RAYANA

Chapter 17

Weeks past and our neighbor was a total danger to our peaceful days. Starting that dinner, Izaac was our regular guest or may be MY guest.

Dahil palaging busy si Lei sa shop nya dahil bumabawi ng oras na nasayang ng nabaril ako, so she took fulltime even on weekend kaya tuwing gabi lang kami nagkikita. 

His been my shadow for weeks and I always give him a lift to school, sometimes with Sandy and Zach but most of the time his alone with me. He gave me my space though, his not totally annoying and let me be on my own but whenever I got my free time his already there and that makes me upset sometimes because I used to being alone. 

I groaned when a light disturb me from my sleep.

I heard Lei laugh. "Good morning! Get up already... Izaac has been waiting you down stairs!"

I saw her walking to my door and smiling while glancing at me. I held my comforter closer and roll my eyes to her, ready to sleep again. Ignoring the fact that annoying Izaac is here already, so f*****g early.

"Izaac is here Reya! Get up! Nakakahiya dun sa tao ano ka ba?!" Balik nya at hinila ang kumot palayo sa akin.

"Hindi ba sya nahihiyang natutulog pa ko!?" Asik ko habang umu-upo.

"Are you shouting at me Reya Villaluz?" Di makapaniwalang singhap ni Lei sa akin.

I stop and look at her. She seems offended. My messing form was really not good in the morning because of my nest hair and crinkle ruffle dress.

"No.." I defeated said sighing.

"Hindi kita tinuruan ng ganyan Reya! Hala sige at bumangon ka dyan! Umagang umaga ganyan ipapakita mo sa akin! " Galit nyang tono sa akin at lumakad paalis.

Oh come on!

"Lei!" I said calling her.

Agad syang lumingon at pinaningkitan ako ng mata.

"Get up or I won't even glance at you for a week! I don't like your attitude Reya!" She warned waiting me to to move.

"It's weekend!" I reason out.

"I don't care! Now get up I won't repeat what I said Reya!" Pamiwang nya.

I don't have a choice but to do what she say and get my comforter on the ground.

I stop when I heard the door close softly. I can't believe this. She always do the mad thing reaction for me to move or socialize around. She's winning it at all times.

I am in the middle of changing when I heard the door bell rang and the frantic foot steps of Lei.

I just sigh and finished my routine and go down stairs. I saw Lei happily smell the flowers while walking back in the kitchen. It's red and white roses.

"You have a fiancee but you look like a teenager receiving her suitor's flower.." I commented passing her to get in the kitchen.

Izaac is in the kitchen, arranging all the groceries around. Parang hinakot ang laman ng grocery store I even saw another eco bags on the ground.

"What?.. It's for you!" Tanggi nya at inabot sa akin ang bulaklak. Smiling at me. I raise my eyebrow to her.

"Reiga's never failed to joke around.." I said going to the fridge to get water.

"Good morning" Bati ni Izaac sa akin.

Tumango lang ako. Inis pa rin ako sa pag gising ng maaga.

"I receive Reiga's flower awhile ago.." Sunod sa akin ni Lei at huminto sa harap ng counter kung saan ang mga groceries.

Kunot noo ko syang tiningnan ng may pinakita syang card. Smiling at me teasingly. Izaac is busy fixing those goods but stop when Lei raise her hand.

"Your kidding?" I said closing the fridge holding a bottled water.

"I'm not.. Sa yo naka address. Ang sabi dito..." Babasahin nya sana ng mabilis akung lumapit at agad na kinuha.

"Reya!" Angal ni Lei but mabilisan kung binaba ang nasa loob ng card bago nilamukos at binulsa sa short ko.

"What!?... You!" Turo sa akin ni Lei na parang may nalamang sekreto.

"It's nothing.." Saad ko at lumapit sa kanya para agawin ang bulaklak.

"Do you have a boyfriend already? Why didn't you tell me?.. Since when? Aren't you saying anything?.." Sunod sunod nyang tanong habang sinusundan ako palabas ng back door.

"Reya!.. Kailan pa? don't tell me bago lang? Kaklase mo?... Sinabi mo na kay Reiga? Hoyy!" Taranta nyang tanong sa akin.

I ignore her and throw the flowers to another trash bin, may mga lanta ng bulaklak dun at may ibang bago pa.

I heard her gasp when she saw those.

"It's nothing.." Saad ko sa kanya at diritsong pumasok sa loob. I saw Izaac standing still and look at me when I walk in. I look away from him, tumabi ako sa kanya at tumulong sa pag aayos.

"Bakit ang daming bouquet dun Reya?! Did someone send those to you and you just throw it away?!" Pasok ni Lei at kastigo sa akin.

"Hmmm" Sagot ko making her gasp more.

"Those flowers are beautiful! Why?!" Parang naiiyak nyang tanong sa akin. She love flowers so much alright.

"I don't know those senders Lei.. Can you drop it?" Tingin ko sa kanya. She stare at me and look to the backyard.

"You have secret admirers.. Izaac did you noticed boys surrounding her around?" Biglang baling nya kay Izaac.

"Lei.." I said throwing glance at Izaac. Umiling sya.

"She's always busy with books Lei.." He said looking at me with those dark blue eyes. I look away. His the one who always on my tail but without him I think those f**k boys will come to me.

"Yes I know that... but boys never give up from their prey and my reya has been the easy target."

Napangiwi ako sa isip sa sinabi nya.

"I'm not.." Tanggi ko at tinapos ang isang eco bag.

"Yes you did.. Trouble always find you. Remember when the girl Olive who's our neighbor. You always do make her mad in high school.. Then Bruce who liked you and his other friends tried to close to you. Then other kids in high school fancies you so they go to my flower shop just to say good things to you because they scared going near you and reject them right away. I should add those parents trying to pair their kids to you every time we go to their houses to socialize not that I against but Reiga is a over protective to the point that he always scold me to not let you go those people.. His scary!" She mumble around looking at Izaac with those irritated reaction.

"Reiga.." It's Izaac.

"Her father.. mostly " Baling sa akin ni Lei sa akin.

"Thank you for summarizing those memories.. But your going to be late if you didn't go." Turo ko sa wall clock na naka sabit sa pader.

"Right but we will talk later." Turo sa akin ni Lei with those serious eyes before reaching me and kiss my forehead.

I just roll my eyes to her.

"Take care of her Izaac.. She's a living trouble!" She said lastly while going out of the kitchen.

"Just go Lei!" Angal ko sighing when I she just laugh at me.

I saw Izaac stare at me with those eyes again.

"Don't mind her.." I mumbled. Turning around and make myself busy with those groceries.

Ang dami nun and I had enough to arrange it when I saw that there's a two boxes that hiding on the dining table..

"Why she bought so much? " I asked unconsciously. I even saw a lot of tray eggs around the sink. Seriously? Bakit ang dami?

Izaac look at me and just busy again with those eco bag.

"I can do this alone.." Tumingin ako sa kanya. He smile at me.

"You need to do something right?.. Kaya ko naman to." He said again.

I stand there and just look at him. He turn around and put those cans to the cabinet. Punong puno na yung ibang kabinet and I think he arrange it orderly.

"Do you want something to eat?" Lapit ko sa kanya at kinuha ang apron sa gilid nya. He stop when he feel me beside him. Lumayo din ako agad.

Sinuot ko ang apron ko while I waited his response but he just stay still.

"I'll cook heavy breakfast for you then.." I said taking two eggs and a pan.

"A-Anything will do.." He said in a while.

"Hmmm ok." I response busying myself. I felt his eyes watching me.

The whole time that he arrange those eco bag and I'm cooking we're in comfortable silence.

Patapos na ko sa pagluluto ng biglang tumunog ang land line. Pinatay ko ang gas stove bago lumabas ng kitchen. I answer it right away.

"Why didn't you answering your phone?" It's Reiga.

"It's in my room.. I'm cooking breakfast." I said.

"Where's Raine?" He asked.

"She's... Can you just call her and not me always Reiga?" I complained. Parati nyang excuses ang pagtawag sa akin para mapaabot kay Lei.

"Just tell me.." He said..

"Nasa flower shop na.. You taking too long. It's been a months.."

He didn't talk and just breathe to the other line.

Umayos ako ng tayo..

"They know your alive.." He said.

Napakurap ako.

"What...?" I barely said those word.

"Yes.. Rayana." Singhap nya.

"But they didn't know where you are. I assure you that. The only thing that I problem the most was Zac.. His not at home for a year now and I think he have a clue that you still alive and..."

"W-What?.. What? Who is Zac Reiga?" Lito kung tanong sa kanya. 

His silent suddenly, I wanted him to talk but he didn't.

"Who's Zac? I don't remember anything that you mention him before? or do you? This is the first time you mention that name? Reiga?"

I asked again. Why a name Zac involve with this?

"What do you mean?" He coldly said.

Kunot noong tinanggal ko ang apron ko.

"Anong what do you mean?.. Zac or whatever was it I don't know why you say it but we talk about Arege.. Nothing else. Your confusing me." Hilot ko sa sintido ko.

"Ok.. I'll talk to you later." Bigla nyang paalam at binaba na lang ang line.

I look at the telephone and sigh. 

What the hell.

Ano bang nangyayari kay Reiga? Who's Zac?

"Everything's ok?" Agad akung napabaling kay Izaac na nasa pinto na ng kitchen.

"Yeah.." I simply said.

We ate breakfast with silent. I'm not really a heavy eater pag umaga but Izaac has tendency to eat the whole kitchen.  

"Any plans this day?" Basag nya bigla sa katahimikan.

I stop washing the plate and look at him. Tapos nya ng ayusin lahat ng grocery at tinutulungan nya kung punasan ang mga platong ginamit namin.

"I don't... I stayed home usually. You?" Tanong ko.

Continuing to wash the plate.

"Hmmm. Someone invites me to this party that held the seniors in the university. Wanna come?"  Nakatitig sya sa akin na parang tinitimbang ang  magiging reaction ko.

"Go invite Sandy or Zach." I said closing the water.

Di sya nagsalita at pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa. Di ko na sya inabala pa at hinanap ang walis tambo ay dust pan. Tumulong sya sa paglinis ng bahay. Pagkatapos ay pumunta ako sa front yard para maghalaman. He patiently waited on the terrace watching me.

Nung katirikan na ng araw tsaka ako umahon at pumasok sa loob para maghugas ng kamay. Nasa likod ko na agad sya.

Nilagpasan ko sya at pumunta sa living room to turn on the TV. He seated on the long couch quietly while I proceed to go upstairs to take a shower.

It takes me half hour to change and dry my hair by Lei's blower. Wearing my comfe' dress I walk down stairs and saw him staring at the TV with those scowl face. I look at the TV, his watching a crime local news. Malapit lang to sa kabilang city, 6 hours ang byahe.

I was taken a back when I glance at him and his already watching me and not the news.

I sigh turning around.

"I'm going to sleep.." Paalam ko para makuha nyang kailangan nya ng umalis, I don't care if he stay but I don't want to disturb. 

Paakyat na ko ng biglang nawala ang ingay ng TV at ramdam ko na agad ang presensya nya sa likod.

I should complain alright and let him know that I'm not really comfortable with his  clingiest to me but if Lei knows that I treat him bad, she will not let my ears to rest for a month and that's not going to happened.

I open my door and proceed to go to my bed, I heard his heavy foot steps going in and the soft close of the door.

I lay down and make myself comfortable. I don't know what his been doing but that's the less I care right now. Sleeping is all I want.

After awhile, I felt the deep beside my bed and his soft sigh. I turn around to face him and his dark blue eyes is on me. His really laying down beside me. He have guts huh.

I just turn around again and get myself off to this darkness as I felt a hand sneaking on my waist.