Eighteen

Chapter 20

"What happened?" Cath asked. I casted her a questioning look.

"With what?"

"You and Kuya" – Her lips pulled closer to my ear – "Anais."

She pulled away, and acted suspiciously. She stood there with her hands behind her back like she was hiding something.

Nothing, honestly. But if I were to be sympathetic with other people's feelings, maybe my sudden disappearance had caused a rift between Anais and I. Balak ko naman siyang kausapin para maibalik ko ang coat niya. I never meant to offend him or make him feel that I had been the least grateful for what he had done for me at the club weeks ago.

"We are okay. What gives?" tanong ko naman.

"Well, he's had that long face since kanina pa. I mean, 'di naman talaga so sad, but would you look at him." She swiped an eye to her brother who sat on the picnic blanket, alone and sipping on his C2. No Mogu Mogu this time?

"It does not mean I am the cause," I pointed out.

"Unless you are. Let me tell you lang ha, what happened kahapon." We promenaded across the hill as she started to tell her tale. "When I was going to meet you kahapon, I bumped into him kasi. Then he asked me kaagad who's the guy that I would be seeing – you know, jokingly. And then, I said sa kanya na I was going to see you. You wouldn't believe this! He made a face of . . . hmm—Yes! Sawi! You know the sawi face? He took so long pa nga to say something, e. Basta, I cut him off when he was about to make a word, and then I dashed away kasi male-late na ako sa meet-up natin."

She shrugged at the end of her story. I was not sure how to take this in. For a while until now, they had kept on pairing me with Anais. Cath's an honest person, but I was afraid I was being baited. Pero hindi rin ako sigurado kung kalohokan lang din ba ito dahil hindi kami nagkausap ni Anais nang mahigit dalawang linggo. I had vanished like a ghost on him, and I felt bad about it.

I peered at Anais surreptitiously. Prince was approaching him now with grass in his hand like he was going to show it to Anais. What was so mysterious about a clump of cut grass? Parang magpapakain siya ng kambing.

"But you said nga, walang nangyari. Right?" Mayroon, but I could not tell her that.

Sun was starting to tuck itself in the horizon, and Aliana had called us for a Q&A. There was never a dull moment with her. She was bubbly and had a lot to share about her life. However, she was not in any sense pompous.

She shared her experiences, and her passion and enthusiasm were palpable in the air. That was what made her even a beautiful person. Para rin siyang ate na nakikipag-usap sa mga kapatid niya sa paraan ng pakikipagtalastasan niya sa amin.

I had seen foreigners before, and I had always admired their features that was distinct from my local – I held the same praise for Aliana. Nasabi ko na lang sa sarili ko na ang taas ng pamamtayan ni Dominic pagdating sa mga babae.

"Say that again, the three of you have never been into a relationship before?" she asked, surprise in her voice.

Tumango si Catherine at pinadaan ang hintuturo sa gawi ng mga kapatid niya.

"They're too strict with me. Even si Prince when I'm older than him; he keeps lessoning me about boys." Cath rolled her eyes. I saw how Anais snatched a glance at his sister. Practically, I had been watching Anais since earlier, careful not to get caught.

Maybe this was weird, but I was trying to see if he was okay or not. At any rate, I was ready to talk with him about why I had suddenly disappeared, but why did it feel like there was not one nice timing throughout the passing time.