Sincerely Yours, Eurentice

Chapter 17

Girls

I laughed at the two girls in front of me who were both sniffing like actresses in a heavy drama. Our graduation is fast approaching! And the three of us won't be in the same school since we take different courses. Annie will study in some prestigious university in Paris since she will take up a fashion design course, she will stay at his father who lives there. Chloe will take up education since that's her dream profession since then and she will go to the other province to study. While I'm going to stay in my hometown. I'm going to take architectural engineering.

"I'm sure talaga na hindi mo kami ma-mimiss kasi tinatawanan mo lang kami habang umiiyak!" akusa ni Chloe sabay hampas sa akin.

"Pala-desisyon ka." asar ko sa kanya. She pouted and crossed her arms.

"Ice Queen yan. Baka nakalimutan mo, Chlo? Kailan ba natin nakitang umiyak ang isang yan?" komento naman ni Annie na abala sa pag-aayos ng kanyang magulong buhok ngayon.

"Right." sang-ayon ni Chloe na masamang tumingin sa akin. I chuckled and pinitik ang kanyang noo. "Ouch. Mapanakit talaga." reklamo niya.

I'm going to miss these two dwarfs for sure. I shook my head and patted their head. Wala na akong maiingay na kasama palagi if ever.

"Para naman kaming tuta niyan Entice!" reklamo ng dalawa. I laughed to my heart's content.

"Cute kaya ang tuta." dag-dag asar ko sa kanila.

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Anyway, kayo na ba ni Lucas? Ayiiieeeh! Aminin!" mapang-asar na sabi ni Chloe.

"Nope." mabilis kong sagot sa kanya. Sumimangot siya at bumaling kay Annie. They exchange knowing glances. I raised my eyebrow at them.

"Akala ko sila na kasi di ba? It's already been eight months since Lucas started courting her?"

"Right. Ano pa kayang hinihintay ng kaibigan natin?"

"Baka gusto niyang maagaw si Lucas ng iba diyan?"

"Yeah, nakita ko pa naman siya kahapon with that Miss Congeniality na parang Koala kong makakapit sa braso ni Lucas! I went to school yesterday. Kasi may audition for the next dance troupe and I'm one of the judges."

"Well, persistent din naman ang babaeng yon. Ang sarap ipatapon sa ibang planet. Anyway, baka friends lang talaga sina Luke and Eu?"

"I heard you two. Don't pretend that I am not here." I said as I rolled my eyes at them.

"Hindi mo naman sinasabi sa amin kung ano na ang status niyo ni Lucas." nakaingos na sabi ni Chloe. Sumegunda naman si Annie sa kanya.

"Well, I turned him down the other day.." again. Gusto ko nalang talagang maglaho sa mundong ito. I can't understand myself as well.

I bit my lips after seeing how their eyes widened in disbelief. I sighed.

"What? Why?" sabay nilang tanong. I opened my mouth to explain all the things they needed to hear.

"Honestly, I don't think I am ready for it. But I don't want him to stop the things we had but I don't want to be in a relationship yet. We're still both young. I really don't know what to do so I turned him down after professing to me on one of our movie dates.. Nasaktan ako ng makita ang expression ng mukha niya. I'm the problem. I know but I'm afraid. There are a lot of what if's in my head. He probably won't understand me.."

Chloe and Annie both hug me after I told them the things that've been bugging me since last night.

"Entice, we understand you but we don't think that Lucas won't be hurt and won't be disappointed. He's really sincere when it comes to you. We know that you knew it." mahinang sabi ni Annie.

"Is this the first time that he asked you to finally be his girlfriend?" Chloe asked.

"It's the third time." sabi ko. Una ay nung acquaintance party namin, pangalawa nung birthday ko at pangatlo ang kahapon.

And again, nanlaki ang kanilang mga mata.

"Entice! Grabe naman." reklamo nilang dalawa.

"I know! But what can I do? Should I say yes even if I'm not yet ready? What if we both fucked up in our so-called-relationship? What if we aren't really for each other? We're still in our teenage years, too early to start a serious relationship. What if we're just going to hurt each other one day? I don't think I can make it through. Hulog na hulog ako sa kanya pero pinipigilan kong makipag-commit kasi natatakot ako."

"Gosh, Entice. You already fucked-up. But even so, we're just here." Chloe said as she held my hands to comfort me.

"But you must be prepared for some changes." Annie said,

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think he will still treat you the same after rejecting him for what? Third time? Baka kung ako sa Lucas, matagal na akong lumipat ng ibang school!"

"Well, I don't want to be selfish so kahit anuman ang gagawin niya, I'll let him." labas sa ilong kong sabi dahil wala pa man ay nasasaktan na ako sa isiping we won't be the same anymore.

It's Sunday and we're here in my room doing nothing. They visited me when both of them tried to call me on my phone but couldn't reach me. I purposely turned it off. I didn't want to think about anything so I decided to paint. But before I could finish it, the two came with a loud bang in my room. Nagsabay pa talaga silang dalawa, like a mother hen na putak ng putak kasi hindi ako ma-kontak. They're worried, I know. My grandma isn't here kaya ako lang mag-isa ngayon.

They both decided to have a sleepover when I asked them what their backpacks were doing in my room. Girl scout talaga ang dalawa dahil kahit ang school things nila ay dala nila.

I might not be lucky to have a complete family but I am lucky to have a friend who's always here for me.

After the talk, we decided to have a movie marathon. Hindi na busy sa school works dahil this coming Friday ay graduation day na namin kaya nakahinga na kami ng maluwag dahil pawang graduation practice nalang ang pinagkakaabalahan namin and some minimal school papers.

"Good night, girls." I said ng mapag-desisyunan na naming matulog. Nagkasya kaming tatlo sa aking double size bed wearing our PJ's.

"Good night, both." Chloe murmured.

"Good night, I love you two." Annie whispered and dozed off to sleep.

I smiled and closed my eyes to succumb to a deep slumber.