TIME AFTER TIME (KathBie)

6. HOW THINGS WERE

NAKASANDAL SI MARA sa piano na nasa stage ng auditorium. Pinapanood niya ang exchange of lines ni Christian at Claire. She was honestly bored and wanted to get out of that place kung hindi lang dahil sa mga interesting things na nakikita niya. 

First, there’s Christian being lame at line throwing and second, si Migs or Migs’ expression to be exact. He was standing malapit sa mga props and malayo kina Mickey at isa pang kasama na nasa isang sulok din at pinagtatawanan si Christian.Si Migs, seryoso lang na nanonood.Nasurprise si Mara as she realized what Migs’ expression meant. Paano ba naman, nakita niya na ang sarili niya na ganoon dati. 

Migs caught Mara’s eyes. Ngumiti si Mara na parang nagsasabi na ‘may alam ako tungkol sa’yo’ while Migs’ brows met at the sight of Mara. Palapit itong naglakad papunta kay Mara. 

“Hoy, Mara! What are you looking at? Wag ka na umasa sa’kin. Di ko tataluhin si Christian at di kita type!” walang preno na sabi ni Migs.

“Eh obvious naman kung sino type mo.” Mara shifted her eyes to Claire and Christian. Pero alam naman ni Migs na si Claire ang tinutukoy nito.

“A—ano ba pinagsasabi mo diyan?” nauutal na sabi ni Migs. Mara’s smile grew wider. “Hoy Mara! Di mo alam sinasabi mo.” Parang natataranta na si Migs.

“Ako lang ba may alam?” tanong ni Mara as if hindi niya narinig ang mga denials ni Migs.

“Wala kanga lam! Di mo alam sinasabi mo.” Migs just kept saying.

“I’m sure Christian doesn’t know dahil kung alam niya, he wouldn’t agree to play the part.” Mara said 

“Eh wala naman siya dun kung di mo siya vinolunteer na maging lead. At wala din kaming tatlo dito kung di mo kami sinumbong.” Paliwanag ni Migs.

“Wala ako dito kung di nakikialam si Christian!” Mara folded her arms on her chest.

“Parang nagkakainitan na kayo diyan, ah!” Christian smiled to the both of them. Nagulat naman si Mara at si Migs. “Ano pinaguusapan niyo?” tanong ni Christian. Nagtinginan lang si Migs at Mara and it somehow alerted Christian. Parang may inside information siya na dapat malaman.

“Ah,wala.” Si Migs ang unang sumagot. “Pinagtatawanan ka lang naming.”

“Actually.” Hinirit ni Mara. Christian looked at her with anticipation while Migs gave her a threatening look as if telling her to shut the hell up. “Christian,anong type na girl ni Migs?” seryosong tanong ni Mara.

Christian’s expression has changed.

“Wag ka ng umasa kay Migs, Mara. Di ka type niyan.” Christian said seriously. 

“Yun din ang sabi ko sa kanya!” Migs added as he placed his hand on Christian’s shoulder.

“Ouch.” Mara said as if not noticing Christian’s tone. 

“Migs likes pretty girls yung may curves.” Christian looked at Mara’s body and it made Mara a bit uncomfortable. “Kulang nung sa’yo.” Christian shifted his eyes to her face, seryoso pa din ito sa pagpapaliwanag sa simpleng tanong ni Mara tungkol kay Migs. “And he likes party girls, yung medaling kausap. No complications.” Dagdag pa ni Christian.

“I like parties!” Mara said with a perky tone. Hindi na din niya alam kung bakit nga ba siya nakikipagusap sa dalawang jocks na ito. 

“Gusto ni Migs yung wild party girls. Soooobraaang wild.” Pahabol ni Christian. Medyo may exaggeration na ito kaya kahit si Migs ay nagugulat na sa pananalita ni Christian.

“Well, magkaibigan nga kayo. Pareho kayo ng type eh.” Sabi ni Mara. Sa umpisa and usapan na yun ay dapat tungkol kina Claire at Migs pero for some unknown reason, feeling niya it’s about them and Christian. “Buti di kayo nagkakapareho ng nagugustuhan.” Mara said smiling.