III. The Payback and the Mangoes

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Nagtatago ako sa mga puno puno. There he is, may dala dala siyang blank canvas at paint habang naghahanp ng malilim na pwestong mauupuan. Napangiti ako, perfect!


Inilabas ko agad ang camera ko at inadjust ito. I looked behind the lenses and found the perfect angle.


*click*


He is already making a sketch.


*click*


Nakakunot ang noo nito at focused na focused sa ginagawa niya, he looks so good that his beautiful locks fell right just above his eyebrows.


*click*


I smile as I check the last picture I took of Kristan. Nanlaki ang mata ko when I saw him looking straight at the camera. Dahan dahan kong inangat ang tingin ko papunta sa kinauupuan niya pero he was already gone.


"Stop taking pictures of me. I don't like it especially without my consent." Napapitlag ako dahil nasa likod ko pala ito.


"I-I'm sorry."


"You should be." Tapos ay umalis na ito bitbit ng canvas niya.



I sighed.


We were already in college and since I confessed, it has become harder for me to be closer to him. Mas maraming opportunities at mas malaking mundo na ang ginagalawan naming ngayong college, mas marami rin siyang taong nakikilala.


I was walking with my dormmate and classmate, Kenzie. Naging close agad kami dahil parehas kami ng trip. She also knows everything about Kristan and she is supportive about it. I saw Kristan, at di na nagtaka si Kenzie nang tumakbo agad ako palapit dito. Bago pa ako tuluyang makalapit I saw a girl approaching him, may inaabot it okay Kristan na nakabalot sa supot. Nanlaki ang mata ni Kristan at nahihiya niya itong tinanggap. Kinakausap pa rin siya ng babae kaya tuluyan na akong lumapit.


"Hi Kristan, sabay tayo uwi." Pakiki epal ko sakanila, tapos ay tumingin ako sa babae. Nagulat ito.


Since we are already in college, we are staying in a dormitory malapit sa school, dalawang magkahiwalay na dormitory for boys and girls. Tapos ay umuuwi lang kami sa mga bahay namin every weekend.


"You should go first." He said.


"Pero.. sabe mo ihahatid mo ko." I made a puppy eyes. I deliberately lied para tantanan na nung babae si Kristan. Nanlalaki lang yung mata nung babae, nahihiya itong nag wave kay Kristan paalis tumingin pa ito sakin at tinaasan ko ito ng kilay, tinignan lang ito ni Kristan tapos ay tumingin sakin.


"Wala akong maalala." Sagot nito.


"Kung ganun, sabay na lang tayo." Ismiled hopefully at him.


"We're in college now, you can't rely on me forever." I made a face at what he said. Ah alam ko na.


"Kenzie!" I called her, lumapit siya. "Kristan, meet Kenzie, my dormmate. Kenzie, this is Kristan."


"Kilala ko siya, lagi mo siyang kinekwen—"


"EHEM. ARGH, uubuhin ata ako." Pang bibitin ko ng sasabihin ni Kenzie tapos ay siniko ko siya at sinamaan ng tingin. Eskandalosa naman tong babaeng to.


"Hi Kristan." Sabi niya na lang, there good girl. Tumango lang si Kristan dito.


"Hindi niya din alam pauwi, Kristan. Di ba Kenzie?" I nudged her.


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