Chapter 10
Weird things happened. Awkwardness is reigning. What has he done?
Three days. Three days had passed. He acts like nothing happened and I'm here, can't make his words sink into my system.
Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang mga 'yon. Hindi niya binawi at parang wala lang sa kanya. Pa'no niya ba nagawa 'yon. We are friends for over a year and with just a snap, he said I'm the girl he always talk about all this time.
He's standing outside.
I walked outside the classroom and stopped near his standpoint.
"You're always late. Madadamay na naman ako." Mazro said.
"Bakit pa palagi mo akong hinihintay? Friends ba tayo? Ha?" sabi ko sabay taas ng kilay sa kanya.
Kung maka-asta naman siya.
"Oh. I thought we are." mahinang sabi niya.
Ano?
Siya nga 'tong kung maka-asta parang kung sino siya. I thought he won't ruin the reputation of him as a man without friends. Now, he thought we are friends.
"Akala ko ayaw mo ng kaibigan." mahinang sabi ko rin.
This is turning into an awkward situation.
"Okay."
Okay? 'Yon lang ang sasabihin niya.
I know a way.
"Hi! I'm Jenim Essa." I said with a wide smile on my face.
He gave me a confused look. As expected.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Just go with the flow." I said.
He's still confused.
"Okay? I'm Mazro." naguguluhan niyang saad.
"Friends?" I asked and offered him a hand maintaining the smile on my face.
Without any word, he accepted my hand. I guess that's it. It's not always the action, sometimes words are needed.
This is how Dave and I became friends. I can still remember the day.
"Let's go." I said and we both left.
"Alam kong maraming gustong makipagkaibigan sa'yo. Why don't you give them a shot?" I asked while we are walking at the pathway.
"Hindi ko alam. I'm afraid of getting betrayed." he said.
I looked at him. He thinks I won't betray him?
"Ako? Iba ba ang tingin mo sa akin?" tanong ko.
"I don't even know the answer. Ang alam ko lang masaya kang kasama."
Oh God. What is happening?
"Trust me. Wala akong ibang kaibigan maliban kay Dave at sa'yo. Walang maski isa na gustong makipagkaibigan sa'kin maliban sa inyo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero, the void of sadness thinking about it was filled by Dave. Since we became friends, I never felt I'm not a friend material at all."
"Hindi nga dapat kita nilalapitan. I don't know why I'm doing the contrary of what I'm supposed to do." he said.
Bakit nga ba? Wala akong alam. I belong to a place where I don't have any idea of what is happening. Do I really belong here or I'm just trying hard to fit in?
"Bakit ba? Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nagawa ko. As far as I can remember, wala akong atraso na nagawa para iwasan ako."
"Just forget it, 'kay?"
Tumango ako sa kanya at nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad. As usual, kami na naman ang huling nakarating. I don't know if Ate Mizee doesn't have an issue on late comers or she just pretended she doesn't because I'm with her younger brother.
"Assemble, guys!" Ate Mizee said as we arrived. We are late for ten minutes.
I should be more time conscious next time. I should not let myself be comforted with the thought of Ate Mizee always tolerating me when I'm late.
Naghihintay muna kami ni Mazro sa side stage dahil wala pa 'yong time na papasok kami. Paminsan-minsan din kaming nagpa-practice.
"Bakit ba kailangan nating magkatuluyan? Isn't it weird when best of friends to become lovers?" I asked.
"Why? Do you have an issue about it?" he asked back.
"Hindi ba mas maganda na friends nalang sila? It will be better that way."
"Why do you care? It's just for the play."
Oo nga naman, kaso...
"Maz, Jen, ready!" Ate Mizee shouted.
I placed my script down so as Mazro. This scene will be the "saying yes" one. We will be at the hallways.
"Hey!" I called him.
"Bakit? May problema ba?" he asked.
I went nearer to him and stopped. I stared straight into his eyes and so is he.
"Closer guys!" Ate Mizee.
I took another step and I'm inches away from him.
"I just want you to mark this date as our day one of being officially together." I said and grinned.
Cringe!
He grabbed my waist and bowed down to place his forehead over mine.
Why is this included?!
"Cut! Nice one, take a break."
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag sa sinabi ni Ate Mizee.
Lumayo kami sa isa't-isa at bumalik sa side stage. I need to go off stage to have a drink. Nasa ibaba ang bag ko. I'm tired for some reason when in fact I really did nothing much. I don't know.
"You want to buy something to eat outside?" I startled when he showed up beside me.
"I'm not hungry and I'm also saving money." sagot ko.
"My treat." he said.
"Ba't si Jenim lang? Libre mo rin kami, Maz." biglang saad ng assistant director.
"Oo nga. Something's fishy, huh."
"Mizee, 'yong kapatid mo binata na."
Some members of the club are teasing us. This is making me insane.
"Jenim, someone's looking for you." Ate Mizee said that made them stop.
I walked towards the door of this social hall to find out who is it. It's him. Dave.
God...
"H-Hi! Anong ginagawa m-mo dito?" tanong ko.
Shit!
"Kakatapos lang ng meeting namin. I'm checking if you're done practicing so that we can go home together." he said.
"Hindi p-pa kami tapos, eh." I said and scratched my head.
Umayos ka, Jenim.
"It's fine. Antayin nalang kita dito sa labas." sabi pa niya.
"No thanks. Kaya ko naman umuwi mag-isa. Don't worry about me." I said and smiled at him.
Nahihiya akong pahintayin siya. I don't even know if I can walk home with him. I've been avoiding it to happen.
"Okay lang ako dito." sabi niya.
"Una ka na. Next time na lang siguro. Mazro's fine of walking me home."
^_^
