Yesterday, I Loved You

Chaper IX • ANSWERS.

/Jhoana/

6:00pm. I am here inside the kitchen, I was just helping Therese to prepare the foods for our dinner tonight. Bea was still sleeping until now, 2 hours of rest I think it's enough. So, I've decided to go upstairs nalang so I can go na to our room, so that I can wake up her na. It's late narin kasi, baka mamaya di pa siya makatulog kung kelan gabi na.

"OMG. Kalat na pala talaga? Alam na ba nila to?" Ponggay exclaimed while looking at the screen of Jia's phone.

Of course, I'm a little bit curious about what they are talking about, but I'm not a gossipmonger. So, I continued to walk. As I placed my feet on the living room, they looked at me, as in "they" marami sila sa living room. Jia, Kim, Deanna, Ponggay, and the rest of the ALE. I was just, 'I am not here, please don't look at me...' Like that.

"Any problem?" I asked. I just wanted to melt right now, so that they are not able to see me nalang.

"Um. Nah Jho. Nagulat lang kami sayo." Jia said then she smiled.

There's a problem, I can sense it. Is it about what Jia saw lately? That's not a big deal, Bea and I were best friends. What's the problem about that?

I tried to smile, pretending to be contented for her reason. I started to walk again, but obviously they were watching every step that I am taking. I can see them, I can feel. But kahit ganon, I just ignored them, I tried nalang to focus sa paglalakad papuntang room namin ni Bea.

××××××××××

/Bea/

"Good evening guys!"

"Good evening Bea, kakagising mo lang?"

"Yeah Kim. I'm so tired kasi kanina."

I'm still sleepy pa talaga. Dinner is ready narin, they are all inside the dining area na, also Jho she's preparing the table after niya kong gisingin. But Kim and Deanna were still sitting on the sofa in the living room.

"Actually Bea, we're waiting for you talaga." Kim said while staring at my eyes, like seriously.

"Huh? Why? Is there any problem?"

They looked so weird. Parang may nangyari nanaman habang natutulog ako? Parang na-awkward tuloy ako bigla.

"Wala naman ate Bea. May sasabihin lang kami sayo, di kasi namin alam if aware ka na ba dito."

Parang naramdaman ko bigla na alam ko na agad yung tinutukoy nila. Is it about me and Jho? Goshhh.

"Guys! Bea, Deanna, Kim, tara na daw. Dinner's ready na."

"Ate Bea, you must figure it out by yourself nalang siguro, I'm gutom na e."

Sus. Pag sa pagkain talaga. But ano pa bang ipifugure out ko e alam ko na naman din yun. Alam ko na, na ako at si Jho thing yun.

××××××××××

/Jhoana/

This dinner was literally silent, quite, and mute. Just the sound of our spoons and forks, of how it bumps on our plates and also the sound of the ceiling fan, of how it swirl and turn. My ears were utterly interrupted by something, like the feeling when you're under water. I can't move normally as I felt some awkwardness, this was the first time I felt this feeling with them. I lift my gaze on Bea, who's sitting across me. Her head was bowed, this was her weakness, awkwardness.

Is it just me? Or it is true, that the most of them were staring at me? Or Bea? Or us? What's going on? I get the pitcher to pour the cold water in my glass, trying to pretend that I don't care, or I can't see them or I can't see what they are doing.