Finding Avie's body

Chapter 33

After our lunch Drake decided to study at the pool area, I said my excuses to Tita Darlene and Abuela. I was happily walking towards the pool area.

 I have never had this kind of people who appreciates me for what I am, akala ko kanina aayawan din ako ni Abuela because I was an illegitimate child. But when she talked to me and asked me on how I was able to live my younger years, she said that she’s really amazed with how strong I become.

I was used to only have my Nana Gina to believe in me and the only person who saw the goodness in me. Kaya na ooverwhelm ako sa kabutihan na ipinapakita ng pamilya ni Drake sa akin.

Pagdating namin sa pool area naka gayak na yung table na gagamitin naming, may mga snacks at fruit juice na din na naka set sa table.

Drake sat down the table and ate some snacks.

“So how’s your day been going? I’m very sorry I didn’t know that my Abuelo and Abuela will come over today I forgot that its Saturday today.” Drake said apologizingly because he forgot about his grandparents coming today.

“Okay lang, I had fun with your Abuela and Abuelo actually you have a beautiful family, nakaka-inggit.” Naka-ngiti kong sabi sa kanya while getting one of his books to see which lesson we can probably start.

 “I’m glad you liked my family,” naka ngiti nyang sabi sa akin.

I looked at him and saw his genuine smile. Drake is one of the most genuine person I know so far, as well as his family.

“Why did you really want me to teach you? Sabi ng Mom mo kanina you’re a dean’s lister kaya bigla akong natauhan nab aka ginogoyo mo lang ako na magpapaturo ka sa akin na mag-aral,” I said while scrutinizing him.

He just laughed a little.

“Hindi ko naman alam na seseryosohin mo yung pagtuturo mo sakin, I was actually glad that you lost on our bet kasi I get to spend time with you.” Seryoso nyang sabi sa akin.

I put my arms across my chest and raise an eyebrow at him.

“Once I gave my word I intend to prove it, I guess you know you by now that I am a woman of my word right?” I asked him.

He just gave me his smile and nodded.

“So hindi talaga tayo mag-aaral ganon ba?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“Well, yes. I wasn’t really planning to study with you.” He said frankly.

Mokong na ito, wala naman palang planong mag-aral pinapunta punta pa ako dito, oh well I had fun with his family naman.

“So hindi naman pala tayo mag-aaral can I go home now? Please tell Tita Darlene that I will come back later to pick her up, maybe at three?” I said to him while picking up my things.

I actually brought some books and references, akala ko kasi talaga mag-aaral kami. Nag-effort pa akong dumaan sa bookstore kanina para bumili ng mga ito hindi naman pala naming magagamit.

“Oops, what do you think you are doing? Hindi ko naman sinabi na pwede ka ng umuwi,” he said while putting back the books in the table.

“Akala ko hindi na tayo mag-aaral?” nalilito kong tanong sa kanya.

“I’ll go ahead na, I still have a casting this afternoon.” Sabi ko sa kanya at saka ko pinagpatuloy ang pagsisinop ko ng gamit ko.

He grabbed my hand and stopped me from fixing my things,

I glared at him and he just smirked at me.

“Sinabi ko nga na hindi naman tayo mag-aaral pero hindi ibigsabihin non na pwede ka ng umuwi, hindi ka pa nakakabayad sa pagkatalo mo saken aba,” he said and then put my things again on the chair beside him.

Drake has been bugging me for almost a month now, magmula nong nagkalaban kami sa debate hindi nya na ako tinantanan na akala mo ba nakahanap sya ng bagong pagkaka-abalahan nya sa buhay.

“I came here to help you study that was our deal,” naka-taas ang kilay na sabi ko sa kanya.

“If you don’t want to study then there is no reason for me to stay here, didn’t you know that I am a very busy person? Kung hindi tayo mag-aaral I better get going.” I said to him then fixed my skirt and stood up.

Andami ko pang kailangang gawin, pasalamat nga sya at pinagbigyan ko sya sa kalokohan nya na to.

“Gusto mo bang ipagkalat ko sa lahat ng faculty at mga student affairs na ang isa sa pinaka huwaran nilang estudyante ay walang isang salita? Akala ko ba you want to run this coming student election?” Nang iinis na sabi nya saken.

Eto talagang lalaking to alam na alam kung pano akong aasarin at kung pano ako mapapasunod.

I snorted and glared at him.

“OKAY FINE. NOW WHAT?!” Singhal ko sa kanya, feeling ko namumula na ako ngayon sa sobrang inis sa kanya.

“Oh ayoko ng sinisigawan mo ako, dapat professional tayo dito. Can you do that?” nakangisi nyang pang-iinis sa akin.

I breathe in heavily, trying to contain my anger towards him.

Come on, Avie you can definitely do this.  Don’t let this stupid Drakey the third to ruin your day.

I breathe in and try to do some little sort of a yoga to relax myself.

“Okay, okay I am definitely calm now, now what do you wanna do?” I asked him calmly.

His chinky eyes smiled as if he is finding this situation really good for him. His eyes was genuinely looking happily at me.

“I want you to come with me first in my safe haven,” he smiled as he gathers our things.

“Don’t worry it’s just a ten minute drive from here, hindi din naman matraffic during this hour kaya sandali lang tayo. Let’s bring your things ihahatid na din kita mamaya. Diretso nalang tayo sa inyo.” Drake said while arranging our foods and things.

“I have my car with me, mag-convoy nalang tayo,” I answered to him.

“Wag na, ako nalang ang maghahatid sayo mamaya. Ipapahatid ko nalang yong sasakyan mo sa bahay nyo,” he said while grabbing my arm.

“Tara na!” Naka-ngiti nyang sabi sa akin saka ako kinayag palabras.

“I should bid my good bye first! Hindi pa manlang ako nakakapag-paalam sa mga parents and grandparents mo. Nakakahiya naman, ang ganda pa naman ng pagtanggap nila sa akin dito sa inyo.”

I stopped him from walking and got back my arm.

“Ako nalang ang bahalang magsabi kanila Mom, saying naman yung oras. Mamaya bigla ka nalang magsabi na aalis kana.” Sabi nya sa akin at saka nagpatuloy sa paglakad papunta sa parking area.

“No! Okay hindi ako magpapaalam basta bigla bigla, I just want to say goodbye first before leaving tara na,” I said to him trying to persuade him.

“Okay okay, pero saglit lang ha? Wag ka nang makipag-kwentuhan kanila Mom, pagka goodbye mo tara na ha?” he asked me trying to make sure na hindi na ako magtatagal na makipag-kwentuhan sa Mommy at Lola nya.

“Okay okay, let’s go.” I said to him.

Bago kami bumalik sa mansion nila, inayos nya muna lahat ng gamit na dadalahin naming para don sa pupuntahan naming. Actually sa dami ng bitbit ni Drake sa palagay ko plano nyang magpicnic.

 We went inside the mansion but the maids said that they are still at the garden so we immediately head there.

“Mom, we gotta go, Akiesha still have something to do but she promise to pick you up later maybe by 3 or 4 in the afternoon.” Drake dismissingly said to his mom as if we are really out of time.

Instead of letting him drag me again, I sat down a bit and offered them my heartfelt gratitude.

“Tita Darlene, Tito Yexel, Abuela and Abuelo thank you so much po you’re warm welcome, it was really nice meeting you po. You guys are nothing but amazing, thank you so much po and please take care.” Naka-ngiti kong paalam sa kanila at saka ako bumeso kay Tita Darlene and Abuela.

Tita Darlene, smiled at me genuinely.

“I had a great time with you Iha, you’re Abuela wants to come later this afternoon is it fine with you?” naka-ngiting tanong ni  Tita Darlene sa akin.

I was shocked to know that they wants to go with me,

“Ofcourse po, Yes po tita! It is my pleasure po.” Masayang sabi ko sa kanila.

“Thankyou Iha! Go umalis na kayo ni Drake mukang may pupuntahan pa kayong dalawa, I am very excited to go with you later.” Abuela said while giving me a flying kiss.

I couldn’t help but be so happy, wala kasi akong lolo at lola kaya siguro sobrangn na-ooverwhelm ako sa pakikitungo sa akin ni Abuela, as well as Tita Darlene’s sweetness and kindness.

Pagkasakay naming ng sasakyan, napatingin ulit ako sa mansion nila Drake.

“You know what your house maybe big and grand but it feels so natural, it feels so warm to be there and you know I felt the love that you guys have for each other. I envy you.” Pagkuwan ay sabi ko sa kanya.

Napatingin naman sa akin si Drake at saka ngumiti.

“Sa totoo lang hindi ko din alam kung anong kabutihan baa ng ginawa ko nung past life ko para bigyan ako ng Dyos ng napakabuting mga tao bilang pamilya ko. My mom and my dad are the most amazing parents in the world. My Abuelo and Abuela as well are the kindest and coolest grandparents in the world!” masayang kwento nya sa akin habang nagmamaneho.

I rested my head and just looked outside the window.

I totally agree with what he said, I just don’t want to talk to him anymore coz I don’t wanna say things that I might regret later.

I don’t want him to see any weakness in me.

Hindi ko naman alam kung ano ba talaga ang motibo ni Drake sa lahat ng ginagawa nya na ito.

I don’t want to think that he is really serious with what he is doing. I just don’t believe whatever he is doing. Yes he do have a good family and maybe they were able to raise him well pero I don’t want to give my trust to him already.

I have known him for like a month only, I don’t even know his intentions.

I don’t want to be one of his flavor of the month.

Ayoko na matulad yung nangyari noon, na binigyan ko ng chance yung isang tao para maging malapit sa akin at maging kaibigan ko not knowing that he was only taking advantage of me. That I was just a bet and nothing more.

I was just glad that I didn’t treasure him that much.

Ayoko ng maulit yung pagkakamali kong yon, I hate being lied to.

I hate betreyals. I hate fake people. I hate fake friends.

 All my life I never had people to be there for me, I only have my Nana Gina and myself. I learned it the hard way.

The people around me are the ones who molded me to become the person that I am today, lahat ng masasakit na pangyayari, salita at mga bagay na ginawa nila sakin? Yon ang nagpalakas sa akin.

I looked at Drake and saw that he was also looking at me.

He smiled at me, this is what I hate about him. Everything about him feels so real!

Everything about him feels so good and feels so genuine. It was so good to the point that I don’t wanna be around him because I know that this barrier that I was able to build through years can be shattered and broken down by him.

Even though I hate to admit it, this man is continuously trying to show him that he is different.

Kahit na ayoko syang makita pilit syang nagpapakita.

Kahit na anong layo ko pilit pa din syang lumalapit.

Pero may isang bagay na talagang ikina-inggit ko sa kanya.

Yung pagmamahal sa kanya ng mga taong naka paligid sa kanya.

I was only adored by my Nana Gina, apart from her? I have no one else. Not even my own Dad.