How to Get Out of the "Bestfriend Zone"

Chapter 22

I could hardly believe it! Tapos na ang days ko as a high school student. All of the hard work for four incredibly long, stressful, yet exciting years have been paid off! Syempre, excited na akong mag-college. Pero I must admit din naman na adjusting to a new environment would not be easy. Pero 'di na rin ako bumabata. Sooner or later, I will be on my own.

            As I rode in a taxi with my mom, I remember seing Lance after the ceremony.

            He was clearly forcing a smile into his face while walking towards me.

            I frowned. "Lance........"

            He grinned. "Ano? Okay lang ako."

            I just looked at him with an apologetic look on my face.

            "You were right naman, eh." Tumingin siya sa may left side. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya. Nakita ko si Star while talking to her friends. "Kahit naman kasama ko siya parati, she never cared for me as much as I did for her."

            My heart ached seeing him like that. I just looked at the ground, not knowing what to say.

            "Siguro, I'm just not worthu." Dagdag pa niya.

            I took his hand. "Hey. Don't say that. You are more than worthy."

            He smiled as he took something out of his pocket. He showed me what it was and I was at awe nang makita ko ang isang napakagandang necklace with a butterfly pendant. He handed it to me.

            "O, ano 'to? Ang ganda naman." Sabi ko habang tinitingnan ito.

            "Graduation gift ko sa'yo."

            I looked at him while smiling. "Wow? Talaga? Awwe. Thank you. Sorry ha? 'Di kita nabilhan ng gift."

            Tumawa siya. "Mia, you being there for me is more than enough."

            And I will always be here for you, prince charming. Always.

—————-

            Summer na. Sabi nila, kailangan ko raw itong i-enjoy ng todo. Pa'no? Last summer ko na 'to posible na wala akong classes. Kaya lang, may malaking PERO. Ang kinuha kong course, hindi fit sa skills and abilities ko. I would have to say, I'm not REALLY that good in Science. Except when it involves solving. Okay na okay lang ako 'jan Kaya lang, sa lahat ng pwedeng courses na kunin for college, BS Biology pa ang kinuha ko. Sabi pa nga nila, obviously, maraming Bio sa course na iyan. May ibang Physics (which I believe, hindi naman magiging problema para sa'kin) pero worst of all, marami ding Chem. Shet. Ang galing ko pa naman du'n. Akalain mong lowest grade ko EVER ang Chem? Naka-81 ako ha? And believe it or not, sa sobrang dami ng luha na lumabas mula sa mga mata ko nung araw na na-receive ko ang report card ko, bumaha ang bahay namin. Pero of course naman, tanga lang ang maniniwala du'n.

            Anyhow, Carly, Lance, and I decided to help out sa library as a summer job namin. Sa'min ni Carly, it's a way para magka-pera kami sa summer. Pero of course, kay Lance, for fun lang 'yun. Alam naman kasi niyang wala siyang gagawin whole summer kun'di mag-stay lang sa bahay nila playing online games. Mahirap na no? Baka tumaba pa siya. Eh ang hot na kaya niya.

            So far, three weeks na namin 'tong nagta-trabaho sa library and I could proudly say that things have never been better. Dahil sa summer job na ito, nakapag-bond kami ng maayos ni Lance. We did almost everything together. Not to mention, hatid-sundo niya pa ako sa bahay. O, ha?

            Masaya kong pinunasan ang mga libro sa itaas na bahagi ng shelves sa library. Grabe. Akalain mong kung gaano ka-mahal ang naging tuition namin dito sa university, ganu'n 'din karami ang alikabok na nasa mga libro na ito? I mean seriously, ha? Nagpa-aircon pa sila? Sino ba naman ang hindi magkaka-TB rito?

            "Hey."

            Sa pagkagulat ko, na-out balance ako sa hagdanan na pinagtatayuan ko. Mabuti naman at nagawa akong saluin ng mokong na nanggulat sa'kin. I lifted my chin up to look at him. OGM. Hindi pala mokong 'yun. Si Lance.

            Kamoteng patatas. Ang gwapo-gwapo talaga niya. Perfect eyes, perfect nose, idagdag mo pang kulay-snow ang mga ngipin niya. Tanga nalang siguro ang hindi mai-inlove dito.

            "Sorry. Nagulat yata kita."

            And slowly, he put me down. Nag-I'll-catch-you-when-you-fall pa ang peg niya ha? Pero sana talaga, matagal niya na akong sinalo the moment I started falling for him. Chos.

            Mabilis kong inayos ang sarili ko. "Ayos lang."

            Mabilis na naglakad si Ms. Martina patungo saamin. Narinig siguro niya ang pagkahulog ng hagdanan. "Dios Mio kayong mga bata kayo. Ms. Tuazon, are you okay?"

            I grinned at her. "Opo."

            "You're sure?" giit pa niya.

            "Yes po."

            "Good. Ingat-ingat kayo 'jan ha?"

            "Yes po, Ms. Martina" Sabay naming sabi ni Lance.

            Nang maka-alis na si Ms. Martina, inayos namin ang hagdanan.

            Napansin kong tinitingnan ako ni Lance.

            Napatawa ako sa kanya. "O, bakit?"

            "Wala naman. Sige, balik na ako sa trabaho."

            I gently nodded at him. Tiningnan ko siya nang lumakad siya papalayo sa'kin. But to my surprise, umikot siya ulit.

            "Listen, Mia. Ano kasi—- umm.."

            "Ano?" natatawa kong tanong.

            "We'll be going out with the guys later. So......"

            "Guys? Sino'ng guys?" pag i-interrupt ko.

            "Yung barkada ko. Gusto mo bang sumama? I mean, only if you don't have anything else in mind." He said, while putting his hands on his pockets.

            Gosh he's so damn cute! Lalong-lalo na pag nauutal siya. Napangiti ako nang maalala ko ang "things to remember number 4 in order to get out of the bestfriend zone."

            "Sure. I'd like that."

            A smile lit up on his face. "Talaga? Sige ha? Mamaya."

            I nodded. "Balik ka na du'n. Baka pagalitan na tayo ni Ms. Martina."

            He nodded. "Mamaya ha?" pagre-remind niya sabay turo sa'kin.

            "Oo nga. Ang kulit." Pabiro kong sabi.