PGS05: In Fact, You Waited

IFYW07

"How are you, kid? Let's meet a few days from now. I have something to tell you." (SENT FROM TELEGRAM)

My day started a little dry and I don't know why. I guess it was from the message I received or just the whole mood of the day. Pinilit ko pa ring pumasok dahil nakakahiya naman at hinihintay pa 'ko ni Olsteen sa labas.

Habang papunta kaming school ay alam kong napapansin niya ang kawalan ko ng gana pero hindi na siya nagtanong pa.

"Hi! Morgan, right?" Kakatapos lang ng second period at wala gaanong ginagawa. Ganon din ang mga kaklase ko na may kaniya-kaniyang mundo.

Tiningnan ko naman ang nagsalita sa tabi ko. She's the girl who let me took a seat beside her last time. "Yes, and you're Chelsea,"I acknowledged and she also confirmed by the nod of her head. Ilang linggo na rin kaming seatmates pero hindi kami gaanong nag-uusap. Hinintay kong magsalita siya ulit pero parang nagdadalawang-isip ito.

"Umm... are you Ozzie's girlfriend?" kabadong tanong nito sabay ngiti nang alanganin sa'kin. Pretty straightforward question coming from a stranger.

I just stared at her. I don't know why I was prolonging my pause before I answered. Deciding to let the poor girl breathe, "No. We're just friends. Do you know him?" I finally answered her. Parang nakahinga naman ito at parang nahihiyang natawa.

"Actually we're childhood friends. Lumipat kasi ako nung high school kaya medyo nagkalayo kami," she said shyly while fixing her hair behind her ears.

Wow. What a swoon-worthy revelation. Setting aside my illogical side comments, I notice that she's really pretty. Like the pure kind of way, almost pale skin, doe eyes, small nose, thin pink lips, straight hair and a small stature that suited her body type. Napansin kong mahinhin din itong gumalaw na kahit pagtawa niya ay hindi gaanong maingay.

Ito yung klase ng babae na nababagay sa personality ni Olsteen. I don't know why I'm playing matchmaker in my mind but it makes sense when you think about it. Nang hindi ako nakasagot agad ay nagsalita muli ito.

"Gusto ko sanang makipag-reconnect ulit sa kaniya kaya lang nahihiya ako. Pwede mo ba 'kong tulungan?" She sounds hopeful.

"I can't promise, but maybe I could introduce you to him? But it will all be up to hi-" Hindi na natapos ang pagsasalita ko nang kinuha nito ang kamay ko at inalog-alog ito. Same gesture from Joan last time but this one made me cringe inside.

I was taken aback by her gesture and the way she loudly squealed. Napatingin naman ang kaklase namin. Noticing that nobody died, they turned back to what they're doing. Gosh. This day is gonna be more exhausting for me.

°°°

"Are you okay?" Nag-aalalang tingin ni Olsteen ang bumungad sa'kin nang ilang agwat pa lang ang pagitan ko sa tambayan. He walked towards my direction midway rather than waiting for me to reach their side. I just nodded at him and smiled as if to say that I'm perfectly fine.

Binati naman ako ni Joan at Vera bago sila bumalik sa sinusulat nila sa mesa. Hindi pa sila nakakasimula sa pagkain. May pekeng umubo sa likod ko kaya napalingon ako. I almost forgot, "Guys, this is Chelsea. She's my classmate. Okay lang ba na sumabay siya satin ngayon?"

Mahiyaing kumaway naman si Chelsea na nasa likod ko kanina pa."Hi. Sana hindi nakakaabala sa inyo." Umangat naman ang tingin nila pati ni Olsteen na nasa kaligatnaan nang paglalabas ng baunan.

Inimbita naman nila itong umupo habang nililigpit ang mga papel na nagkalat kanina. Chelsea sat beside Olsteen so I just placed myself beside Vera. Nang naglabas na sila ng sari-sariling tanghalian ay hinintay ko naman si Olsteen na matapos sa pag-prepare nito.