Hardest to Lose (Villaraza Series #4)

30 | Idea

30 | Idea

* * * * *

Reconciliation. I was sure that was the sole reason why Adelle reached out to me out of the blue. Matagal na rin nang huli kaming nagkausap. And it wasn’t a pleasant one.

To be honest, I had forgotten all about her. It didn’t matter to me anymore if we fixed our issues. But for her peace, I was ready to listen.

We decided to talk on the last day of the Foundation Week. Malapit na iyon kaya inihahanda ko na rin ang mga sasabihin ko. I just hoped everything would be fine after that. Friends or not, acquaintances or whatever, I was ready for it.

“Tingnan mo ‘yong dalawa,” bulong sa akin ni Faye, nakapako sa kung saan ang tingin habang abala ang mga kamay sa pinupunasang plato.

I traced her line of vision and found Markus talking enthusiastically with someone – Cheska. Nasa initan sila at mula sa kinatatayuan namin ay kitang-kita ko kung paanong naniningkit ang mga mata niya. Nakapamewang siya at bahagyang nakayuko nang kaunti para mas marinig ang kung anumang sinasabi ng kasama. Then, they laughed together like it was the most natural thing between them.

I cleared my throat and turned to Fortune who was busy lifting a jug of water. “Do you need a hand?”

Bago pa man siya makapagprotesta ay lumapit na ako at inangat ang kalahating bigat. Pagkalapag namin noon sa mesa, sakto namang pumasok na sina Markus at Cheska. They were probably still into whatever topic they had outside.

Ang saya-saya ng hinayupak, a.

“Iñara!” Cheska called cheerfully and waved at me.

Sinuklian ko iyon nang may kasamang matamis na ngiti.

“Grabe, ang ganda ng booth niyo!” komento niya pagkalapit sa akin habang inililibot ang mga mata.

“Maganda rin sainyo, a. Sumaglit ako do’n kanina.”

She giggled and held my hands. “Nagse-serve ka?”

“Minsan. Kakain ka?”

She nodded like an excited toddler. “Oo. Kaming dalawa.”

Napalis ang ngiti ko at napipilitang binalingan ang katabi niya. Markus raised his hand awkwardly, as if finally realizing how weird the situation was.

“Libre ko na kakainin mo,” I told Cheska after I averted my gaze coldly from the jerk.

She clapped her hands cutely and uttered her thanks. Pagkatapos noon ay mabilis siyang lumapit sa mga kaklase ko para sa order niya.

“Bakit siya lang?”

I exasperatedly let out a sigh. Markus was pouting his lips a bit, trying his best to make himself cute. It made him look . . . ridiculous.

I was about to retort when I realized that there was no reason for me to bother.

Iniwan ko siya roon at hindi na tiningnan pa. Bahala siya sa buhay niya.

Nagtagal ang dalawa roon at hindi iilang beses na nadama kong nasa akin ang atensyon ni Markus. Mas kuryuso siya kung ano ang direksyon ng pagpupunas ko kaysa sa kung anumang sinasabi sa kanya ni Cheska.