Chapter 45
3 am and I was already awake. Kailangan ko pa kasing maghanda because our call time is 4 am. No one should be late or else, maiiwan. Ayoko namang maiwan so I hurried into preparing.
Gusto ko pa sanang kumain pero wala na akong time kaya nagtake out nalang ako ng pagkain. Gutom na ako kaya kumakain ako habang naglalakad- my tote bag on my right shoulder, the paper bag on my left hand. Kakasubo ko lang ng fries when I reached where we will assemble.
"Hope, huling-huli sa aktong pagsubo ng nakakatakam na fries!" Addie announced upon my arrival. I made a face at her but she just laughed. "Penge ako," she said, this time in a cute voice. Ako naman ang natawa kaya inabot ko na sa kaniya iyong natitira kong fries.
I looked around and we're almost complete. Iyong bus na sasakyan namin na lang ata ang hinihintay. And I saw Dr. Tan talking to Dr. del Fuerto. He must've felt someone's staring kaya napalingon siya sa may gawi ko. I didn't look away and his stare also lingered for a while. Pero hanggang tinginan lang talaga kami.
"Sasakyan na lang ba iyong hinihintay?" I asked Celeste who's on my right. When I looked at her, she was looking at me knowingly. And she suddenly smiled while shaking her head. "Bakit?"
"Wala," she said dismissively. "Yeah, 'yong sasakyan na lang hinihintay."
"And si Rico," singit ni Addie. "'Yong lalaking 'yon baka maiwan talaga."
The bus finally came kaya isa-isa na kaming sumakay. Medyo malaki iyong private bus kaya tig-iisang upuan halos lahat. Even Dr. Tan. If only I was shameless enough, I would've sat next to him. Pero aside sa nakakahiya, ayoko ring may mag-isip na naman ng masama. I don't want anyone calling me names this time. I just can't afford for the same thing to happen.
So I sat a few seats away from him sa kabilang aisle. I could still see him from here. I just contented myself with that.
Sa likod niya umupo si Addie, sa likod ni Addie naman ay si Celeste and I sat opposite to Celeste.
Saktong paalis iyong bus when Rico arrived. Patakbo siyang umakyat ng bus.
"Ayan! Late pa!" Addie commented when she saw Rico walking down the aisle of the bus. My eyes widened a bit when I saw him holding a guitar. "Kakanta ka?" Addie asked.
Rico just shrugged. He stopped beside me. "Pwede ako dito?" He asked.
I arched a brow at him. Marami pa namang bakante sa likod!
"Hoy, para-paraan!" Addie commented again. Ang ingay niya talaga!
"Sinabihan mo kasing dapat gumalaw na kasi baka maunahan," I heard Ralph said, who is seating opposite Addie.
"Wala na, nabulgar na ang lihim na pagtingin ni Rico kay Hope," natatawang sabi naman ni Jeremy na nasa likod ko. My mouth hanged open.
"You should just sit somewhere else, Ric," Celeste said with a teasing smile. I saw Rico scratched the back of his head and sat behind Celeste.
Umayos ako ng upo, still thinking about what they said.
Rico has a crush on me?
"Shet," narinig kong sabi ni Addie habang natatawa. "Mukhang makakatanggap ako ng batok mamaya," she added. "Just don't mind what I said, Hope."
I can't just not mind it!
Nilingon ko si Rico with a confused look.
Anong nagustuhan niya sa 'kin?!
But he looked away. Nahiya ata.
So I just sat straight. I heard Celeste chuckled kaya mabilis akong lumingon sa kanya.
