Taped-Up Heart

III. Doesn't Forget

Chapter Three

Doesn't Forget

"You'll be watching our game tomorrow night, right?" Duane asked me. He and his brothers were good at playing the sport basketball. Like, really good.

I nodded before sipping on my pineapple juice. "Of course, I've never missed your games kaya," I told him. I was always present at his games. Palaging number one fan niya doon. Since we were in highschool, kung saan nag-bloom ang career ni Duane sa basketball, literal na never ko pang na-miss 'yung mga games niya. Kaya parang naging unspoken promise na din sa aming dalawa 'yon na I should be always present at his games.

"Good."

I was about to ask Duane what time his game was when my phone all of a sudden started ringing. Kaagad ko iyong kinuha. "Hello?" I answered. "Sino 'to?"

Duane was just staring at me.

"Hey, Asia—" I immediately ended the call as I heard his voice. Oh, god! Bakit ko nga ba nakalimutan na siya iyong unknown number na 'yun? Saan niya ba nakuha ang number ko? Nakakainis naman siya! Ayaw niya ba talagang patahimikin ang buhay ko?!

"Who was that?" Duane asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know," I lied. I didn't want us to talk about that monkey. Besides, he wasn't something or someone who matters to me. "Mukhang nanti-trip lang naman e," I said instead.

He nodded. "I'll pick you up tomorrow night, alright?" he said.

I nodded at him. "Okay."

* * *

I was walking all alone by myself to the parking lot. May night class kasi ako, si Yannie naman hindi umattend ng class dahil may pupuntahan daw silang important ng family niya. I guess she's still hurting for Tiunggo number one. Geez, ganoon ba talaga kahirap mag-move on?

"Asia, right?" I looked at the girl in front of me. She was wearing the skimpiest shorts I've ever seen and a pink tank top.

Nice outfit, girl.

I nodded and my brow automatically arched up. "Yes, I'm Asia. Do I know you?" I asked back.

She smiled at me. Plastic. Saulong-saulo ko na ang mga taong nalapit sa akin, especially girls. Many are only befriending me just to get close to the Pardo de Tavera siblings. Mga user na talaga ang mga people ngayon. Tsk.

She looked at me from head to toe. Wow, another one of those judgemental persons that I know. "You're not that pretty, but you're not so bad yourself," she said still scanning my whole body.

I almost rolled my eyes at her remark. Baka siya ang hindi pretty? Kapal din naman talaga nitong babaeng 'to na sabihan akong hindi kagandahan. "Wow, thanks for the compliment though," I said sarcastically. "What do you need?" I asked.

She smiled again. "Asia, can you please stay away from Achaia? He's already mine, so back off, bitch."

Did she just call me bitch?

What the hell is wrong with this girl?

"Excuse me, Miss, I don't know your name. I do not know you and for your information, I'm not even interested with that Tiu. Kaya he's all yours, pathetic!" I said before turning my back away from her.

Sobrang pathetic lang nun, kaniya na ang Tiunggong 'yun no. Halatang sabik na sabik sa pagmamahal, e. Kailangan pa talaga akong lapitan? Kung kaniya nga talaga ang Tiu na 'yun, why was she telling me to back off anyways? Is she scared? Am I a threat na ba to her?

And as if naman magugustuhan ko 'yung Achaia Tiu na 'yon no! Over my dead body!

I stopped walking when she spoke again. "If you weren't really interested, then how come that you flirted with him at Duane's party?" she suddenly asked. "How come that he brought you to his condo? What else did you do there? Naglaro ng uno? Pusoy dos? Tagu-taguan?" she asked.