Sunken Promises

Kabanata 5

"I like you too, Lyzel," pag-amin ni Keith sa harapan naming tatlo.

We decided to celebrate Christmas together during our break.  We booked a flight to Iloilo and also looked for a place to stay. Luckily, pinayagan ako ni Dad dahil college naman na raw ako. Wala rin si Mom noong nagpaalam ako kaya walang tumutol. 

Si Russel at Hazel lang ang wala rito ngayon. They decided to celebrate together. Naging sila last month pero hindi na rin ako nagulat. It was obvious that something was going on between them. Nakakatampo nga lang na hindi sumama si Hazel sa'min. It's alright though. I just asked her to update me from time to time.

Oh, and I confessed to Keith last month too. Umiwas siya sa akin dahil doon. Naging madalang din ang pag-sama ko sa grupo nila. It was so awkward so I also avoided him. Napilit lang ako ni Arius na sumama. He was so persistent. Ginawa niya talaga ang lahat para mapapayag ako. He probably knew about this.

"Aray!" Aiden dramatically held his chest and looked at Arius. Napatingin na lang din ako sa kaniya.

Padabog itong tumayo at lumabas ng nirentahan namin. Aiden panicked before following him. Keith and I were both confused of their reaction. It was like an inside joke they shared, except, it's not a joke. It seems pretty serious.

"Hala, shit!" Aiden grabbed his wallet on the coffee table before following Arius. "Kuya, hintayin mo'ko!"

Nang makalabas na sila parehas ay bumaling ako ulit kay Keith.

"Talaga?" I confirmed. It feels too surreal. "Is that a dare?"

Umiling siya at walang anu-ano'y niyakap ko siya. He hugged me back and we stayed like that for a while.

Gabi na nang makauwi sina Arius at Aiden. Keith was already asleep and I was watching a chick flick on Netflix. I swiftly paused the film and ran to the door to open it for them.

"Sa'n kayo nanggali-" I stopped when Arius looked at me with a hurt expression.

Hala? What did I do? May nagawa ba ako sa kaniya?

Dire-diretso itong umakyat papunta siguro sa kwarto niya. Aiden, however, stayed where he is and took off his shoes.

"Anong nangyari d'on?" I asked him.

"Ah wala 'yon. Bobo kasi 'yan si Kuya e. Napakatorpe! Kaya ayan, sawi," he stood up. "Sige na, susundan ko na si Kuya d'on. Mahirap na, baka bigla na lang magbigti 'yon."

Aiden also ran upstairs. Out of curiosity, I followed him. I feel so left out. Parang silang tatlo lang nila Russ ang nagkakaintindihan. Besides, gusto ko rin malaman kung bakit ganoon ang inasal ni Arius kanina.

"Panira naman kasi 'yung gagong 'yun e!" rinig kong sigaw ni Arius. Nakasarado ang pinto ngunit hindi naman soundproof ang mga kwarto rito kaya naririnig ko sila.

"Uy, hala! Kuya, kalma. Huwag mong ibato 'yung Nintendo ko, please," pagsusumamo ni Aiden.

"Ayun na Aiden e! Aamin na sana ako bukas pero tangina! B-Bakit... gan-ito?" his voice cracked.

When I realized that it was probably something really serious, I went downstairs to finish the Netflix film I was watching earlier. Arius never cried. At least that's what I see. Tuwing magkasama kami ay lagi naman siyang nakangiti. Hindi ko alam kung gaano kalala ang nangyari para umiyak siya. I want to be there for him but I know that privacy would be the best thing that I can give him right now.

"Andrick!" I exclaimed when I saw him leaning on his car.

Kakalapag lang namin ni Aiden sa Loakan Airport ngayon. Kami ang nagsabay dahil nauna na si Arius at Keith. May aasikasuhin pa raw silang thesis at magkagrupo sila roon. Kung tama ang naaalala ko ay group meeting ang dahilan ng maaga nilang paglipad mulang Iloilo.