Sailing Close to the Wind

SCW 34

"Hindi ba pwedeng hindi na ako pumunta?"

"Huh? Why?" Kala asked with brows furrowed while she was trying to wear her hoop earrings.

I licked my lower lip. "I still have an upcoming demo presentation. I need to prepare for that."

Well, that's true, but I just really don't want to see Gahala there.

"Baka magtampo sa 'yo si Louisa! Buntis pa naman 'yon. Hindi biro ang mood swings ng mga buntis, ha! Magpakita ka lang ng mabilis tapos alis ka na lang kaagad!" she suggested.

I sighed because I felt so hopeless. Ayoko namang idamay si Louisa. I should really act civil towards Gahala because that's already in the past, pero isang kita ko pa lang kasi sa kaniya, dinadaga na ako. I feel so uncomfortable na gusto kong tumakbo palayo sa kaniya.

In the end, wala din akong nagawa kung hindi ang magbihis at sumama sa kanila. Sa labas pa lang palingon-lingon na ako kasi baka makasalubong ko ang taong pinakainiiwasan ko.

"Hey! Thank you for coming!"

"Pwede na ba kaming kumain do'n? Tutal tapos na kaming maggreet!" Tanong ni Dolly.

Louisa and Stex laughed. "Yeah, sure," the blooming pregnant woman answered.

Tiningnan ko lang ang mga kaibigan kong papalayo. Ngumiti ako nang balingan ako ni Louisa. I chuckled a little when she clung her arms to Stex's arm and brushed her face against his, showing that he's hers.

"Congratulations," I greeted genuinely.

"Salamat," kamot ulong sambit ni Stex habang nakangiti. He looked very happy.

"So when's the wedding? I'll make sure to mark my calendar."

"So when's the wedding? I'll make sure to mark my calendar."

"Well, we want it in a rush. She wanted us to get married before her stomach gets too big," Stex answered and told me the date. "Last week of December."

I nodded, "That's good."

"Kailangang madaliin kasi alam mo na! Baka makawala pa!" Louisa joked.

"Babe," reklamo ng isa, at napangiwi na lang ako nang sa harapan ko pa sila maglandian.

I suddenly felt jealous when Louisa laughed because Stex kissed her lovingly on the neck. She looked so happy with him. I wanted to feel that kind of happiness again.

"Am I late?"

I managed not to lose my smile when Gahala suddenly appeared from behind me. I could feel him towering over my height. Damn. I already knew he was going to be here, but it still made my heart jump in shock. It's a miracle he's not with his girlfriend, though.

"No! You're just in time!" Louisa giggled.

"Anong reaksiyon 'yan?" inis na tanong ni Stex kay Louisa na nagpatawa sa akin. "Tuwang-tuwa kang makita ang first crush mo?" pagsusuplado nito. "Lahat na lang kayo naging crush si Gahala," may sama ng loob na dugtong niya.

Louisa and I both laughed. Tangina, nasama ako sa mga naging crush si Gahala.

"Sorry bro, hindi ko sila masisi," yabang ng isa na hindi ko binalingan kahit ramdam kong tumayo siya sa gilid ko.

Bro? Close na sila? Wow. Ang daming nangyari sa 4 na buwan ng pagiging MIA ko.

"Tapos pareho naman kayong dalawa na naging crush si Amara," sama ni Louisa ng tingin sa kasintahan.

"Hindi mo din naman masisi si Amara," sagot ulit ni Gahala kaya napatingala ako sa kaniya. Tiningnan niya din ako, pero binaling ko kaagad ang aking mata sa iba.