I tried to avoid interaction with Chris after that. I also told my friends to stop teasing me with him because it's useless. Pareho kaming gwapo ang gusto.
"Bakit ba kasi si Chris pa?" tanong ni Gwen.
"Gwen, don't be like that. Paano kung ikaw yung nasa posisyon ni Lucy?" sabi naman ni Pia.
"Don't get me wrong, but there are lots of straight people out there."
"But they're not her type," sagot naman ni Dani. I just played with my tumbler as I listened to them. Gwen is always the conflict, while Pia and Dani were the consensus. They always take my side. I don't blame Gwen though, I like this side of her.
"Actually, I'm not into masculine type of boys. I am always attracted to 'soft' ones, feminine, and intelligent. Pero, in my whole life si Chris lang talaga yung naging crush ko." I explained.
"I know right." They said in sync.
"Okay, ganito nalang. Tutulungan ka naming mag move-on kay Chris. It's not good for you if you're the only one loving a person, Lucy." Dani suggested.
"Correction, 'like' not love," sabi ko.
"Whatever," she rolled her eyes.
"Agree ako diyan. It's time to love yourself, Lucy," Pia added.
O.A man pakinggan, but I really love these girls. It's rare to find a circle that gives you advice to love yourself. I expect they would suggest me to replace my crush.
"I hope hindi ka magtatampo sa amin, pero it's really impossible for Chris to reciprocate your feelings. Yes, nasa kanya mga lahat ng standards mo, pero anong saysay non kung hindi ka naman niya gusto?" sabi ni Gwen.
Ouch! But she has a point. Chris will never like me back. Even if I'm a boy, he won't like me. It's like waiting for the crows' feathers to turn white.
"Gwen," they warned her with their stares.
"Nah, I'm good. Tama si Gwen, tama kayong lahat. I need to focus on myself right now, especially na kailangan ko pang mag-aral nang mabuti para sa pamilya ko."
They hugged me.
"That's our Lucy!"
"We're so proud of you."
So, that's what I did. I started my self-care routine, with my friend's suggestions of course. They gave me a small handbook for a self-care routine and as for me, I did some research for effective and budget-friendly skincare. I spent time on the internet cafe to research since I don't have a phone. I worked out three times a week, and for the first three days I felt my entire body numb and in pain, but I felt good as the days went by.
"Bakit pawis na pawis ka?" takang tanong ni Mama paglabas ko ng kwarto.
"May sakit ka, ate?" tanong rin ni Lorelei.
"Nag-work out ako ma," I replied, but they still looked confused. "Exercise."
They sighed in relief, and I smiled as I went to the kitchen and filled the glass with water.
The next few weeks were tight in schedule because we're working on our research concept, and there again I was the leader of our group. My three friends were my groupmates. Pia was incharge of the printing, Dani will make the title, Gwen will type the contents, while I was the editor of it. After discussing our plans, Dani said she was craving for Halo-halo. She asked us if we'll come with her. At first, we refused because I don't have any much allowance, but she insisted that she would treat us.
While we were walking down the stairs, I spotted a familiar figure outside. He was there with the Journalism students, with a DSLR Camera on his hand, he's standing with them outside the Computer lab. And guess who? It's the guy I met during the Liga. I looked at the other side and pretended I didn't see him.
"Ommo girl! Have you seen him?" masiglang tanong ni Pia na parang kinikilig.
"Who?" tanong naman ni Dani, pati ako ay na-curious bigla pero hindi ko pinahalata.
"That guy holding a camera, ang gwapoo!"
I rolled my eyes. He's the guy I met on the Liga, and he looks ordinary.
"Who's that Pokemon?" nagtatakang tanong ni Gwen. "And diba you just have a crush on some boy from grade seven last week?"
"Ew, you pedophile!" Dani said with disgust as she hits her left arm.
"Hoy! Hindi ah! Saka, hindi naman yon mukhang bata. Mas matangkad pa nga yon kesa sakin," depensa ni Pia.
Napailing nalang ako habang nakangiti. "Don't use height as an excuse, Pia," pang-aasar ko pa.
"At least we're not classmates," pang-aasar niya pabalik sa akin. I just smirked.
"At least he's still talking to me," I confidently said.
"Eyyy!" sigaw nung dalawa. Pinagtinginan tuloy kami ng ibang estudyante, pero wala kaming pakialam.
"And at least she's 'loyal'," pagdidiin pa ni Dani at sumuko si Pia saka napatawa nalang.
"Alright, panalo kayo. Bilisan na nating maglakad at baka maubusan tayo ng Halo-halo," sabi niya at inakbayan kami ni Gwen. Nauna naman si Dani. Pagdating namin sa may Halo-haloan, inutusan ako ng mga loko na ako na ang bumili para sa aming apat. Dahil libre to ni Dani, wala akong choice kundi ang pumayag. Dalawa lang ang kamay ko kaya I struggled getting my orders. I decided to carry the Halo-halo two by two.
"Sayo ba lahat yan?" I heard a deep voice from behind, and when I turned my head it was him. The guy from Liga!
I kept it cool and just nodded. "Ah, ayos lang."
"No, I'll help you," mahinang sabi niya at dinala ang dalawang Halo-halo. "Dami nito ah, sinong nag-utos sayo?"
I smiled faintly. "Ahhh, hehe...sila." I looked into my friend's direction. They were smirking, and I knew they were thinking of something crazy. He handed them their orders, while I sulked there feeling embarrassed. And ang mga walanghiya kong kaibigan, nag-unahan pa sa pagtanggap at nakangiti na parang aso.
"Uy, thank you ah!" Of course, Pia the one who saw him a while ago made a move. They even glanced at me meaningfully.
"What a nice catch, Lucy...I mean nice taste! Ng Halo-halo, hehe---" Dani was fidgeting, and the atmosphere went more awkward. Their reactions were too obvious!
I turned to him and smiled. "Thank you ah?"
"You're welcome, Lucy." He replied and warmly smiled, then left. My friends turned to me and they narrowed their eyes on me. I knew an interview would follow this time.
"Lucy...may hindi ka sinasabi sa amin," sabi ni Gwen habang paulit-ulit na tinutusok ng kutsarita ang Halo-halo na hawak niya.
"Hindi kasi kayo nagtanong," tinawanan ko lang siya.
"Eh kanina pa natin siya nakita, bakit hindi mo sinabi na magkakilala na pala kayo?" dugtong ni Pia.
"Hindi ko naman talaga siya kilala."
"Wag mo kong lokohin, Monica. Kung hindi kayo magkakilala, bakit niya alam yung pangalan mo at bakit ka niya nilalapitan? Hmm?" Dani.
"Chill. Nagkita kami last week, nung Sunday. Yun lang yun."
"Oww myyy---"
"Kyaaahhhh!"
"Hay, tara na nga nakakahiya na oh. Pinagtinginan na nila tayo dito." Sabi ko at naunang naglakad.
