A Promise on the Sand (Isla de Negros Series #2)

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21
I want you

Ayla had her recess with Meredith in ICAfé inside the school. Hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang hindi niya maipaliwanag na pagkairita kay Sancho.

"Patawarin mo na siya, dzai. Gwapo naman siya, eh," ani Meredith habang ngumunguya.

She turned to her and gave her a narrow stare.

"Ang landi mo rin, 'no."

"Haha! Pero infairness, ganda mo, ah. Ang pogi nang nabingwit mo, dzai. Ilang months na ba kayo?" tanong pa nito at saka uminom ng tubig sa kanyang tumbler.

Pinaikutan niya ito ng mga mata at hindi na ito sinagot pa. Isusubo na sana niya ang sandwich ngunit nang makita si Sancho na papunta sa gawi nila ay awtomatiko niyang binagsak 'yon pabalik sa mesa.

"Ayla."

His voice was gentle and he was with no one. Kanina lang eh, ang dami nitong kasama. Pero ngayon ay mag-isa na lang ito. Did he already know she was mad about that? Masyado ba siyang halata?

"I lost my appetite," she muttered and held for her drink.

Wala sali-salita itong umupo sa tabi ni Meredith na kaharap niya kaya umusog naman ang dalaga.

"O, magbati na kayo. Kung hindi, sasakalin ko kayong dalawa hanggang sa mamatay kayo, hahahaha!"

Tila sabay pa silang kinilabutan sa sinabi ng kasama. Napailing na lamang siya at tamad na tiningnan si Sancho na nasa harap niya.

"I brought you some," anito at inilagay sa mesa sa kanyang harapan ang donut at ice cream.

She crossed her arms. "Akala mo madadala mo 'ko riyan? Patay gutom na ba talaga ang tingin mo sa 'kin? And I can afford to buy that for myself if I want to," sunod-sunod na sabi niya habang kinukunutan pa ito ng noo.

"And why are you here? Pinagsawaan ka na ba ng mga friends mo?" she said then chuckled sarcastically.

"Humiwalay na 'ko sa kanila. I want to be with you."

Napatitig siya sa mga mata nito. He smiled weakly and she suddenly looked away.

Sancho licked his lips and bit it.

"Okay, I'm sorry."

Inirapan niya lang ito at nanatiling tahimik.

"I'm sorry if I made you jealous."

Her jaw fell and turned to him. He was now grinning and obviously teasing.

"Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo! Jealous is different from-"

"Irritated, yes." He nodded with lips pursing. There was still a trace of teasing on his face.

Hindi siya makapaniwalang napabuga ng hangin. Aliw lamang na nakatingin si Meredith sa kanila habang unti-unti nang nilalantakan ang donut na binigay sa kanya ni Sancho.

"Pasensya ka na. I almost forgot that I'm the only friend you have here yet I am already meeting and joining my new ones."

Nanatili naman siyang hindi nakatingin dito. Napunto na naman nito ang rason na ikinagagalit niya. She felt guilty somehow. Para kasing tinatanggalan niya ito ng karapatang makipagkaibigan sa iba. Was she unfair? He was sitting with her together with her new 'friend', Meredith. Meanwhile, he didn't have a choice because she didn't want to.

"It's not that you can't be friends with anyone, you know," she said barely above a whisper. "It's just...the girls...their intentions-ugh," she said hesitating after every couple of words before releasing a frustrated grunt.