what if we happened

26. Necklace is a Sign

Chapter 26: Necklace is a Sign

Seren

"Damay-damay na 'to, 'no!" Anais insisted. "I'm not going to confess to Arturo unless you confess to Elias. Hindi puwedeng ako lang ang pinipilit niyo sa circle na 'to. You should back me up. That's the deal."

I let out a loud scoff. "Anais, okay ka lang? Why the hell can't you just do it yourself?"

"Para magkaroon ako ng lakas ng loob kapag may kadamay ako."

"Do you really think na gagawin ko 'yan para lang sa iyo?"

She's got to be kidding me. I'm not sure how she managed to talk to me into this crazy idea, but there's no way I'm following through on it. Hindi ngayon at hindi bukas. Hindi siya ang masusunod at magdedesisyon. Nakakainis siya!

She nodded enthusiastically. "We're friends, right? So, yes," reason niya na ikinakunot lalo ng noo ko. "Please, vebs! Gawin na natin 'to! 'Wag na tayo magpakaduwag! No more waiting, no more 'what ifs.' Let's just do this."

Pinanlisikan ko siya ng mga mata. "No way, Anais! Please lang din. Huwag ako." I was getting more irritated.

She stared at me, unflinching. "Fine! E di, no way for me either. Hindi rin ako aamin," she said definitively and shook her drinks while ice cubes clinked.

I heaved a sigh out of frustration. "Seryoso ka ba talaga? Dalawang buwan pa lang kami halos magkakilala ni Elias, at wala 'yon binatbat sa six years mong pakikipagkaibigan kay Arturo."

Huminto siya sa paghigop upang magsalita. "Eh, ano ngayon?"

"It's not fair! You can't just make me confess to someone because you want to. Hindi pa namin kilala nang lubos ang isa't isa. Hindi kagaya ninyong dalawa ni Arturo, ilang beses na nag-uututan sa mukha."

"E di, ututan mo rin si Elias sa mukha! Duh!"

"Baliw!"

"Gusto mo naman."

I couldn't hold my chuckle. "Ako na lang ututan niya. Ano kayang amoy ng utot ni Elias, 'no?"

Anais reached my hands. Naramdaman ko 'yong lamig nito dahil sa moist ng iniinom niya. "Vebs, you think I'm gonna confess and risk all my dignity without you doing the same? What are we friends for? Samahan mo naman ako. OMG! Ayaw kong magmukhang ako lang ang tang*."

"Kanina ka pa mukhang tang*."

"Vebs, please na," she pleaded once more. "Kung gusto niyo akong umamin, umamin ka na rin."

She's acting like it's some kind of dare or challenge, but it's my emotions, my feelings, my fear, and anxiety. It's not funny. I don't like this pressure. Hindi niya ako maco-convince kahit anong gawin niya at pagpapaawa niya. For me, it's completely bad idea. Two months pa lang kami magkakilala ni Elias, paano kapag natapos 'yon dahil nag-confess ako agad?

Umiling-iling ako at pinakalma ang boses. "You're my best friend but sorry, I don't think I can. You know I'm not even close to ready to do this. I need to figure this out in my own time. I don't want to rush into something, please. This isn't something you force someone to do. Dapat gets mo ako. This is not a movie or series. This is my own business! I can't just ignore my feelings for you to feel better about yours!"

Her eyes determined. "Ganito lang din naman pamimilit ang ginagawa niyo sa akin, ah," katwiran niya. "I will keep bugging you, Seren until you finally do it. If you don't do it, I won't either. No exceptions."

She's stubborn like fuck*ng hell!

"Go, sino tinakot mo? Sino magsisisi sa huli, ako ba?"

Mariin siyang pumikit. "Dali na! Kapag pumayag ka, huwag mo na akong bayaran sa milk tea na iniinom mo ngayon."