Rainy Season in Manila

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"So, how are we going to proceed with this?" I heard Serron asked.

"Babaguhin na ba natin?" patanong na sagot ni Derby.

"I think we can still do this," sagot ni Archie sa tabi ko. "I believe that she only declined our idea because we weren't able to discuss it further. I know it has potential."

"I believe mas may potential tayong dalawa, Archie." Hagikgik pa ni Serron.

"Naku, kayong dalawa talaga! Bet mo ba si Archie, Serron?" Nakangiting tanong ni Jayda.

Napangisi na lamang si Archie.

"O, based on his reaction, I don't think I have. Baka si lutang girl meron. Isel?"

"Huh?" Iniangat ko ang ulo ko at tiningnan ko si Serron na binanggit ang pangalan ko. Nagtaka naman ako dahil silang apat ay nakatingin sa akin. Na-conscious naman ako bigla dahil titig na titig din sila sa akin. Napakunot na lamang ako ng noo habang ini-isa-isa ko sila ng tingin. "Okay... bakit ganyan kayo makatingin?

Serron acted like he was shaken. "Girl, we're discussing here dahil ni-reject ni ma'am 'yong proposal natin. We need to come up with a new idea or proposal para makausad na tayo."

"Ah... okay."

"Anong okay?" iritadong tugon ni Serron. Napailing na lamang ito nang wala rin akong maisagot. "Anyway, baka gutom ka lang. Gusto mo samahan kita sa canteen?"

"I'll go with her," pagpresenta naman ni Archie. "I'm kinda hungry as well." Aniya sabay hawak sa kanyang tiyan.

I look at him and scrunched my face. I don't know why would he present himself to go to the cafeteria together. Ano ba akala nito? Porque gwapo, papayag ako? Pwes, wala akong choice today kaya hahayaan ko siyang samahan ako.

Naghabilin naman 'yong tatlo kung anong ipabibili nila sa amin. Serron even gave me an extra money so I could buy something interesting to eat. Hindi naman ako umangal dahil wala rin naman ako sa mood. Sabay naman kaming umalis and he was just following me on my side.

Tahimik lang ako all the way out. I'm still trying to sway my mind out of what happened last week. Kakaiba 'tong si Bennett, may girlfriend na nga, nakukuha pang sumuyo ng ibang babae. But at that moment, his intention came a little clearer to me, gusto lang ba niya akong tulungan financially or there's still other reason behind it? I'm not yet there so I have to keep digging.

"May iniisip ka na naman 'no?" Napatingin ako kay Archie nang biglang magsalita.

Umiling naman ako. "Mukha mo."

"You would be discussing with us earlier if you're not." Ngisi pa nito.

"Imbento ka," sagot ko. "Wala akong iniisip and you know what, we don't have to talk to each other. Sasamahan mo lang naman ako, 'di ba? Be quite."

"I can't keep myself quiet, baka mapanis lang ang laway ko."

"Hindi ko na problema 'yon."

"Why are you so... masungit, Criselda?"

Natigil ako sa paglalakad ko kaya napatigil din siya saka binalikan niya ako ng tingin. He creased his forehead and scratched his thumb on the side of his nose.

"What? It is true, right?"

Umiling ako para depensahan ko ang sarili ko. "Hindi ako masungit."

"So, wala kang gana?"

Napangiwi naman ako. "Not sure... pero parang gano'n na nga. Tara na nga. 'Wag ka na makulit at magtanong-tanong pa. Let's just get this over with para mapagpatuloy na natin 'yong discussion do'n."