TRY . jinlia

036

[ CHOI LIA'S ]

"Another semester has ended; congratulations to everyone! See you next year!" our adviser announced, earning cheers from my classmates.

I only smiled, clapping my hands as I roamed my eyes around our room. Some greeted me as I met their eyes but some didn't and it's fine.

Nag-ayos na ako ng gamit bago tumayo at nag-inat ng katawan. I sighed because of relief. Tapos na rin ang finals, next year nanaman ulit. Well, atleast we have weeks of no classes. Meaning, no stress from school.

Palabas na sana ako ng room nang may pumigil sa'kin. I turned around and saw Chaeryeong, her head down.

"Bakit?" I asked, curiosity filling my mind.

But then, bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Bakit siya nandito? Why did she stopped me? Sasabihin niya bang may narinig si Yeji tungkol doon sa gabing 'yon? Fuck.

"Lia, I'm sorry," at doon lang dahan-dahang kumalma ang puso ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit?"

I saw her playing with her fingers. "I was a bad friend to you. You know, I betrayed you. You were a good friend to me so far but I did you wrong so, I'm sorry."

Lalong kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit mo ginagawa 'to?"

Because there's no way she'll apologize to me, right? Gusto niya si Yeji and she knows Yeji hates me. So why?

I sighed mentally. Maybe mali rin naman 'tong iniisip ko. Maybe she's sincere. I will never know.

"I don't know. I just want this year to end with no bad vibes. You know what I mean," usal niya at huminga ng malalim. "I'm sorry."

I sighed. "It's fine. I forgive you, don't worry. Advance Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I gotta go," usal ko at ngumiti ng maliit bago nagmadaling umalis doon para puntahan ang mga naghihintay kong kaibigan.

I saw them with Ryujin in the middle of the hallway, talking. May mga gift bags din silang dala-dala.

I smirked at the gifts they had on their hands the moment I got to their place. "Wow. Ang dami niyo talagang admirer---"

I was cut off when two guys approached me, mukhang mga Grade 11.

"Ate, para sa'yo po," usal nung nasa unahan at naglahad ng dalawang paper bags, nahihiya pa. Ang kasama niya ay nakatago sa likuran niya, parang tuta na sumisilip saakin.

Umawang ang bunganga ko at tinuro ang sarili ko. I glanced at my two friends who were giving me a sly smirk and to Ryujin who was glaring at the two young boys.

"Ako?" tanong ko pagbalik ko ng tingin sa dalawang lalaki.

"Opo," nahihiya nilang sagot.

"Kunin mo na, Li! Kanina pa 'yan naghihintay sa'yo!" si Aecha, nang-aasar.

Hindi ko naman siya pinansin at inabot na nga yung dalawang paper bags. "Ah, hehe. Thank you. Pasensya na, wala akong regalo para sainyo," usal ko habang mahigpit na hinawakan ang dalawang paper bag.