A Change of Heart

VIII

"Finally! Why aren't you answering my calls?" may halong pagaalalang tanong ni Alvin.

"Hello din sayo. Grabe naman hindi ko lang nasagot ang 8 missed calls mo," sagot ni Jane ng medyo natatawa.

"Hindi nakakatawa ha? I was really worried. Kahit si Noemi hindi sinasagot tawag ko. Akala ko na kung ano nangyari," sabi ni Alvin.

"We're fine… Wag kana magalit diyan. Andito kami sa Couture Shop kasama si CJ," sagot ni Jane, trying to appease Alvin.

"CJ? CJ who? Saka ano ginagawa niyo diyan?" tanong ni Alvin.

"CJ Ruiz. Remember him? Rookie siya sa varsity nung senior ka. We're looking for prom clothes."

"Aaaaah. That guy. Eh bakit kasama niyo siya? He needs help choosing for a ball gown?" Alvin said sarcastically.

"Hey don't start! He's here kasi he's my prom date and he wants na may theme ang suot namin kaya sabay na kami pipili," Jane explained.

"That guy!!" napasigaw si Alvin sa other line kaya naman inilayo ni Jane yung phone sa tenga niya.

"Bakit ganyan ang reaction mo? He seems to be a nice guy. Unlike sa ibang naginvite siya nageffort." Jane said trying to defend CJ to Alvin. Hindi niya maintindihan why he sounded disappointed ng malaman niya na si CJ ang napili niyang partner.

"Hindi ako komportable sa kanya. Why you didn't tell me about prom?" tanong ni Alvin.

"I tried to pero busy ka lagi sa school and ball practice mo. And besides you were hogging most of our 'short conversations' talking about your new friends and Johna," sabi ni Jane na may halong pagtatampo.

"No. I didn't.  Saka I don't always talk about them especially Johna. I told you I just met her because of Kiv," Alvin tried to reason out.

"Fine.,” Jane breathed out. “So yun nga I don't what to bore you with my prom and HS stories since your university stories are more exciting."

"Uy...are you jealous of my friends?" Alvin asked in an amused voice.

"Of course not! What a crazy idea!" sabi ni Jane. She was about to banter her come back when someone knocked on the door.

"Jane?" It was CJ. "Matagal ka pa? Sabi ni Tito you still have to try the pink gown."

"Yes, sunod ako," sagot ni Jane.

Alvin heard CJ's voice and couldn't help but be more annoyed and made him remember ano ba ang issue nila kanina.

"Hello, bye n..” Jane said.

"Let him wait. We are talking about something important here," putol ni Alvin sa sasabihin ni Jane. He wants to settle things first bago pa nila ibaba ang phone.

"Al you're being impossible alam mo yun. What do you want now?" sagot ni Jane na unti unti na naiinis.

"Going back to our topic. I want you to tell CJ na hindi na siya ang partner mo," Alvin told her seriously.

"Joke ba to? Bakit ko naman gagawin yun?" now it was Jane's turn to be amused.

"Jane, trust me. Iba nalang ang prom date mo. Wag lang yan. Hindi makakapagkatiwalaan yan."

"Grabe ka naman. Sabi ni CJ hindi naman kayo gaano nagkakausap dati ah. So why are saying na di siya makakapagkatiwalaan di mo naman pala siya kilala? And besides, I think I can tell if a guy is good or not once nakasama ko na siya, " Jane tried to reason out.