Serendipity (Dauntless Series #3)

Chapter 32

I woke up early on the morning of the Pride March to avoid huddling with the crowd. Manilka and I will meet both of our group of friends at the Marikina Sports Complex. Sabi niya ay kilala niya ang ilan sa mga kaibigan ko kaya hindi na ako mahihirapang mag-isip kung paano sila magkakasundo-sundo. Gwyneth and her family will be there as well. Verona wanted to attend but Tyree got a high fever this morning. Gusto ko sanang dalawin sila bago ako pumunta sa Pride March ngunit sabi ni Verona ay ayos lang daw kahit huwag na. Feeling ko tuloy napakasama kong ninang.

"Do you still feel bad for your godson?" tanong ni Manilka habang nagdadrive sa tabi ko. Tumango ako. "Then we should visit them after the march."

"Ayos lang?"

"Oo naman! I also have a soft spot for kids, that's why." 

Napangiti ako. I know that when the time comes, they're gonna be a great parent. They are a good person and they would do anything for the person that they care about. I just wish that I'll be able to witness it with them. If they'll let me. 

Tinext ko ang kaibigan kong si CJ na malapit na kami sa sports complex. Sabi niya ay naroon na silang lahat, kami na lang ni Manilka ang hinihintay. Kasama na nila si Brianna. I gave Manilka a quick glance when I read CJ's last text. They caught it and gave me a confused look. I smiled.

"Brianna's already there." nangingiti kong sinabi. Bumuntong hininga siya. They're finding a good spot to park. I stared at them while they manuever the steering wheel to parallel park. It didn't even took them 5 minutes. Samantalang ako ay halos hindi na makaalis sa parking lot sa tuwing nagpapark. Life is so unfair.

I slid my hand against them after going outside the car. They stopped for a moment to look at our intertwined hands but then smiled afterwards. Dumadami na ang mga tao kaya siksikan na sa daan. May ilan pang nakakilala sa akin kaya humihinto kami sa tuwing may nagpapapicture sa akin. My bodyguards were alert everytime somebody approaches me. I'm still afraid of strangers touching me but as the year passes by, I learned to control it. I had to. 

"Are you all right?" Manilka asked when we got out of the crowd. I nodded.

Bago kami nagtungo sa tent ay hinanap ko muna sina Gwyneth. Sabi niya ay nasa stadium sila nakapwesto kaya naman iginala ko ang aking mga mata para suyurin ang buong lugar. And then I heard somebody screaming my name. I recognized whose voice was that right away. Pumunta kami ni Manilka sa kinaroroonan nila Gwyneth. Sinalubong niya ako ng isang mahigpit na yakap. Nagbeso ako kina Tito Harper at Tito Bailey na naka-matching pride statement shirt that says, "I told you it wasn't a phase". I giggled at their cuteness. Kumaway naman ako kay Candy na nakaupo sa bleachers habang pinapanood iyong dalawang lesbian couple sa tabi niya. 

"This is Manilka. My..." nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. I don't know how should I address them. For me, they are not just a friend. But if I say "special friend", they're going to think that I'm making a decision without thinking logically. I smiled awkwardly. This is so hard. "...friend."

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Tito Bailey dahil sa sinabi ko. Nagkatinginan ang ng mag-asawa. They know that I saw them and they didn't even try to hide it from me. I laughed at the back of my mind. See? Even them don't believe in our friendship.

"Nice to meet you..." Manilka said as they offered their hand. Lumapit sa akin si Gwyneth at bumulong.

"Is that Saoirse's ex-boyfriend's sibling?"

Tumango ako. I fished my phone from my pocket when it started vibrating. It was from Brianna and CJ, asking if we're already here. Manilka found my eyes in the middle of talking with Tito Harper and Bailey. They knew we have to go. I waited until they're done saying goodbye.