FOULED OUT

FOUL 10

"Camille!" I woke up to my mom knocking on my bedroom door. "You have a visitor waiting downstairs. Get up na!"

I lazily stretched my arms then rubbed my eyes after. I didn't bother fixing myself, malamang si Kass lang naman pupunta sa bahay ng ganito kaaga.

"Marí Kassandra! Ang aga aga mo naman pumunta dito." I whined as I went down the stairs, my eyes were still half closed. "Hindi pa rin ba kayo okay ni Javi?"

"Didn't you know the news yet?" It felt like a bucket of ice was thrown on me upon hearing that voice. Juan was sitting comfortably on the couch. What the hell is he doing here?! Nakakahiya 'yung itsura ko. Literal na woke up like this.

"Ma, bakit hindi mo sinabi na hindi pala si Kass 'yung bisita ko?" Inis na tanong ko sa nanay ko.

"You didn't ask." she simply replied. "Besides, I didn't know him. Buti nga he took the liberty to introduce himself eh."

I hissed. "You didn't know him and yet you allowed him to come in."

"He said he is your friend. Why wouldn't I allow him to come in?" she retorted. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi may ganito kagwapo ka palang kaibigan?"

I rolled my eyes. Nakakahiya si mother dear. For sure, 'yung isa feel na feel na niya na gwapo siya

I shifted my attention to Juan. "Why are you here?" I asked him, my brows knitted. "It's only 7 in the morning ah."

"I came here to apologize personally." he sincerely said then he handed me a Panda stuffed toy. Oh, it's cute. "I'm really sorry about last week.

I made a face. Kainis, naalala ko nanaman 'yung reply niya. Alam ko naman na hindi niya ako gusto pero hindi naman niya kailangan ipamukha sa'kin 'yon.

My mom noticed that we needed some privacy, she excused herself to us and made her way to the garden.

"Okay lang." I replied, hugging the stuffed toy and not looking at him. To be honest, it wasn't okay. Na-hurt talaga ako. When I said that to him, it was meant to be a joke pero masyado naman ata niyang sineryoso.

He took my hand then he pulled me closer to him and made me sat on the space beside him. "I know it wasn't okay. I was so insensitive."

It took him a week before he realized his mistake. Grabe.

"Buti naman alam mo." I shot back. "Don't worry first and last ko naman 'yon."

He sighed deeply. "Wag naman."

I faked a smile. "Don't worry, Juan. I'll still help you naman. A deal is a deal."

"Don't do it because it's a deal, do it because you mean it." he said, looking straight in my eyes. His eyes were pleading.

"Tapos ano masasaktan lang ako?" I countered back. "Alam ko naman na mas malabo pa sa blurred na magustuhan mo ako, pero sana naman 'wag mo ipamukha sa'kin." I stopped for a moment. "I sincerely wanted to help you move on from my best friend even at my expense. Kaya wag ka namang ganyan."

Juan lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Cam. It won't happen again, promise."

I moved a bit closer to him and draped my arm on his shoulders. "Okay na. Hindi naman kita matitiis eh. Kahit ano pang kasalanan mo ifo-forgive kita."

Juan looked at me with a smile on his lips. "Thank you, Camille. You're the best."

I stood up from my seat then grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the dining room. "Since you disturbed my sleep, samahan mo na ko magbreakfast."

"Thanks but I already had my breakfast." he turned down my offer. "I'll watch you eat nalang."

I turned my back on him, kunyari kumuha ako ng water sa fridge kahit naman may naka ready na sa table. Kainis. Kahit konti lang naman kaininin niya.