When Will She Try? (When Series #3)

Chapter 4

Careful

Tahimik lang akong kumakain at pangiti-ngiti lang doon sa babae naming kaklase na nagku-kwento ng kung anu-ano.

Serell is silent too and is just eating her food, probably still upset because of what happened earlier. Nang matapos akong kumain ay sumandal ako sa upuan at tinitigan na lang yung babae.

"Oh..." Marahan akong tumango na parang may naiintindihan ako sa sinabi niya kahit wala naman talaga. I even rested my elbow on the table and propped my chin on my hand to make it seem like I was really listening. The girl just smiled widely and nodded.

Tila naawa naman ako dahil mukhang enjoy na enjoy siya sa sinasabi at hindi ako nakikinig kaya napagdesisyunan kong makinig na lang nang maayos sa kanya.

"So we went into this luxury shop the other night and my Mom bought me a—" And then blah, blah, blah. Crap, I can't really bring myself to listen.

I kept on nodding, but my eyes unconsciously looked at some table behind her. Na-blangko tuloy lalo ang utak ko dahil sa pagdapo ng tingin ko sa lamesa nila Fallen.

Fallen is sitting beside Kian while their two friends are in front of them. Parang double date tuloy. She is smiling at Kian, who is telling her something, as if the commotion earlier didn't happen at all. Kulang na lang ay magningning ang mga mata niya sa pagtingin niya kay Kian.

Halos gusto kong mapairap at mapabuntong-hininga. Mukhang bulag nga yata talaga ang isang 'to.

Anyway, bakit nga ba concern pa rin ako sa kanya? E, hindi niya nga kami mapagtanggol kanina sa boyfriend niyang akala yata ay pagmamay-ari niya ang cafeteria!

Binalik ko ang tingin sa kaklase kong nagsasalita pa rin dahil ayaw ko nang tingnan pa sila Fallen dahil naaasiwa ako. Habang nakikinig sa kanya ay doon ko lang din naalala na hindi ko pa nga pala alam ang pangalan niya! Shit, nagpakilala na ba siya sa amin kanina sa classroom? For sure, ay oo, but I haven't heard it because I was still infuriated at them!

"Mommy bought me another Dolce & Gabbana yesterday 'cause I was whining at her—" My mind once again cleared out the remaining words of the girl who is talking to me.

I plastered a fake smile on her.

"Tomorrow, I will try to convince Mommy to buy me another set of Erian clothes!" Sambit niya kaya muli akong tumango kahit hindi ko alam yung tinutukoy niya.

"Erian? That's a... clothing line, right?" I unsurely asked. The girl's face brightened up at my question, mukhang natuwa dahil nagsalita na ako for the first time, simula nang magkuwento siya.

"Yes, one of my favorite local brands, actually! It was just formed around two years ago, but it was already super popular! It was owned by Erian Ventell." Sagot niya.

Ventell?

"Kamag-anak no'ng may-ari nitong Ventell University?" Kuryoso kong tanong.

"Uhuh." The girl nodded. "She was one of the grandkids of Laxus Ventell, the owner of this university."

Napakagat ako nang labi. They must be really rich. But nevermind, I was not that interested anyway; I only asked to form a decent conversation between us!

I cleared my throat to throw another lame convo-saving question. "So... what are the other local brands that you like aside from Erian?"

The girl bit her lip and think of her answer. "Uhm... there's not much, but Zulveia is definitely part of it!"

"Zulveia?"

"Yes. It was more formidable and popular than Erian 'cause the brand was built years ago! They're more into classic pieces, which I like sometimes! It's owned by Jessica Zalverria!" She excitedly uttered.