The Ugly Duckling (PUBLISHED UNDER PSICOM)

Ugly #35

Sage's been busy. Hindi niya ako naihahatid nitong nakaraang linggo tuwing uwian. Hindi dapat pero hindi ko magawang hindi mainis dahil doon. I don't know why he's busy. Nagpapaalam naman siya na hindi niya ako maihahatid sa bahay pero hindi niya sinasabi niya ang dahilan. Hindi ko naman siyang magawang tanungin without sounding clingy.

It's a good thing that I was busy with my research paper too. Matagal na akong tapos sa title page at introduction. I conducted some surveys by handing out questionnaires to my respondents. Ayaw kong harapin ang team kaya kay Coach ko iyon ipinamigay. Naalala ko ang pagtaas ng kilay ni Coach nang nagpakita ako sa kanya ng hindi suot ang duckling suit ko, iyon lang ang naging reaksyon niya. Coach's really a man of few expressions.

I interviewed some of the players and also a few experts in the field. I still needed to summarize everything and do some statistical analysis but I decided to pause my school works since the deadline was still weeks away.

I was brought back to the now when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Luke saying that he's already in front of the usual gate. I picked up my bag and hurried my way out of the campus.

Luke was leaning on his car when I saw him. He was busy tapping on his screen but raised his head when he felt my presence. Luke was quick to keep his phone in his pocket when I finally closed our distance.

"Tulis ng nguso mo. What's with the long face?" yun agad ang sinalubong sa akin ni Luke.

Biglaang napaayos ako sa lukot na mukha ko. Tama siya na nakakunot ang noo at nakanguso ako. I had no idea that I was sulking. It was an unconcious facial reaction.

"Is it Sage?" patanong na dagdag niya. Hindi ko na iyon kailangan pang sagutin. Isang buntong hininga ko lang ay alam na ni Luke agad na tama siya.

I received a text from Sage in the middle of my last subject that he won't be able to drive me home. Si Sage ang naghatid sa akin kaninang umaga katulad ng ginagawa niya nitong mga nakaraang araw kaya wala akong dalang kotse. I didn't want to commute so I called for Luke and asked him to fetch me.

"Salamat sa pagsundo." yun na lang ang sinabi ko at inabot ang pinto ng kotse niya para makapasok na.

"Bakit nga pala sa akin? Where's your not-so-boyfriend?"

"He texted me. May gagawin daw siya."

Luke frowned. "Again?"

Iyon ang naging reaksyon ni Luke dahil halos isang linggo nang laging may ginagawa si Sage. Alam ni Luke yon dahil sa kanya ako nagre-reklamo. I let out an audible sigh and nodded at him with my lips pouted.

"Want me to talk to him and ask him what his deal is?" Luke suggested.

"Naks. Best friends lang peg niyo?" I raised a brow and Luke just sheepishly grinned. Hindi sila best buds pero alam ko na kayang kausapin ni Luke si Sage para sa akin. Simula kasi nung unang beses na nagkilala sila ni Sage ay naging malapit na sila kahit papaano.

I can still remember that day they first really met. Isang araw ay sinabihan ko si Sage na wag niya akong sunduin dahil may sasabayan akong iba at sinungitan niya ako. Akala ko pa nga ay pumayag na siya nung inirapan niya ako, pero nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siyang dumating sa mansion nang walang dalang sasakyan at sinabi sa akin na sasabay siya sa kung sino man ang kasabay ko. Clingy Sage, another shade of Sage Isaiah Savellano's multiple personality. It was kinda sweet though.

Nang dumating ang sasakyan ni Luke at lumabas siya ay biglang lumamig ang aura ni Sage na nakatayo sa gilid ko. Unang kita pa lang ni Luke kay Sage ay ngumisi na siya na parang sira habang pinapadlhan siya ng mga matatalim na titig ni Sage. Mapang-asar ang mukha ni Luke. Halatang sinasadya niya talaga ang pang-iinis. Maging ako ay nabibwisit sa gwapong pagmumukha niya.