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

Kabanata 38

Kabanata 38

"What are you looking at?" takang tanong ko kay Lucia.

She just even sharpened her eyes at me and didn't say anything. I averted my gaze and looked at Darko. Nginuso ko ang girlfriend nito.

"May saltik na 'yan siguro," saad ko.

Tumawa naman ito at napa-iling. Tumawa rin nang bahagya ang katabi kong si Jesiah.

The plan that Lucia settled was pushed through. It was Saturday now at noong nakaraan pa ako na kinukulit ni Lucia na pumunta sa inorganisa nitong meet up namin.

Pagkatapos kasi ng pagdiwang namin sa pagkapasa ni Ely sa boards ay hindi na ulit ako nakaalis sa bahay. I can go out but I don't feel like going out. Kaya todo ang pagkairita ni Lucia sa akin dahil hindi namin natuloy-tuloy ang plano nito.

She would call and text me nonstop. Napapayag niya lang ako ngayon dahil wala na akong pinagkakaabalahan sa bahay.

"She's just too pissed because you always declined her plans," si Darko at sinuklay ang buhok ni Lucia.

Napataas ako ng isang kilay sa galaw nito.

I was oddly waiting for someone to do that to me also pero wala. Wala si Demetrio, eh. But if ever he's here, he will just mess my hair and afterwards fix it.

"May ginagawa nga kasi ako," akila ko at uminom sa juice ko.

"Akila." Lucia scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Ano ba ang ginagawa mo sa inyo? Chary told me that you're always in your room. Don't say that." Nanlaki ang mata nito at napasinghap.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "That?" udyok ko na ipagpatuloy nito ang sinabi.

"That you are still sad because you still missed him?!"

"Huh? Where did it come from?" Napatawa ako ng mapait.

There was no idea or memories from him that came into my mind the days I stayed in my room. I was just too indulged in making some furniture designs, that's why I can't meet them. I was sending my finished designs to an Italian brand and waiting for their email if they would approve it. That's my new and first found work when I stayed in Italy.

I got inspired by the art there. Kaya nakahiligan ko na rin kumuha ng pictures. Although I didn't update any of my social media accounts, mayroon pa rin akong stock sa cellphone ko ng magagandang tanawin at bagay.

"Lucia," banta ni Darko sa sinabi ng girlfriend nito.

I felt Jesiah tensed on my side. Tumingin sa kanya si Darko at mayroong pag-intindi sa mukha nito. I didn't even know that they get along. Darko isn't the type of guy who will talk to any guy at school. Ang alam kong tanging kinakausap nito ay ang mga kapatid ko at si Demetrio noon. Ni hindi ko nga alam paano sila nagkakilala ni Jesiah dahil parating iba ang section ni Jesiah sa kanya.

"Oh." She covered her mouth at para bang ngayon lang napansin ang sinabi.

At once, I shook my head. "It's okay with me. He doesn't have any effect on me anymore." It's a lie but I'm pretty sure that I can go a day without thinking about him for a few seconds. I breathed heavily. "I am slowly erasing him from my brain... not my heart though. Hindi ko kaya." Yumuko ako at pinaglaruan ang tirang pagkain sa plato.

The silence in our table was too audible. Umangat ako ng tingin at nginitian ang tatlo. I don't want them to be affected by my sudden change of mood. Baka saan pa mapang-abot itong plano ni Lucia.

I clapped my hands to gather their attention. "So, what are you all doing?" tanong ko at para maiba ang usapan.

Lucia and I constantly exchanging texts, calls, and video calls when I'm in Italy. Si Darko naman ay hindi nagme-message dahil kay Lucia nito dinadaan ang gustong sasabihin. Jesiah was also chatting with me on Instagram but I didn't reply 'cause I turned the notification to the said application. Nakikita ko lang ang message nito kapag napagpasyahan kong buksan ang app pero ni minsan, hindi ko talaga siya sinasagot. Tanging Messenger lang ang humihinga sa cellphone ko.