Willing to You

CHAPTER EIGHT

[LAEL SHAWN]

Grade 12 – Senior High School (Part 2)

As I entered the cafeteria, a smile was immediately painted in my lips as I saw Tate on her seat, beaming back at me.

I chuckled softly when I heard her delighted squeal from the distance. I averted my eyes from her to see her company.

Sino na naman kaya ang nahila nito?

Tate is a very approachable and sweet person. Basta't sa tingin niya'y makasusundo niya ay nilalapitan niya kahit pa complete stranger ito. Some call her the 'Darling of the Crowd' although that title was also won by her in her last pageant but regardless of the trophy and sash, being the candy of crowds was her thing ever since.

And that is one of the things that I love about her.

Nang makalapit ako sa table kung saan naroon sila Tate ay naupo ako sa bakanteng upuan na katabi ng isang lalaki, na katapat naman ng upuan ni Tate.

Nang lingunin ko ang aking katabi, I recognized that it was Vilotimo- my classmate from JHS and my co-officer in the committee of our strand. Kaya naman tinanguan ko lamang ito at ganoon din ang ginawa nito.

I roamed my eyes on the other company from across the table bagama't ako ay nagulat kung sino ito, I stilled to keep my face in a neutral expression.

Tate suddenly break the silence, "Babe, this is Umika nga pala. She's my new friend. I believed, you know her? You came from the same school daw during Junior High School." tanong nito.

I know her very well. I thought.

Simpleng tango lamang ang iginawad ko sa tanong ni Tate. She asked if Vallesteros and I were friends but I briefly said no not even glancing for a reaction. Instead, I diverted the topic bago pa muling lumawak ang mga tanungan ni Tate.

"Nagstart na ba kayo kumain?" Tanong ko habang inilalapag sa lamesa ang lunch box na inihanda ko kanina para sa amin ni Tate.

Magiliw na umiling-iling si Tate, "I was waiting for you." Sabi nito.

Inihanda ko sa tapat ni Tate ang kaniyang mga pagkain, pinunasan ang fork at spoon at iniabot ito sa kaniya.

I suddenly became conscious of my action nang mapansing walang gumagalaw o nagsasalita sa table namin. Tiningnan ko ang mukha nila isa-isa nang may pagtataka.

Vilotimo projects a neutral expression but when I looked at Vallesteros she looked pained?

Why are you looking at me like that? tanong ko sa aking isip.

Agad kong iniiwas ang aking paningin at ibinaling ito kay Tate. She's smiling while looking at me and I couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Ang alaga mo naman pala." Umika suddenly spoke.

Tate giggled at her comment not sensing the sarcasm dripping on her tone.

I eyed her pointedly for a brief moment. She stared back at me not backing down.

"Ganyan talaga yang boyfriend ko, kunwari cold pero sweet naman. Kain na tayo!" Usal nit ate na dinugtungan nang hagikgik, ako naman ay ibinaling na lamang ang atensiyon sa pagkain.

We didn't eat in silence dahil na rin sa maraming komento at kwento ni Tate sa kanyang mga activities. I occasionally nods and shrugs at her stories. While the other two seatmates of ours were eerily quiet.

Nang makatapos kumain, Umika suddenly excused herself.

"Washroom lang." Sabi nito. Vilotimo insisted on accompanying her but she refused.