Gunita [EDITING]

ocho

I kept mum. I couldn't figure out what Uno was thinking as his face was barely even showing anything, his usual poker face made it harder for me to guess! Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit gustong-gusto kong malaman kung ano'ng iniisip niya sa mga oras na iyon pagkasabi niya no'n.

On top of that, my heart was erratically racing so much—I think it's already qualified to beat Usain Bolt.

Seryoso, habit niya ba talagang maging isang malaking guessing game? Ni hindi mo malaman kung ano'ng iniisip! Sobrang tough nutcase, talaga. Nakakaloka.

Why do you suddenly care, Brandi?

Napailing na lang ako sa mga naiisip ko. Countless thoughts kept on flushing in my mind, and it just makes it a little bit more awkward than the usual—I can't even figure out kung bakit nao-awkward-an ako kay Uno.

He's just Uno, Brandi. . . Bakit. Bakit ganiyan ka?

"Tulungan ko lang silang mag-set up. Okay ka na rito?" Ngumiti ako kahit pakiramdam ko halatang pilit—which Uno just chose to ignore, I'm pretty sure. Iniwanan na'ko ni Uno sa duyan at tinulungan na sila Dash mag-ayos. I wasn't really close to Zach and kuya Kirk's girlfriend since minsan lang din naman kaming nagkakasama—mostly because of the busy schedules.

Still, I'm relieved that the both of them are making my friends happy.

'Yun lang naman kasi talaga ang gusto ko, 'yung masaya lang 'yung paligid ko. Sobrang nakakapagod every time I try to deal with my sadness, it makes me want to give up, sa totoo lang. I only find positivity in life through them.

Honestly. . . they're one of my strengths.

Hindi ko na kakayanin kung maulit man ulit 'yung nangyari four years ago. Mas gugustuhin ko na lang talagang mamatay kaysa makita silang nasasaktan. . . umiiyak, maipagtanggol lang ako. When Zach almost died. . . when kuya Kirk wanted to do everything just to keep me sane, when Dash did every little thing, he could just so I'd be able to keep the never-ending thoughts that made me utterly depressed.

And now, Uno. . . Telling me that he'd be ready to sacrifice his life just to save me from this damned situation with Fallon. I didn't want to believe, baka isa na naman sa mga jokes niya na hindi halatang biro dahil hindi naman siya tumawa—sobrang seryoso, na mapapaniwala ka talaga.

I mean. . . we're not even close to friends. It just happened that. . . he continuously got involved with Fallon's stupid businesses, saving me from desperate times when I needed someone to be by my side the most.

Now, tell me what game Uno's playing, right now? Hindi ko maintindihan. Law student siya at hindi cold case, pero bakit ang hirap niya i-solve? Pakiramdam ko nga pwede na siyang qualifier sa mga unsolved mysteries sa mundo. Sobrang misteryoso, hindi mo malaman ang takbo ng utak—paano pa kaya pag Lawyer na 'tong taong 'to?

I'm sure he'd do reckless things. . . and you won't even be able to figure out why he'd do such.

Gano'n naman siya. Risk-taker.

Napapikit na lang ako nang mariin at napa-buntonghininga. Why was I even thinking of him? I couldn't help but to get weirded for myself. God, I can even hear Chen' laughing voice with her endless assumptions.

"Hey." Nagulat ako nang makita ko si Sofia, her hand gripping tightly the strap of her double neck ukulele as she approaches me. Napangiti naman ako. "Are... are you okay here?"

I nodded, still displaying a genuine smile on my face. "Don't worry about me," I said.

"Alam mo... people tell me that I'm so strong for being able to battle with my depression. I still am actually. But... I know you're stronger, and I'm sure you'll be able to surpass every adversity that might come," Sofia said, looking at the twinkling stars.