Napatikhim ako ng nakitang nandito na agad si Dandreb gaya ng sabi niya kaninang umaga na ihahatid niya ang pagkain ko palagi. I didn't answer his question yesterday. Pero hinahayaan ko siyang gawin ang lahat ng ito. Ang tanga ko.
Hindi dahil pinapaasa ko siya kun'di dahil hindi ko nakita noon na may Dandreb palang nagmamahal sa akin.
How I wish na siya nalang.
"Zare, he'to na ang pagkain mo," he smiled as he handed the food. Naghiyawan ang lahat na mga kaklase ko.
It would have been so much better. My life would have been easier.
I murmured my thanks at I went back to my seat. Binigyan ako ng isang makahulugang tingin ni Erika.
Erika and I were both twenty-two and so this is our last year of college. But since Dandreb was born early, he's twenty-four now. Working already as a computer technician.
"May tama na talaga si kuya sa'yo or worst: baka baliw na siya sa'yo!" nahampas ko si Erika sa sinabi niya.
"He is not courting or anything else, okay? He is simply doing this because this is a friendly gesture, Ri."
"Why are you explaining? It is more like he's courting already at tinatabunan mo lang," tumawa ang bruha.
"Ewan ko sa'yo," 'pagkasabi ko nun ay saktong dumating naman ang adviser namin.
"Okay, class!" hiyaw niya na medyo ikinagulat ng lahat. "This maybe shocking to you but it's a good news, I bet," she smirked. Okay, ano ba 'yan ma'am? Siguraduhin mong magugulat kami, ah.
"Your prom will be approaching in advance!" sigaw niya at biglang naghiyawan ang lahat. Ang dali nilang na-sink in sa utak ang sinabi ni ma'am habang ako ay nanatili lamang tahimik bago nakapag-react. "Iyon ay dahil, kinakailangan nating madiliin ang schedules since all of you are graduating students, your exams will come right after the prom night."
Napa-oww naman ang lahat dahil oo nga at masayang balita na mapapaaga ang prom pero sino naman ay may gusto na kagagaling mo lang sa napakasayang gabi, isang malaking problema naman ang dadaluhan mo sa susunod na araw?
S'yempre, wala.
"So, I guess, you better go to mall now?" ma'am smirked once again at naghiyawan na naman ang lahat lalong-lalo na ang mga babae. "The theme shall be masquerade," and with that, another crowd's voices mastered the whole room.
"I guess, you better choose one already," Erika suddenly whispered at medyo naguluhan ako sa sinabi niya. Napatitig ako sakanya ng saglit.
She only gave me a confusing look.
Now, I am more bothered. What's up with her?
"Ano na naman ang nasa isip mong bruha ka?"
"Basta. This could be really interesting,"
"Interesting? How?"
"Wakaranai," she replied na may multong ngiti sa labi bago tumingin sa harapan na kung saan nagsimula ng magturo ang adviser namin.
"Ito, kulay blue, maganda." aniya sabay turo nung kulay blue na dress.
"Hindi ko gusto,"
"Eh, ano ba ang gusto mo?" medyo iritado niyanh sagot.
"Ayokong bumili, Ri," sabi ko, "Gusto kong magpagawa."
"Ano?" talagang gulat siya sa sinabi ko. Akala ko normal lang magiging reasiyon niya.
Tumango ako, "This will be our last year, I wanna cherish and savour the very last moment," ngiti ko, "We will never going to experience prom again,"
And with that, she came along with my decision.
"Sinong partner mo, Zare?" my classmate, Xia, a Filipino-Chinese, had approached and asked me.
"Sabi ni ma'am, okay lang naman na wala,"
"Oh really? Thought 'twas Grant, though," she said and that made my eyes widen.
I laugh, "Paano mo naman nasasabi 'yan?" pagtawa kong muli.
"Eh, 'di ba, bestfriends at childhood friends kayo? Benefit niyo yun kasi hindi kayo magkakailangan once kayo ang partners,"
"Didn't think about that," I said, "Besides, he has someone other than me,"
Her eyes went wide, gaping.
"Ha? Sino?"
As much as I really wanted to say it. As much as I really wanted everyone to know that Grant's just playing angel in disguise. As much as I wanted him to be humiliated. I just can't.
"I don't know," was my reply before I left her, confused.
