Love Me Instead

LMI# 25: THE OTHERS

Love Me Instead

Chapter 24: The Others

Grayson

"ANG SABI mo hindi masarap pero paubos na 'yong laman ng tray mo," natatawang puna ni Elise sa akin.

Inilapag ko ang kutsara at kumuha ng tissue para punasan ang bibig ko.

"Tiniis ko na lang kasi gutom na gutom na ako, e."

Inabot niya sa akin 'yong tubig at inagaw ang tissue sa kamay ko.

"Mali naman 'yang pinupunasan mo, e." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya kaya napatigil siya at napatingin sa akin.

"Nagugutom pa yata ako." Tumawa siya at tumayo sa kinauupuan kaya napatayo rin ako. "Saan ka pupunta?"

"E 'di bibili ulit ng pagkain."

"Sandali!" Hinawakan ko ulit ang braso niya at pinaupo siya ulit. "Hindi na kailangan."

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at ngumiti. She flashed her sweetest smile at me, the ultimate reason why I fell for her the first time I saw her.

"I know you've been skipping breakfast every time you wait for me in the morning. And I feel responsible for that."

"Don't be. And I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

Tumango siya bilang tugon. I smiled back and put the trays aside.

"Okay, fine! You guys are totally in love and I'm just an air passing by. But please... 'Wag naman sa harap ko, pwede? Maawa naman kayo!" reklamo ni Ben na kasama nga pala namin.

Ay, nandito pa pala ang isang 'to? Akala ko nakatulog na sa tabi ko, hindi kasi umiimik.

Elise giggled and stood up. "Mauuna na ako."

"I'll walk you—" She shook her head.

"No need, Gray. See you at practice later."

She kissed my cheek and walked away. Ben whistled as he stood up and brought the trays with him. I followed him while he's bringing the trays back near the counter.

"Anong nangyari? Parang kahapon lang problemado ka tapos ngayon..."

I sighed and put my hands on my pocket.

"I decided to just... try it. Focus more on the people that I have rather than chasing for someone who doesn't want me in their lives."

"That's deep." Parehas kaming natawa dahil sa sinabi ni Ben.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad kaya maging ako ay napahinto na rin.

"Hey, Ben." Lihim na napayukom ang kamao ko nang makita si Henry kasama si Red at tatlo pa nitong kasama. "What's up?" tanong nito nang malipat ang tingin sa akin.

Hindi ako sumagot at nakipagtitigan pa lalo sa kanya. I saw how his jaw clenched which almost made me laugh if it weren't for Red who basically pulled him out of the scene.

Acting so tough now in front of your girl, aren't you?

"Who are those people?" tanong ko habang hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa grupo nila.