Of Love and Politics I: Juego Limpio - Completed

CHAPTER 21

Lily felt a stare from across the room and she automatically turned towards its direction. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nang mag tama ang mga mata nila ni Alana ay kumabog ng malakas ang dibdib niya. It was hammering against her ribcage and making her knees weak. Ang init ng titig nito sa kanya. And it's making her uncomfortable in ways that is pleasant.

The last time she saw Alana was a month ago. Alana had been keeping to herself mostly. Hindi niya na din ito madalas na makita sa likod ng Med building that's why she stopped coming through that pathway to her Biology class. Wala din naman kasing kwenta at hindi niya ito masisilayan doon.

Nagtataka nga siya kung anong pinagkakaabalahan nito nitong mga nakaraan. But she would catch Alana looking at her intensely and she felt something in her awakens.

Lily pretended to sip through her wine glass and looked at Alana's way. Hindi talaga nito inaalis ang titig sa kanya. At dahil nakatingin siya dito. Hindi niya napansin na iba na ang tinatahak ng likido sa lalamunan niya. She spurted the wine and quickly reached for a tissue on the table to dabbed it in her lips.

She coughed a couple of times dahil mahapdi ang guhit ng alak sa lalamunan niya.

"Are you ok?"

Rory fussed over her like she's a child. Napakagat ito ng labi nang makita ang mantsa sa damit niyang kulay puti.

"You looked like you had your period." Rory snickered. "But its on your front."

Umikot ang mga mata niya pero tinawanan lang siya nito. "Thanks Rory. You are a big help."

She swatted her bestfriend's hands away nang tangkain nitong alisin ang mantsa gamit ang panyo nito. But it wasn't helping. Lalo lang kumalat ang mantsa.

Nag angat ng tingin ang kaibigan niya at napangiwi. "I'm sorry, Lil."

"I need to go to the bathroom." She pushed Rory away for a distance at saglit na tiningnan ang deriksiyon ni Alana. Nakatingin pa din ito sa kanya. Nag init ang mga pisngi niya and she looked towards her bestfriend's way.

"And I'm coming alone. You are annoying me."

Rory smirked and put her hands up. Iiling iling na umalis siya sa tabi nito and when she looked at where Alana is, again. Her shoulder fell in disappointment. Wala na ito doon. What can she say? Ayaw nito ng maraming tao. It's still a surprise that Alana even attended this social gathering. Akala niya ba ay napipilitan lang ito? Wala dito ang mga magulang nito o kaya ang mga kapatid. So there's no reason for Al to be here. This was hosted by her father pero wala din dito ang Dad niya. He just festered her uncle to host the events. And her Uncle is right there on the center of the large hallway attending to some guest. Kaya hindi niya din ito makausap.

She shook her head. Bakit ba iniisip niya na naman si Alana? Isn't it enough na sinugod siya nito noong mga nakaraang buwan lang looking for her father? Is there something her father had done that made Alana mad?

Umakyat siya sa taas kung nasaan ang kwarto niya and she almost got a heart attack nang makita doon ang babaeng kanina lang ay iniisip niya. Her heart suddenly hammered against her chest. Napahawak pa siya sa dibdib niya dahil sa sobrang kaba.

Anong ginagawa nito dito?

Al was leaning on the wall next to the door of her bedroom. At tila nag iisip ito ng malalim.

Napahinto siya. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin habang nakatitig dito. Inaantay ba siya nito? Bakit? Hindi pa din ba ito tapos sa pag bibintang nito sa kanya noong nakaraan? What would Al say this time?

Lily looked around trying to find an escape. Pero wala siyang ibang daanan kung hindi ang hallway lang na iyon papunta sa kwarto niya. All her clothes are there at wala siyang ibang damit sa guest room. Hindi siya pwedeng dumaan nang hindi nito nakikita. If she'll go back it would be too obvious that she was avoiding Alana.