GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

45 LITTLE SHOW

YVES

"Nasaan na si Jho at Shee, hindi ba sila sasabay?" tanong ko bigla nang mapansin kong wala pa rin 'yung dalawa, patapos na kami sa pagkain.

Stacey barely looked up from her food. "I saw Sheena in the hallway earlier." she said flatly.

"She was with that short-haired drummer." she added, her tone was uninterested, as she stabbed at her food with her fork.

Tumango lang ako, Stacey had been acting off for days now—upset ever since Shawn’s birthday party five days ago, where she wasn’t invited.

"Eh si Jho? Nasaan kaya siya?" tanong ko ulit, trying to fill the silence that followed.

Stacey scoffed loudly this time, leaning back in her chair as if my question was a waste of her time.

"Do I look like someone who keeps track of missing people?" Her voice had a bitter edge to it at itinaas niya pa ang kanyang kilay.

The awkwardness intensified, the silence heavier now. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat glancing at Ate Aiah, who sat beside Stacey.

Ate Aiah hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Are you still upset?" she asked carefully, almost as if she already knew the answer but wanted Stacey to open up on her own terms.

Stacey let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh, pushing her plate away as though just talking about it made her lose her appetite.

"Obviously, Ate Aiah. Wala man lang nakaalala sakin. Tapos may ganang mag-send pa ng picture, para lang mang-inggit."

Ate Aiah sighed. "It was unexpected, Stacey. Jho called me out of the blue after I told her I was at the condo. She came to pick me up. If I had known Lim was going to be there, I wouldn’t have agreed to go."

Stacey’s expression softened just slightly, but it didn’t last. She scoffed again, rolling her eyes.

"Nakakatampo pa rin. Hindi ko talaga papansinin si Jho hanggang end ng semester." she muttered bitterly, crossing her arms over her chest.

I chuckled under my breath.

Bago pa siya makapag-rant ng husto, biglang narinig namin ang malakas na tawanan mula sa kabilang table.

I turned my head and immediately spotted Jho at a nearby table, laughing loudly with a group of broadcasting students. Sitting right beside her, smiling and leaning in close, was Taneo.

Stacey’s eyes followed mine, hindi na siya nakapigil ay umismid siya nang malakas. Bigla na lang niyang itinulak ang upuan pabalik at tumayo nang padabog. "Una na ako, I don’t like the atmosphere anymore." mariin niyang sabi.

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed her bag at naglakad na siya palayo.

Ate Aiah and I exchanged glances, and for a moment, the tension broke. We couldn’t help but laugh.

"May LQ ba sila?" natatawang tanong ko.

Nagkibit balikat si Ate Aiah. "Hindi kana nasanay sa dalawang yan, dinaig pa ang aso't pusa."

Bago pa ako makapagtanong ulit ay naningkit ang mga mata niya.

"So, what's the label between you two?" biglang tanong niya habang nakatitig sa akin at kay Uyab na kanina pa tahimik na kumakain.

Ramdam ko agad ang paghinto sa pagkain nitong katabi ko.

“H-hindi naman ako nagmamadali sa label, Ate Aiah." ngumiti ako ng bahagya, pero alam kong ramdam ni Ate Aiah ang kaba ko.

I could see Ate Aiah about to respond when suddenly Uyab pushed her chair back, standing abruptly.

“Piskit…” I barely heard Uyab mutter under her breath.