Something More

Chapter 015

015

When he saw me, he widened his eyes. He didn't smile or say anything, but he just turned his back to me and ready to go in when I called his name.

"Xander! Please.. talk to me." sabi ko. Hindi siya lumingon, pero he stopped from walking. I took a deep breath. "Xander, please, talk to me. Miss na miss na kita, I want our friendship to return again.. diba best friends tayo? Bakit mo ako ginaganito?"

Xander hesitated at first, pero hindi pa rin siya lumingon sa akin. Instead, pumasok na siya sa kwarto niya, leaving me alone.

"Pupunta kang camping?" tanong ko kay Jared while eating our lunches. Dalawa lang kami dito sa table.

He nodded. "Syempre, anak ako ng may-ari ng school. Eh ikaw?"

I smiled. "Hindi ko nga alam eh. Hindi naman kasi talaga ako pumupunta ng mga camping." 
Jared smiled at me. "Pumunta ka na, masaya doon." 

I just nodded then maya-maya, dumaan na sila Xander at Marielle. They passed us and namili ng table nila. Xander didn't even look my way. Hay.. naalala ko tuloy bigla yung nangyari kagabi.. why is Xander acting like that? I don't know, but he's not the Xander who is my best friend anymore.

Pagka-uwi ko ng bahay, I decided na pupunta na ako ng camping. Okay lang, for experience din naman eh. Right now, mag-isa lang ako sa bahay kasi nasa trabaho sila Mom and Dad at si Erika naman hindi pa umuuwi. Si Yaya at Manong naman nagde-date pa. Ahahaha.

Nagtu-tumblr lang ako nang biglang may nag-ring ng doorbell. Hmm? Baka si Erika na yun. I quickly went downstairs papuntang main gate. But when I opened it, biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

Xander.

"Uh, hey.." I said. Talk about awkward situation.

He glanced behind me and sighed. "Wala Mama mo?"
I nodded. "May tripping kasi siya ngayon eh. Bakit?"

"Ano, pinabibigay ni Mama.." tapos inabot niya sa akin yung stack of books. "Recipes daw."
"Uh.. okay.." I nodded then stared at him.

"Sige, alis na ako, okay."

"Okay." sabi ko but then sa sobrang bigat ng books, I dropped it on the floor. I bent my knees to pick it up, then.. nang pupulutin ko na, I touched Xander's hand. Nagulat ako, and I raised my head and malapit lang pala kasi sa isa't-isa. We stared at each other's eyes.. but then Xander realized this at yumuko siya to pick up the books. I just sighed.

Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Parang sasabog na, and any moment from now tatalon na ito mula sa dibdib ko. Xander helped me bring the books inside, and nang matapos na, he just waved goodbye at me.

I watched him slowly leave, and I gathered all my courage to speak a word to him.
"Xander!" I called. "T-thank you!" 

To my surprise, Xander turned to face me, and gave me a smile. Tapos tumalikod na ulit siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Xander's smile.. I know it was a sad one. Pero.. bakit?