06
"Ano 'yan?" Krysan asked.
She was staring at the box I was carrying. I placed it on top of my desk before taking a seat next to her.
"Gift,"
"Para kanino? Sinong may birthday? Matagal pa birthday ko, ah?"
"You're assuming naman, Krysanthe. Baka naman it's for Arthfael kase it's his birthday today."
Nanlaki ang mata ni Krysan at napahawak pa sa bibig n'ya. "Weh?!"
"Hmm, Bryan told me na birthday ni Art today."
"Tapos bibigyan mo ng regalo?!" Krysanthe said in shock, and her eyes widened as she looked at me. "Close na kayo?! Kayo na?!"
"Magkaibigan kami, Krysan," sagot ko at naupo naman sa katabi kong upuan si Viri na nakangiti saakin.
Viri smiles and tells me that she knows that Arthfael is my friend. She doesn't usually ask about my personal life, and if she really knew something, she wouldn't blubber about it. She respected everyone's privacy.
"Weh?" She uttered exaggeratedly. "Kaibigan lang?"
Tiningnan ko si Krysan. "May iba pa ba dapat?"
Nagkibit-balikat si Krysan at t'yaka ngumiti. "Hindi ka n'ya nililigawan?"
I frowned at her question and immediately shook my head. "Why would he court me?"
"Because he likes you?"
I fell silent.
So they knew.
How did they know about that? Did Arthfael tell them or someone else did? Maybe Bryan? Does Bryan know that his best friend likes me?
"Kapag ba gusto mo 'yung isang tao, dapat ligawan?"
Krysanthe stiffened. "S'yempre naman 'no! Tingnan mo si Viri, no'ng umamin sa kanya si Bryan na gusto niya si Viri, niligawan agad."
"Kapag may gusto saakin ang isang tao, dapat ligawan n'ya agad ako?"
"Oo, kung seryoso talaga s'ya sa 'yo."
Hindi tumigil sa pangungulit saakin si Krysan. Nagpakuwento s'ya saakin kung paano daw umamin si Arthfael at kailan pa kami nag-uusap. I told them the truth, and they're just listening to me. Whatever happened, that's all I answered them.
After that, I noticed their smiles and teasing smirks. Wala si Arthfael nang umagang 'yon. Wala s'ya sa library nang pumunta ako doon kaninang umaga para magbasa.
Siguro ay may mahalaga s'yang inaasikaso.
At lunch, I still didn't see him. I ate lunch with Krysan and Viri in the cafeteria and returned to the classroom immediately after learning.
Monday class ended. I was holding the small box that I'm about to give to Arthfael for his birthday, but I still haven't seen him, kaya hindi ko pa naibibigay.
"Saan ka, Khal? May practice pa ang basketball varsity, 'e, sama ka saamin?" Tanong saakin ni Krysan habang nililigpit na ang gamit nila.
I licked my lips. I wanted to refuse, but Krysanthe looked at my gift to Arthfael. "Kailan mo ibibigay 'yan? Nandoon naman siguro sa court si Arthfael. Doon mo na ibigay?"
I looked at my phone. I was expecting a message from Arthfael, but nothing came. Hindi rin s'ya online kaya napapaisip ako kung tuloy pa ba kami ngayon.
Tumingin ulit ako kay Viri at Krysanthe bago marahang tumango. "Sige..."
Viri and Krysan giggled with each other before excitedly pulling me out of our classroom and immediately walking towards the basketball court area.
