Chapter 17 Confessions

It was eleven o'clock in the evening and the air was very cold. Some have gone home while others are still there. Everything is complete except for Simon who is abroad. From where I was standing I could see the men preoccupied with drinking. Martin slightly motioned for me to come closer but I shook my head. They weren't drunk yet, but I didn't want to talk to them when they were drunk. I secretly grabbed a bottle of wine and quickly opened it, I even noticed Kelly and Kierra s masculine eyes clapping.
"Wow great! I thought you were a good girl like Zeren," Kierra said laughing at me.
"Take it easy, ah," Kelly reminded me as I nodded.
I have already passed them. I just grabbed a spicy flavored chicken wings and then climbed out of the mansion. I rolled my eyes and when I found a place I immediately went there. I was a bit close to the men's position but they wouldn't notice me because they were all busy talking. I sat down under a tree and then leaned my back on its body. My two feet were on the grass and they were barely moved. I turned my back on them. I drink slowly because my throat still hurts. I was just looking at the apparent road where oncoming cars were passing. In the midst of my solitude I noticed a shadow standing by my side. I turned around quickly and knew immediately who it was.
"Can I step aside?" His question.
"Step aside," I replied then drank again and heard his laugh.
It sidestepped me but we weren t very close together. He was also holding a bottle of wine and I knew he was staring at me.
"My birthday is tomorrow," he begun.
"I know."
"Come on, a. I'll be waiting for you there," Kevin whispered.
This is his first time celebrating his birthday in the Philippines. He also stayed in America for a few years, only to come back here for his grandmother to watch over him. I just nodded in agreement, I heard the men calling him so he said goodbye to me.
I was left alone again as I finished my drink. Tomorrow is December one. First day of the last month. Time is too fast but I'm still here, I don't know if I'm happy with what I've achieved. As if nothing happened. As I dropped the bottle I caught sight of Aunt Ezra who was slightly kissed by Uncle Matt. I wasn't like this before, I feel annoyed every time I see people doing that.
But this time, different. I want to dream something I know is impossible. Nothing will last me. Yes, they will tease me, but they will leave too.
The next day, I was paralyzed by a weak pat on my buttocks, I took that hand away but went back to patting again. Annoyed I removed the blanket that covered me with a blanket. Sleepily I stared at it. What is he doing in my room?
"Wake up, Annika. It's going to be breakfast," she said softly standing up as well. I just stared at this military uniform. I don't know if he's police or what.
"I'll be next," I replied and fainted to stand up.
"Okay, you're going somewhere else right? Kevin's birthday today," Mildred reminded then closed the door.
None of my own looked at my phone. Most of the message is from Fred that I don t know if I should read. When I came down, the people there who were already busy eating came up to me, in a flash many of the people who came last night suddenly disappeared, they were at work again.
"Good morning," they greeted as I just smiled and then passed them by.
I brewed my coffee and took three slices of bread. Uncle just stared at my gesture and simply went back to what he was doing.
"Don't drink alcohol," uncle's voice behind me as I wash my hand.
"Kevin has already informed me. Try to go home as early as possible," he added as I sat down next to him.
I just nodded and sipped my coffee. They were just quiet and occasionally looking at me. It seems like, they want to ask me but they chose to shut their mouth.
"When are you going back to school?" asked Aunt Cecil who remained staring at me.
"Second week of December," I replied.
"Hmm. Any plan? Boyfriend? Don't you want? You're already twenty-six. C'mon, we're waiting," Aunt Summer laughed.
"All right. I'll tell Keus," I smiled and heard them laugh.
"Annika, I'll pick you up this afternoon at two o'clock, let's go straight to Kevin's house, his Grandma wants to see you," he said with a smile, causing the others to look at me.
"All right," I replied then sat down next to
uncle on the sofa.
I just let the time pass, because it was too early for me to finish reading the book that was scattered on the center table while leaning on the side of my uncle who was busy fiddling with various papers. Nothing enters my brain, I understand nothing in the flow of the story, maybe because I m not in the mood. I haven't been able to write for over a month so this is the only thing I can do, read. It was one o'clock when I decided to take care of myself, I only wore a black fitted sleeveless dress and left my long hair hanging down.
I just bit my lip to blush, this is what Aunt Nieva taught me if I just want it naturally. When I got down, Lucas came up to me and changed his clothes, it looked like he had changed. He grinned as he stared at what I was wearing. Veron gave this to me. I don t want to accept because I feel like my body is already visible. I'm not like her who doesn't care if I see her or not.
I didn't bring a gift to Kevin, he knew that. I know what he wants. My presence.
Even though I want to convince myself, maybe I'm just giving too much meaning to someone's actions. When we got there I simply arrived, that big house that still looks colonial style. Only his grandmother lives and Kevin's youngest brother who is also with the old man. When we got out of the car, instead of Lucas meeting him, Fred opened the door, he greeted me with a smile that I just stared at. He always smiled like that. I can only imagine that his mother had been smiling for nine months when she was pregnant.
"You don't have to make to beautiful," Fred whispered then stood up straight.
"You're just dating another woman," I whispered and then smiled.
At the opening of their living room the guests were already there, most of the guests were Kevin s co-workers because I had once seen them in the company. But instead of approaching I would rather go to the old woman who was obviously a half -breed.
"Grandma," I whispered and then felt her tight hug. "Very nice kid, my grandson didn t make a mistake in the choice," she said calmly which surprised me.
It clung to my elbow, I noticed the sight of others waving at us. Fred even slightly winked at me causing me to give it a curious look.
What the hell! I could see his laughter when Lou hit him on the head.
I just shook my head and averted my eyes. I rolled my eyes but it was just amazing because there wasn t one. It was also one of those close to Kevin. I spent most of the day talking to Kevin's grandmother, and I wasn't bored because of her story about the war she had fought before. I just don t know what exact war she s talking about. We are in the same room here on the second floor, because I am also not allowed to drink alcohol, I chose to accompany the old man because Kevin is busy with his guests downstairs.
"You still don't have a boyfriend?" asked Kevin's youngest brother who was an Architect.
I just smiled and then shook my head. "Why? Isn't anyone dating with you? You're so beautiful."
"There are. I'm just not interested. I still have things I want to do," I simply hinted and the old man smiled.
Some time later we heard a soft knock in that room, it was Colleen who opened it and her older brother appeared there with a wide smile.
"Did I disturb you?" his question leaning against the doorpost.
"All right ija, you'd better go with my grandson first, you gave me too much time," the old man said with a smile then I decided to stand up. I said goodbye to the two and went with Kevin.
"I'm sorry grandma," he whispered to me.
"Why? She didn't do anything wrong," I said here.
I stopped walking for a moment on the long porch of the second floor then stared at him intently. "Why?" I sighed and then smiled at it. "Why do you tend to whisper to me? I don't know if everything you're saying is a secret," I laughed and then walked away again.
"I'm not like Lucas who is that comfortable with you," he said softly.
I noticed. I didn't talk to him much when we were in college. Only Fred and Lou are the only ones I talk to often with Zeke's friend.
"Niks," it calls to me. "Can we talk? It's just the two of us?" I looked at it for a moment but it immediately averted my gaze.
I nodded here, I just followed him where he was going. We stopped at the back of the other house, that yard with a variety of flowers. Only two lights coming from the pole illuminate that area. I heard her sigh and her bow. He was like a child who had sinned against me.
"Actually, I really have no intention of talking to you about what I m going to say," its introduction made me even more interested.
I just stared at it and I just kept quiet, maybe he wanted to tell me something important. He often acted like this whenever what he wanted to say was important. It closed tightly and then took a deep breath, the two of us caught sight of it and for the first time, I didn't look up. Not methe type of person who will stare at the speakers because I would rather look around and just listen.
"I-I like you, Annika."
That word echoed in my ears. I even tilted my head and slightly stared at what he said. I noticed its exhalation of air and its loud blinking. I was even more stunned when I heard her laugh and grin.
"I'm sorry, ah, I stopped it. That's why I just said it, so that I can breathe more easily. I'm not comfortable like this, I just want to be released," he said softly without looking at me.
It just looks behind me and sometimes gets stuck in my ear. "Please don't be mean to what I said. I-I hope what we were then is still the same after this," he added, staring at me.
I don t know what I should say. Only a few men dare to tell me the truth.
"No big deal. Maybe it's okay that you told the truth so you don't feel lonely when we're together," I simply said with a smile.
"Don't worry, I have no intention of bothering you. It might pass too. I just really want to breathe easy." I nodded here and gave him a smile.
I have been noticing his actions for a long time, I also did not think that he would be the first to confess to me. "No worries. You're not bothering me," I simply said then squatted down and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Happy birthday, Kevin," I whispered and I noticed at the edge of my vision the departure of a familiar man.
I left kissing his cheek then smiled at him. To another man I want to hear that thing. But maybe like Kevin, maybe he just passed out too.