Caught in the middle

Chapter 11

Medyo shocked pa rin ako na makita si Joaquin dito especially with Sofia.

Nanatili kaming nakatayo doon until Joaquin broke the silence. "Hi!" then he looked at me "You're here!"

He greeted us but he's expression was blank. I wonder why.

"Obviously" Justine told them as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Can you excuse us?"

Gumilid naman si Sofia and Joaquin to give us way, iginiya ako ni Justine and sumunod lang ako pero nang nasa harap na ako ni Joaquin, I faced and asked him "Why are you with her?"

He looked at me and I can see surprise and anger both mixed in his eyes. "Why are you with him?" pagbalik niya sa tanong ko

"That didn't answer my question Joaquin"

Nananatiling tahimik yung dalawa sa gilid namin

"She's my classmate remember?"

And that hit me! They're both from 10-C pala!

I remained silent. I actually ran out of words. But what could be the reason para magkasama silang pumunta dito? They can't probably have a group meeting here, it's too loud here! They should've done it in some coffee shop or something! Did Joaquin asked her for this?

"I accidentally saw her kanina while I was walking alone here in the mall so I asked her to accompany me. Someone promised to go with me here a while ago but unfortunately, it seems like the reason why she cancelled it was because she's with some other guy" he looked at me accusingly.

Nanatili akong tahimik. Walang nagsasalita hanggang sa naramdaman kong hinatak ako ni Justine papunta sa loob and I was thankful for that. Guilt's eating me up.

Iginiya ako ni Justine sa isang upuan at nagprisinta na siya na ang mag-oorder.

Wala sa sariling tumango lang ako sa kanya. Bakit ganon? Feeling ko ansama-sama ko? Actually, this isn't the first time I neglected and rejected someone not at least literally, may mga nanliligaw sakin dati na hindi ko talaga sinisipot kapag nag-aaya ng date because I think, making them feel unwanted and hurting their feelings will soon push them to their limits and sila nalang basta yung susuko because I stepped into their pride and ego. Ayaw ko kasi talagang nanrereject.

But now? May mali eh! ARRRRGGGHHH!

Justine came with my spaghetti. I didn't mind the other foods just the spaghetti.

I decided to just divert my attention to the reason why I ditched Joaquin at sa pagkaing nasa harap ko.

Iniwasan kong isipin muna si Joaquin. Spaghetti muna

"Let's eat?" anyaya nya. Tumango ako at nagsimula nang haluhin ang spaghetti. Di ko maiwasang maglaway habang hinahalo ko ito. Bakit ba kasi kahit amoy lang nito ansarap na?

I heard Justine chuckle. "Trina are you aware that you look so cute?"

I looked at him nang hindi parin hinihinto ang paghalo. Dapat kasi sineserve to automatic nang nakahalo! Nagbabayad naman yung mag customers!

"What?" finally I'm done! Sumubo na ako agad-agad.

Justine's smiling like an idiot. "Justine, are you aware that you look so stupid?" Paggagaya ko sa tanong nya kanina?

Lalo pa syang tumawa at napailing-iling nalang "Kumain ka na nga lang"

Tahimik akong kumain at nang matapos na ako I drink my coke. Nakatitig naman sakin si Justine and lumapit sya ng kaunti. Inilapit nya yung kamay nya sa mukha ko at pinunasan ang gilid ng labi ko.