Pagtingin

Jema looked at her in disbelief.

Jema: seryoso ka?

She pulled Deanna to the entrance.

Jema: maya na tayo mag usap, gutom na ko. And di makaka start pag di pumasok ang MVP.

They were instantly separated inside, Jema with her swimming team and Deanna with her basketball team. Magkaiba sila ng table, and it was impossible to take Jema from her group without the attention of the whole school.

Pongs: Bebs, anong feeling na ikaw ang reyna ng MVP?

Nudging Jema playfully and smiling.

Jema: anong reyna ka diyan, we are just friends
Jia: ay ang showbiz na ng sagot ha. Wag ka nga, buong campus kaya alam na kayo na ni Deanna
Jema: anong kami na, seryoso magkaibigan lang kami
Pongs: ay ang manhid mo girl. Maka tingin sa yo si Deanna parang matutunaw ka kaya. Di mo pansin yun? Di pa ba siya umaamin sa yo? Ga-graduate na kaya tayo.

Jema's expression became thoughtful, recalling a while ago.

Jia: ikaw ba Jema wala ka bang nararamdaman sa best friend mo?
Pongs: kung wala, akin na lang siya ha?
Jia: ay pumila ka girl. Mahaba ang pila, sa dulo ka pumunta
Jema: mga sira talaga kayo. Sandali nga lang, may pupuntahan lang ako

At Deanna's table, seryosong nag-uusap ang tatlo

Bea: di mo pa inamin bro?
Deanna: balak ko na nga sanang sabihin kanina kaso...
Tots: naduwag ka naman?
Deanna: hindi sa ganun.

She sighed with frustration.

Deanna: di ko lang talaga alam pano sasabihin kay Jema
Jema: sabihin ang alin?

Napalingon ang tatlo sa kanya

Tots: uy Jema, andito ka pala

Jema looked at the trio with curiousity.

Deanna: Jema, usap muna tayo sa labas.

Outside, Deanna took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts as they walked to a bench.

Jema: what's wrong bes?

Deanna's eyes clouded at the term.

Deanna: Jems, can you... not meet up with that Gino?
Jema: why not?
Deanna: basta lang
Jema: anong basta lang? You have to give me a least a reason why i shouldn't, di ba?
Deanna: i don't think magugustuhan mo kasi siya
Jema: why, do you know him?

Deanna hesitated for a moment, then took her hand.

Deanna: Jems, may aaminin kasi ako sa'yo

Jema thought, "OMG, ito na yata yung sabi ni Pongs!"

Deanna: Jems, I'm really sorry.

"Wait, what?"

Deanna continued.

Deanna: i'm sorry that it took me this long to admit this. Una kasi for fun lang talaga Jems, di ko naman sinasadya na magtatagal ng 6 months yung pag prank ko sa yo. I wanted to stop, pero di ko alam bakit pinagpatuloy ko ng ganun katagal. I didn't really mean to lie to you Jems.

It felt as if Jema's world tilted as she listened and comprehend what Deanna is trying to say, but she don't want to believe it. She hates to believe it.

Deanna: Jems, ako si Gino na nagtetext sa yo. Hindi ko naman kasi alam pano huminto. Pero di ko mapigilan Jems, matagal na kong may gusto sa yo. Hindi as Gino, as ako, as Deanna. Hindi ko lang maamin kasi takot akong mawala ang best friend ko. Pero Jems, i like you, more than a friend. I really like you.

Deanna watched the emotion played in Jema's eyes: the confusion, the realization, turning into disbelief and finally settling to the last thing she want to see in her bestfriend's eyes, hurt.

Jema: for months, niloloko mo lang pala ako? Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo! So ano to, masaya kang ginawa mo kong tanga?
Deanna: it's not that, Jema
Jema: then what? Anong reason? Trip mo? Ganun?
Deanna: Jems....

The sting of Jema's slap on her cheeks was well deserved. Jema's voice broke, as tears started falling.

Jema: i don't want to see you ever again. Ayokong kausapin mo ko. Don't come near me or be anywhere near me. I hate you!

And nothing compared to the pain of emptiness her heart felt as she watched Jema's retreating back, slowly getting blurry as her own tears begin to fall.