Chapter 9
"Bakit hindi mo na kinukuwento sa akin 'yong crush mo?" I asked Dave.
Before, palagi niyang kinukwento sa akin 'yong crush niya. The way he described it was like she's the type of girl that's almost perfect. He said the girl has long hair, bright eyes, fine nose and lips, and everything about her features can be compared to a goddess. She's no far from a goddess.
"I haven't seen her lately, mukhang busy kasi siya." he answered.
I nodded. Sabagay, malapit na rin naman ang exam.
"She's a good student, huh. Preparing well for the exams." I said.
"She's not busy for the upcoming exams. It's her extra curricular activities."
Oo nga naman. Ako nga, busy rin sa extra curricular activities ko.
Everybody are too busy right now. There's an upcoming event and exam.
Dave and I are heading back to our classroom. We finished our food at the canteen. Sabay kaming nag-lunch ngayon. It's been a while since we had our lunch together. It's either he got some business to care of or I do. Naiintindihan ko naman, we want to have good grades.
Nalaman kong may crush siya no'ng tinanong niya ako kung ano raw ang gusto kong regalo. She's asking for a girl's opinion. From then, I knew he's giving it to someone. I doubt it's for his younger sister or mother, he knows them more than I do.
I gave him a lot of options. Ewan ko kung alin do'n ang binili niya. Nakalimutan kong maki-chismis.
"Sarap kumain ng kwek-kwek." parinig ko sa kanya.
We are on our way back to our classroom. Afternoon pa ang practice ko today. I got time to chill. I also got a sudden craving.
"Sure ka? We just finished eating lunch." he said.
Oo nga. Eh, gusto kong kumain.
"Yeah!" then I gave him a wide smile.
He slowly nodded.
"Okay, you go. Una na ako sa classroom." at nagsimula siyang maglakad muli.
Mabilisan akong naglakad at sinundan siya. He doesn't get my point! Gets niya naman ako palagi, ah.
I grabbed his arm and stopped him. He stopped walking and stood still facing his back at me.
"Samahan mo ako." I said in a low voice.
He chuckled. "Hindi ako kakain, eh."
Eto na naman.
"Please?"
"Complete it." he said.
"Please po, pinipilit po kita." I said.
Ah! Feels shit everytime.
"Sige na nga." he said as if I really forced him to come with me.
Inakbayan niya ako at naglakad kami. I held his waist. After all, we are best of friends.
Nakarating na kami kay Kuya na nagtitinda ng kwek-kwek. We released each other. Maraming kumakain dito sa maliit niyang tindahan. I've been here a lot of times already. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon.
"Ilan ba ang gusto mong kainin?" Dave asked.
"Apat... lima!" that's more like it.
"Why aren't you gaining weight, Jenim? Ilang gigabytes ba iyang storage sa tiyan mo?"
I just shrugged at him.
Pake niya?
"Oh." sabi niya sabay lahad sa akin ng pera.
Aanhin ko 'yan? Akala siguro niya siya lang may baon.
"Don't worry, I have my own money. My parents are fighting no more." I said.
Sometimes, my parents forget that they have a child when they're not in a good state.
"Sigurado ka ba?" tanong niya.
"Oo." sabi ko and showed him my wallet with bills and coins.
He insisted no more and waited for my turn to come. Marami-rami ang naghihintay para makabili. I should wait for my turn.
Kaunti na lang ang tao kaya na-entertain kami. Bumili na ako at tinuhog ito ni Kuya sa stick. Sinawsaw ko muna ito sa sawsawan bago umalis at nagsimulang kumain.
Kumakain ako habang naglalakad kami pabalik ng classroom. Tahimik akong kumakain at pati na rin si Dave na nasa gilid ko. Naubos ko rin ang kinakain ko bago pa man kami nakaabot sa classroom.
"Grabe ka, Jenim."
"Kung hindi ka lang sana torpe, kasama na sana natin 'yong crush mo ngayon." sabi ko pa.
It's been a long time except kanina no'ng huli naming napag-usapan ang crush niya.
"Stop talking about her." he said.
He's always like this everytime I bring his crush up.
"What's stopping you? Is she taken?" tanong ko.
"Hindi ko alam." he said.
Oh.
"That's shit." I said.
Nakarating na kami sa classroom namin and we sat at our respective seats. Twenty minutes left before our afternoon period will start. Kaya pala kakaunti lang ang tao sa loob ng classroom. There are less than fifteen people inside the classroom.
I moved my seat closer to his', he's reading a book.
"Bakit hindi mo alam kung may kung may jowa na ba siya o wala?" pang-uusisa ko pa.
Hindi ko 'to tatantanan. Bahala na kung magalit siya sa akin. I never saw him being mad at me, I kind of want to see it. Grin.
"Minsan na lang kami nag-uusap." sabi niya.
"What?! So ibig sabihin, you used to have a lot of conversation with her before?"
"Parang gano'n na nga." sabi niya at nanatili pa rin ang mga mata sa libro na binabasa niya.
Me, I can't focus whenever I'm talking to someone. Unlike him, he can multitask.
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin? Dadaan sana ako at itutulak kita o di kaya'y pasimple ko kayong kunan ng litrato habang nag-uusap. Ang hina mo naman." sabi ko pa.
"For what, Jenim?" he asked.
"For you to have a close contact with her and have pictures together. Saya kaya no'n."
"I hugged her multiple times and we have a lot of pictures together." kalmadong saad niya.
Tangina.
Best friend ko ba talaga 'to? Bakit parang hindi ako updated sa mga nangyayari sa kanya? Alam kong hindi siya nag-o-open up ng mga bagay-bagay pero alam kung he won't deprive me from these kind of chikas.
Nagtatampo na ako sa lalaking 'to.
"Ewan ko sa'yo, Dave. Why can't you just say her name directly straight to my face." I said.
He dropped his book and faced me.
"How can I say your name directly straight to your face?"
^_^
