THE SECLUDED TRAILS OF DECEIT '. ruler of fate series l first book

The Secluded Trails of Deceit
written by : riyanisity

Amber ran closer to us and held Sab on her arm, who was sitting beside me as she ate her mango graham silently, "I'll borrow her muna!" sigaw niya bago siya hatakin patayo at papalapit kay Izelle na kumakanta sa karaoke.

She held her hands this time and urged her to dance by swinging their arms together, "Come on na! Move, our dancer. Dance for us naman!" utos niya habang umiikot na ngayon, kaya nadadala na rin tuloy si Sab sa kaniyang ginagawa.

Izelle started syawing her hips with her hands on her chest before she pointed them at Sab. "See that girl; watch that scene; digging the dancing queen..."

"No, I'm the queen!" Amber shouted, but she was still laughing as she danced with Sab, who's now showing a small smile because of what they're doing.

Izelle started jumping with her left arm raised towards the sky, "Sasayaw na 'yan! Sasayaw na 'yan!" sigaw niya bago ipagpatuloy ang kaniyang pagkanta.

My phone started ringing at that moment, which made me reach for it. When I saw who the caller was, I couldn't help but cause my lips to part and my eyes to widen a bit. Napalunok ako at kaagad napatayo bago sila iwan. I went inside our house and sat on the sofa before answering it.

I heard her breathing huge air as soon as we connected, "V-Vanna..." tawag niya sa'kin mula sa kabilang linya.

"Why didn't you come here..? Mom and Dad are looking for you. The girls missed you too." A small smile formed on my lips as I leaned my back on the couch. "Ivy, where are you? Hahabol ka ba..? It's not like you would forget about my birthday, right?"

"I know... Of course, I know." She sniffed and let out a hiccup, "T-That's why I'm sorry." namamamos ang boses na sagot niya.

My lips pursed as I looked down. "Are you still coming..?"

"N-No, I just want to greet you here before the day ends. Maybe I'll be able to give you my present soon, hmm..? I-I'm really sorry. Please, tell the girls that too."

"Bakit hindi ngayon..?" I bit my lip, "Why can't you come right now..?" mahinang tanong ko.

"Because..."

"Iniiwasan mo ba kami, Ivy?" I gulped heavily and cleared the lump I felt in my throat. "Iniiwasan mo ba 'ko..?"

"Why would I..?" She let out a forced chuckle, "Just... A-Ano... Happy Birthday, Vanna. I'm really sorry for what I did. I will meet you when e-everything's fine, okay? There's just really a lot of things going on right now." sagot niya bago ibaba ang tawag.

I bit my lip and still nodded my head in response, even though the screen's light flashed on my cheek and on the corner of my right eye. Slowly, after that, my hand took the cellphone away beside my ear. Tinignan ko muna 'yon nang ilang saglit bago patayin.

"I couldn't rant to Ivy, I couldn't tell anything to Sab, and neither to Draven." I scoffed and stood up, now walking away and heading straight to our front yard. "There's no one."

The wind was slowly becoming colder, the skies were turning into an overcast, and the ground was not on fire anymore because of the upcoming end of the year. From Draven's birthday, to mine, everything was just the same as it was when I last saw him. And yet, here I am, still waiting for him like an idiot. For him to appear, like he wasn't my boyfriend to begin with. And that's the worst of all.

I bit my lip, looked down, and started kicking some small stones.

May nagsasabi sa'kin na dadating si Draven. Mahuhuli lang siya, pero hinding hindi niya papaabutin kinabukasan ang hindi pagpapakita sa'kin.