"Paki-explain 'to Geniece," she said, looking at me straight in the eye. Umawang naman agad ang bibig ko sa aking nakita. A picture of Veign and I last Saturday when we were falling in line for the movie tickets.
We were smiling like idiots, my waist was surrounded by Veign's right arm as if he was securing me. My head was also resting on his shoulder animo'y komportableng-komportable talaga ako.
"What's there to explain?" I asked calmly, eyeing Joella seriously.
I tried to restrain myself from snapping at her. Their reactions are very confusing. Anong akala nila sa sarili nila? Mga magulang ko?
"Anong meron sa inyo ni Kuya Veign?" Elwin asked, breaking the ice between the group and I.
"We're good friends. Do you guys have a problem with that?" I asked again, raising my brow at them.
They were all so serious. I can really feel the tension that was surrounding us. Confusion also started to rise from me. I definitely don't know why they're acting like this.
Joella then spoke up, "Stay away f-from him Gen," she said. My brows furrowed when I heard her stutter.
"And why would I do that?" Nanghahamon na tanong ko sakanya.
She looked away, avoiding eye contact, "H-he's a p-playboy," she said, "He broke many girls' hearts," she added in a as-a-matter-of-fact tone.
I snickered. It wasn't impossible that Veign was a playboy, but I trust him enough to know that he just wasn't, "So what? I'm not dating him or anything," sabi ko na lang.
"Geniece has a point, Joe. Wag mo nang ipagkait sa kanya si Kuya Veign," Marcella interrupted.
"No!" Joe shouted, making the rest of us look at her questioningly, "J-just stop hanging out w-with him Genie–"
"Pahiram! Thanks!" A familiar voice pulled me out of the group, making Joella stop talking.
"What are you doing?" I asked as he started dragging me out of the canteen.
"Anong bang problema nila sa'tin?" Veign asked as he continued to drag me far from the group.
"You heard?" I asked him.
He nodded, stopping his tracks in the middle of the field, "They're making you avoid me."
"How much have you heard?" Pang-uusisa ko pa.
"Just that part wherein that friend of yours started to throw a temper tantrum. Was she forcing you to avoid me?" He asked, worry was evident in his eyes.
I sighed and nodded, "But don't worry. I'll never do that."
He blew a sigh of relief and hugged me tight, "Thank you, Genie," sabi nya habang sinisiksik nya ang kanyang mukha sa leeg ko.
***
"Can we talk?"
I mentally rolled my eyes when I heard her voice behind me.
"What do you want now?" I asked? More like snapped.
"Geniece just listen to me," pagsusumamo ni Joella sa akin.
"Oh come on Joe! Stop playing innocent here! I know that there's a deeper reason why you want me to avoid him! You're acting like a piece of shit!" I screamed. My lips started to quiver and guilt was enveloping me.
I ran just before she could open her mouth again. The whole day I've been avoiding her and the group just so they could stop interrogating me.
I ran to the main gate but I made a complete halt when I heard my phone ringing. My heart clenched when I knew who the caller was. I wanted to answer, but for our sake. I had to restrain myself.
