K A T A R I N A (•GXG•)

XIII.

K

"What the hell was that Vero? Bakit kasabay mo 'yung babae na 'yun sa pagpasok? Are you seriously out of your mind?!" Malakas na puna ko kay Vero habang naglalakad na kaming tatlo papunta sa kanya- kanya naming klase. I don't really care if we're already making a scene. Hindi man lang umiimik ang isang 'to. "What now? Matapos mong hindi magparamdam eh bigla kang susulpot and with that loser? Seriously Vero?!"

Sinalubong ni Vero ang iritado kong tingin. "Seriously K? Seriously?" Panunuya nito.

"I'm asking you why the hell were you with that girl?!"

Parang nalilito na natatawa naman ang tingin na ipinukol saakin ni Vero. "Isinabay ko lang siya sa pagpasok K. Nothing more."

I laughed sarcastically. "Wow Vero. So sa loser na 'yun eh may oras ka, samantalang saaming mga kaibigan mo ng ilang taon na eh wala. Thanks for ditching us by the way."

"But I already apologized for that I said I've been busy, K." Madiin na sagot nito na siyang mas lalo atang nagdagdag sa pagkairita na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

"You've been busy with what?" Mapang- asar ang tono ko. "Or shall I rephrase my question for you Vero? You've been busy with whom rather? Busy ka pero may oras ka sa babaeng 'yun."

"What the actual hell are you talking about right now K?"

Bigla'y pumagitna si Gen saaming dalawa. Malapit na kami sa may bandang canteen kaya't marami- rami ang mga estudyanteng nakatambay doon at aware kami na tumitingin na ang mga iba doon saamin ngayon. Like the hell I care! I'm Katarina Rachelle San Juan. No one dares to badmouth me!

Naglipat- lipat ang tingin saamin ni Gen. "Ano ba naman kayo! Kakabati niyo lang dalawa ha! Why are you guys bickering over such plain senseless thing?!" She scolded the both of us.

Now, that's not Gen.

Pero hindi ko na pinansin pa ng sobra iyon at tinignan ng masama si Vero. She's going back to her old self. That is what I don't understand! 'Yung tahimik, hindi nagsasabi at bigla na lang nawawala ng walang pasabi. Why the hell is that?!

Don't tell me because she likes that-,

Fuck it! No, fuck that though!

"You hear me Vero! You have time for that girl and this is not you! What the hell is happening to you?" This is your chance. This is your chance, Katarina. Ask her the main question! "D...Do you l-like her?"

I felt my palms got sweaty.

I stuttered. I didn't know why but I did.

I kept on staring at her eyes which didn't change any emotion it held.

Maging si Gen ay napatingin saakin while her eyes widened. I didn't know what's gotten into me at kating- kati akong itanong sakanya 'yun at malaman kung anong isasagot niya! Answer me honestly, Vero. Tell me the truth!

Sa gulat ko' y tumawa ng mapakla ang babaeng nasa harap ko. "Are you hearing yourself right now K?" Umiiling- iling pa ito.

Does she think I'm not serious right now? That this is just something silly to me?!

Fuck you, Vero!

"I'm not joking around here Vero. Just tell me the truth!"

Hinawi ni Vero si Gen para malapit ito saakin. Naglalaban ang tingin namin. "What's with the sudden interest K? Why all of a sudden you have to ask about me and... well... Andrea?"

"I'm n-not interested!" Napalakas ata ang salita ko dahil tuluyan nang napunta ang atensyon ng halos lahat ng nakatambay na mga estudyante saamin.