Jalen’s POV
Nakikita ko ngayon mula sa lugar ko si Ace pero hindi ko pa sinasabi kay Melow. May binabalak kasi ako.
“Hinaan mo naman yung boses mo Jalen nakakahiya tuloy baka isipin ng mga tao PG ako.”-Melow
“Mataba ka naman talaga Melow, tignan mo yang tyan mo three layers.”
Mas nilakasan ko yung pagsabi ng pangalan nya. Hinayaan ko lang syang sumimangot ng todo. Pasimpleng tumingin ako kay Ace na madilim na ang mukhang papalapit samin.
Mabilis na tinawag ko si Melow, sakto lang para marinig nya.
“Mapapaaga ang operation. Be ready.”
“What are-“
Hindi ko na sya pinatapos magsalita. Umalis na ko sa kabilang parte ng seesaw at pumunta sa pwesto nya saka ko sya agad niyakap. Outside the kulambo ako kung nagkataong nandito si misis. But I know she’ll understand. At buti nalang din bago palang kami ditto kaya wala pang masyadong nakakakilala sakin.
“Papunta sa pwesto natin si Ace. Act as natural as you can, kailangang maging kapanipaniwala to.”
Ramdam ko yung biglang pagsingahap ni Melow kaya marahang hinaplos ko yung likod nya.
“Breath.”-me
Pinakinggan ko yung mga yabag na papunta samin at ng masiguro kong ilang hakbang nalang ang layo ay sinimulan ko na ang plano. Dumistansya ako ng konte kay Melow at hinawakan sya sa magkabilang balikat. Nagtatanong yung mga mata nya pero inignora ko nalang yon.
“I was just kidding Melow. You know for yourself that you are sexy, na wala kang fats. And I would take a stand to prove to everyone that you are a goddess.”
Nakikita ko mula sa peripheral vision ko na huminto sa paglakad si Ace ilang hakbang mula sa kinaroroonan namin.
“You showed it to me a while ago and at that moment I was in awe of you.”
May halong pagkagulat yung expression ni Melow.
“Jalen-“
Hindi na natapos ni Melow yung sasabihi nya dahil hinila sya ni Ace. Agad lumapit sakin si Ace at tinulak ako pero dahil macho ako chill lang ang peg. Solid na solid ito men!
“You whatever fucking name you have get away from Melody-“Ace
“And if I won’t?”- I gave him a cold glare and as expected he’s taken aback.
“If I were you little boy, I will go home and leave me and my girl. Alone.” My wife used to tell me that I look so daunting when I’m wearing that cold glare. And now, I proved it myself that she’s right.
Gusto kong panatilihin yung expression ko but Melow makes it hard for me seeing her trying her very best to stifle her laughter. My face suddenly soften, she’s so dear to me though we still don’t have lots of moment to count. She’s like my sister. I felt like crying again when I remembered her sufferings.
Melow gave me a concern look. I tried to smile at her before gave Ace a sharp glare.
“She needs to go home. Her parents ask me to look for her.”
I can feel his unsteadiness… nervous? Scared? Anger? I’m not sure.
“Ace susunod na ko. Mag-uusap lang kami saglit ni Jalen.”
Lumapit sya sakin at kumapit sa braso ko. Hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang matalim na pagsulyap ni Ace sa kamay ni Melow na nakakapit sakin. It’s working!
“Hindi pa ba-whatever. Five minutes.”-Ace
Naglakad na sya palayo samin.
“It’s working Melow.” I gently pinch her nose that makes her giggle.
“You’re a genius!”-Melow
“I know.” And we both laugh. Tinulak ko na sya para puntahan si Ace. She mouthed thank you and I just smiled in response. This time.. I’ll do the right thing.
