Drop in the Ocean (Upper East Side Three)

Chapter Twenty

20 - Explode

Winnova told us that she's hosting a party three days later. But I can't go since Mom and Dad will go home together with Lolo.

"You need to go to the party. It will be fun! Go with us, please?"

"I can't... Hindi ako pwede." Sagot ko kay Kenza.

"Please..." Ani ni Winnova. I shook my head.

Sumimangot naman siya. "Okay... Pero maganda sana kung nandoon ka."

"I'll go with you next time."

"Lagi na lang ganyan, Kaela... Nagtatampo na ako sa'yo." Si Winnova.

"Promise... I'll go with you the next time. Hindi muna ngayon."

"Sige na nga. Hindi ka naman namin matitis eh. Basta next time na talaga ha."

"Yes. Yes. Next time na talaga." I answered them.

The next day, I was early to go to school. Maaga kasi akong nakatulog kagabi dahil na rin natulugan ko ang pag-uusap namin ni Reizo.

As soon as I woke up earlier, I said my sorry. Hindi ko na nahintay ang reply niya dahil anong oras na rin 'yon at baka nagtatrabaho na sila o ano.

"Kaela."

I was walking on the hallway when a familiar voice called me from the back. Napabaling ako sa likod at nakita ko roon si Spiro na parang nagmamadali pa na hinabol ako. I looked down and saw a paper bag that he's holding.

"Spiro..." I uttered. Tinaas niya ang hawak at pinakita sa akin.

"I'm not harming anything and still maintaining my space. Please, just get it." He offered it in front of me.

I looked at him. May nakita akong anino sa likod niya kaso namalikmata lang ata ako dahil nawala rin naman. I looked at Spiro, who's waiting for my answer.

I accepted the paper bag and heard him sigh in relief. "I'll give it to her, then. But, Spiro, you need to maintain the space and distance yourself as of now. You need to wait."

Tumalikod na siya pagkatapos noon. Saglit pa akong tumigil doon bago napagpasyahang pumasok na classroom.

Minutes later, I saw Winnova and Kenza talking. Si Ceres ay wala pa.

Nakita ko ang pagbaba ng tingin nila sa paper bag sa tabi ko. I got nervous at that moment, but I sighed in relief when they looked at me and smiled.

Lumapit sila sa akin at umupo na. Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating si Ceres. I saw her towards us and caress the paper bag unconsciously before sitting down.

"I'll talk to Novel this evening. I'll ask him who's the girl he's referring to his teammates." Sabi ni Kenza sa amin.

"Teammates? Paano mo nalaman 'yan?"

"Gianna, my cousin, told me. Maxen is Novel and Spiro's teammate, and he told Gianna about the girl Novel likes but Novel refused to tell them who she is."

"Ano bang sabi ni Novel sa kanila?"

"That she likes to be with the girl. He looks forward every time she's meeting her. Sabi pa niya matagal na niyang gusto ang babae pero hindi niya masabi-sabi."

"Baka ikaw 'yon..." Ceres answered.

"That's what I am thinking. And later after Novel's training, I'll wait for him and ask him about it. Ayoko na ring patagalin baka nahihiya lang ding sabihin ni Novel sa akin."

"You can try asking him, Kenza. If that's fine with you." I smiled at her. She nodded.

"Yes, it's fine for me to do the first move. Wala namang kasing mangyayari kung hindi rin ako gagalaw at siya walang balak sabihin sa akin na gusto niya ako." We laughed at her answer.