A Close Second

Sixteenth

I'll be active with Watty. Hihihi.
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"NO!"

They were all surprised when I hugged my neighbor, wrapping my legs on his waist. I heard him chuckle, but he wraps his arms at me, so that I wouldn't fall. Our faces were inches with each other.

Good thing for the mask since I was at least 2 inches from his face now.

"Possessive, madam?" asked JP

And I looked at them all looking at the two of us. I blushed instantly, realizing how we looked.

"I meant... No. Don't remove it." I said as I unwrap my legs from him. "He's more handsome than that."

Nakarinig ako ng kaunting hiyawan. Kyla and the girls were acting like 'Kilig-much'. And Greg was... well, snickering. I had to stop Keith raising a middle finger at him. I remembered that he knew it wasn't Jake and obviously, he was really finding this funny.

"Guys, seriously, that's right. Just let it be that way."
"Yup, mas gwapo siya pag natatakpan yung mukha niya." Greg.

I give Greg a glare, shutting him up effectively. He grins though, and I realize he was raising an eyebrow at me because I still don't let go of my friend's neck. I mumble an apology to Keith, slowly removing my hands around him.

"We have to talk, maiwan muna namin kayo"
"Wooo! Sinasarili si Kaps! " Kyra.
"Hoy, hinay hinay lang!" Dennis chimes.

I ignore them, pulling Keith with me away from them. We stop when we reach an empty hall. Nakakita ako ng isang door and I push him through it before I closed the door which made the room a little bit dark.

"Coast is clear." He says and he takes off his mask.

I leaned against the wall and I could feel my knees weak.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman ko kaya naman hindi ko na pinansin at hinayaan nalang na ilabas lahat ng kinikimkim ko mula kanina pa.

I held onto my knees to support myself, my back sliding down on the not so smooth concrete wall. I felt the wall through the thin material of my sleeveless vest, the rough wall scraping my skin but I ignore it.

"Beatrice."
"Where is he?" Tanong ko
"Be-"
"Where is he Andrew?" I say firmly while just looking down.

I already knew the answer, but I still couldn't help but ask. I heard him cluck his tongue though, and he also sat next to me. The room was a little cramped, but he had one leg up, resting his arm on it while he looks at me.

"He's in Manila. He couldn't come dahil.."
"Kay Thea." Pagtatapos ko sa sinabi niya.

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa. I just embraced my feet with my face to my knees at nagsimulang tumulo ang mga luha ko.

I don't even know why I'm crying now.

He was in Manila. Because of Thea.

I should've been immune to this now. I knew that.

I'm very aware. I knew that to Jake, I'm not gonna be a priority. Now that Thea's in the picture, wala na ako sa listahan ng kailangan niyang pagtuunan ng pansin.

Pero umasa parin ako. I thought na kahit papaano, nangako siya sa akin na darating siya. I couldn't help but feel hurt.

Hurt and betrayed and let down.

Kababalik palang ni Thea sa buhay niya kaya siya ang priority ni Jake, but I was hoping that since we had been juniors, matagal na naming hinihintay ang araw na ito para sa AIM