Dulo.

7: Medication

1:30 nang nakita ko si Archer sa courts. I need to borrow his car keys dahil hindi pa pala naibababa ang mga dala kong board games.

He was with other volunteers playing basketball. The program for the afternoon involves playing. Madami din kaming hinandang laro, pero halos hindi ko na matandaan ano ang mga iyon dahil hindi ko pa nalalaro.

"Arch," Tawag ko. He then faced me. Unlike earlier, his expression is no longer sulking. He was rather looking relaxed and calm.

"Can I have your keys? Kailangan ko kasing–"

"Hala! Anong kiss 'yan, Lumi?" Napatigil naman ako sa sigaw na 'yun mula sa aking likuran.

Eliana!

Napuno naman ng hiyawan ang buong courts. Pati ang mga bata sa paligid ay nakisali din. I swear, the horrors on my face cannot be denied!

"Ang lupet mo, Lumi! Lez go!" Hiyaw pa ng isang volunteer. Parang namumutla na ata ako sa kaba at hiya!

I gave Eliana an angry look, but she only laughed. Isabelle was just beside her with a playful expression. When will they ever take me seriously? Eliana's beginning to embarrass me!

I'm not even sure how to face Archer. How do I?! Nakakahiya!

"Ito naman, hindi mabiro," Sabi ni Eliana sabay pulupot ng kanyang braso sa braso ko. "Arch, susi mo daw!"

"Tulungan ko na–"

"Kami na sasama sa kanya para makapaglaro na kayo," Singit ni Isabelle. I breathed well. Thank God!

Archer gazed at me seriously. I just nodded agreeing to what Isabelle said, avoiding his strong stares.

He handed out his keys at agad ko naman itong tinanggap. Hindi pa ako nakapagthank-you ay kinaladkad na ako nina Eliana at Isabelle palayo.

"Girl, where were you the entire time?" Sabi naman ni Isabelle nang nakarating kami sa parking lot.

"I was just at the dining hall. Katatapos ko lang kumain, mga fifteen minutes ago," Matabang kong sagot, hindi pa rin nakakamove-on sa kahihiyang dulot ni Eliana. "Akala ko busy kayo kaya hindi ko na kayo hinanap pa."

I remain silent until we reached Archer's car. I even fumbled on the keys when the button to unlock the doors is clearly right in front of me.

Jeeeez.

"Talaga bang hindi mo gusto si Archer?" Biglang bato ni Eliana sa akin. Kung kanina ay tinatawanan niya lang ako, ngayon ay bigla siyang naging seryoso.

Why is everybody so concerned about that today? Leave me alone!

"Talaga bang hindi niyo ako titigilan?" Medyo naiirita na ako sa lahat ng nakikialam sa akin.

Alam kong sasabihin niyang bobo ako dahil hindi ko masagot ang tanong niya. I just don't want to say things I don't really mean.

What if I really don't? What if I really do? Either way, does it even matter?

"Sis, you tell us you don't, but I honestly think that's not the case," She replies with a little hint of sarcasm. "You're not dumb to realize that."

"Eliana, sumusobra ka na. Hayaan mo na," Wika ni Isabelle para awatin kami.

"I don't understand why this non-sense means so much to you guys. Gaano ba ka-importante ang sagot ko para kulitin niyo ako nang ganito? It literally has nothing to do with you!" Now I'm very frustrated. My tone has raised a little and it obviously shocked both.

"Okay, this is not about Archer anymore. This is about you being in denial of what you feel!" Eliana raises her tone too. "Sis, you keep holding back. Ano ka ba? Hindi naman illegal ang magkaroon ng damdamin."