When the Sun Rises

9

"How are you?" Tanong niya habang nakatingin sa akin na humihigop ng mushroom soup.

Nasa KFC kami ngayon ni Bruce, he texted me he wanted to meet me here and have lunch. Matagal tagal pa naman next class ko kaya nakipagkita na rin ako.

And, I miss him. It's been like 3 weeks since I last saw him.

"Good." Tipid kong sagot as I was playing with the mushrooms in the soup.

"Good? Wala kang kwento or anything?" Tiningnan ko naman siya and he had an eyebrow raised. I gave him a small smile, "Nothing extraordinary happens when you're not around."

"How was the dinner? Hindi mo yun na kwinento." I asked.

"Kelangan mo ba talaga malaman yun?" He scoffed. I nodded, "Yeah. All you talk about on the phone is work pero hindi mo na kwento sa akin kung ano nangyari sa dinner niyo."

Bakit ba gustong gusto ko saktan sarili ko? My curiousity would kill me more though. I..wanted to know.

"It was just a dinner, Aine." Sabi niya at umiwas ng tingin.

"Can I see her face?"

His gaze shifted to me, I saw shock and displease in his expression. I gave him an apologetic smile and shrugged. "Nevermind."

"Bakit ba kasi tanong ng tanong ka about the dinner? Are you jealous?" Sabi niya with a hint of irritation in his voice. I was taken aback because of his question. Binaba ko ang aking utensils at sumandal sa aking upuan, I crossed my arms and looked at him.

I had to compose myself. "Wtf? No." I rolled my eyes. I am jealous..very much to be exact, thank you Sir!

"Bakit naman ako mag seselos? Tayo ba?" I scoffed.

"Exactly."

I stood up and took my bag. I glanced at him, "Thanks for the lunch." I blankly said and left.

Nagmadali akong pumunta pabalik sa school because I felt my tears forming in my eyes, I tried my hardest to not let it fall.

He didn't chase after me, why would he even right?

I immediately closed the bathroom door and sat on the bowl. Hindi ko na napigilan umiyak, tuloy tuloy ang daloy ng luha mula sa aking mga mata. Naramdaman ko rin ang pagsikip ng aking dibdib. Tumingala ako sa dingding trying to properly trace my thoughts because it was all over the place.

Alam ko namang hindi kami eh. Tanggap ko 'yon pero bakit ako nagkakaganito? Dahil mahal ko siya? Puta, ang tanga ko talaga.

Bakit ko rin naman kasi tinanong 'yon?Parang hindi pa sapat yung sakit na dinadama ko ah. Talagang dinagdagan ko pa.

So what if his and Serena's family had dinner diba? It was only a dinner, for Christ's sake! Bakit ko pa kasi pinagpilitan na tanungin?

I mockingly laughed at myself as I was wiping away tears from my face. I took a deep breath before going out of the bathroom stall. Buti nalang ay walang ibang tao dito dahil nakakahiya makita na ganito itsura ko.

Pumunta ako sa sink at hinugasan ang aking mukha. I'll just re-do my make up. I looked at my face in the mirror, I looked pathetic. My eyes were puffy, my nose and cheeks were red.

I re-did my make up as best as I can so I wouldn't look like I just came from crying. I fixed my hair and tied it into a messy bun.

Pumunta na ako ng classroom and Nikka was already there. I sat beside her.

"Are you okay?" She said in a soft voice. I looked at her and nodded. She suddenly hugged me and caressed my back lightly. Naluluha nanaman ako pero pinigilan ko ito dahil maraming tao sa paligid ko.