The Heart of a Soul

Chapter 13

Amanda and I started talking once again. My friends were happy that I finally make up with Amanda. We had lunch with each other one time. Umabot na naman sa bangayan si Frezie at Amanda at pinagalitan pa nila si Amanda dahil hindi ipinaliwanag sa akin kaagad.

"Pa-mysterious ka kasi Amanda. Pinsan mo naman pala 'yang si Oliver. Hindi mo pa sinabi."

"Gia was crying because you broke her heart." Niyakap pa ako ni Maria habang hinahaplos ang buhok.

I pouted and hit her a little.

"I did not cry!" Well, I did but not in front of them. Sa harap lang naman ng student body. Alam kong iyon na ang bagong pang-asar nila sa akin. Back then, it was an emotional scene for me but when I look back to it now, it only gave me a lingering sadness and more comedic moment.

After knowing Amanda's relationship to Noah, it's just funny to me. To us. That I had to think so much about it only to find out they're actually cousins. Ang dami pa namang mga nag-aabang sa katotohanan at pagkatapos malaman, naging katawa-tawa na lamang ang mga spekulasyon ng lahat. It was forgotten as days past by though.

"Hindi naman kayo nagtanong. Hindi ko rin alam na gusto pala ni Gia si Oliver. Kung alam ko lang, baka nilakad kaagad kita!"

"Ah, you don't have to do that. It's too embarrassing."

"After all the embarrassing things you said! Mahihiya ka talaga ngayon, Gia?" si Moore na pinipigilang matawa.

I glared at her and she ended up bursting in laughter.

"Pero seryoso, I always thought they are closely related. They don't look really the same and the eyes are totally different. But the aura... it's like Noah is the boy version of Amanda."

"Namamana ba ang aura, Maria?" Puno ng sarkasmong tanong ni Frezie.

Natawa kami dahil doon. Maria just calmly shrugged.

"At least my intuition is still right. Nakatama pa rin ako."

"Buti 'di mo sinasabi 'yan tuwing tests."

"Hmm... sometimes."

Sometimes Noah join us for lunch. Kadalasan nga lang kasabay niya si Troy. I think he also found another friend I am not familiar with. Kilala ko lang naman ang mga estudyante rito dahil sa mutual friends. And my friends are only Frezie and the girls. Kung sinong kaibigan nila, 'yon lang din mga kilala ko. Si Amanda naman wala masyadong kaibigan. People might know her but she's only an acquaintance to them and not really a close friend. She doesn't care enough to them to mention their names to me.

Nothing really changes in our friendship. Palagi ko pa rin naiisip ang mga tumatakbo sa isipan ko dati. Tinatanong ko sa sarili ko kung bakit nga ba sumagi iyon dati sa utak ko. If people could read my thoughts from before, I know they'll die in secondhand embarrassment. Mukha namang alam ni Amanda kaunti ang mga tumatakbo sa utak ko. She doesn't mind that one bit though.

"You cannot control what to think especially if you like that person too much. I don't know about that feeling but I know it happens. The least I could do is to give you relief and support your feelings."

Iyon ang sabi niya sa akin sa tuwing humihingi na naman ako ng paumanhin.

Noah was still like before. It's not like he'd instantly like me just because I like him. That he'd be kind because I like him. I brought him too much trouble that I'm still embarrassed to face him. Hindi nga lang maiiwasan. Bukod sa magkatabi kami ng upuan, may mga activities na kami ang magkasama at pinsan niya pa ang kaibigan ko. And they knew about my feelings too.