After That Night

Kabanata 4

Missed

"Hoy! Antayin mo ko." I heard from afar, it was Third. Nilingon ko siya at pumabewang ako. Napadaan ako sa locker room malapit sa gym kaya nakita ako nito.

"You're so bagal naman!" Sigaw ko.

"Teka naman..uy pare una nako." Tinapik nito sa balikat ang lalaking kasama niya at tumango lang ito. Parehas pa silang naka jersey at kakatapos lang ata ng laro, i saw Third running with his towel at pinatong niya iyon sa ulo para punasan ang pawis.

"Yuck! Pawis!"

Pandidiri ko ng inakbayan ako neto at pilit inaalis ang kamay sa balikat ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang ladkit ng katawan kaya agad akong lumayo. Pero mukhang natutuwa siya sa ginagawa, kaya mas lalo pang dumidikit sakin.

"Pawis lang yan.. oh ayan pa!" Tinakbuhan ko siya ng mapansing ihahagis saakin ang tuwalyang
ginamit . So dugyot talaga Third!

As i was running away from Third i saw a man standing not far from us in the parking lot. He is wearing a black polo which is unbuttoned, tucked in with his black slacks, and is also wearing a sunglasses.

Fuck, ang pogi.

"Zade," I said with a low voice. What is he doing here?

Napahinto ako sa pagtakbo kaya nag-abot kaming dalawa ni Third.

"Oh bat ka tumigil?"

He looked confused. Sinundan niya ng tingin ang mata ko and it ended with Zade. Napakunoot ito ng noo.

"Kilala mo?" he asked.

Nilagay niya sa balikat ko ang kamay at dahil nagulat nga ako sa presensya ni Zade hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan to shove him away.

"Yeah.."

"Tara! Puntahan natin."

Uh-oh im not sure if that's a good idea Third. Bago pa man kami makalapit
nakita ko na naglakad na si Zade patungo sa direksyon namin.

"You're not answering my calls," bungad niya. Nagtataka kong kinuha ang phone to check if he called me.

10 missed calls from Zade Baho.

Shet! Nakasilent pala ang phone.

"My phone was silent. Im sorry, hindi ko napansing tumatawag ka." I told him. Feeling guilty that he had called me 10 times pero wala akong naisagot miski isa.

I saw him looking at Third's hand on me then it shifted to Third. He raised his eyebrows.

"Your boyfriend?," dali dali kong inalis ang kamay ni Third.

"Minsan boyfriend madalas kaaway. Joke!" before I could even answer him si Third ang sumagot ng pabiro. Tuwang tuwa pa ito at feeling niya natutuwa si Zade sa biro. Ng mapansin niya na walang nagbago sa aura ni Zade..

"Hehehe," dagdag nito.

"He is not my boyfriend. This is Third a childhood friend of mine our parents are close, Zade." pagpapaliwanag ko sakanya.

I saw him lick his lips.

Siniko ko si Third para ipahiwatig na mauna ng umalis at kakausapin ko si Zade.

"Ano?!" Impit na bulong niya sa gilid ko. Then i saw him smile at Zade. Plastik neto!

"Go home na. Ill go with him." Bulong ko sakanya pabalik.

"Sure ka?" Medyo nagaalalang tanong niya.

"Oo, sige na! I know him." Tinulak ko na ito upang makasakay na siya sa sasakyan niya at mauna na. Wala na ring nagawa si Third kaya nauna na siya. Inaya ko naman si Zade patungo sa sariling kotse at kusa na niyang binuksan ang front seat.

"Do you need anything from me?" Agaran kong tanong when he started his engine.

He did not answered.

"I said. Why are you here Zade?" Paguulit ko.

"Matagal mo na siyang kilala?" Tanong nito sakin, avoiding my question.

"Isn't it obvious? He was my childhood friend." I told him, crossing my arms.

Tinignan niya ako ng sandali before he continued driving. Not satisfied that he is changing the topic I questioned him again.

"Why did you see me?" Paguusisa ko.

Matagal bago ito sumagot, but I wasn't expecting him to just admit it like that.

"I just.. missed you." He said locking my eyes

"O-kay..eyes on the road Zade!" sigaw ko ng hindi alam ang sasabihin sakanya. To make him stop from looking at me.

Hawak hawak ko ng mahigpit ang seatbelt habang nagaalburoto na ang kaloob looban ko.

"We're here." Bumaba nako at hindi siya inintay pa na pagbuksan ako ng pintuan. "Thank you!" nagmamadali kong sabi.

Before I could even enter our home, hinawakan niya ang palapulsuhan ko. Nilingon ko siya with my eyebrows frowned.

"I don't like it when you avoid me." titig na titig ito sakin. "Im sorry.. for what i said." Pahabol niya.

"It's okay, i was just.. speechless." Devlin ano ba kasing problema? Malay mo he misses you like a friend?! You're overreacting lang, my gosh!

"Pasok ka na." he let go of my wrist.

"Ingat ka. Thank you for driving me home." Nginitian ko siya.

Nginitian ko siya?! Akala ko ba naawkward ka eh bakit parang gustong gusto mo din naman?

Pinukpok ko ang ulo pagkapasok sa loob ng bahay to make myself calm. This is not good, Zade is not good for me. Baka bigla na lang akong atakihin sa puso!

—————————
Please do comment here if you're enjoying this story! I'll be uploading the next kabanata on the 30th of July.

Don't forget to heart, comment, and share.
this would mean a lot for me.

Padayon, everyone!