Wretched Choices

Chapter 13

#WretchedChoicesWP

Chapter 13
Comfortable

"What are you doing here?"

I was so bewildered because of Zymond's sudden presence. How did he even manage to go inside our school and even find me here inside this wide cafeteria?

Zymond kept his smile and looked cool as much as possible. "We have a practice game with your university's team after lunch," he told me. "I actually texted you just a few minutes, but you didn't reply."

I creased my forehead and opened my bag to check on my phone. I did receive a text from him, but I wasn't able to read it since I was busy ranting about my unlucky life. If I did read it, I could've made an excuse and hid myself so that we wouldn't have to see each other.

Wala pa naman sa mga plano ko ang makipagkita ulit sa kanya ngayong linggo o kahit sa susunod na linggo.

I suddenly recalled what Hope told me earlier about dates. She really thought having dates could be a hindrance, huh? Well, that's why there's called such thing as "multi-tasking". If she couldn't do it then, that's not my problem anymore. O baka naman inggit siya sa akin dahil wala siyang date?

But anyway, Archer's always there to entertain her. Ayain niya na lang 'yon kung naiinggit siya. Tutal ay hindi siya laging matanggihan no'n kaya paniguradong papayag.

Muli akong ginapangan ng inis. Parang gusto ko tuloy ulit makipagdate nang biglaan kay Zymond para lamang mainis ko si Hope.

Ano pa kaya ang ibang ipapangaral niya sa akin?

"Uhm... Is she your friend?"

Tinuro ni Zymond si Sharry na kanina pang mukhang naaasiwa habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa. Itsura pa lang ni Sharry ay alam kong ayaw na niya kay Zymond.

Don't worry, my best friend. You're not alone.

"Ah! Oo!" sabi ko na lang at pinilit na ngumiti saka ipinakilala si Sharry. "This is Sharry, my best friend. Sharry, ito nga pala si Zymond. Iyong nakuwento ko sa'yo."

Tipid na ngumiti ang aking kaibigan at hindi na inabala ang sariling makipagkamay kay Zymond. Hindi rin naman ito nag-alok ng kamay.

I turned to look at him who was wearing a very interesting smile. It made me curious.

"Naikuwento niya ako sa'yo?" nagagalak na tanong ni Zymond kay Sharry.

My lips parted. So that's what he was thinking about!

"Kahapon ka lang niya naikuwento."

Hindi man lang nakuhang magsinungaling kahit kaunti ng medyo bumango-bango pa lalo ang pangalan ko. It's really hard to make her lie sometimes, especially when she's not in the mood.

Mukhang hindi naman naapektuhan si Zymond sa pagsasabi ng totoo ni Sharry. I thought that would pop the happy bubble he was creating inside his mind.

"Ano naman ang naikuwento niya tungkol sa akin?" natutuwa pa ring tanong ni Zymond at mukhang sabik na sabik sa isasagot ng aking kaibigan.

Sharry nonchalantly glanced at me like she could spill all my plans the moment she opens her mouth to speak.

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. Handa akong ilibre siya for lunch ng isang buwan para lang hindi niya ako ilaglag. Just this once, Sharry, please!

"Tungkol lang sa dinner ninyo," simpleng sagot ni Sharry at saka biglang tumayo dala-dala ang hindi pa ubos na inumin. "Excuse me. Pupuntahan ko lang ang boyfriend ko."

I heavily sighed in relief when Sharry lied for me. Of course, she's my best friend. Kahit na ayaw niya sa ginagawa ko ay alam kong ako pa rin ang kakampihan niya. Minsan lang talaga ay kinakabahan ako sa pang-iinis niya. She looks very serious all the time.