Imagine Forest

CHAPTER 5

Veronica's Point Of View
*******

I had been wandering alone inside the camp for a while, finding everyone had left me behind. After that failed effect moment with Pauline earlier, they all started leaving one by one, and I couldn't disturb the lovey-dovey couple in their tent, who knows what I might catch them doing there.

Even Gracey followed George as usual, and Troy? Maybe sinamahan niya si Gemini mag-bihis or what so ever. Now, everyone is talking about Gem and George's heroics. Tsk, as if George would do that for no reason, he's probably just trying to impress.

Not long after, I spotted a small and cheap canteen. I entered, and suddenly everyone was looking at me as if they had seen a ghost. Out of nowhere, I saw Troy sitting alone. I approached his table and pulled the hair of the girl talking to him, "Move out." I said, and they all got scared and ran off. "Hi, Troy why isn't Gem with you?" I started. "Gemini went to change, magkatabi lang naman ang banyo ng babae at lalaki so si George na bahala sa kaniya." he coldly replied.

"Troy, that move you and Lucas pulled earlier was so lit," I added. "Ah talaga," he said, shaking his head. I smiled and decided to keep him company. It was a rare bonding moment for us since Gemini was not here to disturb us. "So, how are you gonna dodge the consequences?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "Tsk." He smirked and looked over at three guys nearby. "Hoy!" he called out, making them nervously approach us.

"B-bakit, Troy?" they stuttered.

"Linisin niyo yung sasakyan ni Miss, at kung malalaman niya na hindi kami ang nag-linis, lagot kayo sa akin," mariin niyang utos. Sumang-ayon agad ang tatlo at nagmadali palabas ng canteen. "Smart move, T," I said, approaching and hugging his shoulder. But our moment was interrupted by Savanna and Lucas. "You two are so fishy," Savanna commented, sliding in next to us. "Excuse me, I need some T-hug too," she said, trying to squeeze in. I looked over at Lucas, who just shrugged off.

I was low-key annoyed by Savanna's move, like girl, know your f*cking place. I backed off, grabbed my phone from the table, and was about to call Gracey when I heard her voice behind me.

"That's my spot so move out." I did nothing but stand up and sit next to Lucas. "Looks like you're having a good conversation," she commented as she laid out her bag beside the empty chair. "Where's Gem? Why isn't she with you?" Troy asked. "You're concerned about her but you didn't accompany her? Malamang nagbibihis pa yun, same with George. What kind of boyfriend are you?" Gracey teased him, making Troy laugh at her comment and reply, "As much as I love watching my girlfriend's body, I still respect her. I love her." "Respect my ass. You flirt every b*tches every time she's not around, and you even take it to bed.” Gracey paused and look at me. “That's why someone's so jealous," Lucas added.

I ignored what Lucas and Gracey  said, even though I knew that his sarcasm was directed at me. "Gosh, just imagine I don't know anything," Savannah added. I just rolled my eyes, and coincidentally, I glanced at the door, and there I saw Gem. "Nandito na ba si George?" unang tanong ni Gracey nang umupo. Napangiti ako sa kanya, alam ko namang baliw na baliw siya kay George. Hindi mapakali si Gracey kapag malayo si George, kahit hindi naman interesado si George sa kanya.

‘What a pity, queen bee, tsk.’

"Obvious naman na wala siya dito, girl, at hindi ba sinundan mo siya kanina?" sagot ni Savanna. Lumingon ako sa kinaroroonan ni Gemini malapit na sila sa kinaroroonan namin ng tumayo ako at kumaway. "Over here!”parehong lumingon ang mga kasamahan namin sa kinaroroonan ni Gem. Nang makalapit na pansin ko na parang may kakaiba sa kaniya, I can see she’s shaking. Mukha siyang tense at agad  itong umiwas ng tingin sa akin nung makitang nakatingin ako sa kaniya. Umupo siya sa tabi ni Lucas, hindi sa tabi ni Troy. "Hey Gem, bilhan mo nga ako ng snacks." ika ko.

“Huh?”aniya, inirapan ko siya.

“Bingi ka ba?”

“Oh! R-right…sorry I-I was thinking---”

Tatayo sana siya, ngunit pigilan siya ni Troy. “Wala ka bang paa Veronica?”

“H-hindi ba’t  siya naman bumibili sa--”

“Then try to f*cking buy on your own.”

Na-bigla ako nang sinigawan ako ni Troy. “You okay babe?” aniya. Tumayo si Troy sinundan ko siya ng tingin at lumipat ng upuan sa tabi ni Gem, nakipagpalit siya ng upuan kay Lucas. Nakaramdam ako ng galit sa loob ng katawan ko lalo na ng makita ko ang  pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ni Gemini at tinanong niya pa ito ko kung okay lang ba ito. Napakapit ang kamao ko sa ilalim ng mesa, pinipigilan ang sarili na mag-react.

Maraming dahilan kung bakit galit ako sa kaniya, dahil kung hindi siya dumating malamang kami pa rin ngayin ni Troy,  at alam kong may nararamdaman pa si Troy sa akin. May pag-asa pa kami jaya buong araw ko pinapaalala sa kaniya kung gaano ko siya ka mahal.

Kailangan ko lang patunayan sa lahat na mali na pinasali pa sa grupo ang babaeng iyan. Alam ko naman ang dahilan kung bakit kinaibigan ni Gracey si Gemini, dahil mayaman ang pamilya ni Gemini at matalino si Gemini. Obvious naman kung bakit mataas ang grades ni Gracey dahil iyon kay Gemini.

"Wa-wala, okay lang ako, Troy..."

"Sure ka, babe?"

"Yes, babe."

"Oh my gosh girly girl, baka dahil sa bacteria? Lumusong ka diba sa putik let’s go to the clinic na?"

"Hindi dahil sa putik, dahil yun kay Pauline," sabi ni Lucas.

"Buy me a drink."

Lahat kami ay napalingon nang magsalita si Gracey, biglang tumayo si Gem at aalis sana nang magsalita ulit si Gracey. "No, not you, Gem. You, Roni." Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya, kailan pa ako naging utusan? I fake a laugh and even pointed at myself. "Me?"

Gracey just looked at me nonchalantly and said, "Have you heard any other name besides yours?" I felt a pang of embarrassment and could do nothing but stand up. Annoyed, I was about to leave when Gemini suddenly stopped me. "You don't need to go, a-ako na, alam ko naman ang mga paborito niyo." she said, urging me to sit back down.

I grinned and glanced at Gracey, "Your dog is amazingly sweet," I noticed her smirk and looked at Troy. "She's a cute puppy, puppy that I choose to be my future wife." Lucas and Savanna proudly said. "Ganiyan nga." and the smiled. "I can see my future with her." Troy added, Savanna look at me and even rolling his eyes on me.

“Exactly.” Gracey said she even made it sound better. At na iwan akong napa-tungo at napa-ngiti ng pilit. While waiting for Gem, we discussed what we could do for the next three days. "Let's not waste our time here, there are so many mosquitoes, I already have bite marks under my legs!" Savanna complained. "What about your neck?" Troy asked.

We all chuckled, it was obvious it was some sort of chin-n-n. "Don't ask the obvious, Troy parang ‘di mo rin naman ‘to ginawa sa iba." she retorted, glancing in my direction. I just gave her a side-eye, and Gem arrived. “Thank you babe.” I discreetly observed Troy and her as they enjoyed their meal. Sana ako na lang ang bumili.