Carrying the Real Trophy ✓

Chapter XII

XII: Better

"What's that? A ticket?"

Hinablot ni Ruth ang dalawang ticket na kakabili ko pa lang kanina bago ako pumunta rito sa kanila. His brows twitched as he scanned the entire ticket, word for word, letter by letter. Kinuha ko kaagad sa kaniya ang mga ito wala pang sampung segundo ang nakakalipas.

These are expensive!

"I'm a K-Pop fan," I said, biting my lower lip.

Sunod niyang kinuha ang poster na bagong bili ko rin. In order to see their faces, he took off the rubber that was sealing it.

"Seventeen, huh? That's the name of the group? Kung ikaw lang ang pupunta, bakit dalawa pa ang binili mo?"

I winced when I heard his question. Paano ko ba sasabihin sa kaniya ang rason ko na bumili ako ng dalawang ticket para saaming dalawa ni Rafael? But Rafael and I are not likely to attend the concert together, not even in the slightest! Isang linggo na yata kaming hindi nag-uusap!

"I w-want you to come! Isasama kita kaya dalawa ang binili ko!" palusot ko at hindi nagpahalata.

I don't think he'd buy that, though.

"Sure ka?" His eyes squinted.

"Why? You don't want it?"

He scrunched his nose. "I don't even know what K-Pop is. Besides, their faces are all the same! Paano ko makilala ang mga ito kung sasama man ako sa'yo?"

"They're not! Why are you so blind?"

"Here!" He pointed at the poster. "They all look the same, Riki. Sa height nga lang nag-iiba!"

"Bulag ka nga." Inirapan ko siya.

"But they're all handsome," his cheeky side is on display now. Nakita ko pa siyang napakagat labi.

That's when I knew he had a change of heart.

"Sasama na pala ako—"

Kinuha ko ang poser sa dalawa niyang kamay bago pa niya masabi ang kina-aayawan kong marinig!

"No, you won't."

His brows furrowed. "Bakla, bakit?!"

"Someone bought this one ticket, so I only have one. Ibibili na lang kaya kita? Then, you'll watch the concert on your own, hmm? How about that, Ruth?"

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Ruth. "What the fuck, Riki? Ayoko na nga! Aayain mo ako pero babawiin mo rin pagkatapos? Why did you buy two tickets from the start? Imposible namang may bumili ng isa! Did you ask your crush to watch with you? H'wag mong sabihing si Herard ang—"

"No freaking way, Ruth! Please stop mentioning him or anything related to him." I sighed and grabbed some popcorn from the bowl.

Kaagad siyang tumango. "Okay, I won't. Mas matindi ang galit ko sa gago na 'yon. Thank goodness my brother got back at him!"

"Hey. . ." I warned. "I said don't mention it."

"Fine, let's pay attention to the movie now," aniya at binaling na ang atensyon sa screen.

Pinagpatuloy naming panoorin ang movie na hindi namin natapos kahapon. Araw-araw ako sa kanilang bahay. Pagkatapos sa university, bago matulog, kapag walang ginagawa, pupunta ako rito, umaasang umuwi na si Rafael.

Since the day we fought, he has been gone! I don't know where he is right now. Ayaw ko namang tawagan ang phone number niya kahit aminado akong sobra iyong ginawa at mga sinabi ko.

I pouted. I'm missing him, though.

I told Ruth everything. Maliban na lang sa pag-aaway at pag-uusap naming dalawa ni Rafael no'ng isang araw, noong umulan nang malakas. Pati na rin ang naging away naming dalawa noong binugbog niya si Herard. Because I do not think Ruth is aware that there is an ongoing happenings between me and his brother. Hindi pa ngayon ang tamang panahon para sabihin ko sa kaniya ang lahat.