Parted Ways

CHAPTER THREE

I woke up with a smile. I excitedly prepared for school.

"This is my first time what should I use." I said to myself looking at the three different shade of lippies in my vanity table.

I decided to use the baby pink lippie, got some powder and sprayed my Burberry perfume.

"Anak, let's go?" dad asked going inside my room, looking so amused. "You look different today, did something happened yesterday?"

"Dad, I jus-" he cut me off.

"No need to explain anak, I know you're now turning into a young lady." he said and pulled me off to give me a kiss on top of my head.

I mentally laughed, ano bang sinasabi ni Daddy eh naglagay lang naman ako ng lippie? But there's a thought that it's really more than trying this for the first time.

We went downstairs and I gave her a kiss on her cheek as soon as I reached her. Mom didn't asked a question regarding my new look for today because she's the one who gave me those.

She kissed me back and sweetly bid her goodbye after we ate breakfast. "Take care, anak, Hon. I love you both." Then she kissed dad before letting us go.

School is only 10 minutes away from our home.

"Bye Dad, I love you." I said and kissed him by his cheek.

He went to our car and opened the window before waving and driving away.

I walked with full and bright smile. Oh, what a great day!

Bago pa ako lumiko narinig ko na ang isang boses.

"Aru! Eto na iyong kay Asher oh. Pwede bang ako nalang magbigay?" she asked with puppy eyes.

"Sure!" then we walked together.

Feel na feel ko talaga today.

"Aruu!!!" tili ni Farah isang hakbang bago pa lamang ako makapasok sa room.

Napatingin silang lahat sa akin habang may bahid ng kamanghaan sa kanilang mga mata. Ngumiti ako at pinasadahan ng tingin lahat ng naroon ngunit nawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi nang makita ko ang dahilan ng pagbabagong anyo kong ito.

I saw Caden, intently looking to the person behind me. I saw a glimpse of adoration in his eyes but immediately faded away. He turned his attention back to the book that was on his table. He didn't even bothered to look at me!

Biglang nasira ang timpla ko ngayong araw.

Masyado akong umasa na mapatapos ng nangyari kahapon ay mapapansin na niya ako, hindi pala. May natuklasan pa akong mas lalong nagpasakit ng damdamin ko. He adores Kara, that's for sure. Maybe he doesn't want to be linked to someone kaya he's keeping it to himself.

I walked through my chair pero bago pa ako makaupo ay may dumagdag na naman sa panira ng araw ko.

"Good morning, beautiful." he said in a low tone.

"Tigilan mo ako ang aga-aga. Nandoon kay Kara 'yung pinagawa mo." I said dismissively.

I never turned my eyes on him.

"Kaya pala pinasa mo sa kaniya kasi mas inuna mo iyong pabor ng iba."

Napaawang ang aking mga lahi at pagkalingon ko ay naroon na siya sa upuan ni Kara.

"Salamat. Buti ka pa maaasahan. I owe you one." he said and started to walk away.

Farah walked towards me. "Hmm okay na rin siguro, hindi ka naman blinackmail. Titigilan ka na rin siguro."

Hindi na ako umimik kaya naman bumalik na rin siya sa kaniyang upuan.

Mabilis lang ang naging takbo ng oras. Tumunganga lang ako sa buong pang-umagang klase.

"Aru, tara na sa cafeteria." bulong ni Farah.

Tumayo ako na parang robot, walang kagana-gana at nagsimula nang maglakad.

"Ano ba 'yan naiinis na ako sayo ha! Ano ba ang problema mo?" sigaw niya sa'kin.

"Sorry, masama lang ang pakiramdam ko."

"Is it about Asher? Don't tell me bothered ka sa nangyari kanina?" she curiously asked.

"Yes I'm bothered about what happened kanina. It's not about Asher, tho."

"Then what?"

Tumigil ako sandali upang ipakita sa kaniya ang aking mga labi at bumalik rin agad sa paglalakad.

"As you can see I am using a lippi-"

"Oh yas! Looks good on you! Hindi ko nga napuri agad kasi naman ganiyan ka!" nanlaki ang mga mata niya at sinabing "Kaya ka ba gan'yan kasi hindi napansin ni Asher!?" she scandalously asked. Buti nalang nandito na kami sa part na walang tao.

"What the hell, Farah?" I can't believe she just said that.

"Just kidding. So you used a lippie for a certain person para magpaganda pero hindi niya napansin? Tell me, is it Caden?" she asked in an amused tone.

"Of course, kanino pa ba?" I sighed.

She laughed. "Humingi lang ng tulong sa'yo akala mo papansinin ka niya ulit?"

"Alam mo bang lahat ng kaklase natin nahingan na niya ng tulong at tayo nalang ang hindi? I mean not all kasi 'di ba ayaw niyang lapitan lahat ng malapit kay Asher? So I also wonder kung bakit siya humingi ng tulong sa'yo eh kay Asher ka naman?" sabi niya habang kunwari ay nag-iisip ng malalim.

"What? I don't like your last words. I'm not Asher's something and I won't turn into one." I glared at her.

"Chill! My fault, I used the wrong words." tatawa-tawang sabi niya sabay taas ng kamay.

Pagkarating namin ay pumila na ako agad para maiwasan na ang topic na iyon.

We sat just beside Caden's table. Kahit ayaw ko muna sana siyang makita, wala ng ibang vacant table eh.

"Hindi pa tayo tapos, Solhera." may pagbabantang sabi ni Farah.

Inirapan ko nalang siya. Ewan ko pero ayaw ko talagang tinatawag sa pangalan na iyon. Gusto ko ako lang ang tumatawag sa sarili ko ng ganoon. But when Caden called me that way, kinilig naman ako imbes na mainis. I shook my head. Stop with Caden things, Aruzel.

Mabilis kong inubos ang aking pagkain dahil ayaw ko nang magtagal sa tabi nila.

"Gutom na gutom." she whispered pero rinig na rinig ko. Bahagya akong namula paano nalang kung narinig nila iyon? Bruhang 'to talaga.

Ilalagay ko na sana ang earphone ko nang biglang,

"Aruzel, ang bilis mo naman yatang kumain?" tanong ni Aki, kaibigan ni Caden.

Napabaling ako sa kanila at hindi alam ang sasabihin.

"Wala kasi akong gan-, I mean wala ako sa mood tama tama." napapikit nalang ako sa kahihiyan.

"Okay lang maganda ka parin naman hahaha! Nice lippie by the way." he said and then winked at me.

Pasasalamatan ko sana siya kung hindi lang sa kahihiyan na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

I just smiled shyly and bit my lip afterwards.

Tumikhim ang katabi ni Caden kaya naman kinuha ko na ang pagkakataon na iyon upang masilayan ko siya. He's just there eating peacefully na parang walang pakialam sa nangyayari sa paligid niya.

I felt a sting in my chest.

Nakakainis ka na, Caden! Pero hinding-hindi kita susukuan!

Pagkatapos ng klase ay nagmadali akong lumabas.

Pagkarating ko sa aking kwarto, inilabas ko agad ang pangalawang best friend ko.

Dear Diary,

I already decided, kahit nalaman ko na may ibang gusto si Caden, itutuloy ko ang paghanga ko sa kaniya. Time will come and it will change the score between us.

- Solhera.