ANNE POV
"Anne? Hoy!" siniko ako ng malakas ni Rhea.
"Ouch,Rei! That hurts." I glared at her. She glared back at me.
"are you hidding something?" she asked while giving me a suspicious look.
"what made you think that way?" hinaluan ko ng inis ang tono ko. Pero ang totoo, kinakabahan ako. Umiwas ako ng tingin.
"I just had this weird feeling na parang nag-iiba ka na."
"huh?"
"look,Anne. We've been friends since grade school. Kilala kita. Alam kong may pagka-misteryosa ka at most of the times pinipili mo na lang manahimik. Alam ko kung gaano ka ka-weird. Pero ang napapansin ko sayo, palala ka ng palala. Parang hindi na ikaw yung bestfriend ko. Although, you're looking good and . . .hmm, blooming? Ah basta. Nagiging alien ka na sa paningin ko. I have this feeling that you are in love and you don't want to tell me anything about it."
I literally stopped breathing. I always knew that she was observant. I just underestimated her capability of suspecting anything that bothers her. Tama ang mga sinabi niya.Nahulaan niya ang tamang rason pero kailangan kong manahimik at palabasin na hindi 'yon ganon. I'm lying to my bestfriend. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang hindi ma-guilty. Alam kong mapagkakatiwalaan ko siya. Natatakot lang ako na kapag sinabi ko ang lahat kay Rhea, siya ang unang-unang tututol. Knowing her, alam kong may masasabi siya. Natatakot ako na hindi niya ako maintindihan. Natatakot ako na baka pag-awayan namin ito ng malala. Natatakot ako na baka dumating sa point na kailangan kong pumili. Alam kong napaka-nega ko na mag-isip. Masisisi nyo ba ako? It wasn't easy to hide what you truly feel. It was like hiding in a dark crowded room. Na kahit gaano pa kadilim ang silid, alam mong may makakaalam pa din.
Sasabihin ko din naman,eh. Hindi lang ngayon. Huwag ngayon. . .
I cleared my throat and face her once again.
"There's nothing wrong with me,Rei. Kung anuman ang napapansin mo, huwag mo ng bigyan ng ibang meaning. Sabi mo, I'm weird. Lahat naman ng tao may tinatagong ka-wirdohan sa katawan. Even you.Actually,weird din ang tingin ko sayo ngayon. You're stressing yourself with nonsense. Stop worrying. I'm okay. I'm fine. And it's normal to be weird sometimes." pinilit kong tumawa. She didn't laugh with me but I heard her sigh.
"you sure? You're not hiding anything? You know, magtatampo talaga ako sayo kung meron nga. . ."
Sorry,bestfriend. . .but I love him.
Tumango ako at pilit na ngumiti.
"I'm hungry. Let's go to your kitchen. Go bake some cake for me." she stood up. I sigh in relief. Now,she's talking. . .
Pagpunta namin sa kusina. Napagpasyahan namin na gumawa ng dark chocolate cake. That was her favorite. And since hindi pa din nawawala ang guilt na nararamdaman ko, gagawa ako ng cake para sa kanya.
