Memories Beneath The Shore

Chapter 6

Seconds? No. Minutes have passed at walang kumikibo sa aming apat.

Bia who's trying her best to act normal and stopping herself from smiling.

Kael who's just observing while eating his ordered food.

Me, who doesn't even know what to do. Magsasalita ba ko o aakto na parang wala lang at ipagpatuloy ang pagkain? But mukhang nawalan na ko ng gana.

And lastly, him who's sitting in front of me, looking at me with a smile on his face. That face.

Aaminin ko, nakakailang. Hindi lang dahil sa tinitignan niya ko kundi dahil pati ang ibang estudyanteng nasa paligid namin ay nakatingin na rin.

Ilang linggo palang na nandito siya sa school pero halos kilala na siya ng lahat ng estudyante dito, especially the girls. Well, it's not surprising naman. Given by his looks, matic na yun.

Sabi rin sakin ni Bia kahapon, may sarili na raw siyang fanclub dito sa school. Iba talaga if you have the face card, makikila ka agad ng lahat.

"So, ano po yung atin? Bakit po kayo nandito?" Pambabasag ni Bia sa katahimikan at bigla namang nabulunan si Kael.

Minadaling inabot ko sa kanya yung isang basong tubig.

"Okay ka lang ba?" I worriedly asked and he nodded. Nabulunan nga ito pero mukha namang nagpipigil ng tawa.

"Thanks Capt" he said habang nauubo pa rin.

Nakita ko ang bahagyang paglipat ng tingin ni Keiran kay Kael bago binalik sa akin habang si Bia naman ay abot langit ang ngiting nakatingin kay Keiran umaaktong hindi napansin ang nabulunang si Kael.

Did I just heard it right? She used po?

When Kael was already okay, the three of us looked at Bia. Parehong kunot at nagtatakang tinignan namin siya ni Kael samantalang nginitian lang ito ni Keiran, dahilan para mas lumapad ang pagngiti ni Bia.

"To know Aya more" Keiran answered before looking at me again.

I raised my eyebrows. "For what?"

"Project purposes" There he is again. His annoying playful smile.

Walang binigay na project samin na dapat kilalanin ang isa't isa. What does he mean by that? Project purposes? Is he playing around or what? Pwede naman kaming maging magpartner na hindi nagpapansinan tulad noong nakaraan.

Is this part of his plan ba? Ganun na ba kasama yung ginawa ko noong enrollment?

Napalingon ako kay Bia ng bigla itong tumayo. Takang tinignan ito ni Kael nang bigla itong tumigil sa harapan nito.

"Tara na" Pigil ngiting pag-aaya ni Bia sabay hila kay Kael para tumayo ito.

"Pero-" ani Kael habang hawak ang pagkain niya at tinuro pa ako nito but then Bia cut him off by giving him a look.

"Saan kayo pupunta?" I asked when Kael finally stood up.

Bia glanced at me. I glared at her but she just gave me a teasing smile with her eyes squinting.

"Natatae daw to" Bia pointed at Kael.

Gulat na napatingin naman sa kanya si Kael habang nginunguya ang pagkain samantalang rinig ko namang napatawa si Keiran. Napakurap kurap ako.

"Gago!? Hindi ka-" Kael whined but Bia abruptly cut him off by giving him a sharp look.

"Ka- kanina pa nga ako natatae" he said holding his tummy and acting like it hurts while still chewing his food.

Umirap ako.

"Kita nalang tayo later bestea. Balikan kita dyan kaya wag ka umalis"

Aangal pa sana ako pero alam ko namang hindi sila makikinig sakin at mukhang alam ko na rin kung bakit nila yun ginawa.