Beyond Lies

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Bothered

When I'm bothered with something, ginagawa ko talaga ang lahat upang mawala ito. Just like with Rica, ginawa ko naman na ang lahat ng makakaya ko upang maging close ulit kami. I approached her, talked to her, smiled at her, but she's the who's stopping me. Siya yung may ayaw. Up until now, I'm still bothered by her coldness. Just like Terron.

Yes, we're not really close, we're not even friends. But the fact that, he once talked to me and ignored me afterwards is already something.

He is Jairre's friend, and I'm Jairre's girlfriend now, so I think I deserve a welcome from him, right? Like, he should show to me that he likes me for his friend? Oh wait. Baka nga hindi niya ako gusto para kay Jairre?

But the only way for me to answer my own question, is to ask him.

Pabalik na kami sa building at ihahatid ulit ako nila Jairre.

"Love, nabusog ka ba?"

"Oo naman," ngumiti ako sakanya.

"That's good. But next time, you should eat more, okay? Para magkalaman ka naman," sabay tawa niya ng malakas.

I know he meant it as a joke but I can't help to get insulted. I slowed down because of that, ramdam na ramdam ko na naman yung insecurities ko. I mean, I'm not totally skinny. May laman din naman ako pero hindi nga lang talaga mataba. Their words caused my insecurities, may mga nagsasabi kasi na para daw akong kawayan. Mataas ang height pero payat. Though some said that I'm sexy pero mas marami pa rin ang nagsasabi na ang payat payat ko.

Jairre noticed my reaction so he stopped.

"Hey. I was just joking."

"Yeah. It''s okay," matamlay ko pa ring sagot.

I didn't look at him at nakayuko lang ako.

"Come on. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Jairre. Let's keep going?"

Sagot ko sakanya at nauna ng maglakad. Nauna na sa'min ng kaonti yung mga barkada niya.

I heard him groaned.

"Marie."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad ng hinawakan niya ang mga braso ko at ipinaharap ako sa kanya.

Humarap naman ako ngunit nakayuko pa rin.

I heard him sighed in frustration.

"Ugh! What should I do with this?"

He whispered that to himself but since malapit lang ako sa kanya, rinig na rinig ko ang sinabi niya.

He really is frustrated. Is it because of what I acted? I smiled a little.

Hinawakan niya ang baba ko at maingat na inangat para matingnan ko siya. "Marie... I'm sorry if I said that, okay? I didn't mean it. I'm sorry," masuyo niyang sabi.

Napanguso ako, trying to hide my smile.

Hindi naman sa nag-iinarte lang ako pero totoong nainsulto talaga ako sa sinabi niya. But the way he said that he's sorry made my insecurity fade instantly. But I will not tell that to him.

"Jairre, it's okay. It's just my insecurities. But really, it's alright."

Pag-amin ko. Hindi naman talaga ako madaling nasasaktan sa mga salitang ganon but it came from him.

I smiled at him to show that it's really fine. But of course, it's fake, I'm not sure if he would notice it though.

He sighed. "Marie, I love you with that body. Please stop being insecure, okay? Because in my eyes, you're gorgeous and sexy."

He smiled at me sexily.

This time, I couldn't help myself but to smile widely. I felt my cheeks heated. He's just so good in using words.

"Tss. Bolero," sabay irap ko sa kanya.

Tumawa naman siya. "Bolero nga pero kinilig ka naman."

"Tse. Dyan ka na nga!"

Tumalikod ako sa kanya habang tumatawa siyang nakasunod sa'kin. Nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad. When we're halfway, bigla nalang tumigil si Terron sa paglalakad at kinausap si Lerry at Oliver. Hindi namin naririnig ang usapan nila kasi medyo malayo na sila. Bigla nalang lumiko sa right side si Terron. Saan papunta yun?

"Saan daw?" Tanong ni Jairre sa kanila.

"Ah, sa Library daw, bro," si Lerry ang sumagot.

Walang napag-iiwanan sa barkada nila, silang lahat ay may itsura. Lahat gwapo. Lerry has this play boy aura, mahahalata mo talagang matinik siya sa chicks. Oliver has that aura, too pero tingin ko mas  grabe nga lang si Lerry sa kanya. Lahat din sila, may bad boy aura. Well, except for Terron na may maamong mukha minsan na animo'y nadamay lang sa barkadahan nila pero hindi maitatangging gwapo rin siya, only that he's more serious among the four of them.

"Tss. Hindi man lang nagpaalam, ah."

Si Jairre? Siya ata yung leader nila sa pagiging playboy. Well, yun ang sabi nila.

Pinapanood namin si Terron habang papasok sa library. The library is located at the right wing, same with the Business Management and Engineering building. Yung building naman namin ay nasa left wing, together with the Hotel Management and Education building. Nasa gitna naman matatagpuan ang gym sa school at iba pang buildings ng ibang department.

"Hayaan mo na, galit pa, eh. Lilipas din yun," this time, si Oliver naman ang sumagot.

Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Bakit siya galit? May away ba kayo?"

Lerry and Oliver looked away so I turn my gaze to Jairre to confirm it but he also looked away.

"Tungkol ba 'to sa kanina, Jairre?"

Hindi pa rin niya ako sinagot at nakatingin lang sa malayo.

"Alam niyo, hindi maganda ang pag-aaway sa barkada. If you have time, fix it as soon as possible kasi habang tumatagal mas lalong magkakalamat at mahirap ng ayusin. Sayang kung sakali," I'm trying to lecture them.

Both Lerry and Oliver looked away again while Jairre's dark eyes pierced into mine.

"Pwede ba, Marie. Stop meddling! It's none of your business."

His brows are furrowed.

What? Bakit parang galit siya? Bakit naman siya magagalit? I'm just stating fact here and that fact is based on my experience with Rica.

"Jairre, malalaki na kayo-"

"Pwede ba! I'm not up for a lecture right now. Bro, tara na nga!"

Inis na inis niyang sabi na para bang naputol ko na ang gahibla niyang pasensya.

He dragged Lerry and Oliver with him. Ni hindi sila nakapagpaalam sa'kin.

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya kaya hindi ko na sila napigilan sa pag-alis. What did I do? What's with his sudden outburst? I'm just trying to save their friendship here. Bakit parang nairita siya masyado? Bakit parang ako pa yung may kasalanan? Ayaw niya bang magkaayos sila?

I was about to follow them when I realized something. Maybe it's best to give him time, right? Baka kung kakausapin ko pa siya, mapupunta lang sa away ang pag-uusap namin. Ayaw ko ng ganon. Petty fights are not good for relationships lalong-lalo na sa'min kasi bago pa.

Tinanaw ko nalang sila. I continued walking to my building. Malapit na rin kasi magsimula ang klase ko.

I sighed. Dinagdagan pa talaga ni Jairre ang mga iniisip ko.