The Gap Between Us (SSG SERIES #1)

Chapter 40: I think

Eliezer's

"Eli, 'di mo na crush si Natalia?" tanong ni Stacey nang kami lang ang mag kasama dahil kasama ni Win si Coleen. They've been pretty close since I don't know when. Nagulat nalang ako at sabay na silang umuuwi at kumakain. I don't wanna admit it, but I kinda feel left out.

"Hindi na. Bakit?" tanong ko.

Tumangu-tango siya.

"That's good. Mukhang masaya na siya kay Nikko, e."

I know that. I decided to stop liking her the day I spoke to Nikko. Mukha namang maayos at desenteng tao ang isang 'yun. Matagal tagal na rin sila, kaya pinag kakatiwalaan ko siya para kay Natalia.

"Wala nanaman si Coleen," pag iiba ko ng topic. Medyo awkward pala pag kami lang dalawa ang nag uusap.

She sighed. "Kaya nga. Abuso na 'yang si Win ah. Char!"

Natawa ako at umiling. Kailan pa kaya naging close ang dalawang 'yon at bakit wala akong alam?

"You know, Eliezer, I noticed something.."

Nag taas ako ng kilay. "Ano 'yun?"

Tumingin muna siya sa paligid para tignan kung may makakarinig ba sa usapan namin. Nang makasigurado ay lumapit siya sa akin at bumulong.

"I think Coleen likes someone,"

I flinched.

I've never thought of it. Coleen liking someone has never crossed my mind. Sino kaya? It could be Win, or it could be anyone in this room. I'm curious.

"Sino sa tingin mo?" tanong ko. Nag kibit balikat siya at umiling.

"Ikaw, sino sa tingin mo?" tanong niya pabalik.

Umiling din ako. Wala akong idea. We should ask Coleen directly. I tried reaching out to her, pero sa tuwing lalapitan ko siya ay tinatangay siya ni Win palayo. My curiosity grew bigger. I think it's unfair to keep secrets between friends.

I gave up eventually. Malalaman ko rin at sasabihin niya rin sa'min. That's what I thought. But somehow, I felt like Coleen is being distant. O ako lang ang nakakaramdam? Hindi na kami sabay umuwi gaya ng dati, infact, si Win na ang kasabay niyang umuwi.

Lagi nalang si Win.

Minsan ay nahuli ko silang dalawang nag kaka-tinginan sa loob ng room tuwing self study. Something's up. I can feel it. When I finally got the chance to ask Coleen to walk home, Win got in the way again. Seriously? Ngayon na nga lang, e

Tomorrow, for sure.

Tomorrow came in an instant. Tapos na ang exams, nag pasiya kaming mag celebrate. I insisted on bringing Win along.

"Isasama mo 'yan?!" pag rereact ni Coleen.

What? I thought something's up? Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari? Do they hate each other or it's the other way around?

When I asked her if they're together, she reacted as if it was impossible. Ofcourse, I didn't trust that easily. Then I asked Win, I got the same answer, so they really aren't together.

I was gonna leave things as it is, hindi naman pala sila. Hahayaan ko na. But then, when Win said;

"Why? You're jealous?"

I immediately thought, jealous of what?

I'm jealous of what? Of them? Bakit? Kaibigan ko silang dalawa? There's no way? Right? I think.