Kissed by Fire (Fire Series #1)

Chapter 32: Screwed

Ayokong ma bother sa sinabi na yun ni captain but I don't know why the thought keeps on tingling at the back of my head.

Kung sakaling hindi siya nagkakamali then I am in a deep trouble. Hindi ko dapat balewalain ang bagay na ito dahil ayokong lumalim pa ang nararamdaman ni Chesca if ever na meron nga. Masasaktan lang siya.

Pasimple akong tumingin sa likuran ko. Like what captain said nakatingin nga sa akin si Chesca because when our eyes met, she seems surprise and she even waved at me. I just smiled weakly at that.

"Mamaya kapag recess at lunch time sumabay ka sa'min. Simula ngayon kakain ka na kasama ang team" captain said. Magpoprotesta sana ako but I choke back the words upon realizing na hindi magandang makipag diskusyon sa kanya ngayon dahil maaga pa.

But damn, as much as I appreciate the gesture hindi ko naman pwedeng basta na lang iwan si Stephen. I don't want him to feel bad.

I swallowed hard "Uhm.. Captain may kasabay na kasi akong kumain. Si Stephen Herondale" I said slowly

He gave me a serious look "You're part of the team now kaya kami ang dapat mo na kasama palagi. If you will decline my offer iisipin ko na wala kang pakisama" he said

"Hindi naman po sa ganun. But it will be bad kung mag-isa lang si Stephen. Baka isipin niya na iniiwasan ko siya" maagap kong sabi.

He sighed heavily "Then kausapin mo siya ngayon and tell him na hindi na kayo magkakasama kapag lunch"

"How about.. I just tag him along?" I suggested. He tightened his jaw

"Does he belong to the team? Him, being a Herondale isn't an excuse for him to join us"

I just nodded. Wala na nga siguro akong choice kung hindi kausapin na lang si Stephen.

---

Pagka ring pa lang ng bell which is an indication na recess time na, tumayo kaagad ako at mabilis na lumabas. I really don't feel comfortable na hindi na kami magsasabay ni Stephen kumain but I have no choice. Kailangan kong makisama sa team dahil ayokong maging grounds pa yun para alisin nila ako. Anyway, we're still friends pa rin naman kahit hindi na kami magsasabay sa pag kain.

"Bran!" Stephen called our from our usual place at kinawayan ako.

I smiled weakly at naglakad na papalapit sa kanya "Hello" bati ko sa balisang tono at umupo sa harapan niya.

He narrowed his eyes at me "What's the problem? Anyway, I heard what happened yesterday. I was worried you know" he said

"Okay lang naman ako. Mabuti nga at hindi ako naparusahan at ang ibang fourth years" I shrugged

Stephen shook his head "Hindi naman ako doon kinakabahan. The moment na narinig ko ang rason kung bakit ka napaaway, I know na mapapaisip ang pinsan ko. Kinakabahan ako sa pwedeng mangyari sa'yo kapag ginantihan ka nun ni Andrew at Peter. Mga members ng fraternity ang mga yun"

In other times siguro hindi naman ako kakabahan. Kung ako lang si Arya, I would not even care. Why would I? Member ng isang elite na gang ang mga kapatid ko at ang boyfriend ko but as of this moment useless ang mga yun. I am Brandon Garcia with just a forged identity. When times comes that hell will break loose, I have no one to call. Sarili ko lang ang makakatulong sa'kin.