Have I Told You (PUBLISHED BY POP FICTION)

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Sa Pilipinas, buong taon ata magulo ang panahon (parang si Eisley lang). Yesterday, it was so hot I thought I was going to melt. Now, it's slightly drizzling. The weather makes me want to lie down in my bed the whole day, but I can't, because I want to spend my remaining hours with Eisley.

Bukas aalis ako dahil may medical mission kami sa isang secluded na area ng isang buwan. Meaning, mahina ang signal, useless din ang gadgets, at mawawalan ako ng communication sa mga tao. Magiging busy rin kami.

Dahil wala akong pasok ngayon, si Eisley naman ang dinalan ko ng lunch sa company nila. Nagkagulatan pa nga kami ni Sile dahil parehas kaming nasa lobby at hinihintay si Eisley. May dala rin siyang lunch box.

All of a sudden, I forget how to breathe. It's like, my heart is getting pinched. Jealousy kills. Shiz, I really have to wake up! Eisley and I are just friends, but I still have feelings for him. I don't have the right to get jealous, but still, I do.

Because I still freaking have feelings for him.

"Tyrese!" she hugs me too excitingly. Mae-excite pa kaya siya pag nalaman niyang hindi naman talaga kami mag pinsan ni Eisley?

I freeze. How do I hide these feelings?

"H-Hi!" I greet her. Muntik na niya akong sakalin sa higpit ng yakap niya. "How are you? Long time no see." I can't reciprocate her reactions, so I ask how she's doing.

She giggles. "I'm doing great. Ikaw? Nag dark yung skin mo! Nag beach ka, no? I love your skin color, though. Sobrang bagay mo. Golden tan!"

"Thank you. Nilibot ko lang friends ko galing Manila."

"Really? Cool! Next time, tayo naman mag travel. Have you been to Dumaguete? Let's go there some time, okay? With Eisley and Evan?"

"Sure." Kahit na madaldal ako, pag siya yung kausap ko, nauubusan ako ng salita sa kanya. Iba rin kasi yung kadaldalan niya. She's wearing a floral dress and she looks cute in her French braid pigtails.

"You're also bringing Eisley lunch? How sweet of you," she says sweetly. "Sobrang cute niyong mag pinsan. Let's eat together na lang kaya? I cooked for two and hindi naman ako malakas kumain."

"You... cooked?"

She nods. "I'm a part-time chef."

Perfect! "Wow. You're a chef, pero hindi ka malakas kumain?"

He shakes her head, smiling shyly. "I like cooking for people. Their reactions satisfy me."

Nalaman kong these past few days, dinadalan niya pala ng lunch si Eisley. Magkatext din silang dalawa lagi. Nagrereklamo lang si Sile dahil more than half ata ng conversation nila, puro siya ang nagtetext tapos kung sasagot si Eisley, sobrang tipid.

"I don't think he likes me, Tyrese." Ang lungkot ng expression niya. "But I'd still like to give it a try."

"If you can talk to him and if he replies back to your texts, then that's a good start." I feel like betraying myself. It's just that I feel bad for her. Damn! I should feel bad for myself, too! "I guess, you guys can be friends, but as of now, he's not interested in anything more than... that."

Deep inside, I'm jealous. It takes me years for Eisley to notice me and it only takes her months. She's that good!

Pagbaba ni Eisley, nagulat ata siya noong nakita niya kaming dalawa ni Sile na nag-uusap. Binigay ko lang sa kanya yung lunch box. "Pinapabigay ni Mommy Sexy." He gages my reaction, trying to look into my eyes, but I avoid his gaze.