The Gap Between Us (SSG SERIES #1)

Chapter 19: Via

Via Richelle Carbonelle

"Sama ka? Kakain kami sa labas nila Eli."

Gulat akong napalingon kay Coen nang bigla siyang sumulpot sa likod ko. I was monitoring the students after the closing ceremony. Napangiti ako dahil sa pag yaya niya sa akin.

"Oh, wow. A celebration?" tanong ko. Tumango siya.

"Something like that. Kasama namin 'yung ibang kaklase niya,"

Agad napawi ang ngiti ko at bumagsak ang balikat. By that, he means that Stacey Santiago girl who always clings around Eli and follows Coen. You can tell, I don't like her very much.

"Diet pala ako. Kayo nalang." pag tanggi ko. Saglit muna siyang tumingin sa akin at tumango tsaka umalis. I wanted to come along, but if some outsiders are joining, then nevermind.

"Via, pwede na kaming umuwi?" tanong ng isa kong kaklase.

"Whatever."

Nawala ako sa mood. Thinking that Coen is out with strangers he barely know. I'm concerned. He's a dear friend of mine.

Our friendship was peaceful until that loser showed up. Mag mula noong nag laro siya sa sports fest, which is a fail, I found out that Coen showed interest in her. Why? Because she was hit in the face with a volleyball? My God, should I hit myself even harder?

I thought it was an act out of pity. Because what happened was embarrassing. Pero humupa na ang usapang iyon matagal na, pero hindi pa rin humupa ang same reaction na nakita ko kay Coen noong unang beses niyang nakilala si Stacey.

I even bullied her to get her out of his sight. I lied about the phone, I already knew it was missing, because I saw some of our classmates hid it for fun. Hindi ko iyon sinabi sakaniya, I thought of playing the hero-role for once. But again, that loser showed up with the phone before me. It was frustrating.

"I found your phone!" sabi ko habang pinapakita ang phone kay Coen. But he didn't looked happy with it, instead he went calling after that girl. So frustrating.

Hindi siya nilingon. Humarap siya sa akin.

"Stop lying. You didn't actually find it didn't you?"

I was in a state of shock, pero pinag takpan ko pa rin ang sarili kahit nasa harap na namin ang katotohanan.

"Ha? I said I found it! The correct response for that is a 'thank you'—"

Inagaw niya sa akin ang phone at umalis. After that, he ignored me for weeks, until I finally said the truth. He forgave me. We're dear friends after all. But it's frustrating.

It's frustrating.

You're frustrating.

Everyone might see me as a rival now, pero ang totoo, ako ang naagawan. I was the one beside him during his dark days after the fallen ace incident. I was there.

Kaya noong nakita ko siyang nagpakita ng interest sa babaeng natamaan lang ng bola sa mukha, it hurted my pride. And it's frustrating.

Coleen's

Gabi na pero maingay pa din si Eliezer kahit nag lalakad kami sa tabing kalsada. He insisted on walking me home, since he is a self proclaimed gentleman. He kept on bragging about how he looked cool earlier. Wala akong magawa kundi um-oo.

"You're weird today. On normal days, kokontrahin mo bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko ah," sabi niya.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. I noticed that, too. I am being weird today. Hindi ko siya makontra ngayong araw. Maybe because I'm still stunned?

"Pag kinontra kita mag iingay ka pa lalo, kaya sige na. Keep on bragging and I'll just keep on agreeing with you." sabi ko. I managed to get out of the question. Pero hindi talaga siya nag papaawat.

"That's boring! We're almost there and all you say is 'oo nga'," he whined like a child. Inirapan ko siya.

"Oo nga."

God. Bakit parang lumayo naman ata 'yung bahay namin? Gusto ko nang makauwi! I can't think of words properly with this version of Eliezer beside me!

Pansin kong natahimik siya saglit. I was about to say hallelujah praise the Lord for this momen of silence pero bigla din siyang nag salita.

"Since all you say is 'oo nga'," he paused and looked at me.

"Gwapo ba 'ko?" pabirong tanong niya.

He's probably thinking I'll say no this time. Pero jokes on you, you do look great today that you are the reason why I acted weird all day.

"Oo." maiksi kong sagot.

Natigilan siya at nag patuloy ako sa pag lalakad. ASKDKFKFKKDKS

Malapit na din naman kami sa bahay. He should take that as a rare compliment 'cause he'll never hear it again from me.

"That's weird, my heart skipped a beat!" sabay tawa nito.

I couldn't process what just happened and how he said that out loud as a joke. I mean, my heart skipped a beat too. After a few minutes we finally reached home.

"Naks, rich kid." sabi nito habang iginagala ang tingin sa bahay namin. I chuckled.

"Wow, says the one na nanglibre kani-kanina lang!"

"Nakaw 'yon sa funds ng school."

Tumawa kami pareho. It was getting late kaya naman pinauwi ko na siya, pero bago ang lahat,

"Hoy," tawag ko dito. Lumingon siya at nag taas ng kilay.

"Congrats ulit, you did pretty well for a shit like you,"

"Wow, dapat ba akong matuwa dyan?"

I shrugged. Hindi na ako nag salita at pumasok sa bahay, he said a few words before I could enter, pero hindi na ako lumingon at isinara ang gate.

"Salamat."

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