The Mendacious Top Tier

Chapter 37: Polaroid Pictures

"Sa wakas, natapos na rin tayo!" Cyfrin said with a relieved tone.

I took the soap and washed my hands at the tap. Cyfrin did the same after I finished.

"Kailangan ko yatang maligo. Ayaw maalis sa katawan ko ang amoy ng baboy," he complained while smelling himself. I started stretching my body gently naman ng maramdaman ko ang pagod sa body ko.

"Buti alam mo," I said sarcastically.

Napasimangot naman s'ya. "Parang hindi rin kumapit sayo ang amoy, ah."

"There is no bad smell on me so why should I take a bath?"

"Ano'ng wala? Naaamoy ko nga rito. Kung hindi ka maliligo, sigurado akong ma-tu-turn off si Henry kapag naamoy ka n'ya," he said confidently.

I breathed heavily. I stopped stretching and smelled myself. I just smell like sweat lang naman, but baka ma-turn off nga talaga si Henry sa akin.
    

                               ***

After I finished taking a shower and got dressed. I left the CR nang matapos na ako sa pag-aayos. Inilibot ko naman ang paningin ko ng hindi ko makita si Cyfrin. Nasaan na naman ba s'ya?

I took out my cellphone and messaged Cyfrin, asking where he was. Immediately, my cellphone rang.

Message from: Foodie

Nasa Zoey Restaurant kami ni Rafael at ng boyfriend mo. Ang tagal mong matapos kaya nagutom ako. Ayaw sana sumama ng boyfriend mo, pero pinilit ko kaya sumama na siya sa amin hehe. Peace.

I rolled my eyes after I read it and went to the Zoey restaurant he was talking about. Minutes have passed, and I'm here in front of Zoey Restaurant. I went inside and looked around the whole restaurant. Almost all the items here are color beige. Simple lang ang design but ang aesthetic and ang ganda tingnan.

When my eyes caught Cyfrin, I approached them. There was an empty seat next to Henry, so I sat there.

"Why do you always leave me?" I crossed my arms while looking at them. Cyfrin put the fried chicken he was holding on his plate and looked at me.

"Nagugutom kami kaya dapat intindihin mo kami," Cyfrin said.

"Ikaw lang naman ang palaging gutom . . . hindi kami," Rafael said.

"I fucking agree," sambat ni Henry. Napasimangot naman si Cyfrin.

"Parang hindi rin kayo kumain," angal ni Cyfrin.

I laughed. "How did he get the two of you to agree to accompany him?"

"Dahil pinsan ka niya," Henry and Rafael answered at the same time. I just laughed.

After we finished eating, we immediately returned to the farm. There are new activities that they have provided, but this time not everyone is required to join. I feel relieved naman kasi nakakapagod talaga 'yong pag-bath ng mga pig kanina. Dalawa lang 'yong na bath ko but na pagod na kaagad ang body ko.

"You look fucking tired. You should rest at the tent." I heard Henry said those so I looked at him.

"I will do that later. Ikaw, hindi ka ba magpapahinga?" I asked worriedly. I'm sure pagod din s'ya.

"Nawawala ang pagod ko kapag pinagmamasdan ko ang mukha mo," he said seriously. I bite my lips to stop myself from smiling.

"Gano'n ka bilis?" I asked unbelievably.

He nodded. "Can I hug you, love?"

I looked around. "Many people are--"

I couldn't finish what I was going to say when he suddenly hugged me. "Thank you for being my source of energy."

I can feel that my heart is beating so fast. I immediately removed his arm from hugging me. It would be embarrassing if he could hear the speed of my heartbeat. Baka isipin n'ya sa simpleng hug ay kinikilig na ako.

"There are a lot of people here. You should understand that," I said seriously. I was about to turn away from him, but suddenly he grabbed my hand.

"Madami ba talagang tao o ayaw mo yakapin kita?" he asked in a lower voice. Why did his voice suddenly sound sad?

"No, it's not like that. It just . . ."

"It just?"

I breathed heavily. I should tell him the truth. "My heart beats so fast, and I don't want you to hear that."

He smiled and put my hand he held on his chest. I can feel the speed of his heart beating.

"Do you fucking feel it?"

"Yes," I answered, relieved. It turns out I'm not the only one whose heart beats faster. Pati rin pala s'ya.

                                ***

Naalimpungan ako ng may yumuyugyog sa shoulder ko.

"What?" I asked irritatedly as Cyfrin's face appeared in front of me.

"We have to prepare. We will go home later," he said.

I got up. "Bakit ang bilis naman?"

"Tapos na ang field trip kaya kailangan na natin umuwi," he explained while putting some of his things in his bag.

"When will the bus pick us up?" I asked and napahikab. Inaantok pa kasi ako.

"The bus will be here in thirty minutes kaya bilisan ang kilos mo." He closed his bag and went out of the tent.

My eyes widened when he said. Shit, bakit ngayon lang n'ya ako ginising?

                               ***

We are now in the waiting area. They said that the bus will pick us up would arrive in ten minutes.

"Excuse me, pinsan mo ba si Cyfrin?" I looked at the person who asked me those.

"Yes, he's my cousin. Why did you ask?" I asked confusedly.

"Puwede ba tayong mag-usap na tayong dalawa lang? May sasabihin kasi akong important sayo." I looked at the box she was carrying. I smiled naman. Will she give that to Cyfrin?

"Okay, we can talk." I got up from sitting and followed her. After a while, she stopped walking.

"Ano ba 'yong sasabihin mo na important?" I asked curiously.

"Alam kong hindi mo totoong pinsan si Cyfrin," she said seriously.

My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean by that?"

"Hindi mo ba talaga alam? Or nagpapanggap ka lang talaga na walang alam?"

"Cyfrin is my cousin. If you don't want to believe it, it's not my problem anymore," I said, and I was about to turn my back on her, but I paused when she said something.

"Kung hindi mo talaga s'ya pinsan. Bakit naging sila ni Ayshil?"

It was like a cold water was poured on me when I heard it. She handed me the box she was holding.

"Kung ayaw mo pa rin maniwala. Open that box, my evidence d'yan that I'm telling the truth," she explained.

I breathed heavily and open the box. My eyes widened when I saw the polaroid picture of Cyfrin and Ayshil. I looked at them one by one. They look like a couple in the picture.

"Who are you? Why are you telling me this?" I asked seriously.

She smirked. "Hindi ba obvious na friend ako ni Ayshil so al--"

I slapped her hard in the face. Her eyes widened as if she couldn't believe that I did that to her.

"Don't you dare say that! I know all of her friends, and I'm sure hindi ka n'ya naging kaibigan," I said angrily. I can feel my blood boiling.

She laughed naman. "Tama ka, hindi n'ya ako kaibigan, but importante pa ba 'yon? Hindi ba dapat kailangan mo nang tanungin ang sarili mo kung bakit hindi mo alam ang mga bagay na 'to?"

I felt na nanghina ang knee ko kaya napaupo na lang ako. Is it really true?