"For the broken hearts!" malakas na sigaw ni Niña habang tinaas ang kanyang baso na may alak
Anong pinaghuhugutan nito? Nakikiparty ba 'to? O may sariling problema rin?
Ang daming may problema dito.
"Cheers!"
Napawi ang lungkot sa kanilang mukha at ngumiti silang pareho at binangga ang aming mga baso.
I feel the pain they are carving right now.
But all I want to happen is to be happy just for today. Not for everyone or anyone but for ourselves.
We need time to realize our worth. No more cries.
Tiningnan ko si Marichu na minu-minutong sinilip ang kanyang telepono. So, she's still waiting the call. Makatarungan pa ba yan? O katangahan?
Tss.
Binaling ko ang tingin ko kay Niña na kasalukuyang inuupakan ang chicharon habang tinatalakan si Marichu. I looked her and smelled something, she's not okay too.
I was about to throw her questions when Marichu's phone rang. Ang lahat ng mga mata at atensyon namin ay napunta sa kanya.
She grabs her phone at nilagay niya sa tenga.
"Oh?"
All eyes are set on her. We want to listen everything. Kaya nakinig ako at di nagsasalita.
"Hah! Anong gagawin ko sa sorry mo?"
Tss. The other brat is alive.
"Ewan ko sayo! I ha-ugh!" pasigaw niyang sabi at binabaan
I don't have to ask who's the caller. Her reaction tells everything, it's Israel. The love of her life.
"Anong sabi?"
Tiningnan ko nang masama si Niña. Naku nagtatanong pa!
"He asked where I am right now..."
At?
"Ang kapal ng mukha niyang magtanong pagkatapos niya akong hiniwalayan!" sigaw niya sa aming dalawa
Beastmode na.
"Ha! Tingnan natin kung mahanap niya tayo."
Umirap ako sa kawalan. That's not impossible ang lapit lang school natin dito. Ang tanga talaga nito.
"You think I can't find you?"
Sabi na nga ba. Sabay kaming tumingin sa kanya. Bakit may alipores siyang dala? Bakit sa dinami daming kilala sila pa? Why does it have to be Phillip and that Monreal?
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Bumaling ako kay Niña nang sabihin niya 'yon kay Phillip. Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kanya. Dammit! That's supposed to be my line!
"Let's talk."
Sabay sabi ni Israel at Phillip kay Marichu at Niña. Ang cute nila tingnan. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi ngumiti.
"Uh, Isra, dito ka na umupo." I offered my seat to him
Tumayo ako pero hinila ako ni Niña na umupo pabalik.
"You're going to leave me here?" she angrily whispered at my right ear while holding my hand
Edi tumayo ka!
"Of course not. Phillip will sit with you. Right, Phil?"
Tumingin ako kay Phillip to signal him! Putspa ang slow ng mga tao dito. Dahan dahan akong tumayo.
"No way!"
I looked at her. I'm not talking to you. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Phillip. Ang tagal naman mag isip ng kumag na 'to!
"Not here." dinig kong reklamo ng pinsan ko bago tuluyang kinaladkad si Niña palabas sa resto
Para akong nanood ng telenovela sa kilig ng pangyayari. Kulang nalang popcorn.
"Tss."
The big smile on my face fades as he made a whining sound. I turned to face him nandito pa pala 'tong nilalang na 'to. In the corner of my eye, I saw Israel slowly taking a seat in front of Marichu.
I gently tapped her shoulder. Tumingala siya sa akin. A drop of tear is streaming down her sad face. I forcely smile and wipe it with my bare hand.
"You both need to talk. Hihintayin kita sa labas." bulong ko sa kanya
Kinuha ko ang bag ko at lumabas na rin. Napahinto ako nang may naalala. Shoot! Di pa kami nagbayad! Ay bahala na si Marichu 'don.
Umupo ako sa bench sa gilid ng resto. Tumingin ako sa mga magkasintahang naglampungan sa harapan ko. Gabi na o, get a room! Nilagay ko ang kamay ko sa ulo. Ang sakit! Ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng pagkahilo. Naparami yata ang inuman namin.
"Third time."
He sat beside me after saying that. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"This is the third time of walking out..."
Lalong tumaas ang kilay ko. I'm not in the mood to fight back. I don't have more energy to do. Kaya tumango nalang ako sa sinabi niya.
"Uhm... You okay?"
I looked at him and nodded. It's not a big deal. I'm okay.
"Sorry for what happened lately. I was just—"
"Joking. I knew, you don't have to explain."
Putol ko sa sinabi niya. I knew right, Monreal. You were just joking!
"Really, Chloe?"
Tanong niya pabalik sa akin. This is the first time he said my name. But not in a perfect time. Bad mood ako ngayon kaya hindi ako dapat magdiwang. Yes, Monreal. Really.
Tumayo ako para kumuha ng tyempong makahinga ng maluwag. This scene is not good.
"O ano, walkout na naman?"
He said that without looking at me. Nanatili ang tingin niya sa kanyang paa. I towered and glared at him.
Hindi huminga lang. Assuming!
"Iniiwasan mo ba ako?"
And our gaze met. He looked so puzzled. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanya at umupo ulit sa kanyang tabi.
"Bakit? Do I have a reason to?"
I have to answer him a question. I can't say neither yes nor no.
Simply because I can't tell a lie.
"I have uhm something to tell you."
Ito na. Kinatok ka na ba ng konsensya?
Hindi na ako nagsalita. Now I need to hear your side.
"I know you more than what you think."
O ano ngayon?
"I already know you before they asked me to be your date."
I was taken aback by his confession. I don't know how to react. Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kanya.
"Hindi ko alam kung paano 'to sasabihin sa iyo. I'm not really good at this..."
I can't smile this time. Pinagpawisan ako at parang nanginig ang buong kalamnan ko.
"Chloe, the minute I said I like you, I was lying."
Yeah, like I said, I knew it.
"Because I just don't like you, I love you, Chloe, I love you for a long time..."
Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanya. I can't afford to hear the next phrase. Baka sasabihin na naman niyang nagbibiro lang siya. Na pinakiusapan lang siya. A tear fell from my right eye. My heart tells everything.
They say when you cry, if the first drop of tear falls from the right eye, it symbolizes happiness.
And I am happy. Damn happy.
Do I have a right to be?
