He Suddenly Came Back

Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33: Distance

(Zoe's POV)

Right after we had our lunch, umalis na ako. May meeting pa kasi siya nang 1 pm, ang boring naman kung magstay pa ako dun.

Dumaan muna ako ng mall bago ako pumunta sa shop bigla nalang kasi akong nag crave ng nutella kaya naisipan kong bumili muna sa grocery.

Pagkatapos kong mamili, naglakad na ako palabas ng mall nang may maaninag akong isang pamilyar na mukha. He was standing near the escalator. I walked myself towards him.

"Hi." I said as soon as I reached him and tapped his shoulder.

Binaling niya yung tingin niya sa akin at halatang nagulat siya nang makita ako.

"Oh... Zoe... Hi. Nandito ka pala."

"Oo, bumili kasi ako ng nutella, nag crave ako."

"Ah, ganun ba."

Hindi ko alam pero parang biglang naging awkward yung pakikitungo namin sa isa't isa.

To break the atmosphere, I immediately hugged him. I don't know but I just felt that I'm missing him. Magkasama naman kami kahapon pero parang isang lingo kaming di nagkita.

"Anong meron? Bakit bigla ka nalang nangyayakap?" tanong niya.

"Wala lang, parang namiss lang kita."

Natawa naman siya sa sinabi ko.

"Hindi mo man lang ba ako yayakapin pabalik?"

The moment I said it, he sighed kaya binitawan ko siya.

I stared at him for a moment.

"Kayo na ulit." He stated, his face went sad.

Hindi ko alam kung tatango ba ako o sasagot ng 'oo' kung alam ko naman na hindi tanong yung sinabi niya. I decided to remain silent and continued to stare at him.

He let out a deep sigh, "I better go now."

Aalis na sana siya pero pinigilan ko siya agad. "Clive iniiwasan mo ba ako?"

"Alam ni Tristan na niligawan kita at ayokong kung ano ang isipin niya ngayong kayo na ulit."

"Magkaibigan naman tayo diba? Bakit mo ako iiwasan?"

He shrugged. "Yung kasama ko papunta na dito."

Tumingin ako sa direksyon na tinitingnan niya at nakita ko si Allison na naglalakad patungo sa kung saan kami.

"Hi Clive. Hi Zoe." She chirped the moment she reached us.

I smiled at her at tinanguan siya ni Clive.

"I didn't know you're coming with us. Anyways, Zoe I'm really sorry kung niyaya ko tong boyfriend mo..." Boyfriend? Wala naman si Tristan –oh shoot! Pinakilala nga pala ako ni Clive as his girlfriend. "Wala na kasi akong ibang mayaya kasi yung ibang mga close friends ko dati puro busy. But since nandito ka na, I think mas magiging enjoy to kasi tatlo na tayo."

I just smiled, but it was an awkward one. Before I could say a word, nagsalita na si Clive.

"She's not coming with us, may aasikasuhin pa kasi siya."

"Huh?! Sayang naman. Hindi ba pwedeng iliban mo muna?"

"Uhh kase– " Clive cut me off again. "Kailangan na talaga ngayon. Right Zoe?"

Clive gave me a look.

"Ah, oo. Kailangang- kailangan na kasi ngayon Allie eh."

"Ganun ba... Oh sige, samahan mo nalang siya Clive.  Ang pangit naman kasing tingnan kung sasamahan mo ako pero may lakad ang girlfriend mo."

"Uhh... Allie, pinayagan ko na kasi si Clive na samahan ka." Whew! Ano ba naman 'to! Anong pinayagan chu-chu, huh, Zoe? Girlfriend lang ang peg?

"Sigurado ka?" tanong niya ulit.

I smiled and gave her an assuring look.

"She won't mind Allie." Sabat ni Clive.

She looked at me as if asking if it's really okay.

"Yeah, I won't mind."

Clive turned his gaze to Allie. "We better go now, baka mahuli tayo sa movie."

Allie gazed at me and I smiled at her.

"Alis na kami Zoe." Paalam ni Clive. I nodded at naglakad na sila paalis.

Naglakad na ako palabas. Sumakay ako ng taxi papunta sa shop dahil di ko naman dala yung kotse ko. Hindi nadin ako pumayag na magpahatid kay Ivan kahit nag insist si Tristan kase baka makaabala pa ako.

The moment I reached my office in the shop, I immediately threw myself at the couch. Hindi ko alam pero bigla nalang may tumulung luha sa pisngi ko. Agad ko naman itong pinahid.

I sighed. He's trying to keep some distance at nasasaktan ako dahil dun. We're friends at feeling ko pawasak na yung pagkakaibigan namin.

He said he wants to make me happy. Pero hindi ako magiging masaya kung mawawalan ako ng isang kaibigan, ng isang bestfriend.

Maybe this is the exchange of having Tristan back, a space between me and Clive.