LOVE'S BETRAYAL (MIKHALOI)

VII. LAGI

MAXINE'S POV

I'm now on my way to university, habang nagda-drive ay kumakanta ako, this might be my lucky day.

"Lagi nang napapasabing
Mahal kita mula umaga mukhang malala naaa..."

Napatigil ako sa pagkanta nang makita ko si Loi na nag-aabang na naman ng trike sa labas ng dorm niya. Sabi na eh this is my lucky day again.

Actually other than this way, may shortcut pa ko papuntang school. Ewan ko nga kung bakit rin ako dumadaan dito simula nung makita kong malapit dito nakatira si Loi.

Pagtapat ko sa kanya, ibinaba ko ang bintana sa passenger seat. Pagtingin ko sa kanya, nakakunot ang noo niya, na parang nagtataka kung bakit nandito na naman ako.

"Get in," I told her, habang pangiti-ngiti at nagpapa-cute pero hindi siya sumunod agad. She hesitated, eyebrows still raised.

"What? Ma-late ka na lang ulit?" I teased, trying to hide the fact that I was holding my breath for her response. Binuksan niya ang passenger seat at sumakay na rin siya, kahit may konting reluctance. I watched as she adjusted her bag on her lap before settling in.

At nagsimula na ulit ako mag-drive.

I turned the volume up again and started singing along. "Tipong magandang umaga o kumain ka na ba, 'pag narito ka na'y hindi maalis sa'yo ang aking tingin. Oh baby baby baby..." Pagsabay ko sa kanta, I noticed her glance at me from the corner of my eye.

"Wow, didn't know na ganyan pala ang mga music taste mo," she commented, her voice tinged with surprise.

Mabilis kong pinatay ang kanta na nagpe-play, acting like I hadn’t just been caught.

Pagtingin ko sa kanya, nakita ko siyang kinakagat ang labi niya, na tila pinipigilan ang pagngiti. That almost broke me. Hindi ko inaasahan na makikita ko siyang ganito, ang cute. But I had to keep my cool.

"Why? What ba ineexpect mong music taste ko?" I asked her as I focused back on the road. I glanced at her again, trying to act nonchalant.

"Mga hev abi ganun, mukha ka kasing red flag na astig," she said with a smirk. Napasimangot ako sa sagot niya. Okay ako sa astig, pero 'yung red flag? Seriously?

"Red hair lang, red flag agad? Saka I'm not a red flag kaya!" I protested, trying to defend myself. I heard her chuckle, and that made me narrow my eyes at her playfully.

"If you're not aware, kung magmamahal man ako sobrang loyal ko," I told her confidently. Alam ko naman kasi ang totoo. Loyal ako kapag totoo ang nararamdaman ko. Lalo na kay... Hindi ko na sasabihin ang pangalan niya.

"Sus, balita ko babaero and playgirl ka ah," she answered, still laughing. She didn’t even hesitate. Parang sanay na sanay na siya sa mga ganitong usapan, as if she’s used to people warning her about me.

"Really? You believe in sabi-sabi?" I teased her, my voice dripping with confidence. "Tumesting ka para hindi sabi-sabi ang basis mo."

The car went quiet after that. Hindi na siya sumagot. Instead, tumingin na lang siya sa labas ng bintana, pero alam kong narinig niya 'yung sinabi ko. I felt my heart racing a bit. I wasn’t sure if she’d take me seriously or not, pero I couldn’t stop now.

As we reached the school, I slowly pulled into the parking lot. Tahimik pa rin ang loob ng sasakyan, pero parang may tension na nagbi-build. Nang maipark ko na ang kotse, I turned to her, catching her eyes just as she looked at me.

"I can't attend our tutorial pala later, I'm gonna attend my volleyball training later." I told her at tumango lang siya.

Time na naman para isagawa ang game plan ko.

"So about testing, you gonna test me, or will you just keep believing what other people say?" I asked, a hint of a challenge in my voice.

She held my gaze for a moment before smirking again, softer this time. "Testing? Sounds dangerous," she said, teasing but with a hint of seriousness.

I shrugged, leaning slightly toward her. "Life's full of risks, Loi. Minsan, you just have to take one."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Okay, Maxine, astig ka nga, but we’ll see. Hindi mo pa ako kayang lokohin with your lines."

I smiled wider this time, feeling a surge of excitement. "We'll see nga. Pero ikaw din, don’t pretend you’re not a little curious."

"Hay Maxine, haven't I made myself clear last time? Kung magiging curious man ako, sa kaibigan mo." I smirked at her. Si Col again.

"And? Then I want to let myself clear na rin, I want to court you Maren Loi Yvonne Ricalde, kahit gusto mo pa si Col or sino man, I'll court you." I told her. At napangisi rin siya.

"Pag-isipan ko." she replied, the only words that came out of her mouth, as if challenging me.

I leaned closer, crossing my arms and giving her a playful look. "Oh, come on, Loi. I did not ask you. I'm telling you what I'm going to do."

Her eyebrows shot up, clearly caught off guard by my confidence. "Talaga, ha?"

"Talaga," I repeated, smiling at her as if this was the most natural thing in the world. "You don't have to say yes or no. Just let me show you."

She laughed, at umiiling-iling. "You're so full of yourself, Maxine."

"Confident lang," I corrected, winking. Nakita ko na naman ang built-in blush niya dahil dun.

Lumabas na ako ng sasakyan at umikot papunta sa side niya para pagbuksan siya.

Pagbaba niya ay nagsalita muli ako dahilan para mas lalo na naman siyang mamula.

"I'm really serious about you, Loi. Just give me a chance."