Responsibilities That Ties Us

Chapter 17: This is It, Pancit

"How are you and Nathan?"

"We're good."

"No fights? Since some rumors started spreading again."

"No, and I can't blame him naman for those. People's mouths can run far."

"Hm, 'cause last time you kept blaming him."

"That was just poor judgement na nagawa ko."

"So you both are good?"

"We talk and stuff, at palaga ya akong tini-text, so we're good."

"That's great to hear."

"Yeah."

Hindi ko alam kung ano pang mas awkward, yung bibig ni Landon na kanina pang tawa ng tawa at kumukuha ng attensyon ng ibang tao sa super market— or me being able to talk to Vince again like how we normally do? Tinanong niya lang naman ako at sumasagot lang ako, at hindi na kami uli nag usap, aside from occational questions kung kaylangan ba bilhin ito or hindi.

When we four arrived at the counter, halos magdalawang cart na yung tinutulak namin.

"Puro junk," I commented as I sorted a few and placed them on the cashier counter.

Landon through his arm around my shoulder, chuckling. "No worries, marami rin yang kakain. Sophie invited halos half ng school— in secret, alam mo naman yung iba diyan, ang likot ng bibig."

The two talked about their plans for the party, hindi kona nga marinig dahil ang layo nilang dalawa and I was minding Vince who's helping me unload their stuff to the counter. He was silent, pero ramdam kong may gusto itong sabihin sa akin.

"I heard you ignored him for two days."

Nagulat ako sa nasabi nito, but I kept my composure, bumuntong hininga at inayos salamin ko. "Misunderstanding...at ayos naman kami, I'd—" tinawagan kona dahil inaabala ba ako— "talked to him and we're good."

"What was the reason?"

I glanced at him at nasalo niya yung pagtingin ko, and there was still silent, almost acknowledging look that we both shared, bago kami bumalik sa mga cart ng bibilhin. "It's nothing." isang kasinungalingan, and I would never lie to Vince, but this situation is difficult to deal with.

"Paano mo nalaman?"

Nilagay ni Vince ang huling crips sa counter at hinila ang isa pang cart namin. "We were at the bar last time, and Nathan looked like he's got a lot going on. Heard from Addie na hindi mo siya pinapansin."