Chapter 15

Nang maisip ko yun ay agad akong nagreply sa kanya.

@GorgeousZhen: Paano mo naman nasabi?

He automatically replied.

@NathanCL: you liked my post a year ago.

He sent me the screenshot of the notification.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa nabasa ko? Tama ba yung nabasa ko? Scam ata toh ehh! Pero hindi. May proof siya . May picture ehh. May screenshot. I hurriedly scrolled through his timeline again. And totoo nga.

'Shet naman Zhennaihya! Bakit ang tanga mo?!' Maktol ko sa sarili ko.

Inilapag ko ang cellphone ko sa table at hinilot ang sintido ko. Napahilamos din ako sa mukha ko sa sobrang inis dahil sa katangahan ko!

It's so nakakahiya! And to think na it's not a normal picture on his post that I accidentally clicked the like button. It's his picture on the beach wearing only swimming trunks. His V lines showing. Nakabalandra ang nakakatakam niyang six packs na abs.

'Oh my! Ang sarap!' I slapped my face."

"Get a grip of yourself!" I murmured to myself.

Bahagya pa akong nagulat ng hawakan ako ni Heazel at nang magsalita siya.

"Hoy, Zhennaihya! Ok ka lang?" Heazel asked.
She even tapped my shoulder. I did not even notice na nakaupo na pala siya sa tabi ko.

I was too preoccupied.

I raised my head and looked at her shamefully.

"I.......i... L-like..." I haven't had the chance to finnish my sentence when a message notification popped up on the screen of my phone.

Another message from Nathan. Arghh!! How can I face him now? Kanina tinapon tapon ko pa ang flowers na bigay niya at pinamigay kuno ang chocolate, tapos ngayon I looked like a drooling bithch just because I accidentally liked his almost naked photo.

"Ha? Sinong gusto mo?" She asked me with her curious voice.

"Nathan" I whispered pero narinig ni Heazel. I know Sapphire did too but she just did not mind it. She know it's not her business.

Heazel grew shocked of what I said.

"Si Nathan?" She shouted na dahilan ng pagkabulabog at pagtingin ng ibang kaklase namin sa amin.

Gulat na gulat eh noh? Magmukha ka sanang gold fish. Para may new friend na sina plankton, squidward, patrick star at spongebob. And Juliene is the jellyfish.

"Shut up!" I hissed at her. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. "Don't make a scene. I sestapple ko yang bibig mo o kaya tatahiin sige" pananakot ko.

"I think I'm gonna faint." She acted fanning herself with her hand

"Edi himatayin ka!" I rolled my eyes. Napatingin ulit ako sa phone ko ng umilaw ulit ang screen.

"Harsh!" I heard her murmured.
I kept my calm and opened Nathan's messages.

Nakakakaba.

@NathanCL: Seen? Hahaha

@NathanCL: Guilty for stalking me now huh?

@NathanCL: Don't drool over my photo baby. I can give you a first hand picture or either you can touch my abs. LOL.

Ang hiya ko kanina ay napalitan ng inis.

This guy's getting into my nerves, really!
How dare him say that I'm drooling at his body? Actually totoo naman, pero l will never admit it. Lalo na sa kanya. Duh! There's so many guys out there na may magagandang katawan kaysa sa kanya. Much firmer abs, eight pack abs, broader shoulders....

As I'm imagining those things I mentioned in my mind, si Nathan ang naiisip ko. Aish! Naman ehh! Nakakainis! I was supposed to imagine a hotter guy, not him!

I tinkered with my phone and replied to his messages. Heazel automatically went near my phone.

Nakikisilip. Tsismosa. Hahaha

@GorgeousZhen: Nope ain't guilty. It's Heazel who liked your photo not me. She's been holding my phone minutes ago.

@GorgeousZhen: No thank you. Why am I gonna drool over your not so hot body? Huh?!

@GorgeousZhen: FYI I have seen many body who's more hotter than your. LMFAO.

I lied. I know. Hot siya, oo
Sobra. Mapapaso na nga ako ehh.

I remember that I made Heazel as my defense. Sorry my dear friend.

Napatingin ako kay Heazel. Her arms crossed over her chest, nakataas ng kilay as she leaned over her chairs backrest.

"Lying, huh?" Inis niyang sabi. " And you made me as your excuse and escape person? Wow! You're so gorgeous, you bitch" she sarcastically said.

I flipped my hair. "Of course I'm gorgeous. Thanks for the compliment. And thanks for calling me bitch by the way. And... Sorry na. Ngayon lang naman ehh. 'Di ko na uulitin promise." I pouted. Acting cute.

She rolled her eyes.

"Pag si Jade nagalit sa akin dahil diyan lagot ka sa akin!" Pananakot niya.

As if naman natakot ako. Tss.

Wow. Himala at hindi Earl ang binanggit niya.

"Himala ata at hindi si Earl?" I raised a brow.

Sadness crossed over her eyes.

"Let's not talk about him. Pwede?" She diverted the question.

I just nod. I understand her tho.

"Pagod na kasi ako kakahabol sa kanya. Ilang taon na din. We're 17 now and I started linking myself to him when we we're just kids. I even promised myself to marry him when I grew up pero hindi naman yun matutupad. Lalo na at may iba siyang gusto. At yung babaeng yun ang gusto niyang pakasalan. He's even excited about it na sa sobrang pagiging excited na matali sa taong yun, he dicided to marry that woman when she reached 18. Ang saklap. Haha" she tried her best to paste a genuine smile on her face but failed. Tears fall on her eyes. I immediately wiped it with my hanky that I picked from my skirts pocket.

"Shh. Don't cry now. Maraming nakakakita. Don't make these people watch you in pain dahil diyan ka nila titirahin. Sa kahinaan mo. You don't need to look tough or to act tough, okey? All you have to do is be yourself. You can cry all you want kapag tayo lang magkakaibigan. It's not that I don't want you to cry or something. I just want you to handle your emotions wisely. Alam ko na kaya mo. And I will always be here for you. I may be bitter pero para sa iyo, sa inyo babawasan ko ng 0.01%" pagcocomfort ko sa kanya.

Napatawa naman siya kahit na may iilan pang luha sa mata niya.

"Hey! What's funny. I'm trying to comfort you here tapos ikaw tatawa lang? Pamental na kita want mo? I'll make you go there na para kang eww!" Pagcoconyo ko na mas lalong nagpatawa sa kanya.

"Don't laugh at a maganda like me. You look like an ipis. Yaks. Dirty!" Pagcoconyo ko pa. Don't get me wrong. Hindi ako conyo. Kung meron mang conyo sa aming magkaibigan si Gaeve yun.

Heazel smiled.

I smiled too.

"Sana naman ginawa mo nalang 0.000001%, Zhen. Nahiya ka pa. Hahah" she laughed. Pinalo ko siya sa braso ng mahina.

"Gaga neto! Of course may hiya pa ako!" I exclaimed. "Diba Saph?" Pag baling ko kay Saph na naka ngiti na ngayon ay nag sesketch na.

She nods her head then spoke.

"Yeah. As thin as a tissue" my smiled faded. Napahagalpak naman ng tawa si Heazel.

Binalingan ko si Heazel.

"Mabilaukan ka sana ng sarili mong laway hayop ka!" Pang aaway ko sa kanya pero wlang effect. I glared at her.

"Hayop naman talaga tayo, Zhen. We , humans also belong to kingdom animalia remember?" She questioningly stated.

Oo nga naman. She used science against me. Argh! I hate her for loving her. Tsk.

"Diba Saph?" Baling ni Heazel kay Sapphire.

"Hmm." She hummed.

"Hoy! Sapphire grabe ka naman maka compare ng hiya ko sa tissue. I'm hurt. Hindi mo ba ako love?" I cutely asked her.

She looked at me with her serious face.

"I thought you don't believe in love?" She shot.

Napatawa naman si Heazel.

'Panira talaga ang kabarumbadugan mo Saph. Matanggal ka sana sa pagiging model mo.' sigaw ng utak ko. I don't tell mean it through.

"Ain't gonna happen" she said out of a sudden.

"Huh?" Sabay naming Tanong ni Heazel.

"Anudaw?" I asked again.

"Your expression." she said.

"Ano ang meron sa expression ko? Did it make me look hotter?" I said cheering myself.

"You want me to be discarded from modeling right?" She asked

Hala! Nabasa niya ba utak ko? How? I need a scientifically clinically proven explanation without any sugarcoating clear answer! I demand it your honor!

"I'm not reading your mind, Zhen. Your expression just says it all." Sabi niya at bumalik na sa pag sesketch.

Creepy ka talaga Carlisle Sapphire Santillan. Oh kung yun ba talaga ang pangalan mo.

Napatingin ulit ako sa phone ko. I decided not to reply to Nathan's mesaages. Tama namang dumating na ang professor namin and we started listening to his undying lesson.

BITBIT ko ang bulaklak na bigay sa akin ni Nathan ng tumayo na ako at naglakad.
Palabas na ako ng room with Heazel and Saph when I felt my phone vibrated at the pocket of my skirt. I gingerly picked it out and answered the call without looking who the caller is.

"Hello this is the Gorgeous Zhennaihya Aphrodite Samaniego Peterstein, I believe that if you see a gorgeous woman walking down the street it is me. How may I help you?" Bungad ko sa caller. The person on the other line chuckled. His voice is familiar. Yet I did not even bother looking who the caller may be.

"Ang hangin woohh!" Rinig komg murmur ni Heazel but I didn't mind her notings.

When there's silence on the other line I talked.

"Who's this?" Tanong ko sa mataray na boses.

"Kapag ikaw hindi sumagot ibabalibag kita!" Pagbabanta ko.

"Amazona talaga." the person in the other line said. Napataas naman ang kilay ko.

"Do you know me? Do I know you? Do the people of the world know you? Wag kang pacute at pa suspense. Hindi ako manghuhula at wala akong plano na manghuhula. It will never be my passion. I wil be a successful business woman someday. And I believe that I'm the only gorgeous being living in this world. And I, thank you" litanya ko. Proud na proud pa. Of course I would be. Minsan ka lang naman makakakilala ng babaeng mukhang dyosa. LOL.

The person laughed.

"Did you even bothered checking who the caller is before you answer the call?" the guy asked.

Kumunot ang noo ko and nilayo ko ang cellphone from my ears then peeked at the screen. Ganoon nalang ang naging pamumula ko ng makita kung sino ang caller ko.

'Nathan asungot' that's his name in my contacts.

Totoo naman eh. Asungot siya. Gwapong asungot.

Unti unti kong nilapit ang phone pabalik sa tainga ko.

"Shut up. Ok lang yun. Maganda naman ako."

Bakit ba ako ang nahihiya? Where did all your guts go Zhennaihya? Hindi ka naman mahiyain ahh. You're always oozing with self confidence that nobody could ever measure. At ngayon kay Nathan lang titiklop ka?

I suddenly remembered those time when we fought at SB cafe. I was feisty that time. Dapat ganun din ako ngayon. I should not be whimpy looser like now.

I flased a stronger expression on my face. Pinataray ko din ang boses ko, hinahanda ang sarili.

"So confident, aren't we?" He puffed.

I rolled my eyes. Never mind his question.

"What do you need from me assh*le?" I asked.

I can sense that he shrugged just now on the other line.

"Assh*le eh? Haha. Fine with me tho. I'll call you bitch then. Para patas. Oh by the way where are you now?" He asked.

"Thanks for calling me a bitch you assh*le. I'm walking out of the room with my friends, why?" Mataray na Tanong ko sa kanya. Pero alam ko na hindi na naman siya natinag. Siya pa ba? Ang kapal kaya ng face niya. Hindi man lang siya nahiyang harapin ang diyosang katulad ko.

"Sabay tayong mag lunch. I cooked adobo for you. And may pork caldereta din tsaka beef steak." He said.

My stomach grumbled upon hearing my favorite foods. Gosh! Sa adobo palang talo na ako. Plus may caldereta pa at beef steak. Help me! And sana may daing din.

Pero hindi dapat ako marupok. Hindi ko gagayahin ang karupukan nung friend ko sa RP na si Zack. Mas marupok pa siya sa inaamag naming kahoy sa bahay.

Kahit na gustong gusto ko ang ulam na niluto niya ay pilit ko pa din na magtaray. I should not let my guard down. Hindi dapat agad ako magpaapekto. He should learn how to show his love for me before ako mahulog sa kanya. It's hard falling for someone who can't cathch you. Para ka lang namamana sa dilim. Walang kasiguraduhan kung may matatamaan ka. O kaya naman para ka lang nahulog sa bangin habang pinangangakuan ng walang kasiguraduhan na may sasalo sayo pagdating sa dulo.

I kept my straight face.

"So? Ano naman ngayon kung pinagluto mo ako? Is that something you should be proud of? Marunong din naman akong nagluto ah?" i said.

"So? Ano din naman ngayon kung proud ako na nakapagluto ako ng ganitong dishes and that I wanna share it with you? Remember, not all people know how to cook. Maybe there's many who knew how to cook but it's not that good. And my cooking skill could pass the taste of famous chefs." His statement got me curious.

Kaya nagpadala nalang ako. I heaved a sigh then agreed to meet him at the cafeteria. Sinabihan ko na din sina Heazel and Saph who's patiently waiting for me to say something.himala at hindi nakiusyoso si Heazel.

And before I started walking I changed his name on my contacts

'Asshole Nathan' napangiti ako.

****

When we reached the cafeteria Nathan was already in the table. Seating like a king on his throne.

'so chill' I whispered to myself.

His face lit up upon seeing me. Kasama ko parin sila Saph and Heazel. I looked back to see if they're still following me. And they still are.

"Hey" he greeted.

"Hey" I greeted back. He looked at the people on my back and uttered his 'good afternoon'

Umupo na kami. Pinaupo niya naman ako sa tabi niya. Heazel and Saph was on the other side of the table. We were sitting on a rectangular table. Nang maka upo kami ay agad inilabas ni Nathan ang mga niluto niya 'daw' from the paper bag na pinaglagyan niya ng mga plastic container. Agad naman na tumayo ulit si Saph at bumili ng makakain nila.

I peeked inside the containers.
There's rice in there too.

"I made this only for you." He said out of a sudden.

'Kakaiba pala siya manligaw.' sabi ng isip ko.

Nang buksan niya ang mga plastic container na naglalaman ng mga luto niyang ulam ay agad nanoot ang mabangong amoy sa ilong ko.

"Ang bango naman bro. Parang ang sarap niya." comment ni Heazel habang nakatitig sa mga pagkain na nasa harap namin. Feeling close.

'Manghihingi to panigurado.'

I glanced at the counter.
There, I saw Saph na nagoorder ng lunch niya. Nila pala. Kasama na ang kay Heazel.

"Oh? Thank you." Nathan smiled at her. Heazel good naturedly laugh. Ako naman ay napa ismid.

She leaned on the table and said. "Pwede ba akong manghingi?"

My eyes rolled. I placed both my hands on the table and tap it with my fingers to make a sound.

"Heazel, para sa 'akin' nga daw diba?" Pagtataray ko sa kanya. Diniinan ko pa ang pagkasabi ng salitang akin. To emphasize the word.

"Tagal pa ba?" I asked Nathan.

Gutom na ako eh! Bilis naman Nathan!

"Eto na. Sorry" he said.

Sumimangot naman si Heazel. "Tsk. Damot!" She tsked.

"Heh!" Singhal ko sa kanya.

Nathan coughed "Hey" agaw atensyon ni Nathan sa amin ni Heazel na malapit nang magbangayan.

Napatingin naman kami pareho sa kanya.

Ano na naman kaya ang sasabihin niya? Wag niyang sabihin na bibigyan niya ng foods ko si Heazel?

"We can share some to you Miss. Marami naman ito kaya pwede ka namang humingi." He smiled at Heazel na pumalakpak pa sa tuwa.

'sabi na nga ba!' my mind exclaimed.

"Really? Thanks Nathan. Tama diba? Nathan name mo?" She asked him who nodded his head.

Nawalan na ata ako ng gana.

Gusto ko akin lang yun ehh. May pasabi sabi pa siya ng "I made this only for you" tapos in the end mamimigay siya sa iba. Tsk. Umismid ako. I folded my arms in front of my chest then rolled my eyes.

"Edi wow" I whispered to myself.

I'm not selfish. Hindi din ako madamot. Pero kapag sa bagay na alam kong para talaga sa akin and meant to be mine only ay madamot ako. Minsan lang naman. I received too many foods, chocolates, flowers, and many gifts from my suitors and I shared them with my friends. Pero iba ngayon. And it's new. Ngayon lang ako nangkaganito sa suitor ko. Sa mga lunch na gawa ni mommy ay may pagka madamot ako, oo. Pero pag sa suitors ko? No. Not a chance. Kaya nakakapanibago ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

'you really amazed me, Nathan. You manage to break my unselfishness.'

Nagchichikahan sila Heazel at Nathan ng dumating si Saph dala ang dalawang tray na may pagkain. Inilapag niya ito sa mesa.

The first tray contains carbonara, one piece pizza, and a mismo sized coke and bottled water na alam kong para kay Heazel. While the second tray contains only chuckie and red velvet cake na alam kong kay Saph. She's a model pero hindi siya nagda-diet. How come that she still have the figure of a supermodel? Hindi ko rin siya nakikitang nag-g-gym. Tamang jogging lang ang activity na nakita kong ginagawa niya. My eyes suddenly glowered down to her breasts. It's big, nakakainggit. Sa aming lahat ay siya ang may pinaka magandang katawan although lahat naman kami ay possesed din ang katangiang yun. Sadyang mas lamang lang siya.

I'm ripped out my mussings ng biglaang magsalita si Saph.

"Instead of staring at my breasts why don't you introduce your suitor to us?" She non-filterly said.

Pahiram nga ng strainer. Sasalain ko muna ang bibig nitong babaitang to. Ang dumi ehh.

I rolled my eyes. The two stopped talking.

'edi ikaw na may pinakamalaking dibdib sa ating magkakaibigan. Tss'

"Uhm. Ok. So.... Nathan this two pretty ladies in front of you are my friends. They are both pretty like me, as you can see." Ibinalandra ko ang mukha namin sa harap ni Nathan who just smiled.

"This pretty woman" referring to Heazel "is Heazel Earl Ledezma." Kumaway naman si Heazel na para bang first time kang nilang magkita ni Nathan. Nakausap niya na nga ehh. Pa effect pa. Tsk.

Naglahad pa ng kamay for a hand shake. My suitor accepted her handshake.

"Nice meeting you, Heazel."

"Nice meeting you too, Nathan"

"And this gorgeous lady" I continued referring to Saph "is Carlisle Sapphire Santillan" he looked at Saph who's now eating her cake.

"C-carlisle?" He asked. Para bang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

"Yup." I said. Popping the third letter.

"Why?" I asked.

"Wala. Wala naman." He said. Nakatitig parin kay Saph na para bang hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita. He keeps staring at her blue eyes. Hindi ko man lang namalayan na nagsuot na pala siya ng contact lenses. I did not mind it nalang. Instead pinakilala ko na din si Nathan sa kanila.

"And of course this guy in front of you is Nathaniel Christein Nikolov Enrique-Lamvourge"

Pagpapakilala ko naman kay Nathan sa dalawa.

Heazel smiled and started eating again while Saph did not say any word.

Nakatitig parin si Nathan kay Sapphire.

Ano ba ang nangyayari? Don't tell me he's going to court Saph now? Arghh! Talagang makakatikim siya ng highkick pag ginawa niya yun. Akin siya. Akin!

Wait? What? Akin? Ang gago. Sa nanay niya pala siya. Pesteng utak. Kinakalawang na. My gosh! I can't believe this!

We were silent for a second until Nathan spoke. Heazel and Saph are now eating.

"Uh. Hey. Sapphire." He called her but Saph still continued eating and just hummed.

"By any chance d-do you...." He heaved a heavy breath. "Do you know a person named Melantha Chantrea Carlisle Sapphire Aliegovrette?" Nathan asked her that made her stop eating and looked at him straight in the eyes and answered.

'Ang haba naman ng name. Pero ang gaganda ng meaning ng mga names na yun ah. Infairness. Feel ko lang naman.'

Kasi naman, Melantha means dark flower. Chantrea means moonlight. Carlisle means stronghold. And Sapphire is a blue gem.

If combined parang may message ang name niya or either a saying. Basta. I just felt that there's a reason behind her long exquisite name. It's unique. Bihira lang ang may ganoong pangalan. Ang iba kasi ay nagbibigay lang ng name sa mga anak nila dahil gusto nila ang name na yun. Not knowing it's meaning. Napatingin naman ako kay Sapphire. Why does it felt like maypagkakahawig ang name nila ng pangalan na binanggit ni Nathan?

"None. Why?" She asked him. Nagkatinginan naman kami Heazel.

"W-wala. Your name just reminds me of someone I know from the past" Nathan said. I shrugged bahala siya diyan.

Kinuha ko na ang isang plastic container na naglalamam ng kanin at walang sabi sabing kumain.

Hinayaan ko na sila. Lumamig na ang pagkain. Chika muna sila bahala sila.

We were eating happily and Nathan's been putting food on my plate when Sapphire speak.

"Let me, let you know, Mr. Lamvourge. Don't break my gems. Or else...." Pambibitin niya. She leaned on the table and placed her hands above it and put her chin on the back of her palms. "I'll kill you thrice." She said in her cold threatening voice that made me shiver and made me feel goosebumps. I stopped eating. I heard a click of a metal on the table.

Her aura was so intense. Para siyang papatay ng tao sa aura niya ngayon. Natatakot ako, sa totoo lang. I felt Nathan stiffened. I glanced at Heazel. Namumutla din siya. Saph's words are enough to make us shiver to our feet. Nakakatakot siya but at the same time I felt like I'm being embrased by her. Na para bang she's protecting ne through her words. She once said that we are her gems.

That nobody could ever hurt us. She saved me before. I was out of breath when she suddenly appeared in front of me from out of nowhere and saved my life from my near death.

Out of a sudden I smiled with my fear. Yes, I still felt the fear of her but at the same time I'm glad that she said that. I know she can't say it on our faces that she loved us all. But her actions and logical words says it so.

"Do you.. understand... Me?" Pagdidiin niya sa mga salitang binibigkas niya kay Nathan who's now keeping his posture still. His body still stiff.

"Y-yes ma'am" he answered. Saph smirked. Instead of making me feel relieved I suddenly felt more intense. Para bang there's meaning sa mga sinasabi niya. Weird siya, oo. Alam na alam namin yan. Out of a sudden magsasalita siya. Lahat yun weird and sa huli na namin malalaman ang meaning ng mga pinagsasabi niya sa amin. But it do help us a lot.

"Good." She said then stood up with the tray she's now holding. So, she's already finnished eating? She's already walking away steps away from us with her back facing us when she suddenly stopped.

She uttered something we can't understand again. But I'll make sure that I will remember it. It will help me a lot in the future. I know.
Alam ko na may alam na naman siyang isang importanteng bagay na hindi namin alam.

I listened to her seriously.

"Zhennaihya, time will come and you'll be blind. But don't act like one and try to find, the clues that's left behind. The puzzle will be solved in your mind. Just make that story, a mystery and try to make your mind glide." That's all she said and started walking again.

I repeat what she said "time will come and you'll be blind. But don't act like one and try to find, the clues of the story that's left behind. The puzzle will be solved in your mind. Just make that story, a mystery and try to make your mind glide." I whispered to myself.

I looked at her back and smiled. Thank you, Saph. I will always be prepared. I hope.

----------------------
PLAGIARISM is a crime
Don't steal!

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