She's So Extra (Kiligserye Book1) | ✅

Chapter 31

Oh God this is so awkward.

Pakiramdam ko ako yung nag-thi-third wheel dito pero technically si Ms. Claire ang third wheel, di nya nga lang alam. At utang na loob ha, kahit naka-shades tong si Chuck I'm pretty sure ako ang sinisilip nya pag tumitingin sya sa rearview mirror dahil kada ginagawa nya yun ngumingiti sya.

"So, what have you been up to? We haven't talked in forever." nag-umpisa nang mag-small talk si Ms. Claire.

Chuck took his time before answering, "I'm good. Life's good, great actually".

Jusme saksakin mo na lang kaya ng kutsilyong mapurol si Madam?

"Oh, that's good. I'm happy for you." She sounds sad. Hindi manlang tinanong ni Chuck kung kamusta naman sya. Parang gusto ko tuloy bigwasan tong si Chuck, sa totoo lang I understand what he's trying to do pero naaawa rin naman ako sa boss ko. Ano ba namang klaseng sitwasyon to, I shake my head and come up with a very good idea on how to pass the time. I get my sling bag and pull out my phone and earphones. The least I can do is to not listen to their conversation – respeto na lang sa kapwa kong babaeng si Ms. Claire.

I'm putting my earphones on when I hear Chuck say, "Hey Andi. You okay back there?"

I roll my eyes and give him a death glare sa reflection nya sa rearview mirror, "I'm fine."

Tumawa lang ng slight si Ms. Claire, "I'm so sorry you're stuck with us Andi ha. You can just tune us out if you want."

Huminga lang ako ng malalim at tiningnan ang dinadaanan namin.

"Why were you late? You've never been late before." Tinanong ni Ms. Claire si Chuck.

Napalingon ako kay Chuck at inaantay ang sagot nya, he shrugs and says, "I've been late before."

She laughs, "No. We were together for two years and you've never been late, not once."

Kumikirot ang puso ko at parang kumukulo ang tiyan ko sa ewan, halong nerbyos at ngitngit. Alam ko namang di nya sinasadya kaya lang syempre sakit pa rin diba? Pamukha ba sa akin na mas kilala nya si Chuck kesa sa akin?

"You know things change, right?" Napaka-snippy na sagot ni Chuck kay Ms. Claire. Magkaka-whiplash na yata ako kaka-kampi kay Chuck then kay Ms. Claire at sa akin, nakakahilo tong pwesto ko. Kailangan kong pagsabihan tong si Chuck na wag masyadong maging masungit kaya lang wala akong pagkakataon at nagddrive sya, hindi ko rin naman sya pwedeng i-text diba? Kaialngan ko lang kumuha ng pagkakataon.

Ms. Claire immediate says, "Of course. You're right. Sorry."

The tension is so thick dito sa loob ng sasakyan kaya I need to do something para mejo gumaan naman ang pakiramdam namin. May two hours pa kami sa byahe at ayoko ng ganitong environment, mababaliw ako. So umurong ako na nasa pagitan ako ng upuan nila Ms. Claire and Chuck at pinindot ang radio para mag-open.

Nagulat si Ms. Claire at napalingon sa akin, nginitian ko lang sya, "Mag-music naman tayo ma'am. Masarap bumyahe pag maganda ang sounds."

Pinag-pipindot ko ang radio habang nakasiksik ako sa gitna ng mga upuan nila, nakaharap ang katawan ko kay Chuck at I know sinasadya nya na i-brush yung daliri nya sa tiyan kong naka-expose dahil sa maigsi kong tshirt. Pinigilan ko na lang mag-react at huminga ng malalim.

Nang wala akong mahanap na magandang station, pinatay ko ang radio at bumalik sa upuan ko.

"Can't find anything you like?" Nagtanong si Ms. Claire.

E pano puro love song ang tugtog, ayaw ko nga baka magka-developan pa sila.

"Nope." Sagot ko kay Ms. Claire.

"You should just open your phone so you can connect with my Bluetooth." Sabat ni Chuck.

Oo nga naman, so in-open ko ang phone ko at nag-connect immediately ang phone ko sa speakers, may biglang tumunog na "Andi connected".

Tumingin si Ms. Claire kay Chuck, "Wait. Don't you need to give her your password before she can connect?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko at alam kong nakatingin sa akin sa salamin si Chuck, but he's relaxed as he answers, "No. I don't have a password. I don't open my Bluetooth often."

Oh no. I'm pretty sure she's trying to process that in her head, at tama si Chuck nung sinabi nyang matalino si Ms. Claire.

"So how have you been?" Tanong ni Chuck kay Ms. Claire, I'm sure trying to divert her attention and distract her from trying to figure out the Bluetooth situation.

He's smart in doing this kasi she only needs to open her own Bluetooth to find out na may password nga ang Bluetooth ni Chuck, I've just been able to connect a lot before dahil ang cellphone ko ang gamit namin pag nasa kotse kami.

Kailangan naming maging maingat kundi buking kami.

She responds, "I'm good. Things have been crazy at work pero I think I'm getting a hang of it."

He nods but says nothing else. Internally gusto ko nang sumigaw ng "kausapin mo pa!"

Nagsimula na akong magpatugtog ng mejo upbeat songs para malunod ang awkwardness sa loob ng kotse. Naka-isang oras na kaming buma-byahe at hindi na ulet nag-try si Madam na kausapin si Chuck and I feel sad for her.

Papunta kaming Subic so nasa NLEX na kami at nakakita ako ng gas station, "Sir, pwede ba tayong mag-stop over?"

Tumingin si Chuck sa rearview mirror, "Sure."

Nag-park si Chuck at bumaba kaming lahat para mag-wiwi break, halatang wala na sa mood si Ms. Claire dahil hindi sya nagsasalita. I feel super weird asking him so hindi na ako nag-try.

Pabalik na ako sa kotse nang mapansin kong hindi ko kasunod si Ms. Claire, lumingon ako sa likod ko and see her walking the other way, sinundan ko sya nang makahabol ako sa kanya I ask, "Ma'am? San kayo punta?"

She gives me a small smile and points, "Starbucks."

I nod, "Samahan ko na kayo."

She shakes her head, "No. I'll just be a minute, it's the least I can do. You go ahead baka hinahanap na tayo ni Chuck."

I nod and make my way back to the car, kailangan ko rin naman kausapin si Chuck e so pagkakataon ko na to.

When I get there, he's got his arms crossed over his chest, leaning his back on the side of the car with his legs crossed on his ankles, I'm sure kahit naka-shades sya at di ko kita ang mata nya na sa akin sya nakatingin – ang tawag diyan lakas ng loob. Marami ako nyan, charot.

He gives me a slow knowing smile and I take in a lungful of air. Dahil he checked me out earlier, I'm now returning the favor, he looks so good in his grey t-shirt and khaki shorts. I've never seen him so casual and oh my gulay mejo naglalaway na yata ako.

Napalunok ako at parang gusto kong tumingin sa langit, put my index finger sa labi ko, i-kiss ito at itaas kay God parang yung ginagawa ng mga basketball players pag nananalo sa game. Dahil daig ko pang naka-grand slam sa pagka-jackpot ko sa lalaking to.

When I get closer, he pushes off the car and gives me a full smile, he opens his arms and I have no choice but to fall into his waiting arms.

I stand on my tip toes habang binabalot ko ang mga braso ko sa leeg nya. He hugs me like he hasn't seen me in years as he puts his head on the crook of my shoulder as he breathes in deep, he sighs and says, "I've missed you."