what if we happened

3. The Frustration

Chapter 3: The Frustration

Seren

"Maybe he likes Thalia, that's why siya lang ang pinansin," Viviana said casually as she took a bite of her hotdog sandwich. Her words got me thinking.

Kamuntikang maibuga ng kaibigan namin 'yong iniinom niyang palamig upon hearing it. "Baliw ka! Hindi 'yon ganoon. It just so happens he knows me, huwag mong bigyan ng ibang meaning. Stop trying to stir up a trouble between me and Seren." Masama ang tingin ang ipinukol niya kay Viviana.

Nasa pagitan nila akong dalawa, nakatulala sa kalsada habang pinakikinggan ang kanilang pagtatalo. "Eh, bakit hindi niya nakita si Seren? Nasa tabi mo lang naman kami. That sucks. Hindi naman siya bulag."

Nagkibit-balikat si Thalia. "Malay ko, bakit ako pinag-iinitan mo? Is it my fault?"

"Oo! You've known Elias pala for so long," walang pagdadalawang isip na ganti ni Viviana, she kept accusing Thalia. "Alam mo naman mahilig kami sa pogi, 'di mo manlang siya ipinakilala sa amin habang maaga pa lang. Selfish ka! Itinatago mo pala mga pogi, ha!"

Namaywang si Thalia. "Malay ko bang matitipuhan ni Seren si Elias. What were you thinking?"

"Mahilig din 'yan sa pogi, 'di lang inaamin! Kung matagal mo nang ipinakilala si Elias kay Seren, e di sana gragraduate sila naka-in relationship! Now, she barely have time to get to know him before we all go our separate ways. She've been missing out big time!" Kung makapag-usap sila, para bang hindi nila ako kasama. Part of me agreed on her, now I'm stuck with a crush and no time to do anything about it.

"E 'di, sorry!" tanging nasagot ni Thalia. "Maybe Seren can still make a move before graduation though."

"You have to promise this, kapag may nakilala ka kasing pogi, ipakilala mo agad sa circle natin! Hindi 'yong nililihim mo," Viviana told Thalia seriously.

"Oo na!"

"At ikaw naman Seren, 'wag mo naman masyadong damdamin. Magsalita ka naman diyan, please," Viviana nudged me, her expression softening with concern. I hadn't spoken since we left school. Inaasar-asar man at tinatawanan ako kanina ni Viviana pero hindi ko magawang mabugnot sa kaniya like what I used to. Today is different.

I raised my head at them, teary-eyed. "Anong sasabihin ko? I'm jealous to the both of you. Ikaw, nahawakan na niya sa balikat, tas ngayon si Thalia, did you guys see how he just walked past me like I wasn't even there? It's like I'm invisible, right? Nakakalungkot," I muttered, sabay subo ng isang piraso ng fries.

Pinili naming maglakad para ihatid si Thalia sa bahay nila at para na ring madamayan nila ako. Bumili na lang kami ng street foods para may makain sa daan. Bumaling ako sa paligid. The long shadows on the ground from the afternoon sun matched the sad feeling I had.

Hindi mapigilan ni Viviana matawa. "Vebs, hindi ako sanay sa pagiging dramatic mo! Itigil mo nga 'yan. Look at your face! It's not you!" nakuha niya niya pang mang-asar.

I slumped my shoulder. I shook my head, trying to blink back the sting of tears. "Paano ba naman kasi, ang tagal-tagal kong nag-ayos kanina 'tapos pagkarating natin doon, walang hi, walang hello, walang tingin, he totally ignored me! Si Thalia lang napansin niya. Sayang 'yong ganda ko. Maybe I'm just not pretty enough for him to notice," I blurted out, medyo bitter ang tunog sa bibig ko. The way Elias had past me without any glances had cut deeper than I wanted to admit.

"Seren naman! It's Elias fault, not yours! He doesn't know what he's missing! Kung nakita ka niya, e di siguradong mabibighani siya sa iyo! You looked really beautiful today, trust me! Lalo na 'yang red ribbon mo sa buhok." Bahagya niya pa iyon hinawakan. "Napapalingon mo nga pati HUMSS students kanina," she added, trying to lighten the mood.