The Forgotten's Envy (Masquerade Girls, #1)

Chapter 23

We won the Paper Dance game and Czanelle had already claimed the prizes. She was hugging several toys with her tiny arms and she was contemplating whether to put them down or not.

"Ilagay mo na lang muna sa bag, Czanelle," Jazer suggested and after a few words, he had convinced her to put them to their respective boxes.

Nakatingin naman ako sa kanilang dalawa at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang may makita akong lipstick stain sa right shoulder part ng damit niya. I remembered pressing my face on that area because of what happened earlier. I pursed my lips, embarrassed by the sight, and to make the matter worst, those old ladies were pointing at his shirt and started to tease him.

"Naku, hijo, minarkahan ka na ng asawa mo!" sigaw ng isang nanay at nagtawanan naman sila ng mga kasama niya.

"Mukhang selosa, ah. Ganyan din ang misis ko," dagdag naman ng tatay sa likuran niya.

Ang mas nakakainis? Nginingitian niya lang sila habang inaasikaso si Czanelle habang binibigyan naman nila ako ng mga nakakalokong ngiti. Tumalikod na lang ako at uminom ng tubig para kalmahin ang sarili ko.

"Tahimik kasi rito."

Oh, for Pete's sake! Stop thinking about that goddamn scenario, Chloe!

Suddenly, I felt like my high school self again. Dahil si Iñigo lang ang lagi kong kasama at nakakatagal sa akin dati, well okay, I felt something for him but not serious enough to be considered love. Kind of like a silly attraction, something I kept to myself. We were friends and each other's companion until college happened. Dahil magkaiba kami ng course at schedules, hindi na kami madalas nagkikita at nagulat din ako noong sinabi niyang may nililigawan siya. Doon niya rin inamin na may gusto na siya sa akin noong high school pa pero dahil parang wala naman raw akong pakialam at ang dense ko ay napalitan 'yon ng inis. Simula no'n, hindi ko na siya kinakausap at naging sila na ni Queenie.

He has a point, though. Maybe I was brave back then, we could be a couple. Pero hindi ko na 'yon maisip ngayon. Hindi ko na nakikita ang Iñigo na nagustuhan ko dati at mukhang gano'n din ang tingin niya sa akin.

"Hindi ka pa ba kakain?"

Bumalik naman sa kasalukuyan ang isip ko nang makita ko ang pagmumukha nina Jazer at Czanelle sa harapan ko. Hindi ko napansin na kumuha na pala sila ng pagkain at inabot naman sa akin ni Jazer ang sa akin habang hawak ni Czanelle ang bottled water ko.

"Thanks," I muttered and they both sat in front of me.

"No, no, Kuya, I can eat on my own na," sabi naman ni Czanelle.

"Talaga? Wow!" sabay ngiti niya sa bubwit.

Binuksan naman ni Czanelle ang paper box at nagsimula siyang kumain kahit na may mga nalalaglag na kanin sa kutsara niya. Nagsimula na rin kaming kumain pero napatingin ulit ako sa white shirt ni Jazer dahil sa pesteng lipstick mark at mukhang nakita niyang nakatitig doon.

"Minarkahan mo na raw ako," he teased with that freaking dimple coming out.

"Excuse me?" sabay taas ko sa kilay ko. "That's your fault."

"Ako ba talaga?"

"Sino kayang nanghatak na lang bigla . . ." Natigilan ako dahil naalala ko na naman 'yon. "Basta kasalanan mo!"

Natawa naman siya pagkasigaw ko no'n at nakitawa rin ang bubwit na akala mo naman ay naiintindihan niya ang usapan. But beneath my irritation, it felt soothing while looking at them. Their genuine laughter and the way they play with each other reminded me of Dad. I was closer with him than Mom when I was a child but just like with her, I decided not keep my hope up anymore.