Bond of Catastrophe

Kabanata 7

Appeared

"Uuwi na kayo? Maaga pa. Let's have some party at my house! Call?" Pia grabbed my wrist and giggled. Her round pair of eyes are twinkling as if waiting for a quite good answer.

"Sorry, Pia. We have a lot of things to do. Next time na lang."

Ngumuso siya at mas hinigpitan ang kapit sa akin. She's fair and skinny, no wonder how her beauty is just too obvious. Her lips pouted more.

"Sayang, I even asked my Kuya to bring his friends with him. Who knows? August might be there too. Magkaklase sila." She grinned playfully, testing my patience not to reach its peak.

She really thought that I have this feelings for August. Not that I haven't at all. But I admire her for being so observant. Even so, I would not come up to the idea of telling her. I might be able to be the center of her mocking table.

At kung nandoon nga ang lalaking iyon ay mas ayaw kong pumunta. It kinda seems awkward.

Isa pa, sumasakit ang ulo ko. Baka mamaya ay may senaryong pumasok na naman sa isip ko at makagulo pa ako doon. I prefer not to.

"Next time, Pia." Ngumiti ako.

"Melca?" awtomatikong napalingon ako sa may pinto nang marinig ang boses na iyon ni Rest. She's holding a bunch of books and her hair is down. "Tara na?"

Tumango ako at humarap muli kay Pia. "I'm really sorry, Pia."

Pabiro siyang umirap at tumingin kay Rest. "Rest! Wanna have some party tonight? Call?"

Natampal ko ang noo ko. Nagningning naman ang mga mata ng kaibigan ko sa narinig. She's really an out-going one. Alam kong nagustuhan niya ang sinabi ni Pia. At walang dahilan para tumanggi pa siya.

Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin nito sa aming dalawa na parang nagtatanong. Pasimple akong umiiling ngunit wala lang iyon sa kaniya.

My God, please say no!

"Call!" Ngisi niya kay Pia.

Napapikit ako nang sabay silang humalakhak. "Okay. So I will be heading home first. Huwag kang masyadong magpagabi, Rest. I'm off."

Akmang aalis na ako nang harangin ako ng dalawa. Seriously, what's with these two?

"You are no fun at all!" Nguso ni Rest at hinila ang braso ko. Masama ang tingin niya sa akin na para bang may ginawa akong hindi niya nagustuhan.

Wait, she just can't force me like that.

"Sorry, Pia. Promise next time sasama na ako." Ngumiti ako at tinanggal ang pagkakapit niya sa braso ko ngunit nagpapadyak lang ito at mas lalong humaba ang nguso.

Aish.

"Rest, do something!" Pilit ni Pia at mas hinigit pa ako palapit sa kaniya.

Tumawa lamang si Rest atsaka lumapit. Hinawakan niya ang kabilang braso ko. She then gave me one assuring smile and gently pulled my wrist. Thanks God I have her.

Umakbay ito sa akin at muling ngumiti nang matamis kay Pia. "Ako na bahala dito. Basta sasama kami."

"Yes!" Humagalpak ng tawa si Pia atsaka tinapik ang balikat ko.

I already knew that this is not a good idea. If only I could bring back time, I shouldn't had let Rest decided and pursue not to go even more.

A slight pain stings on my chest. Parang unti-unting hinihiwa ang puso ko sa naririnig. Parang gusto ko na lamang takpan ang tainga at patakbong umalis dito. But I don't wanna look so pathetic. This would only prove them that I like him. That I'm hurt. Pride is all that's left to me. Hindi ko na hahayaang mawala pa iyon.