Underneath the Fleeting Clouds (Completed)

Chapter 6

"Ay ganda ng ngiti beh! Jowa mo na si Elon?" I almost choked while sipping my grape juice because of Bry's sudden question.

Si Elon? Boyfriend? No way!

"Loka! He's not my boyfriend." I denied immediately. I may sound guilty but atleast I know the truth myself.

Iniisip ko pa lang, mukhang imposible na kaagad ang sinasabi niya. If ever man na gusto nga ako ni Elon, alam ko naman na hindi siya handa sa pakikipagrelasyon. He has many issues that involves his family. Plus, he has personal problems that I think he wants to focus more on to. And besides, hindi rin naman ako handa sa mga ganoong klaseng bagay. I still have my responsibilities. Just like him, I still want to pursue many things, too.

"Ay kaya pala" mahina niyang bulong na narinig ko naman.

"Kaya pala ano?" Takhang tanong ko. Don't tell me?

"Kaya pala may kasama si Elon kanina na ibang girl." Disappointment was written on her face. "Haist. Akala ko pa naman ikaw na ang nakabingwit sa puso ni bebe Elon, iba pala."

Iba pala?

Ibig bang sabihin may girlfriend na siya?

Tss. Akala ko ba ay gusto niyang maayos ang gusot nila ng pamilya niya? Eh bakit ngayon ay lumalandi siya?

My mood immediately shifted after that conversation with Bry. I was so happy earlier because I couldn't stop thinking about Lucius. He agreed to what I suggested last Saturday. I was in a good mood the whole weekend that's why I never expected it to pop like a soap bubble in midair.

I took my afternoon classes that day without seeing and talking to Elon. We don't have class on the same subject kaya nawalan na ako nang oportunidad na makausap siya. Isa pa, ayoko rin muna soyang makita. Just the mere thought of him chilling and having fun after his fight with his parents makes my heart race in anger. He asked me for an advice and now what? He's turning it into waste.

"Alliyah, sabay na tayo?" I was busy fixing my stuffs inside my bag when MaRi approached me.

"Sabay? 'Diba out of the way ka? And si Rommel, hindi ba kayo ang palaging sabay umuuwi?"

Napairap ito sa hangin, "Well, hindi kami magsasabay ngayon ni Rommel. May party daw siyang pupuntahan. Elon invited him kaya hindi siya nakatanggi. Isa pa, may pinapakuha rin sa akin si Mama kila Tita."

I was bothered with the idea of Elon and Rommel going out to party. Wala naman kaming exams and quizzes bukas pero hindi ko lubos maisip na mas gusto niya pang igugol ang oras niya para magliwaliw na palagi niya namang ginagawa kaysa magfocus na lang sa pag-aaral. Ni hindi man lang yata siya nabo-bother sa mga taong inubos niya sa pagpapabalik-balik sa college sa parehong kurso.

Gaya ng nagpag-usapan, sabay kaming umuwi ni MaRi. It's almost past seven in the evening so we decided to eat dinner outside. Coincidentally, it's my first friendly date with her kaya naman sinubukan kong alisin sa isipan ko ang mga bagay na bumabagabag sa akin tungkol kay Elon.

We ate in a famous eatery inside the town called Loleng's Hu-Tieu-an. They serve vietnamese food called Hu-Tieu and Báhn mì which I really enjoyed because of the cold and drizzly weather.

"Let's go?" MaRi asked when I received my take-out. Tumango naman ako at kaagad na sumunod sa kaniya palabas.

"Mukhang lalakas pa yung ambon? May payong ka ba?" Medyo nag-aalalang tanong ko nang makitang hindi pa tumitigil ang pag-ambon. She's wearing a hoodie pero kung lumakas man nga ang ulan, sigurado akong mababasa siya.

"Meron naman, girl. Saka malapit na lang naman yung sakayan." Nagsimula siyang halungkatin ang bag niya.

Pinanood ko siya sa kaniyang ginagawa at nang mailabas niya ang kaniyang payong ay nagpaalam na kaming dalawa sa isa't-isa. Kumaway ako nang dumaan ang tricycle niya sa harapan ko bago nagsimulang maglakad pauwi.