Serendipity [ Eli and Pen ]

Chapter 35

Pen's POV

"Good job, everyone!"

Tumayo kaming lahat nang marinig ang boses ni Ms. Abigail. Nasa dressing room kami ngayon.

"You all did great!" Papuri niya samin. "Nag-prepare ako ng foods for all of you, nakahain na sa labas!" Nagsigawan sila at saka excited na lumabas. 

Maglalakad na sana ako palabas nang hawakan niya ang balikat ko. She asked me if we can talk, ofcourse I said yes. We decided to just talk inside the dressing room since may mga upuan naman.

"You did great. I mean it." She said as she tap my shoulders. Ngumiti naman ako. "Thank you po."

"I hope someday, I'll be able to see you sing on stage once again."

Napahawak ako batok, nahihiya.

"By the way, i'm glad Elias found you." Napatingin ako sakanya. "He's been looking for you since forever."

Tahimik lang ako habang nagsasalita siya. "Elias is my first love." She said, smiling bitterly.

"But more than that, he's my bestfriend. Syempre, araw-araw ba naman kami magkasama noon sa iisang bahay diba? I was one their maid's daughter. Sobrang bait ng mommy ni Elias kasi pinatira niya ko sa bahay nila kahit anak lang ako ng kasambahay nila, tapos pinag-aral pa. Because of that, lagi kaming sabay na pumapasok ni Elias. Akala tuloy ng lahat, may gusto kami sa isa't-isa. But that's not true." She said. Nanlaki ang mata ko.

"Twas a one-sided  love." She laughed, "When I told him about my feelings, na-pressure siya. He thought he should also feel the same, ayaw niya kong masaktan. That's why he tried courting me. Pero naalala ko 'yung sinabi niya sakin, he liked this girl named Aria and he promised to be single until he finds her, so that he'll be able to marry her. That's when I realized na talo na 'ko. I don't wanna ruin our friendship kaya I told him to stop courting me." Pagkukwento niya.

"Aria is actually her first love. I'm glad to know that he found her already. I can tell na sobrang saya ni Elias ngayon. Palagi ka niyang kinekwento sa'kin. I never saw him that hopeful and happy before. Thank you, Penelope. Thank you for crossing his path. I am wishing you nothing but happiness." She said. Ngumiti ako at niyakap siya.

Nang matapos kaming magkwentuhan ay lumabas na kami para makisabay sa kainan. Maya-maya, biglang tumunog ang phone ko. It was Eli. Nag-text siya na magkita raw kami. Nagpaalam na ko sakanila, nginitian naman ako ng nakakaloko ni Ms. Abigail. "Have fun," Bulong niya.

"Kumain ka na?" He asked nang magkita kami sa hallway, umiling ako. "Kakain na dapat but you texted me." Pagbibiro ko, he laughed and pinch my cheeks.

Habang naglalakad kami sa hallway, halos lahat ng estudyante ay nakatingin sa amin.

"Pen!"

Napalingon ako nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko. It was ate Ritz. Naglalakad siya palapit sa amin.

"How dare you?!"

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang sampalin niya ko ng malakas.

"A-Ate Ritz.."

"Don't fucking call me ate, you traitor!" Sigaw niya, akmang sasampalin ulit ako nang agad na hinarang siya ni Eli.

"Mangaangaw!"