Cheer Up, Captain

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

We were in the lobby of the hotel. We're just waiting for the teachers to finish the checking out process. I was sitting with my friends, but I felt so conscious because I could feel Finley staring at me. Like literally. That guy has no shame! I felt like sinadya niya na doon siya maupo sa may couch opposite me para naka-tingin talaga siya sa akin.

"Maia."

"What?" I asked, a bit alarmed. May nakapansin ba sa nangyayari? How Finley was staring at me and how I was avoiding his stares by looking at literally anything else? Kabisado ko na ata iyong patterns sa may ceiling ng lobby.

"Troy said that he messaged you, but you weren't replying."

"Who?" I asked.

"The guy from Brent?"

"Ah."

For some reason, napa-tingin ako sa gawi ni Finley. I saw how his whole forehead was creased. Gosh. Was he pissed? Kasi I remember tanong din siya nang tanong sa akin about that guy from Brent na apparently ay Troy pala ang name. I totally forgot about that. Ang dami naman kasing nangyari—like overnight nagkaroon ako ng boyfriend bigla!

"So? Did you receive the text? But feel ko naman tamang number 'yung nabigay ko sa kanya..."

"Uh... yes, I got the message."

"But... you didn't reply?" she asked. She was looking at me, waiting for my response. "I mean... I did ask you first before I gave the number, right?"

Shucks, oo nga, noh? Would it appear rude? Like that Troy guy didn't just have my number out of nowhere. He asked for my permission pa rin naman to text me.

"Oh, I just forgot," sabi ko na lang. I would just text him that I wasn't interested. Hopefully, he wouldn't ask me pa kung bakit. Ayokong sabihin sa kanya na off the market na ako. Mamaya biglang kumalat pa sa school and biglang ma-put two and two together nila iyong sinabi ko and iyong super weird na soft launch photo na pinost ni Finley sa IG.

"Oh, okay, cool! He was kinda bugging me about it, eh. He thinks you're really pretty."

I just smiled because at least he got that part right. Pretty naman talaga ako, but I was aware that I have some attitude... kaya medyo iniisip ko rin at what point nagka-gusto sa akin si Finley? Because I clearly remembered him making fun of me kasi maarte and what not daw ako.

I guess eventually, he still fell for my charms kasi charming kaya ako.

Finally, natapos na rin iyong sa pagcheckout. We got in the coaster. Nauna ako sa may pila sa pagpasok. I felt Finley boring a hole on the back of my neck.

'What's your problem?' I sent a DM to him sa may Instagram. My lips parted at his audacity to leave me on read?!

I turned my head to look at him. Nakita ko na hawak niya naman iyong phone niya.

'What happened to your little speech? Tell me the problem so we can talk about it?'

My forehead was creased and my lips were pursed as I sent him that message. Bakit I felt a little guilty kahit alam ko naman na wala akong fault? I mean, he's acting this way because of the guy from Brent, right? But how was that my fault?! That happened before we became boyfriend-girlfriend!

'Later. I'm playing.'

My head automatically snapped towards his direction. Naka-tingin nga lang siya sa phone niya. May suot din siya na headphones. Ugh. So annoying! Bahala siya d'yan!

Nagsuot na lang din ako ng airpods and listened to music while we're on our way to the airport. Pagdating namin sa airport, I went to the comfort room first para last ako sa may pila for check-in. I decided to just finish this school year. If hindi pa rin okay iyong family situation ko by next year, I'd have no choice but to come clean. I mean... if they're my friends, they'd understand, right? Like hindi naman siguro qualification sa friendship iyong money? Kasi personally I never really cared about their money naman. Never asked them for anything. They're my friends lang kasi we clicked.