Turning Tables (ON-GOING)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Liar

Pagkatapos ng mahabang pagtitinginan, natahimik ang aming mga kaibigan. Travis is just few steps away from me.

"Hey.." the side of his lips rose up before he quickly nod at me.

Napasulyap ako kay Ivan na umubo ng malakas at tumikhim. Binigyan niya ako ng makahulugan na ngiti. Pero binalik ko rin ang mga tingin ko kay Travis.

He's smiling like he's perfectly fine and happy to see me. But there's something in his eyes... they're different. Para may gustong ipinapahiwatig. I really can't tell. All I know is, there is something more. A mystery that needs to be solved. Even I can't explain it.

"Hi Trav.." iyon lang ang nasabi ko.

Gusto ko sana siyang yakapin at kamustahin. I also wanted to say sorry properly and tell him that we can move on with no hard feelings towards each other and just enjoy where we are right now ang labo kasi n'ong nangyari last time.

I was about to speak ng bigla niya akong tinalikuran and faced our friends. That was quick...

"Kain na tayo! Diba sagot lahat ni Ivan lahat ng 'to? Then, I'll eat a lot" he made a funny face while rubbing his stomach and chuckled.

Ivan raised his middle finger at Travis which made them all laugh. Gusto ko sana sumali pero 'di ko pa rin ma proseso ang nangyari kanina. Isa siyang what the heck moment.

Nagsibalikan kami sa lamesa at tuloy pa rin sila sa pagkuwentuhan at tawanan. Nasa harapan ko siya. There's no other available seat kaya d'on siya nakaupo. I've felt most of our friends' stares. Palipat-lipat ang tingin nila sa amin ni Travis, but they're trying not to make it obvious, well... except for Ivan.

Panay rin ang tingin ni Alexis sa'kin. I just gave her a reassuring smile. Ang iba mukhang walang pakialam. It's just what I think or maybe they're pretending not to mind so the atmosphere wouldn't not be awkward.

I mean, I don't really feel awkward at all na nandiyan na si Travis. I think Travis isn't awkward, too. In a span of one week, he has a lot of changes and I still see him only as a friend now. Matagal ko ng pinutol ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya because I am very sure that my heart belongs to someone else and it only beats for this one guy, Kiel.

"So, mas maganda ba talaga ang mga beaches sa Bali kesa sa Phuket?" Yna asked. "Gosh, 'di ko naisip ang Bali sa travel list ko cuz I thought it's mainstream" she said while shrugging her shoulders and sipped her drink.

Travis chuckled as he swallowed his food and wiped his mouth with a table napkin before replying to Yna.

"Phuket's nice, Bali is also nice. Pero pare-pareho lang naman 'yon, mga dagat" he said playfully and smiled.

I was just silently observing trying to hide my smile. It made me thank God, to see him like this. The last time I saw him, he was crying while kneeling in front of me. That was the first time I saw him so.. devastated. He looked so broken at that time na para bang wala na siyang pag-asa, wala ng pakialam sa mundo. And now, look at him now, he has this good glow up. He's smiling and laughing with our friends na para bang wala lang nangyari. He finally moved on, huh?

Oo, naka move on na iyong tao, Ellie! Paulit-ulit ba tinatanong? You should stop thinking about it and be happy for him! Who knows? Maybe dated a lot of girls in Bali. Sigaw ng utak ko.

Everyone was busy chatting, including me. But I didn't get the chance to talk to Travis. Everytime I speak, hindi siya tumitingin. Minsan kumakain o umiinom, nilalaro ang phone at kung nakikinig man, hindi sa akin tumitingin.

"Okay, time for a group picture! Para naman may remembrance tayo sa pakain ni Mayor Ivan" Yna shouted. Tinawag niya ang waitress para ibigay ang kanyang phone.