It's Time

4th Chapter

Nakakuyom ang kamao ko ngunit pinipigilan kong paliparin ito sa kaniyang mukha dahil sa hindi ako sigurado kung bakit nga ba ako nagngangalit.

The look in his face was full of sarcasm and challenge. Tila ba nanghahamon ng isang away.

"Oh, 'yan na. Kaya mo namang kumuha tapos uutusan mo pa ako."

Nilapag na ni Myrrh sa harapan namin ang isang plato na puno ng kimbap at tatlong soju. Nawala ang mabigat na pakiramdam sa akin ngayong nasa harapan ko na siya ulit.

"How's your studies?" Sambit ni Myrrh, nakabaling na ngayon ang paningin kay Symon.

"Good. Still on top."

Tinugunan niya 'yon gamit ang pagtango ng mukha at bibig na ngayo'y nakaawang sa amazement.

"What was your average?" Tanong ko kay Symon na agad naman nitong tinugunan.

"98.56%."

My jaw dropped. His average was just a bit higher than mine. How could I be so dumb?! He was higher than me!

"How 'bout you?" Balik nito sa akin ng tanong na siyang nagpakaba sa akin.

"Uhm..." "98.55%, Highest Honor."

With that, he slowly nodded. I grabbed the nearest chopstick I could find and started munching.

"May nanligaw na ba sa 'yo, Myrrh?" Tanong ni Symon.

"Ba't mo naman natanong? Wala pa naman." Sagot naman ni Myrrh habang tumatawa.

"May I have the permission to be the first one to court you?" He smoothly said and then grabbed a piece of kimbap.

Sinagot niya lang ito ng isang maliit at simpleng ngiti. Pagkatapos ay uminom sa soju'ng kinuha nito.

Is it a yes?

I don't know why, but when she answered him with a smile, I started to feel something... infuriating.

"I don't know." She said after a long silence.

What do you mean you don't know?

Is it a yes or not?

Si Symon ba o ako?

"Symon, I-"

Hindi naituloy ni Myrrh ang sasabihin nang biglang tumunog ang telepono ng kaibigan.

"Excuse me," paalam nito bago umalis saglit sa aming kinalalagyan.

After a lil' bit of time, Symon went off my place because of some family matter.

I grabbed her arm and made her look at me.

"Gusto mo ba si Symon? Magpapaligaw ka ba?"

Mataman ko siyang tinignan.

"Cy, what do you mean?" Sagot nito habang tumatawa.

"Do you... like him?" I said that before letting out a sigh. "Kasi malay mo gusto ko rin siya, diba?"

Nasabi ko na rin naman kanina sa coffee shop ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya nang hindi ko namamalayan. Pero, ayaw ko pa rin namang ibulgar ito kaya't iyon na lang ang sinabi ko.

"My gosh, sissy ko. Tulungan ba kita kay Symon?" And then she laughed out loud.

I rolled my eyes.

It seems that she's still clueless about how I feel. But, it's different with me. I can see that she's attracted to... That she's been shot by Cupid's arrow.

"I promise, Myrrh. Sasamahan kita sa bawat milestones ng buhay natin. Best friends till death."

I raised my soju bottle. "Geonbae." We made a toast for our friendship. Friendship.