Chapter 6

Weird

“How's your day yesterday, Margel?”

It made me stop eating. My heart feels like it jumped out of my chest. I feel nervous, inside and out.

“U-uhm,” I secretly pinched my hand, hoping that I could make up myself and answer them normally. They can't find out that I snuck out with Cades yesterday without Aunt Liza knowing. My Mom will definitely be a bomb if she finds out about it. Also, I do not want to put Cades in danger for his parents. If I will be a dead meat, I am sure that he will be double dead meat to his parents.

“It was good!” I tried laughing awkwardly, praying that they don't suspect me.

I continued eating with my hands, shaking. Likewise, I gulped and took a bite. Furthermore, I want to bite my lips right now, but I am in front of my parents. Not only that, but I was eating hungrily earlier, but because of that question, I lost my appetite.

When I got home yesterday, Aunt was in the bathroom, while my grandma was asleep watching television. Thank God, I could go back to my room without any circumstances. I don't hear anything from Cades. I don't know if he also successfully goes back. It's a bit nervous for me because of his situation. I know Cades is full of pain and hatred, and I am not yet fully aware of what he had experienced before.

“What do you plan to do today?” My Dad asked. I'm thankful that he asked something that avoids the topic of what I did yesterday. It's making me shiver.

I smiled. “I don't know, maybe just play again. I have to enjoy the vacation before going to school again.” I explained. Vacation will be over soon. Days are fast to end. What am I going to do in this school year? Admit it or not, even me, an intelligent child, is also lazy when it comes to waking up in the morning to prepare myself, going to school.

“Yes, darling. You know me, I won't let you play so much when vacation is over.” I smiled and nodded. My Mom isn't strict. She may seem to, but no for me. She just wants me to focus before I prioritize something else that isn't important. And I understand her.

“Enough-"

“Yahoo! Margelllllll?!” It's Elizea. I can't help but to close my eyes in distress because of her. Here she goes again, she's calling me so loud that our whole town can hear it. My parents laughed as they heard her. We are all used to it, every time that Elizea will go here just to call me, she's always like that.

What a crazy fool.

“Go, play with her.” My Mom laughed and continued eating. I just dropped a smile before I stood up and turned my back at them. My face is like a crumble paper right now. If we are in public and Elizea did this, I will die in embarrassment.

“Margelllllll! Your beautiful cousin is hereeee-”

“I CAN HEAR YOU, I'M NOT DEAF!” I said, irritated by her. She laughed at me again. She really enjoys being like that since when we were so young. I have been with her for my whole life. Elizea is really crazy. She's the one who always has an idea of doing something crazy. Compared to Elizabeth, she's fierce. She always has her own world, just like Cades, I think. But, they have a different situation, a much different one.

“I know, I just want to irritate you.” I raised my eyebrows at her, but she just flipped her black smooth hair, acting like a rich girl in front of me. I chose not to argue with her anymore. Furthermore, I checked her back if there is someone with her, but no. I didn't see anyone with her. I secretly bit my lower lip. Why do I feel disappointed? Maybe because I am expecting Cades to be with her.

Where is he? I haven't heard anything from him. And why am I thinking of him? He said he used to snuck out in Canada, maybe no one caught him. But my chest doesn't feel fine to it. Am I being concerned for that boy?

“What are you looking at my back?”

I came back to my senses when Elizea noticed me doing that. It's not a what, it's a who.

“Where's Elizabeth?” She didn't answer me, but instead, she's eyeing me suspiciously. That made me gulp. Just like what I felt when Mom asked me about yesterday, I can feel it in front of Elizea too. Elizea can read me easily, as I also do. My hands are shivering in nervousness. “And Cades?” I tried to smile, but I know it's an awkward and unusual smile of mine.

“We're here.”

Elizabeth is walking towards us, holding her teddy bear in front of her chest, without any smile. She's always like that, so I am used to it. My heart jumped out of my chest when I saw him, walking with Elizabeth towards us. My heart is fluttering again, and my eyes are stuck in those hazelnut eyes of him. Yes, I'm admitting it now. I adore those eyes of him. Does my heart flutter because I adore his eyes? But that is too unrealistic and unreasonable. Why would my heart race by just looking in his eyes?

“Are you looking for me?” Now, I am sure that my heart really jumped out of my chest when he talked and gave me a smile. I gulped in a shivering of my whole body. My eyes are stuck at him, and my body is shivering, but I couldn't even move and get back to my senses. Have you ever felt this? The fluttering of my heart, a million butterflies playing inside your stomach, the hardness of breathing, and electricity running through your body, because that is what I am feeling right now. Should I consider myself as a sick person?

“Yeah, why are y--OMG!” Elizea covered her mouth with her bare hand. “Did you just talk? And, are you really smiling?!” She walked in front of Cades and pinched his cheeks. Cades just laughed, sexily.

I'm trembling now, oh dear.

“He can speak, what do you think of him?” Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her sister.

What is he exactly doing? I thought he's hiding in his shell? I thought he didn't want to show his true colors?

“Shut up, HMP.” She sighs with irritation to Elizabeth. “Let's go to grandma, she said Aunt Liza is baking cupcakes and cookies for us, come on!” Elizea exclaimed in excitement before she pulled me with her. I am not into myself. My mind is full of Cades. What happened in our secret place when we snuck, goes back into my head. Why am I even remembering his wide smile? Those smiles and happiness at his face is making me love it even more. Maybe because I pity him for what life he has.

Is that is? Is that really it?

“Aunt, grandmaaaaa! We're hereeeeeee!” Elizea yelled like crazy again. But I am not into myself to react.

“You're too loud again, Elizea.” Grandma laughed while walking toward us. I quickly got her hand and blessed her with respect. That is the culture of Filipinos, for showing respect to elders. Elizea, Elizabeth and Cades did it too. Grandma is happily smiling at us.

“Hi, I'm Cades.” My eyes went to Cades when he introduced himself to my Grandma with a smile. Did he fool me? My head will crack because of him! Why is he acting like he is not hiding anything? The last time I checked, he didn't even smile and talk to anyone except for me!

“Are you the boy from Canada?" My Grandma asked and Cades nodded.

“I can hear your loud voice in the kitchen, Elizea.” Aunt entered the living room, wearing a red apron. Aunt Liza is really beautiful. I never saw her wearing makeup, but I know that she will be more beautiful when she applies it. She would be a very responsible wife and mother if her love story was not awful.

“Sorry!” Elizea laughed after apologizing. I can't stop myself from looking and looking and looki--he's looking at me. My heart jumped out of my chest again. My legs are trembling, and anytime I could collapse here. I looked away quickly to avoid his eyes. But still, I am not dumb to not feel his eyes at me.

“Come on, you guys will taste my cupcakes and cookies now!” Aunt Liza said before she ran in excitement with joy.

Before I got left here with Cades, I ran quickly and followed Aunt Liza. When we entered the kitchen, I sat down at the table and waited for them there. I saw Cades looking at me and I know that he is trying to read my eyes again. Is he confused about what I am acting up right now? Well, I should be the one to be confused! He's acting weird.

“That smells good!” Elizea complimented. Did I say? Elizea loves food. All foods smell good on her.

“Is this a unicorn design?” Elizabeth asked. I want to look at them or go there too, but I saw Cades in my peripheral vision. He is not actually looking at the cupcakes and cookies that Aunt Lizea baked, he is standing there while his hazelnut eyes are at me. My lower lip would bleed if he didn't look away. I keep biting it because of him.

“Yeah, is it ugly?” Aunt Liza laughed.

“No, it's lovely.” Elizabeth said. I deeply closed my eyes while sitting alone here. I decided to stay my eyes lower, so I could avoid those glances.

“Hey, Margel.” I looked up, when I heard them. I did my best to avoid his glance, but my eyes were always looking at those. Aunt Liza put down the cookies and cupcakes she baked. It all smells good.

“You're superb at baking Aunt.” I tried talking normally without shivering in my voice.

“How did you know that?” My Grandma asked me. I smiled a bit.

“My Mom told me.” I answered and winked at her. They all sat down and finally joined me. Bad thing, Cades is sitting in front of me. Now, I am having a hard time avoiding his eyes. He's eyeing me, like there is no tomorrow.

“Well, just eat.” Aunt Liza said and offered it to all of us. Beyond the nervous and the uncomfortable feeling, I started eating those too. When I noticed that he doesn't have a plan to move, I gulped and decided to put some cookies and cupcakes on his plate.

Thankfully, none of them notice that.

“How is it?” Aunt asked.

“It's delicious!” Elizea said.

“Perfect.” I complimented.

“What can you say, Cades?” I almost choked myself when she asked Cades.

“It's delicious, I love it.” He said with his bright and huge smile.

“That's good to hear. I'm afraid that you won't like it. You know, Canada is a great country. Maybe there are many delicious foods there. Your Mom told me that she's always buying you cupcakes.” My Aunt explained. That made me stop and looked at him. His hands are now gripping the spoon and fork. His eyes are full of sorrows and hatred. My heart is aching while looking at him.

And I realized that he was not fooling around. He just decided to show some of his colors.

“Is it good living there?” Elizabeth asked, while Elizea is busy eating.

“Of course it is, you have a wealthy life, Cades.” My grandma said.

I looked at him. He has a smirk at his lips.

“U-uhm, can you bake us more next time, Aunt?” I smiled uncomfortably. I asked it to avoid that topic.

“Of course, Margel. When you go back to school, I will bake many, so you can eat it there and share it with your friends.” She said with a lovely smile.

I nodded and looked at him again. His smile is now gone.

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