lilies.

46

Kabanata 46

Nasa Kalayaan na banda ang sasakyan namin nang tumunog ang cellphone ko para sa tawag ni Wendy. Sinagot ko iyon.

"Finally! You answered..." tili niya sa kabilang linya. "You were a hot topic all throughout Christmas. Mygod. Tinatanong ako ng mga kaibigan ko pero hindi ko alam ang sagot."

I only listened to her.

"So ano nga? Kayo ba o hindi? They asked Rai, too."

"And? Anong sinabi niya?" I probed.

"That you guys are friends. A few believed him but some didn't. Ang dami ring galit sa'yo na girls. So ano na nga? Were you arranged? Your families want you together? What?"

"We're only friends, Wendy," I only answered.

"You never held hands with anyone, Lily. He even held your waist. He looked so in love when he looked at you in that photo! Lily!"

Pumikit ako ng mariin. Paano ko tatakasan ito?

"We're only friends. My best friend is his close friend, that's why we're close. That's there to it," I explained and tried to add more to it to make it more believable, "If I would be dating someone, you'll be the first to know. Isa pa, Rai Tanada doesn't date. I'm sure everyone knows that."

"Because Lily, there's always an exception to the rule, akala ngayon ng lahat ikaw na iyon. That... finally, Rai is seriously dating you. You're not the type of girl who would be up for his games, so most of us believed that you are the one."

Tinikom ko ang bibig ko. We're already playing that game she's talking about. When you're lying, try to limit your words or you'll give yourself away.

"I'm not, Wendy, we're only friends."

"Not everyone would believe that but I'm sure every family who's eyeing to merge with your family would be threatened by this news."

Wendy's right. The moment I stepped out of our car in the North Entrance, I saw William Elizalde again with the same bouquet of roses he usually gets me.

Inabot niya agad sa akin iyon. Tinitigan ko lang ang bulaklak. He knows it by now.

"Just receive it. My bodyguards are watching," Pinilit niyang ilagay sa kamay ko ang bulaklak. Lumapit siya sa tainga ko, "Next time you're seen with someone, make sure that you're marrying him the next day, so you won't have to see me again doing this."

Matapos non ay umalis na siya. My hell of a day didn't end there. There are other people waiting for me on my way to the classroom. Kahit taga ibang college!

"Lily, is it true?"

"Are you dating Rai?"

Ang ilang mga tao ay nag-aabang sa sagot ko. Ang iba namang babae ay masama ang tingin sa akin. I hate this. Mas okay pa sa akin na i-backstab nila ako kaysa ganito na lahat sila ay ginigisa ako.

"No, we're only friends."

"Friends don't hold hands," sarcastic na sabi ng isa.

I sighed. Nagkibit balikat lang ako. I would sound so defensive if I talk. I don't usually answer these questions.

"Hindi lang nakuhanan ng picture pero pinakilala ka na raw niya sa Mommy niya!"

I don't want to admit it but I know it is not safe to lie in this situation. Paano kung biglang lumabas ang picture at nagsinungaling na ako?

"It's because we're family friends. Hindi ako pinakilala dahil magkakilala na kami noon pa," I answered, remaining truthful as much as possible.

May isang lalaki roon na nakatayo sa bukana ng NE Building na may bitbit na bulaklak na naman!