Misfit

XX

We were sitting at our usual spot when Gwyn came. Her eyes shined when she saw me.

"Ate Odium! I missed you!" She hugged me tight and I hugged her back. Tinignan ako ng masama ni Amanda.

"May favouritism ka!" Nagtatampong sabi niya. Tinawanan ko lang siya.

"So what happened to you? I've been texting you and calling you the whole to weeks you're not around school. Usually naman nagsasabi ko if you have work." A stated. Tahimik lang na nakikinig sa'min si Gwyn.

"Did something happen while I was not around?" I asked. Umiling naman silang dalawa.

"Other than boring classes, wala na. But school fest is coming up! It will be exciting." I missed the energy of Amanda Rose Linneus kahit minsan sobrang hirap tapatan.

"Ikaw? You have to make kwento! And what was the scene earlier this morning?" Naguluhan naman si Gwyn sa sinabi ni A.

"Theodore gave her coffee! Theodore! The one she claimed to hate!" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni A. I just rolled my eyes at her. Parang 'di talaga p'wede magka-lovelife? Pero tama naman si A, sinong maniniwala na may magkakagusto sa'kin. Kahit ako nga 'di makapaniwala.

"I didn't say I hate him. I just don't like his presence." Nagkatinginan silang dalawa.

"Ang denial ha?" She pouted.

"'Di pa kasi diretsuhin, p'wede naman tanungin kung kami na." Nanlaki ang mata niya.

"What the fuck, Odium? Seryoso?"

"Maiinsulto na ba 'ko sa tono mo?"

"Congrats, Ate Sierra." Ngiting sabi ni Gwyn.

"Be more like Gwyn, A." Umiling siya.

"I need the details! Hindi p'wedeng walang kwento." Tigas talaga ng ulo.

"Nakakainis, who would have thought, Gwyn? I mean inexpect ko na pero not this soon! Grabe ang landi mo pala, Odium?" I rolled my eyes.

"Gaga ka talaga! I'm not the one who confessed first. Like I would do that." Bigla siyang ngumiti.

"Now I get it. Why you missed school without saying anything. I get it now. Akala ko inaatake ka na naman, this one was different!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Napaka-talaga nitong babae na 'to.

"Inaatake? May sakit ka ate Sierra?" Umiling ako.

"A's exaggerating." You don't have to know about it Gwyn.

"Pero kasi! Mag-kwento ka na!" And I did dahil hindi talaga ako titigilan ni Amanda hangga't 'di ko sinasabi.

They were both in awe. For the last time, parang 'di ako p'wede magka-lovelife?

Nagkatinginan pa sila ni Gwyn and ngumisi.

"Kaya siguro, Gwyn no?" Tumango naman si Gwyn. Leche na, get ko 'yon!

"Tigilan niyo kakaasar sa'kin."

"At least may love life ka!" Humagikhik pa siya. Napailing ako sa kan'ya.

The bell rang and we went back to our class. Hindi nawawala ang ngiti ni Amanda. She was too happy to enter the classroom kaya may ibang kumwestyon sa kasiyahan niya. She's usually like that pero halata na may ibang meaning 'yong ngayon.

Tinignan lang ako ni Theo at tinaasan ng kilay. I just shrugged and went to my sit next to his.

"Iba ata ngiti ngayon ni Amanda, may nangyari ba?" Tanong niya sa'kin. Ramdam kong pinagtitinginan kami ng mga kaklase ko.