Impervious Treasure (Azcona Cousins #2)

21

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Chapter 21

Nakagugulat na tatlong water bottles ang naubos ko. I was thinking if I am really thirsty or I was just wasting my time drinking here at the cafeteria so that I could talk to Ramsis. I wanted to explain... However, explaining my side would look like I certainly did something wrong, like I did a bad move.

I was busy contemplating if I'd buy another water. I feel full because of my excessive water intake. Parang hindi ko na yata kakayanin pang maglakad dahil sa bigat ng tiyan ko.

I walk my way to the restroom. Tinanggal ko ang aking salamin. Blurriness came to wrap my eyes. I was not the only girl inside the restroom. Sa kasamaang palad ay mga ka-batch pa ni Ramsis ang kasama ko rito sa loob. Natagalan tuloy ako sa linya. Gusto ko sanang maghilamos dahil pakiramdam ko ay umaapoy sa init ang magkabila kong pisngi dahil sa init.

My cheeks are naturally rosy, and they get flush when I am doing activities under the scorching sun.

Sa gitna ng aking paghihintay sa linya ay 'di maiiwasang marinig ang usapan ng ibang tao.

"Have you heard the news?"

"What news? Marami naman laging bagong balita sa isang araw," the girl combing her curly hair asked.

"Well. Someone said that Lea and Ramsis are catching feelings for each other."

"Talaga? Baka naman si Lea lang ang nagsabi niyan? Baka siya rin ang nagpakalat," she laughed. "I hate that girl. She acts like a brat. I once caught her throwing her food in the bin."

Umalis ang estudyanteng gumamit ng pangatlong gripo. Pumalit ako sa kaniya at ipinakitang wala akong pakialam sa nag-uusap sa gilid. I couldn't distinguish them properly. Sa tingin ko ay mula sila sa kabilang section.

I started damping my face with the cold running water. Sinadya kong bagalan ang aking mga galaw. Nanatili akong nakayuko para basain ang mukha.

"I don't know. Noong isang araw tinanong ko si Lea tungkol roon... and she said that it was true. Basically, Ramsis is courting her."

"Still not convinced. I haven't seen Ramsis smile at Lea. Madalang ko ring makita kinakausap niya. Ngayon ko nga lang sila nakikitang magkasama dahil prom date niya si Ramsis."

This girl has a point. At kung mayroon talagang namamagitan sa kanila, bakit hindi sa akin sinabi ni Ramsis? Nahihiya ba siyang ipaalam sa'kin? Knowing that he expresses his admiration to me boldly, is he scared that I might feel offended if I knew that he likes someone aside from me?

I am not like that baka nga itulak ko pa siya kay Lea, e.

"Hindi mo siguro nadatnan na yumakap si Lea kay Ramsis..."

"Girl, I saw that, of course! No one wouldn't feel intrigued when the topic is Ramsis Gabrielle, the next face of the school. Maraming mga mata ang nagmamasid sa kanila noong nangyari 'yon. And in that specific context, Lea looked desperate. Walang interesting sa kanilang dalawa kaya 'wag kang maniwala sa bali-balita. Hindi sila bagay."

"Are you saying those negative opinions because you like Ramsis?"

The girl gasped.

"I like him, of course! Sino ba ang hindi?" parang isang insulto sa kaniya ang naging tanong ng kaibigan. "But my feelings for him are not invoIved here, I was just saying what I see and think. Hindi sila bagay."

I straightened my back when they finally trotted away because their instructor once again called their attention for the dance practice through the speaker. Kinuha ko ang aking puting panyo at marahang idinampi 'yon sa'king mukha habang naglalakad palabas. I was still holding my eyeglasses. Hindi ko pa 'yon binabalik kaya naman sa panghuling hakbang ko ay akala ko ay may tatapakan pa!