Nights Like This

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

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"You were avoiding us!" sigaw ni Kaila nang lapitan ko sila pagkatapos ng meeting kasama ang mga kagrupo sa isang subject.

Nasa cafe kami at hindi ko alam kung sino ba ang nagsabi kay Kaila na nandito ako. One moment, I'm peacefully talking to my group mates. Then after a few minutes, I saw Kaila, Nora and Julian storming the cafe.

I managed to hide from my friends for three weeks at most. It wasn't particularly easy. Kinailangan kong pigilan ang sarili sa pagtingin sa cellphone at sa social media. I had to switch shifts in the coffee shop so they won't see me in case they come looking. And they did. Nagkwento sa akin ni Jao.

"I'm not even going to tell you how disappointed I was that you ditched the birthday party we prepared for you," sambit ni Nora.

I sat down on the chair beside her.

"No need. I can clearly see it on your face," I said.

"Iniiwasan mo kami. Bakit?" seryosong tanong ni Kaila.

"We went to your house. Three times, I think. Laging sinasabi na wala ka raw. Where were you?" Julian asked.

Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Where's Yael?" I asked, instead of answering them. Iniisip ko lang na dapat nandito rin siya kung ganito na kokomprontahin pala ako.

Nagkatinginan silang tatlo at alam ko agad na may tinatago sila sa akin.

"What is it? Sabihin n'yo na."

Nora looked away when I looked at her. Si Kaila, yumuko at umiwas din. Only Julian had the guts to make eye contact.

"You know he's into you, right? Ilang taon na," panimula ni Julian.

"Yup."

Yael never directly admitted it to me. Dinadaan niya lang sa kilos. Pero parang hindi na nga kailangan ng salita. Just the way he acts is enough to tell. I mean, he wouldn't give me a yacht if he just sees me as a friend, right? Lalo pa ang bahay at lupa na hindi ko pa nababanggit kahit kanino.

"He was going to officially ask you out on your birthday but you had other ideas in mind which ruined it for him."

"Totally. Sino ba 'yong lalaki sa Instagram mo? Selos na selos si Yael, Bob. Like, I'm not even kidding. He was on his way to get really mad," si Kaila.

"The kind of mad that we have never seen before," Nora said.

Oh... Was that the thing that I needed to explain to him? I don't think I should, though.

"Si Ethan ba 'yon? I remember Yael mentioning once that you've been hanging out with Ethan," sabi ni Julian.

Umiling ako. "Hindi siya 'yon."

"Who then?" Kaila probed.

"Rex Niccolo Uvero." I had to mention the full name because I'm sure they're not familiar with Rex Niccolo. E iba naman ang mundo ng isang 'yon at wala kaming common friends.

Nora gasped and Kaila's mouth fell open. Julian cursed and a smirk suddenly showed up on his face.

"What? You mean the architect? He was my crush before!" Nora exclaimed.

My forehead creased. "Crush mo 'yon? Hindi ko 'yan alam, ah?"

"Yeah! Remember when we watched UASA basketball finals last season? He was sitting near us and I had to ask around ano ang pangalan niya! I stalked him on social media during the game, Bob. Hindi mo ba naaalala?"