"Brent, have you seen Khaira?" I asked him while we're walking back to our dug out.

"Eh di ba, kayo ang magkasama kanina?"

"Yeah, pero may mga nagpapicture kasi eh. Hindi ko na siya nakausap. Bigla siyang nawala."

"Sahia! Congrats anak." salubong sa akin ni Mom.

"Congrats!" - Dad.

"Thanks Mom. Thanks Dad."

"Where's Ahia?" Mom asked.

"I'm here!" Kuya Prince appeared.

"Congrats Ahia!" Mom greeted him too.

"Thanks Mom." Kuya answered. "Hey Cci, where is Lynn? I saw you with a girl kanina. Siya yun di ba?" Kuya asks me.

"Who's Lynn?" Mom aske and we all look at her.

"You knew her Mom. Remember? The one who helped us to get back your bag in the mall?" Kuya Prince answered in behalf of me.

Nakikinig lang kasi ako sa kanila. I'm thinking kung paano ko ibabalik yung phone ni Khaira. Naiwan kasi niya sa akin. Umuwe na kaya siya? Paano ko siya tatawagan?

"You okay Sahia? So you and Lynn are friends huh? How come?" Mom's smiling and seems teasing me.

"It's a long story Mom. We just became friends after that incident in the mall." I shrugged.

"Really? Friends huh? I want to meet her. Where is she?" Mom asked and I don't know what to say because I don't even know where is Khaira? Did she left already? Did she forgot her phone?

"Cci, look there!" Brent says while pointing at my back. "That's her right? She seems looking for you."

We all look at that direction where Brent pointing out. Then I saw her. And I feel like my heart beats irregular. I don't know how to explain. I felt this before and now again. Yeah, again because I'm always feeling like this whenever she was around. And I don't know why.

"Cci! Natulala ka na diyan? Lapitan mo kaya? Ang hina mo din eh." Kuya Prince says with a teasing smile on his face. I don't get it.

I look at Brent too, at Dad, then Mom. They are all smiling while staring at me. Aish, what they were thinking? I wonder. I walk towards Khaira and call her name out.

"Khaira!" I said then she glances at me looking like relieved. She walks nearer to me.

"I thought you left already. Konti na lang kasi yung tao." She said.

"I thought the same way as you. Akala ko umuwe ka na. Bigla ka kasing nawala. Hinanap kita but you are no where to be found. Are you mad at me?" I asked.

"Ha? No. Why would I?" She smiles which makes me cheered up. I'm feeling tired na. But that smile of her gives me a relief.

"Bigla na lang kasi akong hinatak ng mga kasama ko. Kailangan na daw nilang umuwe kasi yung isa tumakas lang pala sa kanila. Hindi na ko nakapagpaalam. Ang dami kasing nakapalibot sayo." She said sadly which makes me smile. Jealous?

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Why are you smiling?" She asked and looks annoyed.

Bakit nga ba napangiti ako? Haha.

"Sorry. Happy lang ako because you came back." I whispered then she blushed. Ang cute niya.

"Yeah, because I need to. Yung phone ko na sa'yo eh." Oo nga naman, yung cellphone pala binalikan niya hindi ako. I gave her phone back.

"Here. Don't worry, hindi ko pinakialaman yan." I'm too busy looking for you. I wanted to add but I can't.

Khaira thanks me but i just stare at her. She noticed it so I look somewhere else. I can feel it again. The tension and uneasiness between us like we had earlier after the game.

"Hello there Lynn. It was nice to see you again." Kuya Prince suddenly appeared.

"Uhmm.. hello din po." She said to Ahia. Parang nahihiya siya.

"C'mon, Mom wants to meet you Lynn. Cci tara!" Then he walked back to where Mom and Dad waiting.

I look at Khaira. She seems confused.

"Ano daw?" She asked unbelievably. Magkasalubong yung kilay niya. Haha, ang cute niya.

"Huy! Bakit ka tumatawa? Kanina ka pa." She asked.

"Am I?" I smirk.

"Yes, you did. I heard you laughed and now your smirking!" Mukhang inis na siya.

"Haha! Ang cute mo kasi." She blushed. I found my hand holding her. "Let's go!"

Then we walk. Hindi na siya nakapalag kasi nga hawak-hawak ko yung kamay niya. Tahimik lang siya. Sinalubong kami ni Mom, Dad and Ahia.

"Mom, Dad, meet Khaira Lynn again, my friend." I said to them. They are looking at my... hand? Bumitaw si Khaira sa pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya. Kaya pala sila nakatingin. Aish.

"Friends pero holding hands? Ayiee!" Pang-aasar ni kuya. Talaga naman oh. Nakakahiya. I glanced at Khaira. Nakangiti siya pero pilit. Nahihiya na naman yata.

"Haha, friends? Okay." Mom teased me too. "Hello there Lynn. Nice meeting you again."

"Hello din po. Pleasure to meet you din po again Ma'am, Sir." She bowed her head a little to Mom and Dad. How cute of her.

"Haha! Maka-Ma'am at Sir ka diyan para kaming customer. Don't you remember? Tita Abi at Tito Paulo na lang." Dad says to Khaira who are still feeling nervous. Nakahawak siya sa laylayan ng shirt ko. Haha. Ang cute niya talaga.

"Oo nga po pala, sorry I forgot po, Tita Abi and Tito Paolo. Hello po ulit." Binitawan niya na yung shirt. Haha, parang gulat pa nga siya sa ginawa niya.

I forgot, if she came back for her phone, where are her friends? Why is she alone?

"By the way, your siblings are waiting for us in the car. We'll have dinner tonight. Why don't you invite her with us?" Dad asked me. I looked at Khaira who are already looking at me too.

"What do you think? C'mon, let's have dinner before you go home." I smiled at her. She seems like she didn't know what to do. Haha, she's trapped.

"Well, I don't take NO as an answer. Haha! Just kidding. Join us Lynn. Don't worry, you are always welcome to our family. Let's go?" Mom asked Lynn.

She looks at me again looking like asking me for a help but I smiled and smirk at her. Tapos inirapan niya ako. What was that for?

"Okay po, if that would be fine." She answered.

"Nice! Good choice Lynn. Let's go." Kuya Prince said then walks out first followed by Mom and Dad.

"Cci! May lakad kayo?" Biglang sulpot ni Brent. Nandito pa pala siya. "Hello Lynn!" He greeted to her and she just smiled.

"Yeah, dinner." I answered.

"Nice! Dinner date! Ikaw na!" - Brent

"Loko! Family dinner yun. Pero kasama si Khaira. They invited her, that's why. Sige na, we'll go. Ingat na lang bro!"

"Sige, ingat din. Ingatan mo yang girlfriend mo. Haha! I mean, friend pala. Haha! Bye Lynn." Brent said then he left.

"Baliw talaga yun. Huwag mo na lang pansinin. Joker talaga yun eh. Tara?"

"Hmm." She just nod then walks first. Bakit parang tumahimik ulit siya? Sinabayan ko siya sa paglalakad. I asked her why she's being quiet but said it's nothing. Just don't mind her lang daw. What's her problem?

I asked her na lang if where are her friends. Sabi niya, pinauna na niya. Nakitext na lang daw siya para magpaalam sa Mama niya na male-late siya ng uwe. Ang tahimik talaga niya. Bakit ba?

I hold her hand to stop her from walking.

"Bakit ka tumigil? Baka hinihintay na nila tayo." She said straight.

"Is there a problem? Hindi ka naman ganyan katahimik eh. If you're feeling nervous because of the dinner, please don't. This is not your first time. And I'm happy that you formally meet my family. So don't be nervous, I'm here." Hinigpitan yung pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya para iparamdam sa kanya that I'm sincere.

"I said nothing." Then she sadly smiled. "Don't worry about me. I'm not nervous anymore and that's because of you. Thanks." She's sad. I can feel it. Why? I want to hug her to cheer her up but I don't she will like. However, my body isn't listening. I found myself embracing her.

Khaira's P.O.V

Gusto kong umiyak pero hindi pwede. Nakakahiya kay Ricci.

He's hugging me right now. I can't breath. My heart beats very fast. Dapat masaya ako di ba? Kasi kasama ko siya. Kasi yakap-yakap niya ako. Pero hindi. Hindi ako natutuwa. Naiinis ako. Hindi sa kanya pero sa sarili ko. I hate myself for falling in love with him.

I love him so much but we're just friends. Yun yung totoo. Ang sabi niya, huwag ko daw pansinin yung sinabi ni Brent. Joke lang daw yun. Masakit. Sobrang sakit. Naluluha na ako. Yung pang-aasar ng Mom and kuya niya, of course kinikilig ako but then with him, balewala lang sa kanya kasi nga kaibigan niya lang ako pero para sa akin, it's not. And that's the hardest part, he treat me as a friend but for me, he's more than that.

I am really stupid! I shouldn't love him because he can't and will not love me back. I should stop this sh*t! Because I'll just hurt myself if I still do love him. We're friends. We're just friends. Period.

But before that I'll focus first. How will I get out of this painful hug he's giving me right now. It hurts a lot because I knew, it was just a friendly hug.

***

A/N:

Hello readers! What do you feel for Khaira and Ricci?

Mind to share your thoughts?

Vote, Comment and Share!

Thank you!😘

_LadyInSilence