Sadyang Mapaglaro Ang Tadhana (Feeble Love #2)

Kabanata 4

Friends

"May something ba sainyo ni Mark?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong ni Jessa. Her cute bangs were slightly covering her eyes. Bakit niya naman kaya nasabi?

"Tingnan mo mamaya ha. Babaling yan sayo."

Napatingin tuloy ako sa banda ni Mark. Nasa kabilang banda siya nakaupo katabi ni Stephen. Nagulat ako nang bigla nga siyang tumingin sa akin. He smiled at me.

"Hay 'di ba! Palagi ko siyang tinitingnan pero tuwing titingin dito, sayo nakatingin. Life's unfair!" Jessa said as she pouted.

Mabilis napaawang ang bibig ko. May gusto ba siya kay Mark?

"Ano ka ba. We're just friends." Sambit ko pero umiling siya, hindi naniniwala sa sinasabi ko.

Since that day, I've been conscious of Mark. Alam ko naman that he likes me. And he knew also that I can't give him what he wants. Pero dahill doon, palagi ko nang napapansin ang mga kilos niya. Tuwing lalapit ang mga kaklase kong lalaki sa akin, bigla siyang tumatayo at inaakbayan ako. Palagi niya rin akong hinahatid sa condo. Hahayaan ko na lang muna siya sa ngayon.

I'm alone today while strolling. Sinadya ko talagang umalis agad sa room para hindi masundan ni Mark. Pupuntahan ko si Sophia sa department nila pero naliligaw na ata ako. Well, I'm not good at directions. Nadaanan ko na ang field pero iba naman ang building na napuntahan ko. It was the College of Law.

"Sophie!" gulat na sigaw dahil natatanaw ang kaibigan ngayon.

Pero ganun na lang ang gulat ko dahil hindi pala siya nag-iisa, kasama yung mga lalaki na pumunta sa condo niya. Sabay sabay pa silang tumungin sa akin. I remained on my foot from where I standing.  Sampung hakbang na lang naman pero ayokong lumapit kaya tinawagan ko na lang si Sophia.

I saw how she laugh when she picked up her phone.

"What are you doing?" Sambit niya tumatawa pa habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Sa susunod na lang ako sasabay. Bye!" Sambit ko at mabilis na tumalikod.

Hinabol niya pa ako pero hindi na ako lumingon. Ganoon rin sa mga sumunod na araw at linggo. Now, months already passed by. Whenever I see that guy... mabilis akong umiiwas. Ewan ko ba. Parang ako pa ang nahihiya sa ginawa nila. Basta. I don't want any interaction with him.

But then as I was scrolling my feed...

River Alfeir Salvarez sent you a friend request

Out of curiosity, I clicked his profile picture. It was him at the beach. It was a stolen shot. His jawline was perfectly defined. He was so serious in the photo.

5.1k likes and 2000 commented.

As I expected, he was famous. I browse his timeline but nothing interesting there. Halos shared post lang at kadalasan ay mga memes pa. I shrugged off. Nakaabot na akong 2017 at may nakitang mga pamilyar na mukha. That's when I realised I was stalking him!

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at isinara na lang ulit ang cellphone. Wala akong maggawa ngayon dahil naligpit ko na ang mga gamit ko na dadalhin sa bahay. It's Christmas break already. As we planned, we will be spending our holidays in America. Gusto ko sana ay sa Boracay na lang pero mapilit ang kapatid ko kaya napapayag niya agad si Daddy.

Speaking of... Dad calling

"Hello Dad." I said as I greet him. Matagal bago siya nagsalita ulit. Either he's in the school or firm.

"Where are you?" he asked on the other line.

Palabas na ako ng condo ngayon. Isang maleta ang dala ko at backpack. Sophia left early. Maaga siyang nagpaalam. Sabi niya ay uuwi siya sa probinsiya nila.

"Paalis na. But I'm going to buy food first."

I'm starving. I only drink tea for my breakfast. It's noon already and I did not eat my lunch yet. Paano ba naman hindi naman ako marunong magluto.

"You should eat something healthy. I'll see you later."

I said bye to my dad while waiting for the elavator to open. Kaonti lang naman ang laman nito pero bakit ang bigat pa rin?

"Hey. You didn't reply." 

Hindi ko namalayan na nakabukas na pala ang elevator at sakay noon si Mark. Kumunot ang noo ko. He was wearing his usual look. What is he doing here?

"And why are you here?" salubong ko.

Kinuha niya ang maletang hawak ko. Pati na rin ang backpack na suot. Sumunod na lang ako sa kanya habang hinayaan na may pinindot sa elevator.

"So, you didn't even read my text." he said in dismayed like I hurt his feelings.

Hindi ako nagsalita. Sa halip ay kinuha ko na lang ang phone ko at tiningnan ang text niya. There have 5 new messages from him.

From Mark:

Good morning Therese.

Your mom told my mom. You're going to America for vacation?

Hey.

Uuwi rin akong Parañaque. Sabay na tayo.

Therese?

Tumingin ako kay Mark na ngayon ay nakakunot-noo pa rin. Napaawang ang bibig ko. Well, I rarely read text, even chats. So.

"Okay, I'm sorry." I said and he faced me. Itinaas ko ang kilay ko. Ano bang problema nito?

He just shrugged off. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa hanggang sa makarating kaming parking lot. Hindi naman ako manhid para hindi maramdaman ang pinapakita ni Mark sa akin. We've been friends for years and I don't want to lose our friendship. I want to confront him about the thoughts that bother me. Kung pwede ay uulitin ko ulit sa kanya ang sinabi ko noon.

I hate that he got easily annoyed for no reason. He got the reason of course. Hindi ko lang maintindihan at makuha kung ano. He's being irrational.

He opened his car for me. Nasa tabi lang ang sasakyan ko pero hindi na ako nakipagtalo pa. Nauna na akong pumasok habang siya ay nilalagay ang maleta at bag ko sa likod.

"Did you eat already?" Kalaunan ay pumasok na rin siya. He opens the aircon for me.

"Yeah." Ani ko kahit ang totoo ay hindi pa naman talaga.

Hindi ko din alam kung bakit ako naiinis. Mark has been good to me. Sa school man sa bahay, kahit saan. But, the way he cares, his attention to me... I think it's too much.

Tahimik lang siyang nag drive at hinayaan ko na lang siya at hindi na lang pinansim. Instead, I grabbed my headset and play Taylor Swift new album 'folkore' on Spotify. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at hindi namalayan na nakatulog na pala.

Nagising ako na nasa loob na kami ng village. Nadaanan na namin ang bahay nila, nasa tabi lang iyon ng gate at guard cabin. Their mansion was the biggest here. Sila ang may-ari nito. Their family business was more in real estate and lands. He was the heir. Pero narinig ko na tinangihan niya iyon kaya ang kuya niya ngayon ang namamahala.

When we stopped, I immediately unfasten the seat belt. I was about to go out but he halted.

"Therese. Let's talk."

I drew a heavy sigh before I look at his face. His stares were desperate. He was about to grab my hand but I keep it out of his way. My forehead creases at his sudden move.

~~