Firm Tenacity (The Athletes #3) COMPLETED

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Swift

We had a group activity and Mooze let me go alone. Hindi lang mga kaklase namin ang aming mga kagrupo. Kaji from a different strand belongs to our group as well. We're going to make a miniature for the school's foundation day.

"Buti pinayagan ka? Nagseselos 'yon kay Kaji, 'di ba?" bulong sa akin ni Mina habang pinipinturahan namin ang mga popsicle sticks.

I bit my lip and sigh. "Hindi ko... na sinabi."

"Hindi mo sinabi na kasama natin siya?" gulat si Mina. "Sabagay, hindi pa naman kayo officially. Pero magseselos na naman 'yon..."

That's why I didn't say. Ayaw ko na mag selos siya at sumama dahil mag-iinuman sila ng mga pinsan niya ngayon. He barely meets his cousin because of me and I don't want to take this chance for him to have fun with them. Wala naman kaming gagawin na iba rito. We're here to do school stuff.

"Parang gusto ka pa naman ni Kaji. Pareho pa kayong japanese..."

Hindi na ako sumagot sa sinabi niya. I don't think it matters now. At ano naman kung pareho kami na japanese? Ang japanese ay para sa japanese lang ba?

We were busy for the next few hours. Nakahiwalay kami ng lamesa ni Mina dahil magkakaiba naman kami ng ginagawa. We're painting the popsicle sticks, the other members were already starting to build the miniature, some were cooking snacks, and some were planning what to do with our entry.

"Snacks..." Kaji sat beside me and put down the box of sushi. It looked delicious.

"Arigato," I whispered and got back to my duty since we have a lot of sticks to paint.

"You love sushis?" he asked in japanese language.

"Uh, I eat, but it's not my favorite," I said honestly without looking at him. I don't want to entertain him just like before anymore. I don't want to give him false hope or something.

"Aren't you busy, Kaji?" tanong ni Mina, at alam ko kung bakit n'ya 'yon tinanong.

I heard Kaji chuckle. Sa totoo, mabait naman si Kaji. He looks alright, too. But then I don't like him romantically, and I don't think I will in the future. I just really don't see him that way. Kung totoo man na gusto niya ako, then right now I'm already feeling bad. I just want us to be friends.

"I'm taking a break, Mina..." he said and I felt his eyes on me again. "Why don't you take a break, too, Norwyn?"

I shook my head and slightly smiled. "I'm fine, Kaji. I just ate earlier. But don't worry, I'll have a taste of that..."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Mina. She made a face and I almost laughed. Kaji didn't see it since someone called him. Nandito kasi kami sa resorts nila, sa roof deck. May nagdala pa ng griller kaya nagluluto sila kanina. They didn't know Kaji would sponsor the food.

Napilit n'ya kami na mag merienda ni Mina matapos ang isang oras.

"So... you and Mooze... are in a relationship?" he asked while the straw was in between his lips.

Nag-ingay ang mga kaklase namin na malapit lang sa amin. Ang iba kasi sa kanila ay suportado kaming dalawa ni Mooze...

Umiling lang ako. I didn't even smile so he would notice I don't like being the subject.

Tumango siya. "When will you go back to Japan? And when was the last time you visited?" he changed the topic, but then it's still personal.

"I don't have plans yet..." I smiled a bit and looked away to eat sushi.