Moving Along The Beat

Chapter 10

"THEO?"

Tila nagising ito at biglang tumayo mula sa kinauupuan. Suot pa rin niya ang suot kanina ng makita ko siya mall. Hula ko'y dumiretso siya rito.

"A-anong ginagawa mo rito?" nakakunot noo kong tanong.

Ngunit imbis na sumagot ay ngumiti lang ito sa'kin.

"Tinatanong kita."

"Gusto ko lang sanang mag-explain tungkol sa kanina."

"Para saan?"

"You saw us right? Ginny and I?" dahan-dahan niyang tanong na parang nag-iingat siya salitang lalabas sa bibig niya.

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan nang marinig ang sinabi niya.

"W-what do you mean?"

"Ginny-"

"You don't need to explain." I immediately cut him off.

Nagtataka itong napatingin sa akin.

"Bakit ka mag-e-explain?"

Nanatili siyang nakatayo, nagtataka.

"I mean, bakit? Kailangan ba?"

"Z. I like you."

I felt tons of butterflies in my stomach as I heard those words, but I brushed it all off.

Tumango ako. "You already said that."

Diretso ang titig nito sa'kin. "Hindi ka man lang na nagtaka? I said I like you but I let Ginny kiss me-- no, I did not let her, I mean..." Frustrated itong napasinghap.

Tumawa ako. "Ano ka ba? Gusto mo lang naman ako, hindi naman ibig sabihin non, hindi ka na pwedeng magka-girlfriend," labas sa ilong kong sabi.

"But--"

"Pero mag-ingat kayo kay tito. Bawal yan." Muli akong tumawa kahit ramdam kong nagpipiraso ang puso ko. "I will keep my mouth shut, but don't make it too obvious para hindi kayo mabi-"

"Listen to me first!"

Napahinto ako sa pagsasalita at gulat na tumingin sa kaniya.

"Ginny and I were nothing but friends. Alam niyang gusto kita."

"Pe-"

"She saw you and she just planned it all by herself. Tinignan niya kung magseselos ka and she said you did and said that it was my time to make a move," he said faster than ever.

I couldn't help but to stare at him after what he said. Why would Ginny do that?

Huminga siya nang malalim. "Dumiretso ako rito pero wala ka. I was texting you, I even tried to call you. I was worried as hell when you did not answer but I heard from Santi that you were with Achie so I was at ease." He then took something from his pocket and showed me a picture.  "But, Z, I was jealous."

Natulala ako nang makita ang picture namin ni Achie, it was taken not too far from us. May nakakita sa'min?

It must be Santi, sinabi niya na nga.

He laughed with no emotion. "I was about to go home when I received this from Santi. You were so happy."

Napayuko ako. Nanatili akong tahimik dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin.

"I asked myself, when will I ever do that? Gusto ko Z, gusto kong ako yung magpapangiti sa'yo ng ganyan-"

Hindi ko na napigilang mapangiti at magsalita, "ang corny mo."

He looked at me, dumbfounded. "Huh?"

"Wala. Na-gets na kita. Hindi na kayo ni Ginny." Tawa ko.

Natawa rin ito sa sinabi ko.