Chapter 8
Coco

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It's not that Coco wasn't expecting that question to ever pop up. It just came a little bit too late than what she had expected. In fact, it's two years late. But she can never fault her sister for asking it right now. Chin's timing wasn't off for her to be surprised. After all, it's only her who knows what transpired that day.

Does she hate him? It shouldn't even be a question anymore. Coco has proved time and time again that she dislikes Ax beyond reason. Even if what she did two years ago didn't happen, she'd still hate him simply because he was Axel Young. That's the end of discussion. There was no sense of bringing it up.

"I've been hating on him for the longest time. Naka-default na 'yon so it's not really new," she says, picking up a honeydew and slices of apples to her plate.

"Is it?" Chin prompted, seemingly doubtful of her response.

She matches her sister's gaze this time just to prove a point that what happened two years ago no longer matters. Whatever she did that night, it doesn't exist in her reality anymore. It never did for him, so why would she dwell up on it two years later?

"Don't start. That's over. It's so long ago na rin." Coco chewed on her honeydew.

"Okay, Ate." Chin shrugs. "If you say so," her sister says, but she knew what lies beneath her response. Chin doesn't believe her one bit. She's only saying okay to make her realize how stupid she sounds even if that was the truth.

Her truth.

There's really nothing going on with Coco. The tides have already settled in. Ang tagal-tagal na. So why can't Chin simply believe her and take her word for it?

"How's school?" Coco asked. "I thought last time you said na you wanted to change uni. What happened with that?"

Her sister snickers, shaking her head. "Change topic na agad?"

Coco rolls her eyes. "Can we please? I don't want to talk about it na." She sighs, chewing her food silently.

What for, anyway? Wala naman na talagang point para do'n. It's long gone. She has already buried the memory a hundred feet underground.

"Sure, Ate." Chin laughs. "Stressed out lang talaga ago last time but I didn't mean that. Moment of weakness ko lang because finals week namin 'yon and I'm really anxious kasi I thought babagsak ako sa exams plus ang dami pa nilang pinagagawa. Pero I managed naman, I'm still continuing my program sa same uni."

"Sure? So you're not transferring schools anymore?"

Chin shakes her head. "'Di na. I'm good. Coping mechanism lang namin ng friends ko maghanap ng ibang schools na lilipatan, but I think it'd be stressful anywhere."

"Ah . . ." Coco nods. She knows her sister very well. Chin easily adapts in her environment. She's a chameleon that fits everywhere. Although she doubts it's really adapting. Somehow it seems like her sister was borderline mimicking. Especially when she saw her one time, retreating to her corner for a bit of quiet. She can never blame her sister for that when she knows how exhausting it is to deal with a certain environment sometimes.

Coco sighs to herself. Perhaps it runs in the family, they're all actors in a sort of way. It's undeniable that they were both cut from the same cloth.

"It's fine right now, I'm not that stressed. Well-rested na ako during our sembreak." Chin took her glass to sip some water.

"Really?" Coco asked, picking up an apple slice from her plate when she heard familiar footsteps coming downstairs.

Chin nodded. "Yup. Stress lang talaga from reqs. But I'm fine na. I think freshman year stress lang talaga 'yon 'cause you know, we're still adjusting. First time ko rin ma-experience hell week ng college. It's so different pala."

"Yeah." She recalled bits of her freshmen year before. Although her subjects were mostly catered to suit her schedule for work, it was still stressful on her part. "You think you'd be able to do it again for next sem?"

"Of course! 'Yon lang, e."

An arm softly glides through her waist, his chest pressing against her back as if it was the most natural thing to do. Especially when he guided her hand to his mouth holding the half-bitten apple slice she was munching on earlier.

"Ba't 'di mo 'ko ginising? Buti 'di nagalit si Manang kasi 'di ako bumaba no'ng nagtawag siya."

Coco rolled her eyes. "She doesn't know you're here."

"Ay weh?" He smiled, taking another fruit slice from her plate. "Good morning, Chin! May pasok ka?"

"Yup!" Chin nods. "I'm leaving in a bit na."

"Anong oras klase mo?"

Coco secretly hitches her breath when she felt his arm tighten around her waist, seemingly pulling her closer towards him. A sudden rush creeps from her spine to her nape then up to her cheeks. She was reluctant. Coco was trying her best not find any reason why a part of her was unconsciously reacting the way it does. It doesn't need to make any sense. It doesn't need any reason or any sort of justification. It just feels like it and it will pass. Surely, anyone would feel that way. She doesn't need to entertain and make a big deal out of it.

"Can you sit down? Manang will get mad if she sees you eating like that na nakatayo," she says, shrugging a shoulder to get him off of her.

"Ay oo nga," Axel agrees, pulling the empty chair next to Coco. "'Di ka ba nahirapan sa 'kin kagabi?"

Really? She scoffs. "What do you think?"

Ax lets out a low chuckle. "Sorry na."

"You remember last night, Kuya Ax?" Chin intervenes.

Coco shots her eyes at her sister to give her a knowing look, but Chin didn't even bother to glance at her direction.

"Oo. Naaalala ko na hinatid ako dito ni Reagan kasi kinulit ko siya hanggang tapos inaakyat nila ako sa hagdan, tapos kaunti n'ong binibihisan ako ni Coco kasi inaantok na ako no'n," he answered.

"Ah . . . " Chin nods.

"Bakit?" he asks, popping a honeydew in his mouth from Coco's plate.

Chin shrugs. "Naaalala mo talaga palagi the next morning kahit marami kang nainom the other night?"

"Oo," he proudly says. "Super power ko 'yan."

"Oh . . . okay." Chin's eyes falls to her glass before she secretly takes a glance at Coco's direction, giving her a knowing look but it was her turn to feign ignorance.

Coco just nods, feeling a bit queasy in her seat.

So what's exactly with that night that he wasn't able to remember it the next morning? If super power niya naman pala, then why did he forget about it?

Or was it that insignificant to begin with for him to decide it wasn't worth remembering? And out of everything he could forget, why did it have to be that night?

When it was everything to her.

Her nail digs beside her thumb.

Coco would never forget how his eyes glossed. How his cheeks felt so warm against her touch with his tiny stubbles pricking against her palm. She would never forget how his hand reached for hers when she was softly brushing his cheek with her thumb.

It was a Sunday at two a.m. inside her room, and everything was still playing out in her mind so clearly. So how could she forget that night when it felt like she was nestling her whole entire world in her hands? When he was looking at her like she was everything that mattered to him?

How could she forget all the words pouring out of her lips when her heart was practically beating behind her throat? When breathing alone seemed so impossible? How could she forget that one significant night two years ago where she bared him everything that keeps her awake every night feeling so stranded in the midst of an endless void all because of him?

Why can't she forget about June 22nd when it seems like it's the easiest thing to do for Axel Young?

It was the eve of his birthday nonetheless. So how could he not remember an ounce of it? And how could he end up in another woman's bed the night after?

Did she just make everything up inside her head? Was it all imaginary even when his cheek felt so warm against her touch?

Did it ever happened? Or was it all just painted in her mind?

Coco swallows the lump in her throat, pushing her weight on the edge of the table. She feels her blood burning in dismay.

Perhaps zero still counts as one. Because at the highest point of reasons why she hates Axel Young, the night of June 22nd was found scribbled in red ink.

"Tapos ka na? 'Di mo pa ubos 'tong mansanas mo," Ax called when she stood up, walking away to her room with a profound beating in her chest.

Tapos na, it's done. Long ago na 'yon. No sense of recalling it anymore. He doesn't care, Coco tried to convince herself while she was climbing upstairs.

He doesn't care.

***

"Coco." Ax knocked on the ensuite when she was drying her hair. "Lalabas ka ba ngayon? Sama 'ko."

But she remained quiet, allowing her satin ensemble to answer his question. She was in no mood of entertaining him today. After all, his presence wasn't even invited.

Why won't he just go home?

Coco went out of the ensuite to grab a new tub of body butter from one of her drawers, ignoring how his eyes were following her movements.

"Dito ka lang?" he asked. "Ano gagawin natin?"

Her forehead wrinkles. What does he mean by that? Natin?

Coco gives him a glare. "Nothing kaya it's better if you'll go home."

Ax briefly grins, shaking his head. "Ayoko nga. Walang Coco do'n sa bahay, e."

She winces. "Eww."

Coco was trying to unscrew the lid of the tub but it was tightly wound. She didn't want it to seem like she was struggling, but Ax stood up, takes the body butter from her hand to open it himself.

"Eww ka d'yan?" He gives her the opened tub with the scent of olives filling the air. "Gusto mo ba sa bahay? Sama ka sa 'kin pauwi para may Coco sa bahay namin."

The creasing on her forehead deepens. Coco remained mum as she applies some body butter on her skin. Maybe if she keeps her mouth shut and did her best to ignore him, Ax will leave her alone.

"Ba't ang tahimik mo?" he asked, following her down to the kitchen to get some pre-lunch snacks.

Coco took out a bunch of baby carrots, ranch, and the freshly squeezed orange juice from the fridge. She can sense him trailing her movements behind her, Ax even follows each step she makes in their kitchen.

"Coco," he calls. And she continuously ignores.

"Coco," he calls again like a broken cuckoo clock while Coco was busy searching for a vegetable peeler on a bunch of drawers.

Ax takes a small knife from its wooden block.

"'Di ka pa rin marunong magbalat gamit kutsilyo? Ang laki-laki mo na." He snickers, shaking his head.

"So? I want to use a peeler, masama ba?" she answered underneath her breath, unconsciously slamming a drawer close.

"O? Ba't ka nagdadabog?" Ax takes a baby carrot from the bowl. "Gan'yan ka na, 'di ka lang marunong magbalat ng carrots, nagdadabog ka na."

He chuckles. "Ako na magbabalat, hintayin mo na lang."

Coco fists her hands. "Umuwi ka na nga! Why are you even here? Nang-a-annoy ka lang naman!"

She feels her cheeks slowly becoming warm. So even before the last thread of her patience breaks, Coco takes the liberty to heave a breath.

But Ax continues to annoy her by letting out a grin. "Wala nga kasing Coco sa bahay. Kasasabi ko lang—"

"My god! I'm not even kidding!" She snaps. "Umuwi ka na sa house n'yo! Ayaw kita dito." Coco didn't mean for her voice to come out a pitch higher. But she couldn't take him lingering around her space.

She was fuming and the heat on her cheeks have crawled further to the edge of her eyes. Ax was becoming a blur to her sight. But she still saw how he stopped, dropping the knife and a piece of half-peeled baby carrot on the chopping board.

"Ano bang ginagawa ko sa 'yo ba't ka nagagalit d'yan?"

Coco presses her lips tight to prevent any unwanted quivering. "Go home," she says firmly.

Ax shakes his head, picking up the knife again. "Ayaw."

🥕

#hardlytheirs