8: Cancelled
Leah’s Point of View
Nagising ako nang marinig ko ang aking ringtone.
*Ring! Ring! Riiiiiing!*
Shet! Ayan nanaman! Kung sino ka mang tumatawag ka! Tumigil ka ngayon din! Inaantok pa ako, bwiset! Ang aga aga mo mangbulabog, leche!
*Riiiiiiiiinnnng! Ring! Ring!*
“FVCK! DIE!”
*blag!*
Tinapon ko na ang cellphone. Taena, ang sarap na ng tulog ko eh! Saka, inaantok pa ako! Ka-imbyerna ‘yung tumawag!
*Ring! Ring! Riiiiiing!*
Ay, shet! Buhay pa din!
Wala na akong nagawa kundi tumayo at pulutin ang cellphone ko.
Oh my gosh! 1:32 pm na?! Oh my! Si Manager pala ang tumatawag!
“Mana—”
[500 years, Rodriguez?! Ayoko nang magpaligoy-ligoy pa, cancelled na ang upcoming project mo!]
*toot toot toot*
Ay ganern? Pagkatapos akong bulabugin, bababaan ako agad? At saka wala na akong pake sa pesteng project na ‘yan! The other day, may project na ako tapos ngayon? Wala na?! Paasa! Pwe!
Bumalik ako sa pagkakahiga sa kama. By the way, have I told you that I slept too late last night? Or should I say this dawn? I slept at 3:30 am or something. At ang rason, *sigh* si Clark. At ang dahilan? I have no idea. Basta bigla ko na lang siyang naalala. And then, there! Nagpasukan na sa isip ko ang madaming tanong. To be honest, kasama dun ang “Mahal ko pa nga ba siya?” Sheyz! Nagiging weird na ako!
*tok tok tok*
Napatayo ako agad nang okay kumatok.
“Leah? Are you awake, dear?”
“Why, mom?”
“Oh! I thought you’re still sleeping. But, anyway. Clark is here. He’s been waiting for you for almost 3 hours.”
Clark... is here?! Oh my geezmo!
Napasugod ako bigla sa banyo at naligo nang mabilis. Dammit! Why is my heart beating this fast?! And it’s loud!
Nagbihis ako agad into black shirt and denim shorts. Para magmukhang hindi pinaghandaan. And then, bumaba na ako habang nagsusuklay kunyari.
At nakita ko nga siya habang nilalaro si Riri. Aww... they’re cute.
Pero may napansin ako sa sarili ko. Hindi na ako naiinis kay Clark. But, that does not mean I love him again. It is clear to me that I don’t have feelings for him, anymore. But, why is my heart beating this fast?
“H-Hi Clark.”
Oh gosh! Why am I even stammering?
Lumingon siya sa ‘kin saka ngumiti.
“P-Pinaghintay ba kita nang matagal? You should have just leave me a message.”
Dumating si kuya at kinuha si Riri kay Clark.
“I have to say this to you personally.”
Lumapit siya sa ‘kin. ‘Yung sobrang lapit. At itinapat ang kanyang labi sa aking tenga.
Dug dug. Dug dug
“Someone is observing you wherever you are.”
K! Edi wow! ‘Di naman ako umasa. Tsk.
Pero, huh? Meron naman talaga. Si God. Diba?
“Someone is tailing you. Watching your every move. So, be careful and don’t talk to strangers.”
Then, he left, leaving me dumbfounded. Like, what was that?
***
Pano niya nalaman? Don’t tell me sinusundan din niya ako?
Hinahalo-halo ko ang kapeng inorder ko nang marinig kong nagsalita si Marie. “Hoy Eya, makangiti wagas!”
Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Marie. Nakangiti ako?! Weh? ‘Di nga? Joke time ba? But, seriously! I’m getting weirder!
“Hmmm... You’re thinking of Clark, aren’t you?”
Nanlaki ang mata ko. “O-Oy, hindi ah.”
“Geeeh! Deny pa more! Sige, hindi naman halata eh!” sarkastikong sabi niya.
I just rolled my eyes on her.
“Aminin mo na kasi na mahal mo pa si Clark!”
Halos malaglag ako sa upuan sa sinabi niya. And I think my eyes will pop out of their sockets anytime because of what Marie is saying. Ghad! Can she hear herself? Saka, ilang beses ko ba kailangang ulit-ulitin na wala na nga akong feelings sa kanya bago nila mai-internalize?
Again, I just rolled my eyes on her. There’s no point in denying it anyway. They won’t believe.
“Speaking of...” She smiled. Oh no, oh no! I don’t like that smile. “Hi Clark!” Oh my god! I knew it! She only smiles like that when she sees Clark or when she teases me. And me? Would you believe if I say I froze? Yes! I effin froze!
“Hi Marie.”
I... believe now. Clark’s there. His voice proves it.
Then, my phone suddenly rang. OMG! Tumatawag si Kesha!
“Excuse me, for a while.”
Pumunta ako sa malapit sa cr.
[Hello, Leah?]
“Kesha! How are you? Oh my god! I miss you!”
[I’m okay. And I miss you, too.]
“So, can I ask you a favor?”
[Favor? Sure.]
“Can you please check on my business there?”
[...]
Hindi sumagot si Kesha. All I heard was a deep sigh.
[Leah... I am not in Japan nor in America.]
After that the call ended. Dammit! I haven’t asked where exactly is she. Bumalik na lang ako sa table namin. But, wait! Wait! Where is Marie?! Pagkabalik ko kasi sa table namin, wala na siya. Si Clark na lang ang natira.
“Leah, can we talk?” he asked, sipping his coffee.
I just sit as my gesture of agreement.
“Leah, Marie told me.”
Ano nanaman kaya ang sinabi ni Marie?!
“Do you still love me?”
I was taken aback. The question just hits me. And, I want to say no, but it won’t just come out of my mouth.
“C-Clark, I have to go.”
I immediately stand up and left, not waiting for him to answer. Geez, lame excuse! Well, that’s the only way I thought to escape that question.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Good Bitch
Teen Fiction"Sawa na akong masaktan, Clark." - Leah The Dare Book 2: The Good Bitch Genre: Romance Language: Taglish Date Started: July 28, 2016 *Thanks to @YanaJin21 for the cover :)
