One Roof

Chapter 19

JOLINA'S POV

Several days later and we go about our different daily routines. Monotonous, we can say... ganyan talaga ang buhay.

And ako naman, as a student, I only have two holes to rest my head to, bahay at eskwela. It only makes a difference when Sean enters the scene. Just like today.

Sean fetch me from school and we had our dinner in a fine dining restaurant near the university, again as always.

Hindi na 'ko nagreklamo. He's really like that eversince. Siguro dahil sosyal talaga siya. He'd only bring me to some fast food when I'd asked him to.

We're halfway with our meal when a familiar man enter the building with a very fine lady.

Ganda ni girl...! Natigilan ako bigla.

Oh no it's Carl! Nanlaki ang mata ko at biglang bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

He looked at our direction and in an instant the look on his face changed.

He immediately approached our table habang hawak hawak ang kamay ng babaeng kasama niya.

"Jolina!" He called up in a firm voice.

Nataranta 'ko.

Pero madaling nakabawi din.

Siya nga may kasama ding babae.

"Carl." Sagot ko trying to be casual.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Kilala mo ba kung sino'ng kasama mo?" He said.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Sean.

"You guys know each other?" Sean asked.

I stood up and pull Carl's hand.

"Ah, this is Carl." Bigla kong sabi.

"Carl, girlfriend mo?" Bigla kong tanong referring to the girl standing beside her na nakacross na ang mga bisig sa chest niya nang hawakan ko si Carl.

Nataranta bigla ang Carl.

"Y-yeah," hindi ko na siya binigyan ng chance magsalita.

"You must be Aubrey?" Nginitian ko ito.

She smiled back though the wonder on her face was so obvious.

She looked at Carl and raise a brow at him.

"Umn, si Jolina. My.. my cousin." He said stuttering.

Biglang nagbago ang mood ni girl at inabot ang kamay para makipag shakehands sa 'kin. Inabot ko ito at nginitian siya.

"This is Sean by the way."  Pakilala ko sa kanila.

Tumayo si Sean.

Inabot ang kamay kay Aubrey and after shaking her hand bumaling ito kay Carl. But the latter only pat his hand with the back of his palm.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa inasal nito.

"Com'on Aubrey let's go find another restaurant to dine in. I can't stand to see one person in this place." He said pulling Aubrey's hand.

"Problema mo?" Sabi ko when he turned his back to march away.

Aubrey hurriedly waved her hand to bade goodbye to us. Sean and I nodded.

Nang makaalis sila the tension did not died down and still i'm a bit enigmatic at Carl's behavior.

Was he mad that he saw me with a guy? But he said okay lang. He's also with a gal din naman kaya patas lang kami.

Or.. he got grumpy at Sean?

I looked at Sean bago ako umupo.

He shrugged his shoulder.

"Pinsan mo pala si Carl Lorenzo." He said.

I winked my eyes and looked away.

"U-umn." I hummed and slightly nodded sabay subo ng pasta sa bibig ko.

Ano ba to?! Halos di ko manguya ang kinakain ko.

I'm not really used to telling lies. Specially with people who are closed to me. Ang hirap!

"Classmate kayo?" I asked looking at my food to avoid his spying stare.

He shook his head. Well, nakita ko yun sa gilid ng mata ko.

"Bakit wala kang nababanggit na may pinsan ka pala sa school na pinapasukan ko. You never mentioned na kakilala mo si Carlito Lorenzo?" He asked.

"You know i'm not that type of person I don't talk much especially when i'm not being asked. Malay ko bang magkakilala kayo. Besides, I, I only met him recently. Teka muna, bakit parang galit ka?" Biglang segway si ako. At nasindak din naman kaagad ang loko.

"I'm not. I just wondered sa tagal nating..." He sighed.

Takot din naman palang magalit ako. Sa isip isp ko.

"Anyway, is he the, I mean,"

He paused.

"Is he your housemate? Siya ba yung sinasabi mong cousin mo na you met recently?" He asked.

I sighed and nodded, still with my eyes not looking at his.

He looked away na parang worried.

"Bakit ba? Ano bang meron sa inyong dalawa?" Tanong ko.

"Don't worry, I guess your cousin is smart enough to know na wala kang kinalaman sa past naming dalawa."

OMG! May past sila? May dirty mind jokingly said.

I'm sure naman straight silang dalawa 'no!

Goodness! Iiyak ako ng matindi kapag hindi pala ako ang gusto nito kundi si Carl. And knowing him naman for two years he's been consistent with the courtship thing he's shown me.

Si Carl! Lalo na 'yon. Mukhang malabo talaga yon. Well, compare to Reevah, my classmate na bruskong brusko ang katawan at pananamit pero naka heels.

Then, what's with these guys past that they seemed to have so much grudges towards each other?

Hmn! Napaisip ako bigla.

Pero hindi ko na siya tinanong pa about it. Mahirap na baka bumalik sa akin ang tanong nito makapagsinungaling na naman ako. Baka mabilaukan na ko ng tuluyan kapag nagkataon. Ngayon pa nga lang hindi ko na malunok ng maayos ang pagkain ko.

After dinner he drove me home. Pero syempre bumaba ako two buildings away from our condo. Katwiran ko may bibilhin pa ko sa convenient store kaya umayon na lang ang Sean.