The Feelings (The Series #2)

Chapter 19

For now — Chapter 19

He is smiling at me. His grin is never fading.

"Kamusta naman?" tanong ko sa kanya. Awkwardly. I don't know. Simula nu'ng malaman kong natitipuhan niya ang kaibigan ko, parang umiiba ang ihip ng hangin tuwing pag-uusapan namin 'yon. I feel awkward and stiff all of a sudden. Parang ayokong pag-usapan ang bagay na 'to. I feel jealous to my best friend.

He's still grinning. "I got an interaction with her."

"H-ha? Kailan?" I asked stuttering.

"The night when your intramurals ended," he answered nonchalantly.

"Pumunta ka?" He nodded. "Bakit?"

"Well, I can have the right to watch, dahil sister-school naman ng school namin ang inyo," he said. "And suddenly, she accidently bumped into me. She really is cute."

My lips went parted. "Gano'n ba?" I responded.

"Masungit siya nang kaunti. Our moment just got ruined because of this guy. Tinawag siyang Blanchoy," he said, then smiled once more. Oh, shoot. That was Naiser, for sure. Siya lang naman ang tumatawag du'n ng Blanchoy, e. "Nakulelat ata grupo niyo?" he added.

"Oo, e," I uttered while slightly laughing.

"And Blanche's team won," he added. "Halata nga sa kanyang mga mata na sobrang saya niya," he commented.

My lips pursed. Oo naman. Sasaya talaga siya. Her crush is her teammate, and they felt the same happiness for that event. For her, everything was perfect. Last year na rin naman kasi ni Kenneth sa St. Catherine, at laking pasalamat ni Blanche na naging ka-team niya pa ito, so they would share the same happiness.

"Yeah..." I uttered. Seconds later, I sighed. I just can't contain the forming thoughts that are in my mind. Parang gusto kong paulit-ulit na tanungin 'to sa kanya. "Sigurado ka na ba talaga kay Blanche?" I asked for the nth time.

His forehead creased. "What are you talking about?"

"She likes someone else," I said straight-forwardly. "Malabong mangyari na magkakaroon ka pa ng pag-asa." Idagdag pa si Naiser na nagkakagusto sa kay Blanche. Who knows? Blanche's feelings might change, and Naiser might win on this one.

I'm expecting that he would lash out on me. Ilang beses ko na kasi na pinaalala sa kanya ang tungkol sa kanyang one-sided feelings para kay Blanche. Any time, pwede siyang mainis. Pwede niya akong masigawan dahil sa sobrang inis. Pwede niya akong itakwil bilang kaibigan—but he's Ezekiel. He can't do that.

He smiled.

"That's why I'm trying," he said. "There's nothing wrong on gambling my feelings on this one. If I didn't win... someday, I'll realize that she's not really for me."

* * *

Kararating ko lang ng school. Buti nalang talaga at hindi ako na-late. Nakakainis na kasi talaga si Zac. Siya nalang palagi ang nagpapa-late sa akin, kaya parang nababawasan ang score ko sa deportment because of tardiness.

I was walking in the hallways on the way to the classroom.

May bigla namang naglagay ng isang cap sa ulo ko. Hindi ko in-expect ang pangyayari. All I know is, someone's already laughing in front of me.

My forehead creased. "Ano nanaman ba problema mo?" I spat.

He was still laughing. "Wala. I just want to make fun of you," he answered. "Akin na nga 'yan." Kinuha niya naman mula sa ulo ko ang sombrero niya.

"Naku, Ares. Tigilan mo nalang ako," sabi ko.

He shook his head. "Nope. Hinding hindi kita titigilan." And he released another laugh. After seconds of laughing, he faced me. "Sabay na tayo," pag-aya niya.