Deanna
"Sa wakas, natapos din!" Nandito ako ngayon, nakatambay sa isang coffee shop dahil mamaya pang hapon ang classes ko, kaya gumawa muna ako ng research.
"Shit shit shit, wag ngayon please." Nagloloko na naman 'tong laptop ko. Simula high school kase, ito na ang ginagamit kong laptop.
"No..." Paiyak na sabi ko dahil hindi ko pa na-save yung ginagawa ko.
"Is everything okay miss?" Someone spoke beside me kaya agad ko syang tiningnan. Hmm gwapo sya ah, he has eyes glasses din.
"Nagloloko lang yung laptop ko at hindi ko na-save yung ginagawa ko so yeah, I'm okay." Feeling ko maiiyak na ako kahit maraming tao dito.
"Hey, calm down okay? I got this." He looked at me like he's asking my permission to use my laptop and I just nodded. I watched him do his work and fuck, he's an angel.
"Oh my god. Thank you so much!" Hindi ko napigilan at nayakap ko sya. Agad ko naman itong na-realize.
"U-uhm sorry." Agad ko syang binitawan.
"It's totally fine! I know the feeling so I understand you." He chuckled.
"Gusto sana kita ilibre para pa-thank you, pero.." I think he got my point naman. Walang-wala na akong pera ante!
"Alam ko na! Samahan mo nalang ako kumain sa cafeteria sa loob ng campus, my treat. I don't take no for an answer." He flashed his genuine smile at me kaya napatango na lang ako.
"Great! Let's go!" Nagulat ako nang hawakan nya ang kamay ko bago ako hilahin. Pero bago pa kami makapasok sa gate ng campus, pinigalan ko muna sya.
"What's your name again?" I asked.
He smiled. "Ivan. Call me Ivan."
Bea
Akala ko busy sya sa research nya? She told me earlier na hindi sya makakapag hang out with me becuse of that.
Teka...bakit parang? No way. I'm not even sure what I'm getting all worked up about. We're just friends, after all. It's not like there's anything more to it than that.
"Fucking hell." I whispered underneath my breath.
"Bea, are you okay?" Mich asked me with a hint of worry in her voice.
"Yes, of course." I forced a genuine smile.
As I sat and watched them from my position, a wave of loneliness and jealousy washed over me. Fuck, ang saya nila. Bakit ba ako nagseselos? Dahil may nahanap na syang bagong kasama?
"No Bea, you are not jealous." I engaged in an internal debate, wrestling with my thoughts and emotions, as I observed the scene in front of me.
I saw them waving at each other, mukhang aalis na yung lalaki. Tama nga ako, umalis na sya, kaya nagpaalam muna ako kay Ponggay at Mich.
"Hey." Umupo ako sa tabi nya.
"Bea! Thank god you're here! Marami akong ichichika sa'yo ngayon." As she uttered these words, a newfound energy crept into her tone, infusing her speech with a vitality that was palpable.
"Nahanap mo na si Mr. Right?" I gave a quick, insincere laugh, trying my best to mask my true feelings and appear as though I found the situation amusing.
"Gaga ka, hindi!" Napansin ko namang namula ang mga pisngi nya. I just chuckled.
As she spoke, she provided me with a complete account of her day, from the small misfortune of her laptop malfunctioning to the boy who offered his assistance. Kaya nya pala kasama nya kanina yung lalaki kase para daw makapag-thank you sya.
"So can I have you now?" Well fuck. That came out wrong.
"What?" She seemed surprised from what I've said.
"Sabi ko, kung pwede ka na sumama sa akin at ipapakilala kita sa mga kaibigan ko." I rolled my eyes.
"Hey! Ang attitude mo na ah! Tara na, nasan ba sila?" Aba, nauna pa ang gaga.
"Hoy! Akala mo naman alam mo kung nasan sila. Kumalma ka nga." Sabi ko at nilingon ko kung saan ko sila iniwan pero wal na sila doon.
"Wala na sila dito eh, maybe next time?" I smiled at her. She pinched my cheek.
"Sure! But kailangan ko na umalis ha? Bye." She tapped my shoulder as she walks away.
Deanna
"Ate, I'm home!" Grabe nakakapagod ang araw na 'to.
Nagtaka ako nang bigla syang lumapit sa akin at tiningnan ang bawat parte ng katawan ko.
"Kalma ate. okay lang ako, walang galos." I assured her. Napabuntong hininga na lamang sya bago ako umupo sa harap ng hapag kainan.
"Siguraduhin mo lang Deanna, ayoko nang makakita ng kahit anong sugat o pasa sa katawan mo." She gave a sharp look.
"Someone has been helping me ate so don't worry." Nginisian nya ako pagkasabi ko noon. I know that look.
"Ate-"
"Asus! Wag mo ako mauto-uto Deanna." Sabi nya na may halong pang-aasar.
"Pero-"
"Shhh ka nalang, patay ka sa Ate Jema mo." She smirked again which made me gulp.
Sabi na nga ba eh, dapat hindi ko iyon sinabi.
"Ate, and issue mo! Promise ate, diploma muna bago jowa." I seriously said.
"Okay..." Sagot naman nya but still not convinced kaya hinayaan ko na lang.
"Oo nga pala ate.." Gusto ko sanang sabihin yung sa laptop ko but I'm hesitating, pero hindi ko din naman kayang maulit ulit yung nangyari, hindi naman lahat ng oras may tutulong sa akin.
"Yes?" Saad nya habang kumakain.
"U-uhm..." Ibinaba nya ang kubyertos na hawak nya saka ako tiningnan ng maigi.
"What is it?" She softly said while looking at me.
"W-wala ate.." I just forced a smile before eating again.
"Deanna." Napaubo ako sa tono ng boses nya.
"Y-yung l-laptop ko ate...muntikan nang mabura yung re-search ko dahil nag-crash yung laptop.." Bigla namang napalitan ng pag-aalala ang mukha nya.
"Buti nalang natulungan ako nung lalaki-" She cut me off.
"I'll buy you a new one, actually nagtitingin na din ako." Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi nya.
"Really? Thank you te!" I stood up and quickly hugged her.
"Sus, ikaw pa, bunso ka namin eh." Ginulo nya ang buhok ko bago pa ako makabalik sa aking upuan.
After our meal, we headed to our beds to catch some shut-eye, pero nakatitig lang ako sa kisame namin dahil hindi ako makatulog.
Bea. She has been constantly on my mind these past few days. I can't seem to get her out of my thoughts, even when I'm trying to sleep. I buried my face on my pillow.
"Anong nangyayari sa akin?" I said under my pillow.
I can't seem to erase the image of her face from my mind. It's a beautiful face, but at the same time, it's also masculine and striking.
"Lubayan mo ako Bea..." I whined. Nagulat naman ako dahil biglang tumunog yung phone ko.
"Unknown number?" Si ate Jema at ate Maddie lang ang nakakaalam ng phone number ko.
Unknown Number
Hi Miss.
"Adik ba 'to?" Sabi ko nalang bago ko ito patayin.
"Bea.." That was the last words I uttered before darkness swallowed me.
