She's Unusual

[3]

I was even more determined to avoid Persephone when Monday came and everything went wonky. I entered the room that morning only to find her sitting beside Ezra, elegantly laughing over something my friend told her. 

Ezra seems captivated by how her perfect set of white teeth flash or how her giggles came out like a harmonic tune but there's this unexplainable feeling in me that could tell she's faking it.

"Nix, why aren't you going in?" Tanong ng kasunod ko lang na si Maki. Hindi ako sumagot kaya napatingin siya sa gawi ng tinitingnan ko.

"Oh wow, I thought he's over her." He walked past me and went to where his seat is. I snapped out of my trance and went to my chair.

"Good morning, Maki! Good morning, bunso!" Napakalawak ng ngiti ni Ezra ng batiin niya kami. 

"Good morning." Only Makari greeted him back. Seryoso lamang akong nakatingin kay Persephone na sinalubong ang paningin ko at nagawa pa akong pagtaasan ng kilay.

Napansin 'yun ni Ezra kaya nagpabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa. He didn't ask anything but he laughed playfully to ease the tension between us.

"As you know, this is Persephone Olivar, my Tatay's scholar and a new friend of mine." Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. 

Friend? Kailan pa? At bakit? What exactly is going on? Confusion and countless questions started clouding my mind.

"Friend? Sure?" Paniniguro ni Maki. 

Ezra nodded his head like an excited puppy. "Oo nga."

"Well, it's nice to formally meet you, Ms. Olivar." Isang tipid na ngiti lang ang naging tugon ng babae sa pagbati ni Makari

Maki, on the other hand, made a silly face towards Ezra and went to sit properly, not really pondering more about our friend being friends with her ex-crush. 

It is normal for Ezra to be sociable and friendly kaya naman hindi na nakapagtataka. Kahit nga 'yung mga exes niya ay kaibigan niya pa rin after break-ups at bilang lang sa kanila ang may hang-ups.

What I find unusual, however, is Persephone being friends with someone. Not that she can't have friends pero last week ay halos wala naman siyang kinakausap ah. Gano'n na ba kagaling sa communication and connection si Ezra kaya nagawa niyang kaibiganin agad siya?

"Hey, kasunod ko lang si Ma'am. Sit down na Phoenix." Isang hinihingal na Tob ang dumating. A few drops of sweat are visible on his forehead. 

Napatayo naman si Persephone na siyang nakaupo sa upuan ni Tob. She faced Ez and placed the stray strands of her hair behind her ear.

"I'll go back to my seat now," paalam niya na ikingiti ni Ezra. I scoffed, obviously disgusted. 

She turned her back on us to go back to her seat at kaagad kong binigyan ng nang-aakusang tingin si Ezra.

"Bunso, nandyan na si Miss. Umupo ka na." He said that nonchalantly pero alam kong alam niya na gusto kong magtanong. Hindi ko na rin nagawa dahil nga dumating na ang Professor.

The day dragged on until lunch time came. I was on edge to ask Ezra about Persephone when he walked past us and went to the lady. 

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo nina Tob bago ibinalik ang tingin sa dalawa. Persephone nodded over something Ezra said, and then our friend went back to us all smiles.

"Seph's joining us for lunch." He said that like it's nothing surprising. "Okay lang naman, diba?"

The three of us looked in each other's eyes bago ako sumagot. "Sure."