Carpool

Chapter 9

~ Still Confused ~

BEATRIZ

"Inaantok ka na agad?" I went back to my teammates to see Jhoana sitting alone in the bench. "How was your shift?" I asked.

It's been a couple of days since my birthday happened and I can finally see Jhoana getting more comfortable around me. I wouldn't say that we're very close now but at least she was definitely more talkative than before. Masungit pa rin pero feeling ko close or not hindi mawawala yun sakanya.

Minsan iniisip ko kung "friend crush" ko nga lang ba si Jhoana. I mean, this weird happiness I'm feeling should already go away right? We're friends now, kasi yun naman talaga yung "goal" if you have a friend crush, to be friends with the person you want to be friends with?

I shook my thoughts away dahil kung ano ano nanaman naiisip ko. I'll just cross the bridge when I get there.

And now she's waiting for me here sa BEG habang tinutulungan ko yung mga teammates ko sa pag r-receive ngayon.

"It was fine, mas dumadami na rin yung mga ginagawa ko." She replied and placed her bag on her lap. "Students are already having lectures, kaya mas marami ng tao sa library."

"You want to go home na? Pwede namang alis na tayo?"

She looked up and nodded. "Are you sure you can leave your teammates na? Okay lang ba?"

"Of course, kayang kaya na ng bagong captain nila yan, si Deanna pa." I chuckled and carried her other materials for her. Hindi na rin siya nakipagtalo na huwag kong bitbitin ang mga gamit niya unlike before, she's probably really exhausted then.

"Let's go, bud. You need to rest." I waved good bye to my former teammates and Jhoana did the same. I put my arm around her shoulders as I feel her body lean to mine.

"You really are tired, are you okay?" I stopped walking to get a proper look at her. Her eyes were droopy as she tried to give me a small smile. I removed loose strands of her hair that was covering her face.

"Okay lang ako, just really really tired." She grabbed my arm and dragged me going to my car. We walked silently at pinag buksan ko pa siya ng pinto. Papasok palang ako ng sasakyan ng biglang may tumawag kay Jhoana.

"Jho!"

Jhoana opened the car door and went out again. She smiled at Nico looking a little bit surprised.

Bumeso naman si Nico kay Jho habang naglakad ako papunta sa tabi niya. "You haven't replied to my messages. Iniiwasan mo ba ako?" Madiin niyang tanong kaya napa taas naman ang kilay ko sakanya. Isn't he courting Jho lang?

"Huh? No I'm not." Jho chuckled then quickly changed the topic. "Anyway, I haven't seen you in days! Nakabalik ka na pala from Palawan."

"Yeah, kanina lang. Hi, Beatriz." I smiled and awkwardly waved my hand at him.

"By the way, here's my pasalubong for you." Nag abot si Nico ng parang box kay Jho. She slowly grabbed it and opened the mystery box. She held out a necklace with a small pearl as a pendant.

I was about to scoff and roll my eyes but I immediately stopped myself. Baka mamaya makita pa ni Jhoana. What the hell, Bea?

"Thanks for this, Nico." Jho smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow, Nico."

Babalik na sana ako sa driver's seat pero hindi pa pala tapos si Nico.

"Wait, I heard there will be a welcoming event and party for the whole members of Ateneo Carpool Org on Saturday," I glanced at Jho and can see that she was also confused too. "I was wondering if you'd like to come together?"