Love and Crosses (DELREAL SERIES #1)

FIFTY TWO

ZACH

Quen will celebrate his birthday at their house, we are all invited. He even told me that Jam's invited, Celline's bestfriend. Does that mean, Celline will be there too?

“Invite mo na rin si Celline!” Gusto kong basagin ang bote sa noo ni Luke nang sabihin niya 'yon.

“Celline?” Quen asked, confused. I glanced at Brix and he was busy texting on his phone, walang pake sa'min.

“Yung babaeng natamaan mo ng bola! She's Jam's friend!” Luke glanced at me and smirked, as if saying that I should be proud at him. Stupid.

“Oh. I'll tell Jam.” Tumango si Quen at uminom sa baso niya. We're in a bar, hanging out.

“Hi, are you guys busy?” Two girls came.

“We're not! Come here, girls!” Napailing ako nang marinig si Luke. Bwisit talaga.

“I need to go.” Sabi ko at tumayo.

“What? You're so KJ! Ang aga pa!” Reklamo ni Luke.

“I also need to go. I still have something else to do.” Brix said.

“Ang KJ niyong dalawa.” Umismid si Luke habang nakaakbay na sa dalawang babae. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpaalam kay Quen.

Saturday came and it was Quen's birthday. I wasn't surprised when I saw Celline with her best friend. My forehead creased when I saw Luke and Quen talking to her, si Luke halatang walang matinong sinasabi. Umiling na lang ako at pumunta sa garden.

Inayos ko ang hammock nila Quen para madala si Celline rito. I... Just want to have an alone time with her, and maybe... We can talk. I go back to the living room to check Celline but I didn't see her. Pumunta ako sa pool at doon ko siya nakita. She was alone and looks like she's thinking deeply. I sighed as I realized that I badly want to know what's going on inside her mind. I want to know her inside thoughts, I want to know her perceptions in life, I want to know her beliefs, I want to know her deeply.

I felt kinda jealous when she mentioned her friend's name. Can't she just stay with me? Parang napapaso siya lagi kapag dumidikit ako sa kaniya. Naisipan kong dalhin na siya sa garden, nagpupumiglas pa siya pero wala namang nagawa. Not that she's trying hard though, parang nag-iinarte lang sa'kin.

Her eyes widened when she saw the set up, amusement is dancing in her eyes and that made me smile.

“A-ano 'to?” She asked.

“Nothing. It's not a date, okay? Ganito talaga ang ayos ng hammock nila Quen. Mukhang romantic.” I lied. I prepared this! I made an effort again, and I hope that she appreciate it this time.

“Bakit... Mo 'ko dinala rito?” She still looks so shocked and confused.

“I just want to talk to you.” I smiled a little.

“Ano naman ang pag-uusapan natin? We're not friends, Zach.” I chuckled. Of course, we're not!

“We can talk about anything, Celline. And yes, we're not friends. I don't want us to be friends,” I said and looked intently at her. “I want more than that.”

She looked dumbfounded when I said that. Nakatulala lang siya at bahagya pang nakaawang ang labi. I tried to look calm, but deep inside, my heart is racing so fast and I feel like I'll vomit in a second. This is my first time confessing to a girl and I don't know if I did it right.