VIII
"Game." He inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly.
Nandito kami sa bandang dulo ng hallway, sa may bandang hagdanan. We have thirty minutes until the class starts. And as I promised, I'm helping him rehearse on how to reject the girls who will invite him.
May nag-invite na nga sakaniya kanina pagpasok, buti na lang at nagkataong kapapasok ko rin at hinila ko siya without a warning. Ang rude siguro ng dating no'n sa babae.
I breathed and started, "H-Harold. Uhh... ano kasi..." My acting talent, on.
My one other option aside from Journalism Club is Drama Club. But I don't know if I can manage the time. Lalo pa't active ang JC. Obvious-fucking-ly. Welcome Party pa lang needed na naming gumawa ng news reports. Kaya hindi na lang ako sumali.
And speaking of that, I haven't talked to Kriho since yesterday. Kasi no'ng nalaman kong bumagsak ako, I immediately pulled Raena and ran. I was too embarrassed to face him after boastfully thinking that I'd pass.
"What is it?" Harold asked while smiling brightly. He's really into this, huh?
"P-Pwede ba kitang maging d-date sa party?" Nilaro-laro ko pa 'yong daliri ko habang nakayuko para mas makatotohanan.
He bit his lip and scratched his nape. "I-I'm sorry but... may date na kasi ako." He smiled shyly. "You know Raena? The Queen bee? She's my date. I'm really sorry, lady."
My brows automatically narrowed because of the high-class term. "Anong lady? Miss would be okay—" I was interrupted correcting Harold when someone's arm wrapped around my shoulder. I looked at the person and a pair of hazel orbs welcomed my gaze. "Kriho?"
Inalis niya 'yong tingin sa'kin at diretsong nakipagtitigan kay Harold. "Ochoa." He greeted. "She's not serious about that invitation. She's my date already. My apologies, because she disturbed you. We had a misunderstanding and your best friend is childish." He smiled. "We're going. See you in class."
I didn't have the chance to speak because he already pulled me away from Harold. He just let me go when we reached the second floor.
"He's your best friend, right? Why did he reject you?" His brows creased. "I thought he's your date. That's why I didn't bother to be mad at you when you failed the test."
"Wait—"
"You owe me one. I saved you from humiliation and you have the chance to attend the party." He boastfully said and I swear I saw a shadow of smirk on his face.
This guy is too arrogant to be a Geek. Types of him are usually shy, right?
I stared at him with a plain expression. "I really have no intention of attending the party, kasi nga bagsak ako. Wala rin namang pwedeng mag-invite sa'kin, so I gave up. Plano ko na sanang sabihin sa'yo na maghanap na lang ng ibang pwedeng gumawa ng report for the party." I smiled from ear to ear. "But since you volunteered, then I don't have a choice. I'll be your date tomorrow. Wear nicely, President!" I blissfully walked away from him with his jaw dropped, and went down to attend the first class.
* * *
"Really?!" I exaggerated my reaction and I hope she didn't notice. "Did you accept it?!"
She pouted and her face flushed red. "O-Of course. I wouldn't waste that chance to attend the party. And he asked politely. Hindi siya katulad no'ng first encounter namin na nagyabang."
"I'm so glad to hear that!" Ngiting-ngiting sabi ko at pumalakpak pa.
The smile on her face vanished when she thought of something. "But how about you? Aren't you mad at me? I'll attend the party and you won't. Best friend mo pa 'yong date ko."
"Well..." Nakita ko sa gilid ng mata ko na naglalakad si Kriho papunta rito sa table namin. "I will attend the party."
"Ha? Pa'no?"
"Joshan, about earlier—"
"He invited me." I answered Raena's question and Kriho's beside me.
Raena raised her head to look at Kriho with her shock expression. "You invited her? You're capable of that?"
"I did not!" Kaagad na sagot ni Kriho na nagpawala ng ngiti sa mukha ko. He did not?
"What? Ano ba talaga?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Raena.
I released a fake laugh. "I-I am kidding, Raena. It was a joke. I'm not attending the party." I looked up at Kriho and tried my best to show a smile. "I'm sorry for that."
That's the first time someone rejected me. The first time. And it felt shit.
I immediately stood up and escaped from that embarrassing moment. I felt my eyes stung and became teary.
Tumakbo ko paakyat at nakarating ako ng rooftop. Pumunta ko sa kubo at umupo ro'n.
No one rejected me before. Kapag may hiling ako, tinutupad ni Dad. Kapag humihingi ako ng imported things from Canada, papadalhan ako ni Harold. Kapag may pinapaluto ako kay Manang Fe, niluluto niya without protest. Kapag sinabi ko kay Sydney na ayoko no'ng topic, papalitan muna namin ta's babalikan namin 'yong topic na inayawan ko sa susunod.
I hit my chest and breathed heavily. This is the first time I felt this. The first time, since I came out of the four walls of our house.
It hurts.
Pinunasan ko 'yong luha ko at huminga ng malalim bago sumandal.
One thing I couldn't accept is, he denied it. I mean, yes, I know it wasn't supposed to be a proper invitation. But he still said himself that he's my date. In front of Harold. Ang yabang pa nga niya, diba?
But when I told the news to my closest friend, itinanggi niya? That's humiliating! Raena might think that I'm delusional. She's my only friend tapos masisira pa image ko sakaniya?
I heard the door shut lightly. Lumingon ako ro'n at nakita ang hinihingal na Kriho.
I want to shout at him and ask what he's doing here. I want to tell him to get back inside. But then I remembered that he has the rights to come here because it's not mine, so I held myself. But my dad's the second sponsor, right? I can use the connection just this once, if I'd want to.
I shook that thought away. I'm spoiled but not a brat, alright. My dad raised me with class. I won't use his power just for this situation. I don't want to disappoint him either.
Kaya ako na lang ang lalabas.
Lalagpasan ko na sana siya nang hawakan niya 'yong braso ko. "I'm sorry."
Sydney taught me that if the person who's at fault apologized, I should accept it. But if his wrongdoing is heavy and very offensive for you, it's okay to not accept his apology right away.
Mabigat ba 'yong ginawa niya? Is it offensive? Yes, it is. Pero malay mo sinabi niya lang kay Harold 'yon kasi akala niya nga tinanggihan ako? Niligtas niya lang ako na mapahiya? Pero siya rin ang nagclarify na siya ang partner ko. Tapos biglang itinanggi niya kay Raena?
Baka kasi sinabi niya 'yon para marinig ni Harold kasi nga akala niya tinanggihan ako.
I mentally slapped myself. Oo, gano'n nga. I'm the one who misunderstood the situation. What a dumb girl.
Ngumiti ako sakaniya. "It's alright. I should be the one saying sorry. Sinabi ko sakaniya na ako 'yong partner mo kasi akala ko totoo. You just saved me from Harold nga lang pala." I chuckled. "Just want you to know na nagpa-practice lang kami ni Harold kanina. Humingi kasi ako ng favor sakaniya about the party, kaya tinulungan ko siyang magreject ng mga magyayaya sakaniya. You've been deceived but God knows I didn't mean that. I'm sorry."
Nakatitig lang siya sa'kin kaya natawa ko bago inalis 'yong kamay niyang nakahawak sa braso ko.
"You don't need to be guilty about what happened earlier. Trust me, no hard feelings." I assured him and was about to go in when he closed the door. I froze because I can feel how close he is.
"Joshan." I shuddered, not because of fear, but because of the intensity in his voice. I looked at him confusedly because his whole face is flushed red. "This invitation is serious now. No saving, no kidding." He looked at me with a nervous expression. "Will you be my date? Officially?"
