The Lady in Shining Armor: Monte Carlo High

XLV. Level Up

Hello!!! Pasensya na talaga kung natagalan. Walang tumatakbong matino sa utak ko recently and I had no time to update. I joined this Wattpad contest that I had to cram for, pero dahil tapos na ang deadline, nakapag-update na ako! Yay!

This chapter's track is A Little Not Over You by David Archuleta! The chapter is dedicated to krissylovekraus, isa ulit sa bagong citizen ng Monte Carlo! Welcome, welcome!

More clues will open at kikiliti sa mga utak niyo! Malapit na ang pagtatapos. Enjoy reading! :)

***Red's POV***

"We have to tell these to Ate Dawn." There was a sense of urgency in her voice. Sang-ayon naman ako sa kanya, kaso...

"YOU tell it to her." ...hindi ko talaga kayang harapin si Dawn. I might say the wrong words or worse, make myself stupid in front of her.

"Bakit ba, Kuya Red? Ano ba'ng problema kay Ate Dawn?"

"I already answered that question--"

"May gusto ka ba sa kanya?" Million peso question ba ito na kailangan kong sagutin? I was just staring at Joyce and was thinking if I would really answer her or not. Hainaku.

"'Wag ka na matanong, Joyce. It's too personal for you to ask me--"

"So meron nga?" Ilang beses kaya ipinanganak itong batang ito at sobrang kulit? Okay, okay! Give up na ako!

"Oo." I exhaled and flipped through the pages of my notebook. "Happy?"

"Actually, alam ko na 'yan noon pa. Gusto ko lang marinig mismo sa bibig mo." She smiled at parang kinilig pa habang nagsusulat sa papel niya.

"Just... Please don't--"

"I know, I know." She looked at me and zipped her lips.

"Let me see your work, then." Madali naman palang kausap.

I gave her a new set of exercises while I did my own homework.

"Eh bakit hindi mo siya niligawan, Kuya Red?" Bigla niyang tanong.

"Let's drop the topic, Joyce. We're here to study and not to talk about my personal life." I answered while I continued writing on my notebook. Ayoko siyang tignan, baka mas makita niya kung ano'ng nararamdaman ko ngayon. She was quiet for a couple of minutes. Akala ko okay na siya at tumigil na sa usapan na 'yun.

"Pero bakit nga? Dahil ba kay Kuya Vince? Dahil mas pinili mo 'yung friendship niyo kaysa sa nararamdaman mo kay Ate Dawn?" Ibinagsak ko ang bolpen ko sa mesa at tumingin sa kanya.

"Joyce..."

"You know I won't stop." Napa-pikit na lang ako ng mata and pinched the bridge of my nose. Sobrang kulit talaga!

"Okay! Okay, sige. Para matahimik ka lang! Oo, I valued our friendship more. If he's happy, I'm happy. And besides, they look better together." Pahina ng pahina ang boses ko habang sinasabi iyon. Ano ba 'tong ginagawa ko? Nagpapa-uto ako sa batang 'to!

"Did you even tried? I mean, how did you know na mas bagay sila kung hindi mo pa nakita 'yung possible picture ninyong dalawa ni Ate Dawn?"

"I'm not her type."

"Alam mo ba na 'yung mga tipo ni Kuya Vince ang type niya?"

"What are you trying to imply? Masaya na sila, okay? Gusto mo ba guluhin ko pa?"

"You had your chance, that's all I'm saying."

"I'll give you more exercises para makapag-praktis ka sa Dorm niyo." I started writing exercises on a new piece of paper.