All Along

Jealous, Are We?

Sierra hinted that Marjorie felt a little uneasy with how Gerome introduced her to Marjorie. To keep the moment tension-free, Sarah chuckled and said

"Naku, such a formal introduction naman Ge. Very special ka diyan! eh kung awayin at asarin mo ako para mo na akong kapatid. Nice to meet you Marjorie. Sabi ko na nga ba, maganda ka."

"Ay salamat. Si Ge ba nagsabi sayo niyan? Mahilig kasi akong bolahin nito e. Maloko ba talaga itong si Gerome? May mga kailangan ba akong malaman tungkol dito?" habang tinitigan at nginitian si Ge.

"Naku marami. Sandamakmak na kalokohan ang dala niyan. Ever since nung bata kami, you know naman we're childhood friends right? So anyway, yeah..nung bata nga kami inalok akong magpakasal niyan. Biruin mo, 7 years old..kasal agad?" natatawang kwento ni Sierra.

A part of Marjorie regretted that she even asked about Gerome and his kalokohan. Napaisip tuloy si Marjorie kung dapat ba siyang magselos dahil super close ang boyfriend niya at best friend nito.

"Hala. Ano ka ba S, naalala mo pa yun? At kailangan mo pang i-bring up ngayon? Bata pa tayo nun atsaka ikaw kasi yung una kong kaibigan na babae...Hahaha. Nakakaloko isipin." hirit ni Ge. Ibinaling nito ang atensyon kay Marjorie "Wag kang masyadong makinig diyan kay Sierra. May pagka-OA yan. Di ako maloko. Makulit lang..malaki ang difference nun."

"Pagpasensyahan mo na ako Marj. Sometimes wala talagang preno tong bibig ko e. Haha. Pero, no worries. Kung lokohin ka man niyang best friend ko...ako mismo ang sasapak for you. Anyway halika na. We should be going"

Everyone started to get themselves ready. They loaded their things into the cars and divided themselves into two groups. Sila Ernest, Yen, Enrique and Fred sa isang kotse while Samuel, Sierra, Gerome and Marjorie in another. After about 20 minutes, they were well on their way to Baguio where they will be staying at The Gomez's rest house.

Sierra sat in the front seat, while Ge and Marjorie were at the back. Since they had a long trip ahead of them, the "love birds" decided to sleep for a bit while Sierra kept Sam company. The two instantly felt at ease with each other again, remembering their high school days wherein Sierra would always be with Gerome and Samuel. Minsan, people would call her tomboy because she really didn't acquaint herself with girls and doing girly things. Instead, Sierra would join Sam and Ge at playing basketball or whatever else type of sport the guys got themselves involved in.

"Naalala mo nung 3rd year high school natin..we went to prom together di ba?" pagalala ni Sam

"OH MY GOSH, YEAH! Ikaw nga pala date ko nun. Tapos si Gerome, walang ka-date...paano kasi ang loko. Kaya kang ilakad maging date ko pero siya..wala man lang inalok. Mas "better" daw kung walang date..more options. Baliw talaga eh noh? Hahaha"

Sa sobrang lakas ng tawa ni Sierra, nagising si Ge at Marjorie na kapwang nagtataka kung bakit ganun na lang ang saya ni Sierra.

"Ang ingay mo talaga, S. Ano bang pinaguusapan nyo at grabe naman ang hagalpak mo diyan?"

"Sorry naman mister sungit! sorry Marj ha. Kasi napagusapan lang namin yung prom naten dati, Ge. Nung third year. Di ba kami ni Sam yung magka-date tapos ikaw, solo flight. Meron ka pa kasing "no date is better" na nalalaman. If I know, nahihiya ka lang mag-aya sa crush mo nun...sino na nga yun.. si Melissa ba yun?

"Zip it, miss madaldal. Ang dami mo talagang nalalaman. Wala akong date kasi napagusapan namin ni Samuel dati na ikaw lang ang pwede naming date. So since siya na date mo...wala akong inaya. Samuel, ipaliwanag mo nga dito kay S kung ano ba talaga yung deal. Tatawagin pa akong torpe nito."

"Tama si Gerome, Sierra. Parang coincidence actually. Kasi there was one day that we were thinking who we we're gonna ask to prom, tapos at the same time we said 'Si Sierra na lang!' So then we said na since we both thought of you as our date, maglaban na lang kami sa basketball para malaman who can ask you to be their date sa prom. Natalo ko siya..and as the loser, his consequence is to have to go to prom all by his lonesome." mahabang pagpapaliwanag ni Sam.

"At pinagpustahan nyo ako? Pinagkaisahan? Ang sakit ha!" pag-arte ni Sierra

"Lagi mo akong sinasabihan na di bagay na mag-drama ako, S. At ngayon, sasabihin ko sayo.. mas hindi bagay sa'yo. Atsaka anong pinagkaisahan? Di ka man lang ba na-touched na ikaw lang yung naisip naming maging date? Talaga oh, walang appreciative bone diyan sa katawan mo pagdating sa'kin."

While listening to Gerome talk to Sarah with such ease and care, mas lalong naiinsecure si Marjorie.

"Asus Ito naman si best friend...di na talaga mabiro. Ano ba naman yung si Sam ang naging date ko nung 3rd year. Di ba, tayong dalawa naman ang mag-partner sa prom nung 4th year. King and Queen pa nga tayo. Oh saan ka pa? Appreciated kaya kita. Kayong dalawa nito ni Samuel" sabay hawak sa braso ni Sam.

Di maintindihan ni Sam kung bakit parang nakukuryente siya sa mga hawak ni Sierra. Habang si Gerome naman ay ngumiti lang sa pagbabalik tanaw ng kanyang best friend. On the other hand, Marjorie kept quiet feeling a little out of place. Nakaramdam na ng antok si Sierra kaya nagpaalam ito sa mga kasama na iidlip muna siya"

"Sige, S. Matulog ka muna. I'm sure napagod ka kaka-daldal at tawa mo. Sleep well, best friend. I love you"

"I love you din bestfriend!" tugon ni Sierra.

Sa puntong ito, napatingin si Marjorie kay Gerome..jealousy written all over her face.

"Nakasanayan na baby. Don't think too much of it. I love you more" sabay halik sa pisngi ng girlfriend.

Marjorie opted not to say anything. Instead she looked ahead of her and saw Samuel looking at them with a questioning face, as if asking her if she's okay.

She mouthed "it's nothing.." while deep inside she grew more and more uneasy of the tight bond between Gerome and Sierra.

**** To be Continued ****

A/N: Kind of short update lang po. Ginaganahang magsulat while I'm sick. haha. pwede pala yun. Anyway please vote, comment on what you liked or didn't like and/or share my story po. Thank you sa mga nagbabasa. Sana di kayo masyadong nababaduyan..bet ko kasi yung mga asaran eklavooo. haha. Well, hanggang dito na muna. God bless! Love love love <3