Definitely Out of his League | published under Ukiyoto Publishing

17th League: Drunk

17th League: Drunk

TRAVIS WAS walking alongside Donny in Quadrangle. Nasa malayong bench lang sila at nagkukuwentuhan. Donny was in the climax of his story when he noticed that Travis wasn't listening to him.

"Hoy! Kanina pa 'ko nagkukuwento rito, hindi ka naman pala nakikinig!" asar na singhal ni Donny.

"Pasensya na, pre. Marami lang akong iniisip," ani Travis.

"Sino bang iniisip mo?" tanong ni Donny. Sinundan niya at nilingon ang tinitingnan ng kaibigan. He saw Iris sitting beside Ryland and her girl friends. Napangisi ang binata. "Kaya pala..."

"Hmm? Kaya pala ano?" Travis asked.

"May gusto ka kay Iris, 'no? Aminin mo na, halata ka na, pre!"

"H-Ha? W-Wala akong gusto sa kaniya, magkaibigan lang kami! Napakamalisyoso mo!" utas ni Travis.

"Eh, bakit ganiyan ka makatingin sa kaniya? Sus! Sa 'kin ka pa naglihim," Donny stated.

"Wala nga! Tumahimik ka na nga diyan," nakairap na saad ni Travis.

"Alam mo, pre, hindi naman masamang umibig. Hindi rin naman masamang magkagusto sa isang prinsesa. Kaya nga lang, hindi tayo prinsipe, eh. Pero try mo. Baka suwertehin ka. Ligawan mo na kaya si Iris," suhestyon ng kaibigan niya.

"Paano ko liligawan 'yan? H-Hindi naman ako bagay sa kaniya. Sa 'yo na nanggaling. Hindi naman ako prinsipe. Saka na 'ko manliligaw 'pag may palasyo na 'ko," matabang na sabi ni Travis.

"Edi inamin mo rin na gusto mo si Iris," nakangising wika ni Donny. Tinitigan siya nang masama ni Travis.

"Wala akong sinabi. Tss," anang binata at naglakad na palayo.

IRIS WAS sitting still beside Ryland. Hindi pa rin niya makalimutan ang nangyari noong nakaraang gabi. Sariwa pa sa kaniyang ala-ala ang pamamasyal nilang magkasama ni Travis. Ang Travis na hindi nagsungit sa kaniya sa buong magdamag na iyon.

Tulala lang siyang nakangiti habang nagkukuwentuhan ang mga kaibigan niya. Ryland noticed her almost detachable smile. He wondered what was she thinking about.

"Uhh... Iris, next week na nga pala 'yong anniversary party ng parents ko. Are you ready?" Ryland asked. It was as if the lady didn't hear him. Nanatili itong tulala. "You seem so happy."

"Yup. That night was so perfect," Iris said, still spacing out.

"What night?" tanong ng binata. Doon na tuluyang nagising si Iris at nagbalik sa reyalidad.

"Uhh... N-No, I mean... 'Yong sa debut ko, I'm pretty sure it's gonna be a perfect night," nauutal niyang paliwanag.

"Oh, yes, of course it will be. Anyway, I was saying... Next week na ang anniversary ng parents ko. Ready ka na ba?" Ryland asked her again.

"Uhh... Yes, I'm ready. For sure."

"Anyway, I'll be going home early. My dad needs me, alam mo na..." kibit-balikat na wika ng binata.

"Don't worry about it, you're fine."

"Very well then. I'll see you tomorrow, sweetie," Ryland said. He kissed her on her forehead before he left.

Kinikilig namang naghagikgikan ang mga kaibigan niya. It was so obvious that they like Ryland for her. Everybody seemed to like him for her. Siya na lang sa sarili niya ang hindi niya maintindihan. Why couldn't she feel the same way?

Ryland was almost perfection but why did it seem like her heart was still searching for someone else. Was there anyone else better than Ryland Cris Ferrer? Or was it really the better man her heart was looking for?