Obviously, This Is Not Love

4| Some chips and a bottle of Gatorade

4| Some chips and a bottle of Gatorade

 

So last night was weird. Nagpaalam ako kay mama tungkol sa usapan namin ni Arki - telling her everything from the start. My mom is a permissable person (every teenagers' parent dream). She'll allow you to do anything if you tell her about it. Meaning, I should keep her in the loop once in a while. Sabi niya, it is one way to build relationship with her daughter (especially that she's a single mother), and I'd say it was a smart parenting.

So obviously, pinayagan ako ni mama. She even helped me pack my things. Then after, tinwagan ko si Cather sa Skype. I also told her about it. And Cather being Cather, she assumed that maybe Arki has a thing for me. He could've looked for another but instead he asked me to accompany him, she said. But everything that involved Arki is just a little game. You're a fool if you let yourself fall for Arki's small tricks. I know that. He and I may not be close but I know enough.

Ever since na lumipat si Arki sa Hanha Circle and as he transferred to Thompson University, girls linger around him too quick. Worse, he's there to entertain your needs. I mean, mabait naman si Arki but he could be shit sometimes.

So when my conversation with Cather ended, biglang tumawag si Torres. Still through Skype, of course, I doubt he has my phone number. I told Cather to tell no one my contact number, not even her brother just in case. She did the end of her bargain in exchange for a free milktea once a month.

Sinagot ko naman yung tawag ni Torres. I was in my bed, my hair is still dripping wet. Kakaligo ko lang kasi. Si Torres naman nasa loob din ng kwarto niya (thank God he's wearing a shirt this time) at may headphones siya sa may ulo niya.

"What?" I asked.

"Tama yung sinigaw ni Cather kanina?" Onga pala, isinigaw pala ni Cather kung ano yung sinabi ko sa kaniya. No surprise that Torres would hear it too. Maybe her whole family heard it. No secrets are ever safe with Cather around, I tell you.

Kinuha ko yung towel ko tapos tinuyo ang buhok ko. "Why do you care?" I act as if I don't hear my heart beat. I act as if I wasn't shaking.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing... So?"

"She said it aloud, so I'm sure it is what it was." Sabi ko naman. "He's your friend, Torres. Clearly, mas pinagkakatiwalaan pa kita kaysa sa kaniya because you're my bestfriend's brother. Hindi ko kilala si Arki. How... or rather, what is he really?" I asked, being curious now.

He laughed. "He's fine. Pero medyo ungas din minsan. If you're going with him to Baguio, I suggest, bring your earphones or a book just to make yourself busy."

"Bakit?" I stopped drying my hair. Binuksan ko na lang yung electric fan ko tapos tinutok sa akin. "Papabayaan nga ako ng lalaking iyon?"

Umiling siya. "Let me just put it this way... Parang girl magnet iyang si Arki. Once in a while, may babaeng kakausap diyan and before you knew it, out of place ka na." He explained, he even managed to laugh in between his words. I can still hear my heart beat. What the hell is wrong with me?

Napasandal ako sa head board. "So, iiwan nga niya ako. Psh, thank you sa suggestion mo."

Then after that conversation, tumawag na si Aera sa phone niya. "Boyfriend duties..." When he ended the video call, hindi ko maintindihan yung sarili ko. Tama ba narinig ko? Boyfriend? So, wala ngang gusto sa akin si Torres? Curse you, Cather. We shouldn't have suspect that he had feelings for me even a bit. Feeling ko tuloy parang... umasa ako when I shouldn't.

Going back to the reality, Torres was right. May kakausap nga kay Arki na babae. Why do I even bother? Nandito kasi kami ni Arki sa Shell station. Bibili lang sana ako ng mga chichirya at Gatorade (inilibre ko pa naman siya. But I won't give him his bottle, he was a jerk for making me witness this gruesome flirting action) habang nabyahe kami papunta sa kanila, kaso inabot na kami ng halos isang oras pero may kausap pa rin siya.