We go back at the reception hall together. Nauunang maglakad si Zac sa akin habang ako ay nanatiling nasa likod nya.
Everyone looked at us, a bit shocked. Maybe they're all confused why he's with me.
"Caelus! We've been looking for you kanina pa. What took you so long? Why are you with.... her?"
I bited my lips as I feel those stares from them. It feels like they're all judging me here, even Ate Blea. Nakakunot ang noo nya habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa. She's even holding a cup of blue lemonade.
Zac didn't answer Hannah's question. Bahagya syang umabante papunta sa gawi ko para magkatapat kami.
My eyes widened when he held my right hand infront of his friends! Hindi ko naman alam na seryoso pala sya sa sinasabi nya kanina. He even intertwined our hands and confidently faced his friends who are now all shocked.
Inilibot ko ang paningin kahit na pakiramdam ko ay sobrang tensyonado ng paligid. Si Rina ay umiwas ng tingin at parang hindi naman nabigla. Ate Blea's mouth was almost half open, muntik nya na ding mabitawan ang cup ng blue lemonade na hawak. She shooked his head with dissapointment before turning her back.
"Clein!"
"Ate!"
Bumitaw ako sa pagkakahawak at patakbong sinundan si Ate Blea na pabalik sa hotel.
"Ate!"
Hindi nya man lang ako nilingon at dire-diretso lang ang lakad. Ang ibang mga staffs at visitors ay pinagtitinginan na kami.
Napatigil lang sya ng nasa tapat na sya ng pintuan ng room namin. Padabog syang pumasok doon. Nakahawak lang ako sa kamay ko at bahagya iyong pinipisil.
Ngayon ko lang nakitang magalit si Ate Blea ng ganyan. At hindi ako sanay!
"Ate," I call her again. This time, she faced me. I can see through her eyes how mad she is to me.
"What Celestine! Explain that bullshit!" agad akong napalayo dahil sa sigaw nya. She even call me using my second name. That's how mas she is.
"I-its n-not w-what you're t-thinking----"
"God, Celestine! Are you using your mind? Sa dami ng lalaki sa mundo, why Zac? We have talked about this already, right? Na hindi pwede ang kaibigan. What happened, Psalm?" she massaged her forehead, out of frustration.
I was about to go near her when she raised her hand to make me stop.
"Ate, I-im sorry. I-i l-like Zac already. I d-didn't know that he's your friend when I started to liked him. Believe me, Ate." My voice almost cracked and the a tears from my eyes fell.
Patuloy pa din sya sa pag-iling.
"It's okay naman sa'kin na mag-boyfriend ka. But.... why Zac? He's years older than you! He fucking likes Rina for years Psalm!"
Hindi na ako nagulat. I was expecting that actually. That Zac likes Rina since then. That their feelings were mutual. I gasped.
"Maybe that was years ago, Ate. Zac likes me now. He even gave me an assurance. He said that he'll wait for me until we're both ready for----"
"And you believe him?" she said, sarcastically. I bited my lips and met her eyes.
"Yes Ate! I believe him. You're my sister, he was your friend. How can you say that to Zac? How can you doubt Zac words?" hindi ko na mapigilang pagtaasan sya ng boses. I know this isn't good.
"That's it Psalm Celestine! He's my friend kaya alam ko kung ano ang ugaling meron sya! We've been friends since high school kaya alam ko kung sino ang nagugustuhan nya. He never date someone because he's into Rina! Don't you see kanina, they're all teasing them together. You're making yourself a martir!"
