For The Stars Have Sinned

After that incident, Papa bought me a new phone. At first he was angry because when I needed the phone it was broken. If only my phone had worked that night, I would have called them. I just shrugged off Papa’s sermon as he looked for a good phone that won’t break easily.

I stared at the new phone. I’ve changed phones for several times since I went to the dock. I sighed and looked at Mama again. I smiled stiffly and scratched the back of my neck. I don’t know if she will be happy or not if I’ll ask her to let me go visit Bohol.

“It’ll only be two days, Ma. Besides, Tiden will be there,” I said. Tiden has already informed my parents and I know that Mama only gave him her approval because he contacted them when I was lost in Oslob one night.

She stared at me silently for a few seconds before looking away. “Did I agree?”

I blinked. “What, Mom?”

She sighed. “Don’t forget that I’m still not willing to let you fangirl, Rishel. Even if we have money to buy concert tickets, it’s still not good to spend money on things that aren’t important.”

I could not refute her. Mama already knew about the merch I hid at the Port and also knew that Tiden is a member of a band, an idol. But because of Tiden’s help on that night, Mama no longer looks down on idol groups, even though she is still against it.

I blew out air. “Gonna give moral support for Tiden, Ma.”

Only then did the wrinkles on Mama’s forehead disappear. She turned to me for a moment before refocusing on the book she was reading. “It’s up to you. But you have to be with someone. Take Gerard with you.”

“Ah, no. I mean it’s not necessary, Ma. Tiden will be with me and he will watch over me.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded and smiled broadly at her. “Alright, Ma. Nothing will happen to me, promise! Also, I’ve visited Bohol before so I’m quite familiar with the place.”

“Just don’t casually visit places you’ve never been to. If you want to go there, Tiden must be with you. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Mom!”

I have already booked a ticket with the airlines weekend flight. I wanted to buy one for Tiden but he said he will be boarding with their sponsors, so he can’t accompany me on the trip to Bohol. I will be the first to fly there because Tiden need to attend a meet and greet in Talisay before flying to the venue proper.

“Is that so? All right, it’s fine!” I said and looked at the paperbags on the side. “Take care.”

“Thank you, Rishel. Be careful too,” said Tiden before hanging up.

I put the phone on the bedside table and curved the edge of my lips. CareLikeGoldFish and I were going to meet, and I knew it’s Levi. So I rummaged through the cabinet to find the fan arts I made for CLGF and put them inside the paper bags where the three girls’ gifts for Levi were also placed.

At least, I can finally give those gifts I had kept for months. I’m afraid if I keep them any longer, those girls will think that I am just talking big. The opportunity is here. After I put the paper bag on the bedside table, I called Husea and let her into the room.

“Does Madam know this, Miss?” she asked.

I nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. She took the stool and sat across from me. I looked down at my knee which was full of gauze. “My wound has healed when you removed it yesterday. I’m sure, it’s fine now,” I said.

“I hope so, Miss.”

She slowly removed the gauze. I smiled when I saw that it was almost scarred. No need for gauze. Just three bandages and it’s okay.

I moved my knee and nodded to Husea. “It’s fine. Just put a bandage on it. Then, you can go back to the kitchen.”

“I understand, Miss.”

She gently applied an ointment to the healing wound, then put a bandage on it. “Maybe tomorrow, it’ll be permanently scarred, Miss.”

“It’s okay. I know it’s going to have a scar so I’ll use something to cover it up.” I drew a breath. “Anyway, I don’t like small skirts.”

“Really, Miss? I thought it was your favorite. I’ve been seeing small skirts in your laundry for the past weeks.”

I snorted. “You’re an observer, aren’t you?”

“Ah, not really, Miss. I just noticed.”

I shook my leg to shake off the feeling of gauze on my knees. “No. I don’t like small skirts. Levi likes girls who wear them so I did.”

She looked up to me. “Levi? Who is that, Miss?”

“Don’t ask anymore. You can leave now. Go ahead.”

She bid goodbye before turning and leaving my room. I checked if the bandage was properly placed before reaching for the new cellphone that Papa had given me. I opened the reading app and went to CLGF’s profile and messaged him.

To CLGF: Ready for the weekend?

I smiled and put the cellphone down. I put my things in the backpack and looked for the Vine lightstick. Gonna use that on weekend.

The good thing was… there’ll be no class tomorrow. Semester break has started so I am thinking of inviting TIden for a tour around Bohol. He had promised me that if I do good this semester, he’ll treat me a round-trip tour.

I scratched my cheek. My grades? They’re probably high. It’s just that some subjects were too hard to understand but I still got a passing grade no? I texted him. This is my first text to him after all these time.

To Tiden: Give me load.

When I read my message again, I frowned. What load? I mean loan. I was about to type again when a message entered my inbox.

From Tiden: How much?

I sneezed and replied to him it’s just typo, and what I wanted to text was that I would like to borrow five thousand. I plan to have a pocket money this weekend from him, because I am sure Mama would not give more than she gave me yesterday.

From Tiden: Account number?Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

I smiled. Tiden is really reliable. I quickly replied the account number of my bank savings account. A few minutes later a notification entered my phone saying that someone deposited twenty thousand in my bank account.

Wait, twenty thousand? I quickly send him a message.

To Tiden: Hey, it’s too much.