For All That It Takes

CHAPTER 19

"Hoy, Pai!" malakas na sigaw ko sa tainga niya.

Kanina pa 'yan, eh. Kain nang kain na parang gutom! Mayaman namam siya pati ang boyfriend niya, pero parati siyang ganyan kung makakain. She has no class at all. Zero in elegance.

Napapapilig na lamang ako ng aking ulo habang nakangiwing nakatitig sa kaibigan ko.

"Ano ka ba naman, Inessa Haier Mcallen?! Kita mo naman na kaharap ko kaligayahan ko, eh!" Angal niyang ikinatawa ko.

Tinignan niya ako gamit ang nangliliit niyang mga mata. I just stuck my tongue out to piss her. Pai rolled her eyes at me while having a big bite from the cheese burger she's eating. Takaw talaga...

"I bet when your boyfriend saw you eating like that, he'll have a second thought why did he like you," I was nodding my head as I took a peak at her.

Nakita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko na animo'y mag-usok ang ilong niya.

"Aba't talagang—hinahamon mo na ako, Haier? Ha?!"

Walanghiya, natatawa ako sa kanya. Promise.

"Aba't talagang—hinahamon mo na ako, Haier? Ha?!" I mimicked her words.

Akmang hahampasin niya ako nang maalala niya marahil na burger pa ang hawak niya.

"Nako ka! Pasalamat ka lang pagkain pa 'tong hawak ko dahil kung hindi..." She gritted her teeth.

Tinawanan ko lang ulit si Pai.

"Kaya ka tumataba niyan, eh. Kain ka kase ng kain," komento ko habang nakatingin sa kanya.

She's not really that fat. Sadyang malaman lang talaga siya. I was just saying it so that she'll at least maintain the foods she eats. Mukhang babaero pa naman ang boyfriend niyang parang gurang ang kulay ng buhok.

Uminom ako sa juice ko. I was sipping from it as I roamed my eyes around the cafe. Hapon na naman kaya nagdadagsaan na ang mga tao. Couples occupied the place mostly.

"Psh, how sweet..." sarkastikong bulong ko.

It has been weeks since Harold and I had our last talked. Hindi na niya ako tinawagan pa ulit sa sumunod na araw. But I only received a text message coming from his number saying he will be going back to State.

It's not that I am disappointed that he's going back there. Ang sa akin lang ay bakit naman parang biglaan? He didn't even bothered to tell me about it.

"Haier?" I looked back at Pai when I heard her called me.

"Bakit?" I asked.

She pointed my juice using her pouting lips. Umangat ang kanang kilay ko senyalis na nagtatanong ako.

"You've never liked drinking strawberry banana flavor," she said.

Napatingin naman ako sa inumin na nasa lamesa namin. It's true. I've never liked drinking with strawberry banana flavored drinks. Ayaw ko kase sa amoy no'n dahil sobrang tamis. I prefer orange and lemon juice rather than those.

Nagkibit balikat lamang ako.

"Gusto ko bigla ang amoy, eh. Ang sarap sa ilong," ani ko na nagpakunot ng noo niya.

"Isa pa, you're glowing..." si Pai.

"Palagi naman akong glowing, Pai, kaya bakit naman parang takang-taka ka?" kuryusong tanong ko.

She shrugged her shoulder. Ginaya lang ako, ah.

"Ano lang... I just don't want to think that your taste bud is changing because you're pregnant," aniyang nagpatigil sa akin.