My Little Sun

10: She's a Liar

The last day of being a sophomore high school student came. After this summer, we'll be seniors...but I haven't found my goal yet.

I was asked by a teacher to get something from the office. I followed her and as we passed by the class B, I saw Aelia happily laughing and smiling around her classmates. Why do they have more boys than girls? Tch.

I know I was the one who told her that she got other friends than me— that she can get close to others aside from me— but seeing her this close to others just irritates me.

At lunchtime, I got invited by Lucas to eat at the rooftop.

"Whaa! I can't believe na magiging seniors na tayo at malapit ng mag-graduate sa high school!" Said Marco.

While he is excited about the senior thing, here comes Lucas with his gloomy face.

"Is it Shane?" I asked. "She's graduating tomorrow, isn't she?"

"Tama."

"So bakit ka ganyan? Hindi ka masaya para sa kanya?"

"Tristan— of course I am! Pero iniisip ko palang na magkakalayo na kaming dalawa at baka may lumandi sa kanyang ibang lalaki sa university nila— parang gusto ko siyang pigilan sa paggraduate." He grabbed my shirt. "What if— makahanap siya ng mas cool at gwapong lalaki sa university?"

"Hay, that's what you get if you date someone older than you."

He glared at me. "Tch. You don't get it, do you? Palibhasa kasi Aelia's always there for you kaya ka confident. You don't get anxious na baka agawin siya ng iba sayo."

Suddenly, the scene I saw inside their classroom, flashed back. I felt a little bit uneasy.

I sarcastically smiled at him. "I don't get anxious? Hah. I know we're friends. We're close and I'm aware that I'm important to her— but still, I do get jealous."

Marco laughed. "So you decided not to deny your feelings anymore?"

I glared at him. "When did I deny it? All you did was tease me. You never asked me if I like her."

"Do you like her?" Lucas asked with his grinning face.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Oho~!" Both of them shouted.

"Kailan pa?" Marco asked.

"Last year of middle school."

"Eh? So 3 years ka ng may gusto sa kanya? Yee. Kailan mo balak sabihin?"

"Ah. Next year?"

"Next year pa?!" Sigaw ni Lucas. "Tristan, if I were you, magcoconfess na ako habang maaga pa. The boys in our class were on her. Siya lang talaga tong walang idea."

He's right. But some parts of me are not confident to do that.

"Lucas. Marco. Can you help me?" I asked. And the smiles on their faces gave me a little bit of courage.

That night, I called her.

"Hey. Are you free tomorrow? Binigyan ako nina Lucas ng ticket sa Oceanarium. You want to go?"

"Ah...may farewell game kami bukas para sa mga seniors naming gagdraduate na."

"Really? So I guess, I'll just give these to someone else."

"Tree— ah— balita ko hanggang 7 pm pa naman sila open eh. Maybe— we can catch the last hour? If that's okay with you?"

I am smiling right now— no, I am too happy to just smile. I want to laugh but don't want her to think that I'm expecting her to come.

"Hm? Sigurado ka? Okay. See you at 6? Hintayin nalang kita sa gate o gusto mong sunduin na kita sa field?"

She laughed. "Sa gate nalang tayo magkita. I'll see you at 6. Thanks for inviting me, Tree."

"Yeah sure. Please wear something nice tomorrow. Ayokong magmukhang yaya yung kadate ko."

"Hoy! Grabe ka! Fine! I'll make sure that I'll make your heartthrob tomorrow. Hmph! Good night."

"Please make sure to come tomorrow, Aelia. I need to tell you something."

"Me too. Hehe. Good night, Tree."

"Good night."

I waited for hours yet she didn't show up. I was devastated. Was I indirectly rejected? Am I just a friend to you, Aelia?

I received a call from Lucas. "Tristan, nasaan ka?"

"Nasa bahay na. Aelia didn't show up, Lucas. Your plan failed. I'm sorry."

"Anong sinasabi mo?! Nanood si Shane ng baseball game at tinawagan niya ako. Bigla nalang daw nahimatay si Aelia sa bench. She's at the hospital right now."

I don't have the time to think. I ran as fast as I can, borrowed my neighbor's bike, and pedaled going to the hospital.

I saw Erika standing outside the operating room when I came.

"Erika—"

"Tristan— what are you—"

"How is she?"

She looked down. "Her condition's bad. Hindi mo ba alam ang tungkol sa sakit niya?"

Anong sakit? She's an athlete! Ano pa ba ang iba niyang problema?!

"I also just recently knew about it. She hid it from everyone. Only my parents knew."

"What are you saying?"

"We were just elementary students when her family encountered an accident. Ang sinasakyan nilang bus ay nahulog sa isang bangin. Her parents died along with other passengers. She survived but her heart was greatly affected by it.

I also just knew that she had a twin brother. And that he gave his heart to her. She was recovering well so she was allowed to play baseball. Not until recently. Her body's getting weak again.

My parents knew about her story that's why they kept on supporting her. You see now why I hate her so much? She was suffering but she's still smiling in front of everyone. Tch." 

Erika sat on a chair and quietly cried while I leaned on the wall and talked to my mom.

Mom, you know how important she is to me. Please, don't let her come there. Please, I don't know what to do if I'll lose her too. Please...mom— hindi ko pa nasasabing mahal ko siya.