Chasing Love (Completed)

Chapter 20 - Invite

Hindi naman ako tinanong ni Seb kung anong pinagusapan namin. In fact it's like we never left. Pagbalik namin tinuloy namin ang pagkain at bumalik sa hindi-naguusap-mode.

Nakilala ko na rin ang mga players pero sa dami nila ay hindi ko maalala masyado ang mga names nila. Basta ang kilala ko ay si Cedric tsaka 'yung crush ni Tati na Jordan ang pangalan. Nakita ko ngang nagusap sila saglit at naisip na baka magkakilala ang dalawa.

Sa mga sumunod na araw as usual ganon pa rin si Viktoria and as much as possible I try to ignore her.

Tulad ngayon sa malayo pa lang ay nakikita ko na siya at kung wala lang kaming usapan ni Seb na magkikita dito, aalis na ako. Kasama ko pa si Tati at sigurado akong gulo 'to pag may sinubukan siyang gawin.

To my surprise hindi siya lumapit sa amin pero pumwesto sila sa kabilang side kung nasaan kami.

Okay na sana until they started talking. Really loud.

"May mga tao talagang feeling close noh?" One of her friends said.

"O baka makakapal ang mukha. Imagine ininvite mo sarili mo sa isang celebration? Kung ako hindi ko gagawin 'yun. So pathetic." Maarteng sabi ni girl number two.

I'm not looking at them but I know they're talking about us. Tumingin si Tati sa akin at tinignan naman sila ng masama.

"Me too. Kawawa naman.." They laughed.

"Next time pag may party tayo invite natin sila. Kawawa naman kasi. Baka magself invite nanaman.." Girl number one said.

Si Viktoria nandoon lang nakatingin lang pero nakataas ang kilay niya at nakikitawa lang.

Tati looks really pissed at susugod na sana siya pero nahawakan ko ang braso niya.

"What? Hahayaan nanaman? Kung ikaw pumapayag ka pero wag ako." Nakipaglabanan siya sa akin ng tingin and in the end she remains in her place.

"Nakakainis na ah. Isa pa talaga." She gritted her teeth.

Umiling lang ako tapos ngumiti. Sinabi ko na dati mess with me but don't ever mess with my friends.

Kung ako lang sana okay lang kaya lang puro sila ang naririnig ko and that was the only thing I needed.

I walk up to them and Tati was so surprised that she can't move.

They were all smiling and Viktoria has her arms crossed over her chest.

"Do you have any problems with me? You can say it directly to my face. Nakakahiya naman sa inyo kung magpaparinig lang kayo." Tumaas ang kilay ko.

Nagtinginan silang tatlo. "May tinamaan."

"Good because para sainyo talaga iyon. Akala ko pathetic na manhid rin. Pathetic lang pala." Sabi ng isa sa kasama niya.

"At least I'm smart." I shrugged. "I'm smart to know that we had been invited. At kung may pathetic man dito, I suppose that's you. Oh.. someones's not invited." Mapangasar kong sabi at nilingon ko si Tati na nakangiti at nagpipigil ng tawa.

"Wait, tama ba pagkatanda ko? We were invited and they're not?"

"Yup." Then she strides forward. "But don't worry there's always next time. You know you can invite yourself there when you're not invited. Welcome rin naman kayo."

I don't know if it's only me but Viktoria seems amused by something. Clearly when someone has just insulted you hindi dapat ganon ang mukha mo. You should look like the look the two of her friends have.

"Who invited you?" Inis na sabi ng isa.

"Ang galing rin palang magimbento." They faked a laugh.

Hindi ko sila pinansin dahil kay Viktoria lang ako nakatingin. Wala naman kasi akong pakialam sa dalawa niyang kasama. Hinahayaan niya ang kasama niya makipagsagutan.

Si Tati naman ay nasa dalawa ang atensyon. "Wow. Parang kanina lang may sinasabi kayo tapos kami pa imbento? Since gustong gusto niyong malaman kung sino ang naginvite sa amin why don't I tell you?"

Then she turned to me. Nagkibit balikat lang ako.

"Listen, Seba--" Before she could finish saying the name palapit na si Seb sa amin. "Oh there he is."

Kumunot ang noo niya at nagtaas ng kilay paglapit sa amin. He first looked at me then at Viktoria.

"What's going on?" He chuckled at the tension.

"Ang nonsense lang nila." Tinuro ni Tati ang dalawa.

Parang bigla naman silang nanahimik nang nakita si Seb. Nginingitian nila ito pero hindi sila pinansin si Seb. Hah.

"Ininvite mo sila sa celebration niyo?" One of

"Pinaguusapan niyo ako?" Tanong niya kahit hindi 'yun ang point. He faced Viktoria who is now quiet.

"Vik?"

"Nothing. We're just.." Ngumiti siya kay Seb. "Talking."

How is it possible that earlier she was raising her brows and not friendly but looking at her now, parang ibang tao siya sa harapan ni Seb. She was all smiles and really friendly.

Kaya naman pala nila sinasabing mabait siya. Kung ikaw ba naman ang ngitian ni Viktoria ng ganyan. Sinong lalaki ang hindi maaiinlove?

Dahan dahan akong tinignan ni Seb at naglaro ang ngiti sa labi niya. I know exactly what that look is. And I know what he is thinking too.

"Great. So Viktoria, Flynne. Flynne, Viktoria. But I guess there's no need for that anymore."

If there's something Viktoria and I ever did in unison that is this. At this moment. We both looked at each other and at Sebastian who is grinning.

"You know we can all hang together some other time." Seb suggested and I expected Viktoria to scowl but she didn't.

"Anyway, tapos na kayo magusap right? So pwede ko na isama si Flynne?" He didn't wait for her answer. "Bye Vikvik." He tapped her lightly on the shoulder and grinned at Viktoria who has her mouth open. (The most ungraceful thing I saw her do)

Umakbay naman si Seb sa akin at hinatak ako paalis. Sumunod si Tati but before that I saw her gave a triumphant smile.

Nung nakalabas na kami ng school premises ay inalis ni Seb ang kamay niya.

"Ano iyon? Viktoria, Flynne. Flynne, Viktoria." Ginaya ko siya. "You know we know each other!"

"Um, it's fun? Isn't it? Aminin mo masaya. Seeing their face." Ngisi niya. " By the way, kilala niyo ba 'yung dalawa niyang kasama? I don't."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Why aren't you enjoying this? Buti pa si Tatiana naappreciate ako. Right?"

She nodded and is still smiling.

"I don't know what you're up to but you're crazy!" Umirap ako at naunang maglakad.

Narinig ko pa sila sa likod ko na pinaguusapan ako.

Sebastian always has something up his sleeve. Kahit na magpinsan kami ay hindi ko alam ang mga plano niya. Kahit na mga bata pa kami ay siya na ang nakakaisip ng mga kalokohan. Siya ang mastermind sa lahat ng mga ginawa namin noon.

And I know this is not just about helping me. I know he has other plans.