*****
Sa loob ng UP compound, ngingiti-ngiting tinititigan ni Marianne ang nagmamanehong kuya. “You like her, don’t you?” bigla-biglang tanong niya dito.
“Like? Who?”kunot noong tugon ng nakatatandang kapatid.
“Maya.”
Biglang nasamid si James. “What are you talking about?”
“Come on don’t deny it. I’m your sister, I know you well. This time you’re too obvious!”
“She’s just a friend at natutuwa lang ako sa personality niya. What makes you said that?” natatawang pangangatwiran ni James.
“Your aura says so. And I am just wondering bakit bigla-bigla naman ata ay hinahatid mo ako ngayon dito sa campus. You’re not doing this before. Tell me, you’re hoping to see Maya right?” namimingwit na ika ni Marianne habang inilalapit ang mukha sa kapatid.
“It’s not because of her. Meron akong lakad malapit dito so I thought about dropping you off at the same time. Stop insisting about Maya, okay.”
Biglang may itinuro si Marianne sa tabing kalsada. “Oh Maya is there!” bulalas nito ng may namimilog na mata.
Bahagyang nataranta at namula ang mukha ni James.
“I was joking! See what I mean,” humahagikhik na ika ni Marianne at pagkuway pakanta-kantang inasar ang kapatid “You like her….You like her….You like her...”
“Stop that Marianne I told you she’s my friend,” medyo namumulang ang mga pisnging saway ni James.
“Paano mo siya naging friend?”
Nag-isip ng ilang saglit ang binata at tumikhim. “S-She’s a younger sister of my friend…”
“See. Your premise doesn't help you at all. She’s your friend because she is a younger sister of your friend. If that’s the case, how come I’m not a friend to any of your friends? And now I’ll ask you, who is more friend to you? Your friend or your friend’s younger sister? Bakit masyado ka naman atang close at excited pagdating sa kapatid ng kaibigan mo?”
Napatingin si James sa kapatid. Bigla siyang nagsisi kung bakit hindi niya pinag-isipang mabuti ang isasagot dito. Nakalimutan niyang napakahirap nga palang bilugin ng ulo nito.
“…And one more thing, I know your personality. You’re too choosy talking to people because of your so-called “exceptional IQ status”. You’re friends are almost like you, people who loves talking about weird stuff. How can you have intellectual relationship with a girl who is same age as your younger sister? You won’t enjoy talking to people like Maya unless you’re interested to her.”
“You’re thinking too much, Marianne. And besides, what’s the big deal if I enjoy talking to Maya? She’s fun to talk to,” napapailing na pahayag ni James.
BINABASA MO ANG
Ang Alalay Kong Astig! ( Published Under Pop Fiction/Summit)
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