Love Me (Completed)

Chapter 8 - Friend

Sobrang dami ko nang lakad na hindi natutuloy dahil kay Sebastian. He kept on saying excuses at one time dinala pa niya sila Liam at Flynne para wala akong takas.

Nahihiya na nga ako kay Christopher sa kakacancel ko sa kanya. Baka iniisip niya ayaw ko siyang kasama.

Tonight is one of those dinner na natuloy. But of course Sebastian wouldn't let me go without his own plan.

Nagulat si Christopher pagkakita sa akin or more like kung sinong kasama ko.

Napatingin ako kay Sebastian. "Akala ko sabi mo alam na niya?"

"Nakalimutan kong sabihin. Okay lang naman diba?"

"Yeah. Okay lang." Sagot niya. Tinignan ko siya at hindi ko mabasa sa mukha niya lung okay lang ba talaga.

I step beside him and smiled at him. Sorry.

He smiled back then lead me inside. I was a little surprised when I felt his hand on my back guiding me.

Isa 'yun sa pagkakaiba nila ni Sebastian. Si Christopher ay 'yung tipong pagbubuksan ka ng pinto at papaunahin ka at si Sebastian naman ay 'yung makikipagtalo pa kung saan kakain at hindi ka hahayaan manalo sa isang argument.

The whole time we were eating tahimik lang si Sebastian at walang sinasabi habang kinakausap ako ni Christopher. Sometimes I will glance at him to make sure he's okay. Hindi ako sanay na tahimik lang siya and I don't want him to feel bad dahil hindi siya nakakarelate sa pinaguusapan namin ni Christopher.

I don't know why he insisted of coming kung uupo lang rin naman siya at tahimik na kumakain.

Christopher wanted to drive me home at doon lang nagsalita si Sebastian.

"Ako na. May dadaanan pa kami."

"Anong dadaanan?" Wala akong maalala na ganon.

He ignored me at hindi niya inalis ang tingin kay Christopher.

"Alright." Christopher said and faced me. "I'll text you later. Ingat."

I nodded. "Ingat."

Tumalikod na si Sebastian and I waited hanggang sa makalayo na siya.

"Sorry, hindi ko alam na sasama siya tonight. I don't know what's gotten into him but I'll talk to him."

He shook his head. "No problem. Don't worry, okay lang talaga."

"Sure?"

He smiled and patted my arm. "Sige na, uwi ka na."

Habang naglalalad ako palapit kay Sebastian ay nakakunot ang noo niya pero wala siyang sinabi at pumasok sa loob.

When we got to my house, hindi muna ako pumasok ng bahay. I motioned him to get out of the car.

"Care to explain? Anong problema mo kay Christopher?"

"Wala. Dapat ko ba siyang problemahin?" He said a little too innocent.

"Akala mo ba hindi ko nahahalata ginagawa mo? Ikaw ang nagpakilala sa akin sa kanya tapos ngayon sa tuwing magkikita kami ayaw mo naman. At talagang sumama ka pa tonight ha."

"Kung ayaw mo palang sumama ako sana sinabi mo. Next time hindi na ako sasama. Hindi na rin kita pipigilan kung gusto mo siyang kasama."

"Anong problema mo? Ano nanamang kaartehan 'yan?"

He sighed. "You don't know him. And I'm worried because I don't too. Hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip niya. Pinakilala kita sa kanya because I know you wanted to know him. Hindi ko naisip na hihingin niya ang number mo at yayayain ka niyang lumabas."

"Ang OA mo paminsan noh? Can you just chill? Hindi naman nagdrdrugs 'yung tao. He don't even smoke. At kung may gagawin siya sana matagal na niyang ginawa."

"You don't know that."

"I know that. Alam mo rin iyon. So ano ba talagang problema?"

"I am jealous." He said.

That was not what I expected him to say. My eyes widen and after a while I chuckled.

"I was jealous. Siya na ang palagi mong kasama. Hindi ka na rin madalas pumupunta sa apartment. Hindi ka masyado nagrereply sa mga texts ko. Ayaw mo pag pinupuntahan kita sa building niyo pero pag siya okay lang sayo. Parang nahihiya ka atang kasama ako. Simula nung nakilala mo siya, I feel like you don't need me anymore."

My heart gave a loud thump and I calm myself by breathing evenly. He really has no idea how he affects me lalo na pag ganyan siya.

"Nagseselos ka sa kanya kasi hindi na kita napapansin? Wow. Wala akong masabi. Sinong may sabing hindi na kita kailangan? I will always need you. Christopher is just a friend at kahit na hindi ka gentleman tulad niya, ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko kaya wag nga kung ano ano iniisip mo." I said nonchalantly to dismiss him of the thought.

He shrugged and took a step back and leaned on his car.

"I don't know. Siguro nga OA lang ako at paranoid. 'Yung nakita ko kanina? The way you two acted? I don't think that's how friends acted. You barely know each other but clearly interesado siya sayo and you said it yourself that you like him too. Kaya hindi ko alam, Viktoria. Tell me, paranoid lang ba ako?"

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. It's not possible. Totoo ngang nagseselos siya? Pero bakit? He don't like me the way I like him and then there are the problem of him flirting with every girls.

"What about you? Sa dami mong nilalandi na babae I think I should also have a say in that but I never said anything. May narinig ka ba sa akin? I don't think so."

"Because you don't have to. Alam mong hindi naman ako seryoso sa kanila." He said.

"I-- are we fighting?"

"No, Viktoria." He sighed then he turned around to open the door.

Masayang kasama si Christopher and I thought he's okay with that. Pwede siyang makipagkilala sa mga babae at ganon rin ako because we're not really together. We're just friends.

Aaminin ko a part of me na pumapayag lumabas kasama si Christopher is because I want to like him. Sobrang bait niyang tao and if given a chance I would like to try dating with him. Kung hindi ko kilala si Sebastian sigurado akong mahuhulog ako sa kanya. But now, I know better.

It's clearer than ever.

I'm never going to like another man if he's not Sebastian. At aasa ako hanggang sa siya mismo ang magsabi sa akin na ayaw niya sa akin. Seeing him act like this made me realized that maybe he like me too. Maybe not now but someday.

I caught his arm. "He is just a friend and he will remain my friend. I just think you'd want to know that."

He just nodded. But I think saw a small smile before he got inside his car.