Beneath Your Smile (The Old And The New Series #1)

Kabanata 33

Kabanata 33

I don't want to be a demanding girlfriend so I let Demetrio distance himself away from me.

Stares and gossip of my classmate are discernible for me kaya naglalagay na lang ako ng earphones at nakikinig ng record ng lesson namin sa subject na nahihirapan ako. Iyon ang naging pampalunod ko sa mga ingay ng mga kaklase.

I tried non stop texts and calls but he wouldn't answer. It happened the next day when unfortunate things happened and he didn't reply to any of my texts and calls.

Nag-reply lang siya sa akin no'ng kinagabihan. Sinasabi sa mensahe nito na magpahinga muna kami. Na lumayo muna sa isa't isa. Na mag-isip muna.

Pero hindi ako nakinig. I was a straightforward person and I never said that I'm not a hard headed one. I still tried to talk to him in class. Ending ay pinagtitinginan lang ako ng ibang kaklase at kung ano na ang nasa titig nila sa akin dahil sa ginagawa ko. Hindi ako kinakausap ni Demetrio kaya ang kinalabasan ng parating paglapit ko ay parang pinipilit ko ito. I was only making myself as my classmates' laughing stock and topic of their gossip.

So I stopped. I stopped for a while... Pero hindi ako titigil. I'll just let some day pass.

"You sure no girl went to him?" I asked Lucia. We were in the Study Park today for our lunch. Parati ko na itong kasabay dahil wala naman ako makasabay sa room namin.

She nodded her head tiredly. Ilang ulit ko na rin kasi naitanong sa kanya kung ano na ang nangyari kay Demetrio sa McDo.

He got back to his work, fortunately. Unfortunately, hindi ako makapunta roon dahil may problema at pinagaawayan kami.

Pinilit ko pa talaga sina Darko at Lucia na roon mag-aral. Darko didn't say anything 'cause I helped him with Lucia to agree to their dinner slash study date at McDo.

Lucia was my best friend and always will kaya hindi niya ako tinanggihan sa alok na maging spy ko kay Demetrio roon sa McDo.

"Really, Eanne. Wala ngang babae roon si Demetrio. If you count the women: old, teenagers, and babies, ordering there, then you decide whether to go there or not," pagod na sabi nito.

I pouted my lips. I just want to ask about him. Hindi ako makapunta dahil nahihiya ako. And he texted me to have space so he should be the one trailing me if he wanted us to be back to normal again.

I sighed. "I don't have any excuse to go there anymore. All I do is to take out pero hindi ko pa rin nakikita ang mukha niya. Should I talk to the manager and ask him if he can put Demetrio in the take out place?"

"Tanga. Sabihan mo na lang si Tobias na imbitahan si Demetrio sa birthday nito. I'm sure Demetrio won't refuse if Tobias is the one asking him..."

Oh, right! Lucia was right! Tobias' birthday is so near! Gano'n din ang kay Lucia pero magkaibang month sila ni Toby.

"Yeah, yours too! I can use the two events as a reason for why we should meet!"

"Tama! I'm turning eighteen this year. You're going to turn eighteen next year. Matagal pa kaya sa birthday ko na lang or sa birthday ka ni Tobias magtangka na kausapin siya. Don't let this pass, Eanne. Masyado na 'yang matagal ang away niyo. Huwag mong hayaang mamihasa 'yang si Demetrio! Ikulong mo na lang kaya para walang kawala?" She even put his hand to her jaw, like she was thinking something.

Umirap ako at tinampal ang kamay nito na nakahawak sa kanyang baba nang bigla itong sumubsob sa sementong lamesa.

Natatawa akong lumayo dahil mabilis niya akong inabot. Muntik na lang kasing kumiskis ang mukha nito sa semento kaya gano'n na lang ang inis nito sa akin.