Bay of Strangers (Manila Girls #2)

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Happy

"Good afternoon!"

Napasapo ako sa dibdib dahil sa gulat sa pagkakabati ni River. Takha ko siyang tinignan. Inayos niya ang buhok at ngumisi sa akin. Pinagmasdan ko siya sandali, naaalala ang mga iniisip ko kagabi at buong magdamag.

"Nag lunch ka na?" Tanong niya pa habang sinusundan ako papasok ng classroom.

Kita ko na agad ang mga tingin ng kaklase namin. Halos hindi ko na masabayan ang mga bulungan nila nang makitang nakasunod sa akin si River. Hindi pa rin talaga sila nasasanay.

"Oo..." Sagot ko kay River.

"What did you eat for lunch?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Nagtataka na talaga.

"I had cheesy scallops and buttered shrimp,"

"Wow, sarap ah..."

I looked at him again, this time my brows are shot up and my lips are in a grim line. I know we're friends and we wanted to be closer but I really find this so odd and unusual.

Why is he acting like this way? I mean... I could get the wrong idea... He should be careful, but I remembered that he's probably this way even back home. He knows he has irresistible charm. He knows how his long, silky hair could tangle the hearts of many. He knows that his smile cam weaken a girl's heart and he knows that his eyes and his lips... and his air could cause trouble and he doesn't mind.

"Lei," Maven called, stopping me from praising and fantasizing about River.

I shook my head and looked away.

"Yes, Maven?"

"Pa check nga ng assignment ko. Si Vanna kasi wala pa eh."

Tumango ako at dumiretso sa kanya, hindi na pinansin at nilagpasan na lang si River. Rinig ko ang pagtikhim niya pero sumunod pa rin sa akin.

Ramdam ko... At kita ko naman ang tingin ni Maven at ng mga kaklase namin.

"Akin na," Nilahad ko ang kamay ko. Maven nodded and licked the raw flesh of his bottom lip. He smiled and pouted.

"Sana walang mali,"

Binuklat ko ang notebook ni Maven at umupo sa upuan niya habang tinitignan ang sagot niya. Rinig ko ang pag-uusap ni Maven at River tungkol sa ibang subjects. Nanatili akong nakayuko kahit na medyo hindi ko maintindihan ang mga sagot ni Maven dahil nakikinig ako sa usapan nila.

I can't seem to focus!

It's so unfair! I badly want to help Maven and check if he got anything wrong but my mind's so occupied by River and his words, and his presence! The worse part is—I know I couldn't escape it, not because I can't... but because I don't want to.

"You know, Lei did my assignment,"

"Really?" I can hear Maven's bitter tone.

I bit my lower lip and tried not to look at them. Maven knows that it's the first time thag I did something like that... And for a boy! Goodness gracious—for a boy! For River Osvaldo Gaisano!

At bakit naman kasi sinabi pa ni River?

Malamig ang pakikitungo ni Maven sa akin buong araw. Kahit noong break at vacant namin, simpleng tango lang ang binigay niya sa akin. I doubt that he told Vanna or any of our close friend though. Hindi na rin naman napansin ni Vanna at Kodiak dahil abala rin sila sa pag fa finalize ng mga applications nila para sa College.

Inayos ko ang buhok ko at naghilamos. Kakatapos ko lang sumuka kaya medyo nadudungisan ako sa sarili. Hinubad ko ang coat ko at nilagay iyon sa aking braso saka lumabas ng CR.