He's My Cousin!

[Ch.45] Watching You

[Ch.45] Watching You

// Ayanna's Point of View

"Bakit hindi ka kumakain?" Dinungaw ako ni Jiro mula sa pagkakayuko ko, tinitignan ko lang ang pagkain ko. "Hindi ba masarap? You can have mine instead,” alok niya.

Sinubukan kong tignan siya pero inalis ko rin agad ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "W-wala lang. It's okay. 'Di lang a-ako gutom."

I still couldn't get over what I've heard yesterday. Minsan naging tanga ako, pero hindi naman ako manhid. I knew they were talking about me. Sa loob ng dalawang taon ay naging malapit ako kay Jiro at nararamdaman ko naman kung ano'ng totoo sa narinig ko kahapon. I knew better.

Well? I like Jiro. I like him, but I just couldn't comprehend hearing that there's a huge possibility that he likes me in a more-than-friends way. Hindi ko lubos maisip kung magiging gano'n kami... at alam ko naman sa sarili kong hindi pa ako handa. I was wounded so deep I thought my heart would desist to beat. Masyado nang marami ang nangyari. I don't trust myself anymore. I don't trust my heart's judgment anymore.

"Aya..." may halong pag-aalala sa boses niya.

Maswerte ako kay Jiro, alam ko iyon. Matapos niyang malaman ang totoo sa akin noon, hindi niya ako hinusgahan. He didn't judge me for the decisions I've made in the past... for the mistakes I've committed... for the crime I'll forever be guilty of. Bagkus, inintindi niya ako. He stuck with me when I needed someone to hold on to. At malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa kaniya nang dahil doon. I won't ever forget that. Ever.

I should keep myself together. I trust Jiro... and I know he wouldn't do anything that will, by any means, tarnish our friendship. Hindi dapat ako naiilang nang ganito. Dapat ay kalimutan ko na lang ang kung ano mang narinig ko kahapon tutal naman ay hindi ko naman talaga dapat narinig iyon.

I dared to meet his eyes and flash a smile. "Heto na po, kakain na!" sabi ko sabay dampot ng kubyertos ko.

"Kailan last day sa college niyo?" tanong niya sa akin sabay subo ng kanin.

"Wednesday, kayo?"

"Wednesday rin. May sem-ender kami ng gabi. Wanna join?"

"May sem-ender din kami," sagot ko. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at binasang muli iyong message na nareceive ko mula sa cluster president namin.

From Jaz:

Who: Cluster 2; EEd 11102, EEd12102, EEd13102, EEd14102, EEd15102

What: SEM-ENDER PARTY!!!

Where: to be announced **still negotiating daw eh, pero probably KGee's ;)

When: Wednesday, 8 PM onwards

Anyone's allowed to come with you guys so you don't have excuses :) I'll update you more soon. See you!

Ipinakita ko iyon kay Jiro at agad tumaas ang kilay niya. Ibinaba niya ang mga kubyertos at hinawakan iyong cellphone ko. "KGee's? I never knew Ed students hang-out in there."