A Close Second

Twenty Fourth

In fairness, nahirapan ako dito.

----

Beatrice

Parang ayokong pumasok pero alam kong kailangan. The good news was, mukhang wala namang nakabalita ng maliit na eksena naming dalawa ni Andrew because everything seemed to be normal the next day.

Except me.

Andrew (Tobi)

Let's talk this out, Tris. I'm sorry.

Hindi ko maiangat ang tingin ko dahil nararamdaman ko siyang nakatingin sa akin. I sighed and then pushed the power button from my phone.

It's another free-cut for us. Advantage of being graduating students, pero sa ngayon it was a disadvantage for me.

All seniors were just idling again, while the lower years naman ang nag eexam ng finals nila. I was still incomplete for a few subjects dahil sa pagkakasakit ko, but I still have next week to do that. Nabawi ko naman na yung mga oral exams at recitation.

I briefly remembered Keith had the same problem. Unfortunately, it was Jake, Keith and I, lalong lalo na si Jake since halos lahat ng subjects wala pa siyang exam. Iilan palang ang natatapos niya. Naaawa nga ako dahil pagkakasyahin niya sa isang araw ang lahat ng mga namiss out niya, just like before.

A consequence ng paghahabol niya kay Thea.

"Mahilig ka bas a rollercoaster?" tanong ni Mikki sa akin.
I raised an eyebrow. "I haven't ridden one yet."
"Eh parang sanay ka naman e." She comments. "Kahapon masaya ka, ngayon hindi na?"
I shrugged. "Who said I was sad?"
"Do you really have to say it?"
"Can we talk?"

I look up from my writing saka naman tinignan ang nagsalita, Jake stood infront of me, expression a bit distracted.

I shrugged saka naman tumayo, bringing what I was writing with me. Naglakad kami parehas papalabas ng room, passing his friends na nandoon sa isang gilid. Hindi ko nalang pinansin dahil ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagtitig ng tatlo sa aming dalawa.

Greg's words still burned through my head.

Si Keith ba o si Jake?

Why was I having a hard time for this? It has been weeks of emotional turmoil for this and I thought tapos na ang diskusyon naming yun, but apparently, here we were again?

Napatigil lang ako sa pagiisip nang biglang bumunggo ako somewhere and Jacob was standing infront of me, looking at me directly. We were now at the gardens just beside the stone benches.

Anong problema ng lalaking ito?

"Bey."
"First things first." I say, taking a seat on the bench. "Here's your essay. It's 2308 words all in all. Have it typed and pass it para tapos ka na."

Tinignan niya sandali yung binigay ko saka naman kinuha yun at inilapag sa mesa yun, murmuring his thanks. I sat down the bench, crossing my legs as I wait for him to talk. I took this time to study him.

He seemed deep in thought, agitated even. Problemado ito ngayon, as I realize.

"What seems to be the problem, Jacob?" I ask.

He sits down beside me, putting the intermediate pad sa tabi niya before running his hand on his hair. He breathes out a sigh, which made me look at him curiously.

"I need your help." He says, frustration leaking out sa boses niya.
Tinignan ko lang siya. "What do you need?"
"Alam ng mga Alcantara yung tungkol sa ating dalawa."
"Oh? Edi mas maganda." Sabi ko. "At least—"
"—ang alam nila yung ikaw ang girlfriend ko."