A Fool For Him

31 - Tension between us

Hindi kami nagkibuan ni Zero buong klase. Lunch break na ngayon at kasama ko ang mga barkada ko featuring Zero.

He was sat on the other side of the table with Ashe and Laynard while Lyn, Kairyl, and I sat on the opposite side.

Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya ba nilang pagtapatin kaming dalawa ni Zero o ano.

Tahimik lang kaming kumakain. I felt my friends' gaze on me. Liningon ko sila at agad naman silang umiwas ng tingin.

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagkain ko nang maramdaman kong may tumitingin sa'kin. It wasn't from my friends. I tilted my head up and caught Zero's cold eyes on me.

Hindi ko maiwasang masaktan sa tinatrato niya sa'kin ngayon. It's as if we're strangers.

Naudlot ang staring game namin nang mag-ring ang cellphone ko. Kinuha ko ito at nakitang tumatawag si Jason. I smiled and answered the call.

"What do you want, Jason?" I asked.

"Ay? Galit?"

I chuckled. "Hindi ako galit 'no! Ba't ka nga ba napatawag?"

"Samahan mo 'ko mamaya sa mall. This is a command!"

"Mall? Mamaya? Bakit?"

"Basta. It's important. Kita-kits nalang tayo sa mall mamayang 6 pm. Don't be late! Bye!"

The other line went dead before I was about to protest. Langya ka, Jason. Kakatayin talaga kita mamaya.

I sighed. "Guys—" natigilan ako nang makita kong nakatingin silang lahat sa'kin.

"Hoy! Okay lang kayo?" tanong ko. Ang weird. Para akong artista na pinagmamasdan nila.

"Sino si Jason?" tanong ni Lyn.

"Oh. I forgot to mention him to you, guys. He's my friend." I answered that made Zero scoff.

Nagkatinginan naman kaming lahat sa kanya. Ang sama niya namang makatingin sa'kin. "Friend? Who dates a friend?"

Just keep your cool, Niui. Breathe.

"Okay. Since you keep on insisting that Jason and I dated last night kahit na nagdinner lang kami as a friend, sige go. Nag-date nga kami. Isipin mo na kung anong gusto mong isipin. Wala na akong pakialam."

He smirked. "Hindi lang kita nailabas sa date, naghanap ka na ng iba. Anong klase."

"And now you're telling me I cheated on you? Sige nga, Zero. Sino mas nangaliwa sa'tin? Ha? Diba ikaw? Diyan sa malandi mong Jied? Tangina mo, Zero. Hindi mo lang ako tinawag na cheap, cheater pa!" I yelled. I was now panting hard. I have never felt so much pain before in my entire life.

He looked taken aback at what I said and for a moment there, I saw his eyes softened.

"Guys, that's enough." saway ni Ashe.

"Zero! Grabe na 'yan, dude!" sigaw ni Laynard.

"Grabe? She deserves it." he said sternly, looking at me.

"I said that's enough!" Ashe boomed.

I couldn't hold my tears any longer. It just flowed out of my eyes. Bakit pagdating kay Zero iyakin ako?

"Niui..." Kairyl soothed.

"Putang ina mo, Zero." I said between sobs. Kinuha ko ang bag ko at tumakbo palabas ng Canteen. Dumeretso ako sa CR at pumasok sa isang cubicle. Doon ako umiyak nang umiyak.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at dinial ang isang number. Sana sagutin niya 'to kahit ngayon lang. I just need him right now.

I was glad when he answered the call. I was keeping the sobs, but I couldn't hold it anymore.