Bay of Strangers (Manila Girls #2)

Kabanata 15

Kabanata 15

Motor Ride

"Uwian na!" My cousin's voice echoed across the room.

I immediately stood up. Si River sa aking gilid ay tinulungan agad akong ayusin ang mga libro, upuan, at ang mga nagamit naming art materials kanina habang tinuturuan ang mga incoming Grade 7 students.

Tumango si Fitcher sa akin at may sinenyas pero hindi ko naman maintindihan. He's obviously too enamored with the fact that one of our acquaintance confessed her love for him. Nakakuha na naman siya ng dahilan para landiin ito.

Nakita kong inakbayan niya iyong umamin sa kanya. God knows what he's going to do after! He'll only break the girl's heart! Kilalang-kilala ko siya. Hindi pa niya kayang mag seryoso at madali lang sa kanyang makuha ang mga babae, kahit na hindi wala siyang gawin. Girls always flock to him. He doesn't need fo lift a single finger to make the girls go crazy over him. Hindi rin siya naniniwala sa pag-ibig.

I once heard him say that love is for the weak, but I completely disagree. Ako, naniniwala ako na hindi kakayanin ng isang taong mag mahal kung mahina at duwag siya. Ang pag-ibig ay para lang sa mga matatapang na tao. Ito'y para sa mga taong handang masaktan, handang magpatawad, at handang magsakripisyo't magpalaya.

"Bakit kaya hindi na ako kinakausap ni River?" Krizelle asked. Tumabi siya sa akin habang sinusubukan kong ayusin ang mga upuan.

Sabay naming sinulyapan si River na abala sa pakikipag-usap sa ilang mga batang babae. He looks like a mature older brother. He looks serious as he talked to the kids—it's as if you wouldn't find any trace of the dangerous, womanizing wolf kind of River.

"I added him sa Facebook, but..." Napailing si Krizelle. "Do you think he hates me?"

"Why would he hate you?"

"H-hindi niya ako ina-accept..."

"Kailan mo in-add?"

"Noong una ko siyang nakita."

"He has a girlfriend at that time..." Sagot ko na lang kahit na alam kong marahil ako ang dahilan kung bakit hindi niya ina-accept si Krizelle.

River told me he won't pursue Krizelle. At first, I was hesitant to believe him. How could he possibly care for the people I care for? Ano ba kami, di ba? Wala naman. Magkaibigan lang. But he's true to his words. He didn't even entertained Krizelle.

I told Krizelle to get over it. Hindi magandang mag-aksaya ng oras at panahon sa isang sitwasyon na walang kasiguraduhan. Sana lang ay pakinggan niya ako.

It is already past 5 in the afternoon. The burning embers in front of us look like a scenery from a painting. The clouds are already kissing the sun—shadowing its powerful orange hues, making it dimmer and darker.

I fixed my hair, as well as my dress. Its slight creases annoyed me, so I tried to smoothen it with my fingers. Krizelle tried to help me and chuckled because she thought that I'm probably so OC.

I stood in silence as I watch Krizelle.

"Lei,"

Naramdaman ko ang paglapit ni River sa amin. Sabay kaming napalingon ni Krizelle kay River. Mabilis na inayos ni Krizelle ang tayo at nahihiyang tinignan ang kaibigan ko. Itong si River, seryoso at ni hindi man lang tinapunan ng tingin si Krizelle.

"Kodiak's here, Lei..." Tango ni River.

"Ah, thanks..."

"Tara na... Para makaalis na tayo."

I nodded—still completely awkward with the silence between them. Ramdam ko ang pagkadismaya ni Krizelle pagkaalis ni River. Ngumuso ako at tinignan siya. Inabala na lang niya ang sarili sa pagtawag sa driver nila.