SHACKLED

SHACKLED 24

FLASHBACK

Final exam na for this school year and we're busy studying and reviewing.

Isang linggo na kaming hindi nag-kikita ni Travis. Last na kita namin nag-away pa kami, nag-kasakit kasi si Avis. Pero nag-kabati din kami agad. Ganon naman lagi hahaha. We haven't really fought na sobrang lala.

We're both super busy. He's actually planning ahead for his OJT, ewan bakit. He's even busy because he joined an organization tas dumagdag pa tong finals.

Ako naman busy sa case study at finals. Wala naman akong org dahil isa akong dakilang tamad. Charot.

Halos video and voice calls nalang kami nag-uusap. Namimiss ko na siya shuta. Anyways, we promised to meet after our final exam which is tomorrow. Hindi halata pero sobrang excited ko na. Gusto ko na talaga siya makita.

Nasa cafeteria kami nila George and Faustino. Yes opo friends na kami. Bigla nalang one day sumabay siya sa amin mag-lunch hanggang sa nag-tuloy tuloy na.

Travis texted me that he's busy with a report and he's currently with Ben in his condo.

Kakatapos lang namin kumain at nag-reretouch kami ni George. "Oh, ano inggit ka?" Pang-aasar ni George kay Tino na kanina pa kami tinitignan.

"Oo." he said while pouting. Natawa ako dahil ang cute niya minsan.

"Boys can also wear make up. Try it." sabi ko sabay abot ng press powder ko and colored lip balm.

He hesitate for a while but he end up using them. After the retouch sesh we decided to go outside our campus since we still have two whole hours before our next schedule.

Mag-wiwindow shopping daw kami for stress reliever.

Nung nasa may lobby kami ng mall, ewan pero namalik mata ata ako kasi I saw Travis. Pag-lingon ko wala naman so I guess namamalikmata nga ako kasi sobrang miss ko lang siya.

Lakad-lakad muna kami looking for store to visit. Bumili din kami ng ice cream dahil nag-ccrave daw si George. Ayoko pa nung inu pero nung sinabi niyang libre G agad.

Nasa may jewelry and accesories store kami when I saw one of Travis' classmate. George and TIno are busy trying on stuff kaya mag-isa ako sa may entrance ng store.

She waved at me and nilapitan niya ako. "Hiiiii." she gladly greeted. I greeted back.

"Musta exams?" tanong niya. "Hindi ko na kinakaya gurl, stress na." sagot ko.

"At least my bebe time." sabi niya ng may pang-aasar. I laughed and said, "Wala nga e, busy daw."

"Ayy. So true. Pero babawi na sa'yo 'yun natapos na nila yung report nila eh." sagot niya.

Napatigil ako when I realized what she just said. "Tapos na nila? Wow." I said.

"Oo. Na-pass na nga nila kahapon eh." sagot niya.

What? But Travis just told me na they're still doing it. Is he lying to me? Maybe they have another report.

"Wow." Hindi ko pinahalata na nag-iba mood ko. I just pretended I'm so proud.

Don't get me wrong, proud ako sobra. But I don't like what I'm feeling. It's uncomfortable.

"Andami niyo atang report ah." I said because I want to clarify my thoughts. I made my voice sound enthusiastic but deep inside I don't know. He never once lied to me.

"Practicums ang marami gurl. Isa lang report namin this sem." Sabi niya which made me uneasy pero hindi ko parin pinahalata.

Tinawag na siya nung mga kasama niya kaya nag-paalam na siya dahil may bibilhin daw sila.

I was left there standing alone and clueless.

"Hoy. Anyare?" George said. Nag-space out na pala ako kakaisip.

"Wala. Haha. Tara na." I said at nauna na akong mag-lakad. Humabol naman yung dalawang bakla.

"Kabado kaba sa exam gurl? Dika nag-review no?" sabi ni Tino. "Okaya hindi all capital letter yung sagot niya kanina." Biro naman ni George.

I faked a laugh. "Nagugutom ako." I said. "Kakakain lang natin accla." George said.

"I think I saw Travis." Biglang sabi ni Tino. Napahinto kami ni George at sabay na sinabing "Saan?!"

"Ewan. Nawala agadd eh. Baka kahawig lang okaya namalikmata ako." sabi niya.

I thought I saw him too kanina. Is it possible na he's also here. But why?

Until now I can't believe he lied about the report thingy and the fact that I am thinking he's here just adds up with my unwanted feeling.

It feels like there is something wrong. I'm actually over thinking now. I want to call him or go to his condo just to check on him but I think he wouldn't like that. Baka isipin niyang praning ako.

It's been twenty minutes since that and kanina pa kami nasa food court.

We decided to watch sa cinema since sobrang haba pa ng time at sobrag lapit lang ng school sa mall.

When the movie ended we immediately left the theater.

Nung palabas kami, I don't know pero napatingin ako sa may entrance nung theater room sa kabila.

I was so shocked and I CANNOT believe what I'm seeing.

It's Travis, holding a popcorn.

With a long hair girl, holding two cups of large drinks. They are laughing as they enter the theater.

George saw me kaya tinignan niya yung tinitignan ko.

He saw them too, so as Tino. But he didn't saw us.

I was relieved he didn't saw me. I don't know why though.

Who is that? Why are they together? Why did he lied?