Missed Pages ✔︎

Chapter 2

BOTHERING

“It has been a busy week.” Liana let out a deep breath as she sits in a wooden stool and puts her bag on her lap. I sat beside her and hang my bag on my shoulder to keep it secured.

I nodded slowly, showing that I agree with her. “How have you been?” I started.

“Nakaka-stress mag-aral.” she frowned.

“Maybe itʼs because Iʼm not your classmate.” I stated.

She looked at me, doubting, “Mas nakaka-stress kapag kaklase kita.”

“No.” I chuckled. “Mas sisipagin kang mag-aral ʼpag magkasama tayo sa isang klase.”

“Shut up.” she then glares at me and suddenly stood up. I looked up to her. “Anyways, ako na ang o-order.”

“Alam mo na kung ano ʼyung io-order mo para sa akin.” paalala ko pa sa kaniya. Before she go to the counter, I handed her two-hundred pesos as my payment.

Sa tuwing magkasama kami sa café na ito, iisang flavor lang ng coffee ang binibili ko. Hindi na ako magtataka na alam niya na agad kung anong kukuning order para sa akin nang hindi ko sinasabi.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas nang bumalik siya.

Umupo siyang muli sa aking tabi at inabot sa akin ang iced coffee. “Thank you.” I told her.

“Nga pala may competition ulit next month ah. Anong plano niyo ng Aces?” iniba niya ang usapan.

“Pag-uusapan pa namin ng Aces kung sasali kami.” sagot ko. Nagbago ang pinta ng mukha niya na ipinagtaka ko naman. “Oh, bakit ganiyan ʼyung mukha mo?”

“Hindi kayo sasali?” she started pouting. That is the cutest thing Iʼve ever seen in my whole life.

I was quite confused with her reaction. “Pag-iisipan pa namin.” I repeated.

“Lagi naman kayong sure na sasali ah? Anong nangyari ngayon?” magkasunod na naman na tanong ang ibinigay niya sa akin. She really likes asking.

“Eh kasi siyempre, weʼre starting to get busy dahil malapit na ang finals.”

“Hmm... I hope sumali ulit kayo like what you always do.”

Dahil sa tinanong niya ako kung anong balak namin ng Aces sa kompetisyon na nalalapit, agad na napuno ng mga ideya ang isip ko. I think I can easily address to my friends about my thoughts and ideas for Halloween dance competition. Next monthʼs already November so I thought, we need to be quick about discussing our plans for the upcoming event.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas na kahit isa sa aming dalawa ay hindi umimik. So I decided to open up a new topic which both of us will be fine talking about. “Itʼs been a year, since you and Adrian both started dating.” I started.

“Yep.” she smiled. That was her only response.

I thought, I should add more to the conversation.

“I can see your relationship is better than ever.” I told. That was what Iʼve noticed for a long time. It became matured as time goes by.

Naalala ko ang mga salitang binitawan ni Adrian kanina. He was damn matured. He wasnʼt a toxic partner that Iʼve anticipated of. I mean, everytime Liana talks about how she liked him, it really gets in my nerves. He doesnʼt even want to show his appreciation for Lianaʼs efforts back then.

Well, noong mga panahon na iyon, madali kong matatanggap ang bagay na iyon. I mean, being unnoticed by your crush... Itʼs normal. Pero noong naging sila, hindi ko talaga matanggap. He was all about Crystal here and Crystal there. Grabe ʼyung galit ko noon sa kaniya. Sobrang halaga kasi ni Liana sa akin. Na kahit sinong lalaki na mananakit ng damdamin niya, hinding-hindi ko patatawarin. I was once the owner of her love. It just hurts to see her hurting because of a guy.