Sincerely Yours, Eurentice

Chapter 13

Is It bad?

As I've entered the school gate, students are busy with their booths. Some are still starting making and some are already polishing their booths. I saw my classmates in the front yard of our classroom. That's where we build our booth for the upcoming event this week which is the inter-high. Classes are cancelled for the whole week for this event. We have already decided the design for it during our classroom meeting. Our theme is book-café. We will serve an iced-coffee and sandwich for our customer and we will lend them a free books to read.

I saw Annie waved her hand at me. Lucas quickly turned to my direction when he noticed Annie waving at me. Napailing nalang ako sa kanya. Ang lakas ng radar ng isang to.

"Hi Eurentice!" bati ni Lucas ng tuluyan na akong makalapit sa kanila. I just smiled at Lucas and started to ask if what could I offer to help. I am wearing a denim pants, a white printed T-shirt and a white sneakers since we won't have any classes today. 

They assigned me and Lucas in making some designs for our café. Marami namang stationary at card boards kaya we decided to just hand written in calligraphy forms  the quotes that we get from online. I also asked Charles to help us since he's good in cartooning. Ang iba naman ay abala sa pag-set-up ng mga gamit. Ang iba ay nagpi-print ng aming food menu. Our class treasurer and secretary went to the city proper to purchase the goods that will be using tomorrow.

"Are you hungry?" Lucas asked after a few hours had passed.

"Hmm, hindi naman." sagot ko sa kanya. Charles shifted his gazed at me and Lucas.

"Ako tol, gutom na. Bibili ka foods?" nakangisi niyang tanong kay Lucas. 

"Pera mo." nakangisi niya ring tanong kay Charles sabay lahad ng kanang kamay. Charles snorted and get his wallet.

"Brook!" tawag ni Lucas kay Brook. Agad namang lumapit si Brook sa kinaroroonan namin na nakangisi habang nagpalipat-lipat ang sa tingin sa among tatlo. I raised my eyebrow in annoyance. Para talagang sira ang isang to. "Tol, sama ka?" tanong ni Lucas sa kanya.

"Sa'n tol? Hanap na ba tayo ng bagong chix? Huwag na yang si Eurentice, masyado yang savage at nambabasted pa." nakakalokong sabi ni Brook. My eyes literally widened when I heard him say that. How did he know that I turned Lucas down? "Aray, tol!" reklamo niya ng batukan siya ni Lucas. "I am just stating a fact, tol. You were so down when you called me that morning, saying you haven't sleep dahil sobra kang nasaktan." dagdag niyang sabi sabay tingin sa akin ng mapang-asar.

"Bibig mo tol." may irita sa boses na sabi ni Lucas sabay hila ka Brook palayo sa amin. 

I don't know what to feel though. It's true naman that I turned him down. I'm not yet ready to be in a so-called relationship. I thought he's fine with it since wala namang nagbago after that night..

I sighed and continue the things I need to finish. Lucas and Brook are now walking towards the café while still continue their banters. I hope their friendship will not be stained because of it.

"You already turned him down?" maang na tanong ni Charles pagkaraan ng ilang saglit.

Sumimangot ako. Masama ba ang ginawa ko? I've been turning boys down ever since they started asking me out.  To be honest, Lucas was my first date. Siya lang ang hinayaan kong makipag-date sa'kin dahil komportable ako sa kanya. And it's just a friendly date. Why would I dare enter a relationship if I'm not yet ready to be in a serious one? I don't even know how to be a girlfriend in that matter.

"Why? Is it bad? I'm just being honest to myself. I'm not yet ready." sagot ko sa kanya habang mataman siyang nakatingin sa akin. Tumango siya sa sagot ko.

"Nakakatakot ka namang ligawan." bigla niyang sabi sabay tawa. "Maybe it's better to be just your friend.."

"Well, yeah. Friendship lasts while most of romantic relationship doesn't. Kaya ikaw, kung gusto mong magtagal ang pagkakaibigan natin, huwag kang manligaw." seryoso kung sabi sa kanya. He stares at me longer than the usual then he nods his head.

My parents started as high school sweethearts until they went to the same university. Their relationship are smooth sailing until one day, my father started to lose interest with my mom and their relationship. He prioritized he's study since he's taking medicine while my mom took culinary. And it's too late since I am already in my mom's womb when my father decided to end their relationship. He'll be taking his internship outside the country. Mom didn't tell my father about me and let him ended their long years of relationship. She doesn't want to be the hinder of my father's dream. She knew that it's my father's dream to be a well-known doctor since then and it's a great opportunity for my father to be one of the chosen one to represents the country for a research.

I always asked mom if she regretted not telling my father about me. She said no. The only thing she regret is starting their relationship so early. It took her years to finally move on from their relationship. Until now, I haven't met my father yet. Mom is still not yet ready to face him and I'm find with it.. I'm gonna wait for her to be ready. It's her feelings and emotions that I'll always considered. 

She's already married to an architect and have my two younger siblings. I wonder if my father already had his own. Maybe yes, after all, it's been years.

After a few minutes, dumating na sina Lucas at Brook bringing a juice in can and a brownies. I smiled thoughtfully at Lucas when he handed me a snacks. His ears immediately turned red which he earned a chuckle from me.