PAULIT-ULIT kong pinipilit na huwag alalahanin ang nakita ko kanina habang kumakain kami ng dinner sa isang resto rito. The images replayed in my mind, making me feel nauseous and disoriented. Everything seemed so chaotic.
He looked at me earlier. I swear his eyes met mine. Pero parang binaliwala niya lang ang presensya ko. Bakit? Did he already forget what he did to me? So he's just living his life the best right now? Okay, fine. Good for him. Ako rin naman.
I took a bite of my steak salad, trying to distract myself. Beside me, Ashley was still busy taking pictures of her chicken lollipops. Suddenly, my thoughts remembered Kenzo. I facepalmed in frustration. Dapat ko nga pala siyang tawagan pagkadating ko rito.
Kinapa-kapa ko ang bulsa ko, pero naalala kong iniwan ko nga pala sa room ang cellphone ko.
"Hey, finish your food." Napatingin ako kay Ashley nang magsalita siya. "May gagawin daw tayo after this," dagdag niya. Tipid na lamang akong ngumiti at tumango.
Just like what Ashley said, I finished my food right away. Ngayon ay umiinom na ako ng tubig nang may biglang pumasok na estudyante.
"Guys! For all tourism students, diretso raw kayo sa buhanginan sa harapan ng hotel. Bilisan niyo raw!" he shouted before going out.
Kami lang ni Ashley ang tumayo kasi nga ay sobrang bagal naming kumain. Ang iba ay nagpatuloy na sa kinakain nila. Naglakad na kami ni Ashley palabas, at nang nasa labas na ay ramdam ko na kaagad ang hangin na dumadapo mula ulo hanggang paa ko.
Napayakap na lamang ako sa aking sarili dahil sa lamig. I was wearing a black crop top and a denim short. Si Ashley naman ay naka-denim din at pink T-shirt. Bukas na lang daw siya magsusuot ng two piece para mag-swimming. Masyado na raw gabi ngayon.
Nagpatuloy lamang kami sa paghakbang nang makita na agad namin ang mga tao sa harapan ng hotel na nakapabilog habang naka-indian seat. Kaunti lang sila, siguro'y hindi pa nakakapunta ang iba. We immediately went there that made them put a little space for us.
As we settled down, the girl next to me suddenly placed her hand on my back, which caught me off guard.
"Please, introduce yourselves, ladies," she said. Ashley spoke first while I absentmindedly looked at the sand in the middle of the circle.
"I'm Ashley Dela Vega, 2nd year," she said, giving me a nudge on my leg, prompting me to look up at them and smile.
"Hi, I'm Francine Mae Fuentes, and..."
I was about to finish my sentence, but my words froze in my mouth when I saw Lance looking at me. He was wearing a white sleeveless T-shirt and sky blue shorts, holding a beer.
Right. Ka-program ko nga pala siya.
"Gosh," bulong ni Ashley habang bahagyang hinihilamos ang mukha. Nakikita niya rin yata ang nakikita ko.
Lance was still with the guy from earlier, probably his friend. But I shouldn't dwell on it. It's none of my business.
"I guess you guys already know her. Come on, sino ba namang hindi makakakilala sa bagong Ms. South-West, 'di ba?" the girl next to me said. Applause filled my ears until a baritone voice interrupted them.
"Wow," he pretended to be amazed, nodding and taking a sip of his beer.
Wow? Para saan ang wow mo? Why was he acting like he knew nothing?
"Ang tagal ng iba, ah! Mag-start na kaya tayo?!" sambit ng babae.
"You're right, anong gusto niyong gawin natin?" tanong naman nu'ng isang lalaki na katabi ni Lance.
BINABASA MO ANG
His Imperfect Halo (COMPLETED)
JugendliteraturWhile he was that good guy, I was the bad girl - a twisted yin and yang for my so-called story to unfold.
