Knife

xxxix

Siguro naaawa ako sa kaniya kaya ko siya inimbita sa Baguio. Siguro hindi ko ini-expect na papayag talaga siya sa imbitasyon ko. I expected her to turn her chin up and scoff, but she didn't.

Seryoso siya sa desisyon niyang sumama sa akin. Sinuklay ko ang buhok ko sa salamin. Limang minuto na akong pabalik-balik dito sa salamin, naghahanap ng maaaring baguhin sa aking pananamit. I look okay now. Jacket over my tank top, duffell bags containing my clothes and items, and... Nothing. Wala nang kulang sa akin.

"Magkikita ba kayo ni Ben?" Si Aurelia habang nag iimpake din. "Kanina ka pa sa salamin ah?" She had a mischievous grin on her face.

I rolled my eyes. I wasn't thinking about Ben though. I'm thinking about a certain dark-haired girl standing outside our boarding house with a torn-up bag and oversized t-shirt.

"Close na pala kayo ni Elena?" Aniya habang dumudungaw sa bintana. She turned to me with a with one brow raised. "Inimbita mo siya sa inyo sa Baguio, pero ako hindi? Ouchy."

I glared at her. "Inimbita ko siya dahil... ano.."

She grinned. "Ano?"

"Her parents kasi..." Panimula ko. Mukhang natauhan si Aurelia at mabilis siyang tumango.

"No need to explain," aniya.

"At saka, kung inimbita kita, makakapunta ka ba?"

Her golden skin glimmered under the sun beam peeking through the window. She smirked. "Hindi."

"Oh, 'di ba? Busy ka kay Mikael."

Her cheeks flamed. "Oy, hindi kaya.." Kinikilig pa talaga. Umiling ako at sumandal sa plywood na pader ng kuwarto namin.

"Saan ka ba dadalhin ni Mikael?" Usisa ko. "Is he finally going to confess?"

Ilang buwan ko nang napapansin na wala paring label si Kael at Aurelia. Everyone in school knows that they're a thing except the two of them. Fucking hilarious.

"He's just inviting me sa Mansion nila as a friend," palusot niya.

"Oh my goodness, Aurelia. What do you mean he's just inviting you as a friend!? Friends don't do that! What's next? You'll fuck as a friend? Get married as a friend? Have children as a friend?"

Mas lalong pumula ang pisngi ni Aurelia. She glared at me, or at least tried to. She looks like a cute puppy when she's mad that's why nobody takes her seriously.

"So ano kayo ni Elena?" Natigilan ako sa tanong niya. "Friends don't invite each other? E bat inimbita mo siya sa Baguio? Is she not a friend? Is she more than–"

"Don't turn this against me!" Naiinis kong sambit. Tumawa si Aurelia. Her laugh always made me smile too. It's so full and bubbly. While I laugh like there's glass on my throat.

Lumingon ako sa baba at napatayo nang makita si Ben kausap si Elena. He's here! Napansin ni Aurelia ang pagkataranta ko.

"You can go, Cat. Dadating na din iyon ngayon si Kael."

"Sure ka?"

Tumango siya. "Mmm-hmm."

I slung the bag around my shoulder and kissed my friend's cheek. "Have a nice Christmas, Aurelia. See you ngayong January." I smiled fondly at her and she did the same. We hugged once more but I couldn't help but pull my camera out.

"Picture na naman?" Aurelia groaned.

Ngumuso ako. "Sige na! Baka ito na ang huling picture nating dalawa dahil baka maging housewife ka na next year."