pumasok na ako ng kwarto to take some rest.

"Waahhh! Tangina, Zia! I'm really envious." Sabi ni Saph at naghahampasan sila ni Cali.

"Edi may kiss. Sinungaling ka rin e." Sabi ni Cali sa akin at tinuro pa ako. May sasabihin pa sana ako pero may kumatok na sa pinto namin.

"Ladies? It's time to have breakfast."

Nagtinginan si Cali at Saph at tarantang tumayo sa kama ko. They opened the door for Elijah and greeted him.

"Hi Zia's suitor." Naka ngiting bati ni Saph sa kanya.

"Ayos ah? Kaninang nag goodmorning ako ginago mo lang ako."

"Don't talk to me kapag kakagising ko lang, unless ako kumausap sayo." Sagot naman ni Saph.

"Ikaw ah~ parang kagabi lang nagtatalo tayo kung bakit nakabaluktot yung hipon tapos marunong ka nang manligaw ngayon? Iba ka, Lij!" Si Cali.

"Whatever. Tabi, si Zia lang sinusundo ko." Sabi ni Elijah at tinulak pa sina Cali.

"Hindi naman kami nagpapasundo sayo." Sabi ni Cali at nauna na silang lumabas ni Saph. Nang makalabas na sila ay tinignan ko na si Elijah.

"Goodmorning" he said and smiled at me.

"Goodmorning" I replied at tumayo na. Nilapitan niya ako and he held my hand at lumabas na kamo ng hotel room.

When we arrived at hall kung saan ang breakfast nandoon na rin sina Chase. As usual, naka dikit na naman si Trisha sa kanya.

"My head hurts, Chase." Sabi naman ni Trisha at sumandal pa kay Chase.

"Trisha? Can you stop being a b***h and just eat? Nasa harapan ng pagkain pero humaharot ka. If you're not feeling well, then you should've stayed in the room." Saph said at tumayo upang kumuha ng pagkain. Naaalibadbaran talaga yung isang yon kay Trisha. Well, kami rin naman ni Cali pero diretso talaga bunganga non.

Zeke just shrugged his shoulders na parang sanay na kay Saph at tumayo na rin. Kumuha na rin kami ng pagkain and we started eating. Hanggang alas tres pa naman daw kami ng hapon kaya nag p'plano sila ng kung anong gagawin namin.

Nang matapos kami ay nagpahinga muna kami and they were planning to ride a banana boat.

"I'm in." Cali said.

"If she's in, then I'm in." Pagtukoy naman ni Elijah sa akin. I nodded because I would love to try that.

"How about you, Saph?" Aiden asked.

"I want to, pero baka kasi mahulog ako." She said. She's afraid to fall into the water dahil takot siya sa kung ano man ang creatures sa ilalim non.

"How about jet ski for us?" Zeke asked.

"That's fun." Sabi naman ni Saph.

"I'll be at your back then. Para magkakasama na lang tayo. Kapag nahulog ka I'll jump." Sabi naman ni Aiden.

Zeke looked at the other way and took a deep breath.

"Let's ride the banana both then, freaking Jack and Rose." He said at naunan nang naglakad.

"Siguro galit siya." Sabi naman ni Elijah kaya siniko ko siya at hinaplos niya ang tiyan niya. Sumunod na kami kay Zeke at habang pasakay kami sa banana boat kung ano ano na namang pinaggagawa ni Elijah.

"Tenene~ nenenenene~" kanta niya sa melody ng theme song ng titanic. Tumatawa kami nina Cali but when Zeke looked at us tinikom naming lahat mga bibig namin. He's really pissed.

Nang makasakay na kami ay nagsimula na kaming umandar. Nag sisi daldalan pa sina Elijah at Saph nang biglang umandar ng mabilis at nagsihulog kami.

Aiden held Saph dahil natatakot nga siya siya malalim na parte but we were just laughing at Elijah dahil sa itsura niya.

Zeke just fixed his hair at at tinanggal ang life vest niya bago lumangoy pabalik sa dalampasigan. Sinundan naman siya ng tingin ni Saph at inaya na kaming bumalik.

"Ayaw na ba non?" Tanong ni Cali at nag kibit balikat na lang kami dahil hindi rin namin alam. Sumakay pa ulit kami ng isang beses at nang matapos yon ay kung ano ano pang ginawa namin.

Nang matapos kaming mag lunch at nang alas dos na ng hapon ay nag ayos na kami ng mga gamit namin dahil kailangan na naming umuwi.

"Ano ba yan, akala ko pa naman uuwi akong mag manliligaw." Si Saph habang palabas kami ng hotel room.

"May pinariringgan ka ba?" Sabi ni Cali at tinignan si Zeke at Aiden.

"Tanga wala. Baka lang naman kasi may gwapo sa beach tapos kuhanin number ko ganon. Malas." Sabi niya tsaka siya tumawa dahil puro kagaguhan na naman naiisip niya.

"Saph?" Aiden called her kaya nilingon naman siya ni Saph.

"Hindi nagdala ng sasakyan si Eithan papunta rito dahil sabay lang kami. If you want, I can drive you home and Eithan will drive your car para naman makapag pahinga ka." Aiden told her.

"Hmm... Sure. Inaantok din kasi ako e." She said at tumango si Aiden.

Nang makarating kami sa parking ibinigay ni Saph ang susi niya kay Eithan.

"Eithan ah, not my R8."

"Oo na, oo na Saph. Siya na bahala." Singit ni Elijah.

"Ikaw wag kang nakikisali ah? Sasapakin kita." Sabi ni Saph at hinila pa siya ni Aiden dahil sinusugod niya si Elijah.

"Chase you'll take me home, right?" Ayan na naman si Trisha.

"What again, Trisha? You didn't bring any car?"

"Hindi pa kasi nagagawa."

We all know that she's lying. Gusto lang talaga niyang dinidikitan si Chase. May biglang bumusina at itinigil niya yung sasakyan niya malapit kay Trisha. She even step backwards dahil konti na lang masasagasaan na siya.

"Contact Saph, she knows a lot about cars. May kaibigan din siyang may ari ng auto shop para naman hindi ka na mahirapan. Like what she said, I'll pay for the expenses." Cali said and drove.

"Tignan mo yung isang yon, hindi man lang tayo hinintay." Sabi ni Elijah habang nakatingin sa sasakyan ni Cali na naka layo na.

"Bakit ka naman niya hihintayin? May sasakyan ka diba? Alangan naman ipatong mo sasakyan mo sa sasakyan niya." Sabi ni Saph.

"Ay, Saph. Hindi naman ako nakikipag away, wag kang magalit."

Hindi na lang siya pinansin ni Saph at sumakay na sila sa sasakyan ni Aiden.

"Ayaw mo bang iwan sasakyan mo? Sabay na lang tayo." Sabi niya sa akin. Binatukan naman siya ni Chase at hinila na papunta sa sasakyan niya.

"Stop being clingy, Elijah. Hindi mo bagay." Sabi ni Chase bago siya lumapit sa sasakyan niya.

I just entered my car at umalis na rin ako.

Nang maka uwi ay pinark ko na ang sasakyan ko. Nasa loob na si Cali dahil nauna nga siyang umalis kanina. Lumabas muna ako para hintayin si Saph at si Eithan dahil siya ang nag drive ng sasakyan niya.

"Waiting for me?" Elijah asked pagkababa ng sasakyan niya.

"Asa ka." Sabi ko at hinila niya ako palapit sa kanya at niyakap ako.

"Lij."

"Hmm? Hug lang. Just a second."

"It's been a minute." I said at inilayo niya ako sa kanya habang hawak ang magkabilang balikat ko.

"Isang minuto na yon?" He asked.

"Don't you know how to count?" Si Zeke. Humarap naman si Elijah sa kanya at binitawan na ako.

"Zeke, tol, kung inggit ka you can at least contact Selene. Alam mo naman yon, she's just waiting for you to come back to her."

"Is she? Then why did she leave?"

"Malay ko gagi. Ako ba umalis?"

"Ewan ko sayo, Lij. Wala ka talagang kwentang kausap." Zeke said at tumingin na lang sa daan habang naka pamulsa. Sakto naman na pag harap niya ay malapit na ang sasakyan ni Aiden kaya pumasok na siya ng bahay. Problema ng isang yon?

Bumaba naman na si Saph na halatang kakagising lang. Aiden waited for Eithan at nang makarating na siya ay nagpaalam na sila para raw makapag pahinga na rin sila.

Saph looked at me and Elijah.

"You two. Ayusin niyo ah? Lalo ka na Elijah. You'll face the demon kapag sinaktan mo 'to. Babalian talaga kita ng buto." She said at hinampas pa niya ang tiyan ni Elijah gamit ang likod ng kamay niya at pumasok.

Sumunod naman ako sa kanya at sinara na ang gate namin. Humawak pa si Elijah don kaya natatawa ko siyang tinignan.

"What?"

"Can't I stay there?"

"Tigilan mo 'ko, Elijah. Magpapahinga muna ako."

"If you say so. Bye!" He said at umalis na.

Nakangiting umiling na lang ako at pumasok na sa loob para magpahinga.