Mending Heartaches

Chapter 8

Erina

I don't really know it it's just me who can feel the awkwardness roaming around our table. Hindi ako agad makalabas mula sa kinauupuan dahil nasa tabi ako ng glass windows ng cafeteria and Sorayah should stand up for me to get out from my seat.

"Hope you don't mind me bringing Lisander with me" she said glancing at me.

"No, of course I don't" I smiled a little at her forcing myself not to glance at Lisander in front of her.

"Thanks" ngayon ay malawak na ang pagkakangiti nito.

Ilang minuto kaming natahimik dahil nagsimula na kaming kumain. I can't help thinking of different excuses to get out of the scene but I can't seem to think of anything reasonable.

"By the way, dad asked me if you could come with him the day after tomorrow?" sabay pa kaming napalingon ni Sorayah nang magsalita ang kakambal nito.

"What time does he need me?" tanong nito habang nakakunot ang noo.

"Probably by eight pm" sagot nito.

"Tell him I can't, the senior's prom night will happen the same night as that." she abruptly answered glancing at the person in front of her.

Napayuko naman ako dahil sa nakita, could she possibly go with Lisander as his date? Dahil sa naisip ay hindi ko mapigilang magbaba ng tingin. Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko na nasa ibabaw ng mesa nang bumukas ito habang malakas na nagvibrate.

I saw Anne's name on the caller's id and I softly uttered a thanks. At last I got a reason to leave the table.

"Excuse me" I said before standing up. Sorayah also stood up to make way for me and I thanked her after.
Hindi na ako ulit lumingon sa kanila. I made sure to get my bag before leaving so I don't have to come back for it. It may sound rude but I can't really stand faking my expressions in front of them.

"Thank God you called" I softly said after putting the phone near my ear.

"Why, you seemed unusually delighted for my call" rinig ko ang pagtataka sa boses nito mula sa kabilang linya.

"Because I am, by the way why did you call?" I asked her making my way out of the cafeteria.

"Can ask you some favor?" maliit ang boses na tanong nito.

"What? Para namang pwede akong tumanggi." I jokingly rolled my eyes even if she can't see me.

I was walking towards the mini garden near the cafeteria. It had a big tree with benches sorounding it and sitting under it with the tree's leaves covering me from the sun's burning rays was the best place to stay as of the moment. The breeze felt so fresh in the spot because of the plants around.

"Have you seen River today?" tanong nito na ikinakunot ng noo ko. Why is she suddenly asking about River?

"Not yet, why" sinigurado kong naririnig nito ang pagtataka sa boses ko.

"Don't give me that tone, I just want to ask you some favor" natatawang sabi nito.

"Well you can't blame me, this is the very first time you asked me some favor that have something to do with a guy" I answered her.

"Oh please, it's no big deal. I just want to know if you can get my pumps from him this afternoon. Naiwan niya daw kasi sa condo niya kahapon—"

"Wait! What do you mean his condo? What did you do in his condo?" I can't help myself cutting her off and unconsciously raised my voice. Napalingon pa ako sa paligid para siguradohing walang nakarinig sa pagtaas ng boses ko. Napahinga ako ng maluwag nang makitang wala namang nakaupo malapit sa akin, kung mayroon mang mga estudyante na nasa mini garden katulad ko ay nasa may kalayoan ito mula sa kinauupuan.

"What's happening with your life Roseanne Guerrero?" ngayon ay sinigurado kong mahina ang pagkakasabi ko.

"Wait ok calm down. You're overreacting bestfriend, It was nothing ok. Naiwan ko lang sa room the other day and he was nice enough to bring it with him to his house and texted me that he brought it today. And I'm not there today so yes that's why" mahabang paliwanag nito.

"Okay? I thought.." I heaved a sigh.

"Of course not, why would I be in his condo from the very first place?" natatawang tanong nito.

"I'm sorry it's just that I overreacted" I said.

"Don't mind it, so as I was saying, can you get it for me please?"

"Of course no problem, text him to meet me at the parking lot this afternoon then" sabi ko.

"Okay I will. I'll hang up now maybe I'm taking up too much of your time. Thank you in advance" she curtly said.

"Okay bye love you" I teasingly said knowing that she'll react before abruptly hanging up.

Tumayo na ako mula sa pagkakaupo bago nagmadali nang bumalik sa classroom ko nang makitang malapit nang magsimula ang susunod kong klase.

I ran as quickly as I could away from the cafeteria. Nang tuluyang makapasok sa loob ng classroom ay ilang beses pa akong huminga ng malalim.

Hindi nagtagal ay nagsimula na ang susunod naming klase. The rest of the remaining classes were just filled with lectures, few interesting while mostly boring like most students feel.

Matapos iligpit ang gamit ay agad na akong lumabas ng classroom. Nagulat pa ako nang bumungad agad sa akin si River na may dalang paper bag. Agad akong lumapit dito.

"Hey, are that Anne's pumps?" agad na tanong ko dito at bilang pagbati na din. Agad itong tumayo mula sa pagkakahilig sa pader nang makita ako.

"Oh hi, yeah this is hers. I hope she already told you about me having these" tanong nito na agad ko namang tinanguan. He gave it to me afterwards na agad ko namang tinanggap.

"Mauuna na ako sayo Erina" paalam nito na agad ko namang tinanguan.

Ilang sandali pa muna akong nanatili sa pagkakatayo bago napabuntung-hininga. Now all I need to do before going home is to find Lisander and ask him for the last time if he's coming at the prom or if he's coming with Sorayah.

I don't want to assume and get disappointed afterwards and also let Kyle assume and be disappointed until tomorrow.  If I can do something to prevent those then why not right?

Napabuntung-hininga pa muna ako ulit bago nagpasiyang hanapin na si Lisander. Nagtext muna ako sa driver ko na baka matagalan ako.

Hindi na ako nahirapan pang hanapin siya dahil agad ko siyang nakitang nakaupo sa isa sa mga benches malapit sa soccer field. Hawak nito ang cellphone habang tumitipa dito at sa tabi ay may dalawang iced coffee.

Lumapit ako dito at umupo sa tabi niya. Agad itong nag-angat ng tingin nang maramdaman ang pag-upo ko. Nang magtagpo ang paningin namin ay napansin ko ang agad na pagkunot ng mga noo nito.

"Ano na naman?" inis ang tono ng boses nito.

"Are you really sure that you're not coming to the prom?" marahan ang pagkakatanong ko dito para ipaalam na seryoso ako. Ilang saglit itong natahimik bago nagsalita.

"Why are you doing this?" imbes na sagutin ang tanong ko ay ito ang sinabi niya.

"I really need answers, honest one please. I won't ask why afterwards" sabi ko dito.

"I am coming.." natigil ito sa pagsasalita na tila ba nagdalawang isip pa ito kung itutuloy ang sinasabi. Pinili kong hindi muna magsalita upang hintaying tapusin nito ang sinasabi.

"And I'm coming with Sorayah" patuloy na sabi nito. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from making any sounds. Maybe I don't want him to know that I'm disappointed or it just really made me speechless. Ilang sandali pa bago ako nakabawi.

"Oh okay, that's good." sinabayan ko pa ng tango ang pagsagot. Tumayo na ako mula sa pagkakaupo  nang mapansin si Sorayah na naglalakad patungo sa direksyon namin sa di kalayoan.

Hindi na ako nagpaalam pa at mabilis nang lumayo sa kinauupuan nito.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa bulsa ng palda na suot bago nagtipa ng mensahe para sa driver na papunta na ako.

C.M.H