The Words Don't Reach (SIT Series #2)

Kabanata 5

Future

"'Wag ka ng magalit diyan, buds. Sa'yo pa rin uuwi 'yon." Siniko ni Ran ang tagiliran ko at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

"What do you mean by that?" Iritado kong tinapon ang stick ng barbecue at nilingon siya.

He grinned at me and raised his buko juice. "Ano sa tingin mo?" Nang-aasar ang tono niya kaya lumapit nalang ako sa nag-iihaw at nagpaluto pa ng iba.

Austin was silently eating his order. Kanina pa kami tinatanaw at sandaling maagaw ang atensyon dahil sa mga high school na naglalakad sa kalsada.

"Gulo mo kausap. 'Wag nga ako!" Ani ko.

Nilapitan ko si Manong na kanina pag nagpapaypay at paulit-ulit na binabaliktad ang mga barbecue. I crossed my arms and stared at my orders. Alam kong kalalagay lang nito pero mas gusto ko itong harapin kaysa kay Ran.

"Maya-maya pa ito, 'neng," The old man said and smiled at me. "Upo ka muna." He pointed at the green plastic chair at the back of his grilling area. Kanina pa kasi kaming nasa gilid niya kung saan hindi tumatama ang usok saamin.

Ngumiti lang ako sakanya at tinungo 'yon. Agad na nagsisunuran ang dalawang kasama ko. They sat on my side and continued pestering me.

"I'll visit your house, Austin," Putol ko sa pangungulit ni Ran saakin. "Tomorrow."

Nilingon ko ang lalaking pinagsabihin ko but he just shook his head in disbelief. "Saamin o kina Fourth?"

"Sainyo. Your house nga diba?"

Inagaw ko ang buko juice ni Ran at nilagok iyon. Mabilis kong hinagis sa basurahan ang plastic cup. Nang lingunin ko siya ay masama na ang tingin niya saakin pero nginitian ko lang siya. Bilang ganti, sinimangutan lang niya ako.

"Hm, why do I feel like your intention is not pure? Sure kang saamin?"

Hinampas ko ang balikat ni Austin na ikinagulat niya. His brows knitted in annoyance pero alam ko namang hindi ako sasapakin nito. Sasabunutan ko siya pabalik.

"Ang kulit? Sabi ko nga sainyo." Ulit ko sa binging ito.

"Why? Hindi kita type. Let me clear that out already." Tinagilid niya ang ulo at nagtatakang tumingin saakin.

"Tignan mo ang salamin bago ka mag-isip ng ganyan. Kilabutan ka nga! 'Di kita type. I'll visit your brother."

He scoffed at me. "Jeronimo? Sure, kunwari naniniwala ako."

I glared at him. Tumayo nalang ako para kuhanin ang order ko. Bumalik sa tabi ng dalawa para kumain muli. We just ate until the sky turned its color into darker hue.

Umuwi akong hindi natutuwa sa kahit anong makita sa loob ng bahay. The un arranged papers on the table made me so irritated that I fixed it up that results to cleaning every corner of our hime. My parents even asked me if I am not feeling well because of the sudden change but I told them that I am fine and I just feel like cleaning even though I am just pissed off today.

I thought friendship first? Why did he join that Lucidel instead of us? We're friends so it's normal to go with us. As far as I remember, he's not friends with that girl! I am his only girl friend! Then, he should've kept his promise to treat me this day but it suddenly changed because of her? Is that how he looks at our friendship, too light? That he can ditch me off abruptly?

I glared at my phone that is sitting on my study table, waiting him to call or send a message but I got so sleepy and when I woke up, wala pa rin siyang paramdam.

Kunot na kunot ang noo ko sa umagang ito. That Fourth didn't send anything! To apologize or what! To ask what I am doing like what he has always done since our parents gifted us phones! But now, just because he got a little close to that crybaby Lucy, he has forgotten his routine. Every night, he'll message me saying have a nice dream!