The Broken Hearted Girl ✔️

Episode 3

Wala pang 30 minutes nang makarating sila ng Mall. Cassandra hastily climbed out of the car. Hindi na niya hinintay na pagbuksan pa ni Mike dahil alam niyang hindi naman nito gagawin iyon.

Naglakad siya papunta sa elevator.

"hey, wait.." at saktong nakaabot bago pa magsara ito. He pressed the number 3 button going to the third floor. Napalingon pa siya saglit sa kasama at nagtaka kung bakit pumwesto ito sa gilid. Tatanungin niya pa sana ito pero hindi nalang tinuloy.

'Baka tarayan lang ako' sabi niya sa sarili.

The moment it pings and it's doorway opened, agad lumabas si Cassandra. Sumunod naman si Mike.

"easy lang. We have lots of time." then smiled sweetly at her who just rolled her eye-balls on him.

Back to the normal them.

Tuloy lang sila sa paglalakad nang biglang mapatigil ang babaeng kasama niya.

"bakit? Doon pa ang Bookstore." tanong niya at tulad ng dati, hindi siya nito pinansin. She was more focus on that two familiar faces.

Nagiba ito ng diresksyon at akmang maglalakad na ulit nang...

"Cassandra?" tawag ng isang babae. She closed her eyes first then took a deep breath before facing them.

"Elize. Hello."

"Muntik na kitang hindi makilala. You've changed." pagpapatuloy pa ng babae. Mike noticed how Cassandra forced her lips to quirk upwards and smiled at them.

"You're still the same" Cassandra muttered back, suddenly sounding sarcastic. "so, namamasyal kayo? dagdag  pa niya to atleast show a little interest on them kahit na wala naman talaga. Ngumiti muna si Elize before clinging her arm on her boyfriend's right arm. It wasnt left unnoticed by Cassandra, especially when the intention was for her to notice it. She hissed at the back of her mind but remained smiling fakely at them.

"we have a date." Elize, then blissfuly responded.

"oh! I see." sabi niya nalang kahit na wala siyang pakialam.

"sino siya?" pagiiba naman nito ng usapan. Napatingin siya sa katabi.

"boyfriend" formal na sagot ni Mike bago pa bumukas ang bibig niya. She suddenly gaped at him who just held her hand and pulled her closer. He smiled at them after giving her a wink. Nabaling naman ulit ang mga mata niya kila Elize na halatang nabigla.

"boyfriend.." ulit pa nito as if not comprehending the word.

"He's Mike. Mike, si Elize and Michael. Highschool classmates ko sila." pagpapakilala niya. Nakipagkamay naman si Mike sa kanila.

"I'm glad to meet you." he said.

"I knew it. Sabi na nga ba makakahanap rin si Cassandra ng lalaking para sa kanya." sabi pa ni Elize. The fake smile on Cassandra's face suddenly disappeared as she narrowed her eyes on her.

"and I'm happy that they didnt work out." Mike uttered, anew, smiling and gave her hand a squeeze. She glanced at him again not until Elize spoke once more.

"oh? hindi sila nag-break, kasi hindi naman naging sila. Cassandra loves him but unfortunately he doesnt feel the same. Oops! Sorry. Hindi mo ba nasabi sa boyfriend mo, Cass?"  lalo siyang naiinis dahil sa ginagawa ng babaeng kaharap. She's really  pushing her to her limits. She was about to flare up nang maramdaman ang paghigpit ng hawak ni Mike sa kamay niya. Napatingin siya dito na nakangiti lang naman sa kanya. She took a deep steadying breath.

"Correction, 'loved'. And besides, kung naging kami, I would never meet my boyfriend now. So, no regrets pa rin. Mike is obviously million times better than him." matapang niyang sagot sabay tingin saglit sa lalaking kasama nito, who used to be Michael. She even noticed how Elize was taken aback and didnt speak again after.

"I think, we better part our ways na. May pupuntahan pa rin kasi kami." she continued just to finally get rid those two people of her sight. Ayaw na ayaw niya kasing makita ang mga ito.

"Umm. Ok. So sa reunion nalang?"

"Sure."

"Ok. bye" ngumiti lang sila at tsaka tumalikod na. Cassey then let a sigh of relief.

"millions time better, huh?" pangaasar naman ni Mike habang naglalakad na sila papunta sa bookstore. Napatingin siya dito saglit pero hindi niya nalang pinansin. Wala na siya sa mood para makipag asaran pa dito.

Ngiting ngiti naman si Mike habang naglalakad sila and enjoying the softness of her hand.

****

"Wala ka pa ring nahahanap?" iritable nang tanong ni Mike. Halos isa't kalahating oras na kasi sila sa loob ng bookstore.

He is leaning on one of the bookshelves, getting bored.

"ano ba kasing hinahanap mo?"

"you know what? umuwi ka na. Salamat nalang sa paghatid mo sa akin dito." sagot naman ni Cassandra habang tuloy pa rin sa paghahanap ng libro. She get one and read the back.

"pagkatapos kitang ihatid dito. Pagkatapos kitang samahan, papauwiin mo lang ako?"

"I said my 'Thank You'. Uulitin ko pa? Ok. Salamat." nasa libro pa rin ang atensyon niya.

"hindi lang 'yun. Pagkatapos mo akong gamitin bilang boyfriend mo..." at doon na siya napatingin sa kasama. Matagal na napako ang mga mata niya dito na nakatingin rin pabalik sa kanya.

'He looks good.' sabi ng utak niya.

She immediately shook her head and removed her eyes from him. Nagpapatuloy nalang ulit siya sa ginagawa

"Just to remind you lang, ikaw ang nagsabi sa kanila na boyfriend kita."

"pareho lang 'yun."

"hindi rin."

"ahh basta. Kakain tayo."

"hindi ako gutom."

"I dont care."

Magsasalita pa sana si Cassey pero mas pinili niyang hindi nalang. Para lang siyang nakikipagtalo sa makulit na bata.

After one more stroll in the bookstore, nakapagbayad na sila sa Cashier.

"saan ka pupunta?"

"sa Exit and then sa Terminal ng Jeep tapos sa bahay." sagot niya, medyo pilosopo, oo.

"dont you dare my lady." she gazed at him who was smirking. She just brushed off his words and began on taking her steps when...

"oh shocks!" she gasped as Mike carried her on his shoulder.

"ano ba! Ibaba mo nga ako! Mike! Ibaba mo 'ko!" Parang wala namang naririnig si Mike at tuloy lang sa paglalakad. Nagsisitinginan na ang mga tao sa kanila at wala pa rin iyon kay Mike. He never put her down inspite of her protests.

After minutes of wiggling her body, she just let him. Sinubukan niya nalang na itago ang mukha niya mula sa mga tao para makaiwas kahit papaano sa kahihiyan.

Naramdaman iyon ni Mike kaya binaba na niya si Cassandra. He smiled at her who just scowled at him.

"Let's go?" he asked, offering his hand. Rolling her eye-balls, she turned on her heel.

Mike just smiled and followed his girl.