Playing Cupid (YL Series #1)

Chapter 2

The entire time after that, I was distracted. Somehow, bumilis ang oras at bigla ko nalang narinig ang bell. Ah, lunch na pala.

Lumabas na ang teacher namin at nagsi-tayuan na ang mga kaklase ko. Umingay na naman ang classroom at umalis na ang iba para bumili ng pagkain sa cafeteria habang ang iba naman ay nilabas ang kanilang baon.

As usual, sumama si Mateo sa mga friends niya para kumain. Even though we're best friends, minsan lang kami kumain ng sabay sa school. I like eating alone and he likes to eat with his friends. And we don't have any conflict about it because we understand each other. He also knows that I prefer to be alone so that I can relax my mind, think to myself, and sometimes study.

"Hey, Esme, di ka pa kakain?" tanong sa akin ni Weslie.

"Ah, oo nga pala. Tara, bibili ka ba sa cafeteria? Samahan mo na ako para makita mo yung daan papunta sa cafeteria." sabi ko at tumayo.

"Yea, sure. Bibili rin ako ng lunch." she replied and stood up.

Sabay kaming pumunta sa cafeteria at pinakita ko na rin sa kanya ang pasikot sikot ng school. Nagkwentuhan din kami about what happened during the time na hindi kami nagkita.

Pumila na kami at bumili ng pagkain tapos dinala ko siya sa table na lagi kong ginagamit. It was the one near the window.

We ate and continued telling each other stories. In the middle of eating, she suddenly remembered something. "Ah, oo nga pala! Hindi ako bumili ng drinks. Wait lang, ah?" paalam niya at pumila ulit para bumili ng drinks.

Nagulat ako nang biglang lumapit si Mateo at umupo sa harapan ko. He smiled at me.

Tumigil ako sa pagkain at binaba ko ang kutsara't tinidor ko. Tinignan siya at tinaasan ng kilay. "Okay, what the hell do you want this time?"

"What do you mean? Can't I seat with my pretty best friend?" pagmamaang-maangan niya.

I just stared at him with a blank face. Did he really think that he could fool me? I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Shut up. Just hurry up and tell me what you need."

"Fine. So, I heard you were friends with Weslie since you were kids and that you went to the same school when you were elementary before she left and moved to a different country---don't ask how I know, rumors spread hella fast"

"Get to the point. What do you want?" I asked even though I can already guess what he wants.

He held his hands together and intertwined his fingers. It seemed like he was hesitating. "Umh.. I want to request my super maganda at mabait na bestie to help me get closer to Weslie." he said which once again, broke my already broken heart.

I forced a smile. "Oh, okay? You're talking to the wrong person then. I don't know who that is so go leave me alone and find her." I joked, hiding the pain I was feeling.

"Ihhh sige na Esmeeeeee pretty pleaseeee??? You know naman that you're my only best friend, right?"

"I don't wanna though? Tell me why should I help you muna. Do you even like her? Baka mamaya gagawin mo lang siyang rebound. Did you forget? Kanina lang umaga nagmumukmok ka at nagdadrama dahil sa ex mo."

"I know, but past is past. Tama ka nga, its been 7 months kaya dapat magmove on na ako. You know me, Esme. I'm not the type of person who plays around with girls."

I scoffed. "Are you fricking serious? Just a few hours ago you were moping around because of your ex----"

"Esme, that was because I was listening to sad songs. We both know that I've moved on. I'm fine now, sadyang madrama at oa lang ako." pag putol niya sa sinabi ko.

"Huh, really now? Okay, let's say that you're fine now, but we both know that your wounds haven't fully healed yet. Proof to that is you still feel sad remembering her. Baka masaktan mo lang si Weslie, so no." I firmly told him. He already hurts me so much every day. Baka saktan lang din niya si Weslie.

He tilted his head. "I only want to get to know her though?"

"But you're interested in her, Mateo. After you get to know her, you'll date her." I said, my voice cracking while trying not to cry.

Maybe the real reason why I don't want to help him is because I know that they already liked each other. Maybe I just don't want then to end up together. It already hurts enough to see Mateo with someone else, how much more if that someone was my friend?

"I'm sorry, but that has nothing to do with you"

And that completely shattered my already broken heart. I forced a smile and held back my tears. "You're right. What does it have to do with me? But just saying, it also has nothing to do with me if you like her. Its not my obligation to help you especially if I know that you can hurt her. So go and f*cking do it yourself."

"Hey, did I offend you? I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way---"

"No, its alright. You can leave now, pabalik na si Weslie at nawawalan ako ng gana makita lang ang mukha mo. And, I'll think about your request so leave NOW." pagputol ko sa sinabi niya at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

Lumingon si Mateo at nakita na ng si Weslie na naglalakad papunta sa amin na may dalang drinks. He glanced at me before running away.

I felt broken and mad at the same time. I'm on the verge of tears but I also feel like I want to grab Mateo's neck and strangle that piece of crap to death.

Habang minumura ko si Mateo sa utak ko, lumapit na si Weslie at umupo sa pwesto niya kanina. "That was Mateo, right? Bat bigla siyang umalis?" She asked, confused.

"Ewan ko sa kanya. Napaka-weirdo niya eh" sabi ko nalang.

She laughed. "You two seem close, huh"

I paused. Tinignan ko si Weslie at napansin kong nakatingin siya kay Mateo. I sighed. "Why? You like him?" Biro ko.

Namula siya. "No!"

"You know, if you like him, you can have him. He's all yours. Ibebenta ko na siya sayo for 5 million pesos. Nakasale na yan dahil kaibigan kita" biro ko na naman.

She rolled her eyes. "I just said I didn't like him. Plus, We've literally just met a few hours ago. I'd be crazy if I liked him immediately"

"But you are crazy" I joked once again which made her frown. Well, if you're crazy then Mateo must be absolutely, completely, 100% insane.

"You didn't change at all, huh? You're still as annoying as ever."

"And you're still as fun to tease as you used to"

She rolled her eyes. "Kumain ka nalang at manahimik"

I kept laughing and continued teasing her. Maybe its fine to forget Mateo's request and what he said for a while. I will cry and let everything out later but for now, I should enjoy my time.