The Seer: Vindicata

Chapter 6 : A Talk

DOROTHY

Nanliit ang mga mata ko nang maaninag ko si Worth na nag-iisang kumakain sa ‘di kalayuan. Recess time. Narito ako sa cafeteria, hawak-hawak ang tray ng carbonara at juice na inorder ko habang humahanap ng pwedeng maupuan.

I cheerfully approached Worth who was eating a hamburger all by himself. “Hey, Worth. Musta?”

He lifted his head up and smiled back at me. “Uy, Dorothy. Hello… Ah, e… Okay na ako, I guess.” he awkwardly laughed.

Umupo ako at inilapag ang tray sa harapan niya. “Pasabay ako ah.”

“Sure! Nga pala, bakit ka nag-iisa?”

“Ah, eto kasing kasama ko, Si Seth, nagkaroon ng biglaang meeting sa varsity team. Malapit na ang Harriers Week, e. Kaso gutom na ako kaya umuna na ako rito,” sumubo ako sa pasta habang nagpapaliwanag kay Worth. “Ikaw? Member ka ng team, right? Bakit wala ka sa meeting? Bakit ka nag-iisa?”

Natigilan siya. Napatingin sa kawalan. Naging awkward ang hangin nang may marealize ako. Oh my god. I think may mali akong nasabi.

“...I’m sorry.”

“Okay lang. Sinasanay ko na rin naman ang sarili ko na hindi ko kasama ‘yung kaibigan ko. Wala na tayong magagawa. At ‘yung tungkol sa varsity, I already quitted.”

I was shaken by what he said, a little disappointed. Suntok sa buwan ang makapasok sa kahit anong varsity team sa Chantelle. Why is he letting it go? Pero sabagay, traumatizing ang nangyari sa kanya. This is for sure his reason why he chose to quit the Harriers.

Dahil sa sobrang awkward e pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagsubo sa carbonara ko. Buti na lang, andito ang pagkaing ‘to. Kung hindi, lalo akong magiging obliged para kausapin ‘tong si Worth. Mamaya, may masabi pa ulit akong iba na hindi niya magustuhan or makasakit sa kanya. Mahirap na.

“Uhm, Dorothy… Nga pala…” tumingin ako sa kanya habang sinusubo ang pasta na kinuha ko gamit ang tinidor. “I’m sorry.”

My eyebrows met. “Sorry for what?”

“Sorry kasi the other day, I showed you a rude behavior. I know you were just doing it to comfort me, pero ipinagtulakan kita palayo.”

Pinunasan ko ang kaunting sauce na naiwan sa aking labi. “Ano ka ba, Worth! It’s alright. I understand where all those words came from. Hindi kita masisisi. If I were in your position, ganun din siguro ang magiging behavior ko. Don’t worry about it too much. It’s perfectly fine.”

He smiled.

“Thank you, Dorothy. You’re really nice.”

I smiled back.

“No problem. I can see that you’re nice too, kaya nga kita nilapitan for the second time, e!”

He chuckled. I can see in his eyes the genuine happiness he is feeling right now. That’s surely good for him, para kahit papaano ay maibsan ang lungkot na nararamdaman niya dahil sa pagkamatay ng best friend niya.

“Friends?”

He offered his right hand to me. It kinda felt like deja vu bacause the other day, I was the one doing this gesture.

I shook hands with him and gave him a smile, again.

“Friends.”

We resumed eating.