Lies in the Past (Alimentation Series #2)

Chapter 6

Hindi na ako hinayaan ni Shakeera na mag-commute pauwi. Nahihiya man, wala na akong nagawa noong hinila niya ang braso ko at inalalayan ako makapasok sa loob ng kotse. Isasabay lang din naman siya ng pinsan niya tapos sinabit pa niya ako. Hindi ko tuloy matingnan ang pinsan niyang kanina ko lang din nakilala, si Nectarine.

It felt really embarrassing. Shakeera asked me earlier how would I go home, if my driver has arrived na raw ba. She's expecting me to have my own driver, when in fact, I'm always going home alone through riding a cab. She got really surprised at the truth.

My hair was in a high ponytail. Kinakagat ko ang labi ko dahil hindi talaga ako komportable makisakay sa kotse ng taong hindi ko totally kilala. I'm alone at the backseat habang si Shakeera ay naroon sa shotgun seat. Siyempre sinabi ko na kung saan nila ako ihahatid dahil pursigido talaga ang kaibigan ko.

"Are you already hungry, Lemonade?" Shakeera from the front seat.

"Medyo. Ikaw?"

Mabilis siyang tumango. "Yeah. Puro coffee ininom ko maghapon. I won't be surprised anymore if ever I palpitate."

"I told you to eat rice kanina. Ang kulit mo kasi, e."

"I don't like the food they serve sa cafeteria."

"Tasteless," I told her. Totoo naman iyon. Pero siyempre madami pa rin kumakain and I know why. Simply because every person has a different taste. "For me lang."

"Totoo naman. Tomorrow let's try to eat at the main canteen. What if the food there is tasty and not paulit-ulit, 'di ba?"

"Sige. Pero it would be better if we won't expect a thing."

"Gusto mo daan muna tayo sa drive thru ng McDonald's para mabusog ka habang nagba-byahe tayo? Okay lang naman siguro kay Kuya."

Napatingin ako bigla sa pinsan niyang tahimik na nagd-drive. He is wearing a binnie at uniform. Nakakapagtaka nga dahil part pala siya ng basketball team pero hindi ko siya nakikitang kasama ni Kent sa mga hangouts nila. Or baka naman hindi ko lang talaga siya napapansin sa crowd? But he has the charm that easily draw attention. Ang guwapo niya, and it's impossible not to notice him in the middle of chaotic crowd.

"I can't be full, Shakeera. My cousin is waiting for me. Sabay kasi kaming nagd-dinner. I don't want her to eat alone."

"You're living with your cousin?"

"Yes," proud kong sinabi.

"She's sending you off to school daily?"

Mabilis akong umiling. "Minsan hindi kasi hindi kami pareho ng schedule. Saka I don't want to bother her. Sa Chowden University pa kasi siya pumapasok, tapos hassle if ihahatid niya ako lagi."

"Chowden University? Doon nag-aaral si Pumpkin, 'di ba, Kuya?" Sandali lang siyang sinulyapan ng pinsan niya. "Aren't you still over her?" I sensed naughtiness from Shakeera's voice.

"What are you saying?" the guy lazily responded. He didn't seem to care about Shakeera's tease. And it seemed like he was so used to his cousin teasing him about it. "Let her name rest at least, Akee."

"I remember your story before when you visited me, you were annoyed because she didn't agree to date you. You feel like your ego has been trampled on because of that."

"Akee." Nectarine doesn't seem to be happy anymore. It was obvious from his tone that he wanted his cousin to stop and keep quiet. "Isn't it just a secret between us?"

"Hala, I'm sorry, Kuya! I forgot that it must be a secret that your crush refused to let her date you."

"She's not my crush, tho." His tone was harsh when he said that, as if he was no longer comfortable to talk more about the name that had been mentioned.