The Boyfriend Project (COMPLETED) #Wattys2016

Thirteenth

13 - Dinner date

I woke up feeling a lot of better. Nakatulog pala ako sa couch. The door creaked open and I saw Awit.

"Great. You're awake."

"Anong oras na?"

"Alas tres na." My eyes widened at the realization. I looked around, searching for something or someone.

"Umalis na yung jowa mo." A said, as a matter of fact.

I glared at her.

"What? I'm just telling the truth." Gumana na naman ang pagkakulit ni A. "You feeling better? "

I nodded and stood up. Makapag-ayos muna. Grabe, wala pala akong nagawa for the whole day.

"G," A called out.

Nilingon ko sya as I made my way to our room.

"We're gonna eat outside tonight."

Tumango na lang ulit ako.

"And you bring your boyfriend. It's due already."

"What?!!"

"Wag kang mag-alala. I told him about it already. He's fine with it."

Kinabahan ako. Hala?! I'm not prepared. At di ko maintindihan ang sarili ko. God, I was not expecting to see him this soon. Okay sana kung bukas pa or if mamaya, yung kaming dalawa lang.

"I'm sure C would be estatic." I heard A mumbled.

I'm nervous about what will happen on our dinner. Especially because of my sudden realization earlier. Naiilang ako and I'm embarassed about it. I know I can hide some of my feelings to Simon but I'm sure I'll slip. And that would be bad kasi I'm sure mahahalata yun ng two roommies ko.

Ohmaygahd. I dunno what to do!!!!

Since there's still time, I made myself busy. I did some schoolwork. Andiyan na naghihintay yung thesis ko for some revision, projects, papers at mga reading materials.

Dahil naging abala ako sa schoolwork, ipinaalala sa akin ni A yung dinner namin.

"Can I just stay here?" I said habang nakaupo sa kama ko.

"Why?"

"Uhmm... House-sitting."

She smirked at me.

"OUCH!!"

Hinimas ko ang noo ko na pinitik ni A. I pouted.

"Stop being a chicken."

"HALLOOO GIIIRRRLLLSSS!!"

"Andito na si C."

I watched C as she made her dramatic entrance.

"OMG! I'm so excited. After a few moments, darating na ang mga escorts natin."

Dumating na sina Tom at Paul. Si Simon na lang ang hinihintay namin. Kinakabahan ako.

My phone starts ringing. Agad kong sinagot yun.

"H-hello." I stuttered. Ano ba, Gale? Umayos ka!!

"Hi Gale. Okay ka na ba?"

I nodded, then I remembered na sa phone ko lang sya kausap. "Ye-yes. Okay na ako." Stupid, Gale.

"Good. Ano, Gale? Pwede bang mauna kayo sa kakainan natin? Sunod na lang ako."

I stop myself before I let out a sigh. Disappointed, "You sure?"

"Yes, medyo ma-late lang ako ng konti kasi tinatapos lang namin ang exer sa lab."

"Okay."

He ended the call. I sighed. Nalulungkot ako dahil sa di ko sya makikita agad.

Ugh. Ang weird ko na. Kanina lang, di ako mapakali na baka makita na sya agad. Ngayon naman. Hays.

"Gale!! Asan na ang boyfriend mo?" C asked.

"Sunod na lang daw sya." I tried to sound normal. Pero ewan, nalulungkot ako.

I'm being weird.

--------

"Fifteen minutes daw. Willing to wait." Tommy grinned as he sit beside Coleen.

"Very good, Tommy ko." C beamed.

"Of course naman. Ako pa!"

"Syempre. Pero di ko lang ma-gets, bakit pinatulan si Coleen?" I commented, grinning.

"Tama ka, Gale. Pag minsan, napapa-isip din ako."

"TOMMY KO!"

I heard A and Paul laugh.

"Oh, break na yan!!" Sigaw ni Paul.

"Oy! Wag kayong ganyan kay C." A said, seriously.

"Buti ka pa, A." C said dramatically.

"Oo pala. Di pa tayo nakakapag-restock ng tissue sa bahay. Bukas na lang, Tommy."

"Nakaka-inis kayo!" C declared, crossing her arms on her chest and pouting like a kid.

I heard Tommy chuckled. "I love you, Coleen."

And with that sentence, I saw my friend melted under her boyfriend's gaze.

I texted Simon na nasa isang pizzaria kami. My friends started chatting and catching up. Naging busy na kasi kami sa acads plus orgs namin.

After 10 minutes, na-serve na agad yung barkada size pizza. Patuloy pa rin sila sa kwentuhan na naging bonding moments na rin nang magpartner. Parang ewan, naging double date at fifth wheel ako.

"Asan na si Simon?"

"Papunta na daw. I'll check outside."

Buti na lang napansin ako ni A. I took the chance to slip out. Medyo na-OP na ako. Anyway, kung wala pa si Simon, sa labas ko na lang sya hihintayin.

How I wish na andito na si Simon para di ako ma-out of place. Alam ko naman na kanina lang ay ayoko siyang makita. Nahihiya kasi ako, okay?

Ugh. Kahit kailan talaga ang gulo ko!! Pati sarili ko di ko maintindihan.

Girls are so indecisive. Ang hirap intindihin.

When I got outside, saktong nakita ko si Simon. He was laughing and shaking his head. He looked at his side and told something sa kasama nya.

Nung tinignan ko ang kasama niya, I felt a stab of pain in my heart. The stab breaks my heart into million pieces. Shattered.

Simon is smiling to a girl and he looks like he is enjoying.

I never thought that I'm so stupid to watch a scene that may haunt me for the coming nights. Pero eto na e. Pinapanood ko si Simon na kasama ang babae na maghintay ng jeep.

Patuloy silang magkwentuhan hanggang sa may tumigil na jeep sa tapat nila. Nakita kong iniabot ni Simon ang mga libro sa babae at kumaway dito.

Nang makasakay na ang babae sa jeep, nandun pa rin si Simon na kumaway ulit hanggang sa umalis na tuluyan ang jeep.

I saw that he's still smiling, shaking his head as if remembering some amusing thought.

He was happy.

And I am in pain.

Why am I feeling this way?

After all the realizations, bakit ngayon pa?