Zilv aka Shrapnel

The Rivals

Shamari's POV

Habang nagbabayad si Zilv sa counter ay mas napagmasdan ko siya. He is really a tall guy. His built and face sends a warning to anyone that messing with him is not a good idea. Pero kahit mukhang pamilyar ang mga tao sa bilyaran sa kanya ay hindi naman ilag ang mga ito kay Zilv. That must be telling something that Zilv has a friendly side.

Nang pabalik na siya sa lamesa namin ay diretso niya akong tinitingnan . He has that sexy smirk again as if he knew that I’m surveying him from a distance.

Nag-iwas ako ng paningin, pretending that I was looking at anything but him. Maybe if I saw the girl from the counter last time I will ask Zilv to introduce me to her. Or maybe I’ll ask Zilv how is he related to the boy named Moi.

Nagitla pa ‘ko nang kumatok siya sa lamesa.

“So how do you want to spend the rest of the afternoon, my queen?” he asked that while hands on his jeans pocket.

“I told you, it’s my first time to cut classes so I have no idea what to do next.” I pretend to be not interested in anything. Duh, Shamari, kailan ka pa naubusan ng ideya, where is your mind lately?

Tumango-tango siya, “Then let’s have dessert somewhere,” then winked.

I don’t know what to make of that. An invitation to have dessert with a wink…

His words last time was he will be the main dish when we meet again. Pero hindi naman nangyari at sa halip ay niyaya naman akong kumain. And now he’s asking me to have dessert with him ‘somewhere’. Does he literally mean dessert or me as a dessert? Or him as a dessert? I want to blush with my train of thought.

“O-okay.” I said mindlessly. As if naman bibigyan niya ako ng choice na tumanggi. At kung oo, tatanggi ba ako? You are really losing it, Shannon Marie!

Nakalabas kami ng Al’s and as usual, nauuna siyang maglakad na parang walang kasama. But when we hit the parking, I was surprised to see him holding the door of the passenger side… At last!

Pinigilan ko ang ngumiti at sasakay na sana nang marining amg malakas na rebolusyon ng kotse sa paligid. Sinundan iyon ng malakas na kalabog ng sinaradong pintuan ng kotse.

“Not a chance, Macario!”

I know that voice! 

“Rion!” Nagulat ako sa pagsulpot ng kuya ko. How on earth does he appear just like that? I don't think Al’s restaurant is the place my brother likes to frequent. He's an ambassador of fine dining!

“Rion.” Zilv acknowledges my brother with a smirk, not a single expression of being threatened.

I can feel the tension in the air. Hindi ako sigurado kung alam ni Zilv ang totoong relasyon namin ni Rion.

“He’s my pick from last week’s race so I can have her how and when I want,” then Zilv eyed me possessively. And that answers my question, wala siyang ideya na magkapatid kami.

“I don’t fvcking care. Get in my car, Shamari.” Rion commanded dangerously. Hindi siya sumisigaw but I swear ngayon ko lang siya narinig sa ganoong tono. Maski sa mga bully dati sa school na pinatulan niya ay hindi ganoon ang tono niya.

Pinaglipat-lipat ko ang tingin sa dalawa. 

I want to be with Zilv but I also don’t want them to fight over me. Sa hitsura ng dalawa ay mukhang hindi sila magdadalawang-isip na magbasagan ng mukha. And they even had bruises from what God knows fight!

I shot an apologetic look at Zilv.

“It’s okay, my queen, we still have the ever after.” He winked at me then turn a grim expression at my brother.

“Fvck off, Macario!”

Ilang sandali pang nagsukatan ng tingin ang dalawa at saka sumunod si Rion at pabalibag uling binuksan at sinara ang pintuan ng sasakyan.

Minaniobra ni Rion ang sasakyan at halos magtalsikan ang mga grabang nadaanan sa parking.

Tinatanaw ko si Zilv na nakapamulsang nakasandal sa hood ng kotse niya. I saw him made a salute as if he knew that I’m looking.

I sighed. Mas gusto kong mag-focus sa huling sinabi ni Zilv kesa sa galit ng kapatid ko.

“It’s okay, my queen, we still have the ever after.”