Lies in the Past (Alimentation Series #2)

Chapter 13

"Gwapo talaga ni Harminder, 'no?"

"Oo, sinabi mo pa."

Nagising ako sa mahina ngunit eskandalosang tawa ni Shakeera sa tabi ko. Dahan-dahan ko siyang tiningnan habang hindi inaalis ang pagkakapangalumbaba. Sandaling nawala ang tingin ko kay Harminder na lumayo kani-kanina para sagutin ang tawag sa kaniya.

Magmula pag-alis niya ay nakatunganga na ako. I can see from where I was the way he talks to someone over the phone. We are busy studying altogether when his phone suddenly rang, and he immediately excused himself to accept the call.

"Why were you laughing?" I asked.

Shakeera's left eyebrow rose. Nilipat niya ang page ng librong binabasa pero nakatawa pa rin siya. I bit the inside of my cheek.

"You're obvious."

"W-what?" Kumunot ang noo ko. I looked at where Harminder's standing. Nakatayo pa rin siya roon at mukhang seryoso ang pakikipag-usap. I wonder who was he talking to?

"You know what I mean, Lemonade."

"No, I don't."

"Maang-maangan ka naman lagi kahit obvious ka na masyado. You know what? I won't be surprise if one day he'll figure out something. Sobrang obvious mo kaya."

I finally dropped my hands on the table to face her fully. Ever since nakakasama ko na siya mag-study with Harminder, kung ano-ano na ang sinasabi at naiisip niya. Para siyang ewan na hindi ko ma-explain talaga. We have to study really hard dahil malapit na ang final exam namin at hindi ako papayag na maging bokya na naman ako.

For the past months, naiisip ko na talagang mag-shift ng course. Ang hirap at nahihilo na ako lagi dahil sa sobrang kakulangan sa tulog. Sunod-sunod ang plates at hindi ko alam minsan kung paano ko pa sila tatapusin sa dami. Madaming ganap nitong mga nagdaang buwan, sobrang draining mentally and physically. I would have almost really given up if I hadn’t just slapped myself.

I shouldn't give up! Hindi puwede dahil masasayang ang mga tinapos ko na. Umiiyak na lang ako kapag hindi ko na talaga kaya tapos kapag okay na, gagawa na ulit ako.

"Shakeera," mahina kong tawag sa kaniya. "Sobrang obvious ko na ba talaga?"

"Oo, Lemonade. Kapag nakikita mo siya, grabe mag-twinkle ang mata mo. You are happier when you are with him, ibang-iba. Tapos kapag hindi mo siya nakikita, ang lungkot mo."

Napahawak ako sa aking dalawang pisngi. Sobrang obvious ko na pala talaga. Hindi ko na kasi alam kung paano ako magrereact ng tama. Kung nahahalata ni Shakeera, baka mahalata na rin ako ni Harminder?

That cannot be! Sobrang nakakahiya iyon kapag nagkataon. Baka hindi ko makayanan ang hiya. We're friends, and crushing over your friend means betrayal. Kasi dapat magkaibigan lang kami pero bakit ako magkakagusto sa kaniya?

How wouldn't I fall in love with Harminder? He was just so nice throughout. His friendly gestures are making my heart flutter with so much happiness. I don't even remember me having these strange feelings for Kent. Well, not as if I did really like him. I just realized then that I was just infatuated with the idea of him, marrying me, as the fulfilment of his promise to me when we were young. But I wasn't really in love with him.

Ibang-iba itong kay Harminder ngayon. I don't know but I was really happy when I'm with him. Every little thing he did for me was too much for my heart, and I don't even know if I could stay steadfast. I'm not sure too if it's favourable to like the person who should just be your friend.

"What should I do? I don't want him to know about my little craziness, Shakeera. This is bawal and..." Ginala ko ang paningin sa paligid, kinakabahan. "This isn't right."