The A Team

Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Fancy

I could say that my childhood was dull. Palagi lamang akong nasa loob ng bahay. Ang mga pinsan at kapatid ko ay madaming kaibigan kaya pinangarap ko rin iyon.

My boring life changed when I met Vinyl. He's adventurous and he likes hiking. Siya lang ang sinasamahan ko dahil komportable ako sa kaniya. He always makes me feel better.

Since we were best friends, there are some lines I drew between us. In order for us to stay the way we were, we have to maintain a platonic relationship.

Ako ang nagbigay ng mga limitasyon. I reminded myself that friendship is more important for me. Ito ang gusto at hinanap ko mula umpisa kaya dapat kong panindigan.

But, as a normal teenager, my feelings started to change. It grew into something I feared since day one. Some might say that I am too young for things like admiration and crushes but this old feeling doesn't age at all.

Hindi naging madali ang lahat. Sinubukan kong tikisin dahil parehas pa naming tinutuklas ang mundo. Ayokong maging dahilan ng pagbabago namin ang simpleng paghanga ko sa kaniya pero naisip kong dapat niyang malaman. I want to be honest with him so, I confessed. Then, he left.

I cried myself to sleep every night and it burdened me. I blamed my feelings for him. Hindi ako masasaktan kung wala naman akong nararamdaman.

So, when I met Atlas, I already knew that he's someone special. I promised to pursue that same platonic relationship again but this time, I will suppress anything that can hurt and affect both of us.

I don't want to end up in the same pain again. I have a purpose and I must stand for it. Ginawa ko ang lahat para mapanatiling maayos ang pagkakaibigan namin dahil ito na ang pangalawang pagkakataon ko.

He likes Arya. Matagal siyang naghintay para sa chance na ito. I want to, at least, help him make more chances for them.

Pity for myself because I don't even have a third chance. Pity for myself because Atlas fancies Arya. Pity for myself because I failed to stay within the platonic side of our relationship and fell for the second tragic time.

Pity... because I will witness how he takes a step closer to her and drift away from me.

"Atlas, nauuhaw yata si Arya. At least, give him something to drink naman," nanunuyang utos ng kaibigan ni Arya.

Nahihiyang nagbaba ng tingin si Arya. "Denise, it's okay."

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Atlas na agad umalis. Bumuntong-hininga ang katabi kong si Evette na kanina pa rin pinagmamasdan ang kanilang eksena.

"I want Atlas for you," bulong niya.

Napakurap-kurap ako at pagak na natawa. "That'll just ruin everything he dreams. Arya is the best choice. At kung tutuusin, wala naman kaming gusto ni Atlas kundi ang pagkakaibigan."

"Sana iyon rin ang gusto mo dahil siguradong masasaktan ka lang kung nagsisinungaling ka sa akin ngayon."

Bumalik si Atlas na may dalang water bottle. Masuyo niya iyong inabot kay Arya. The group teased the two of them and that made me smile. After all, their happiness is what I am hoping for.

After our field trip, I gathered them around our classroom and told the things Sir Julien left for us. Napuno ng katahimikan pagkatapos. Nanghinayang sila at nagdesisyong irespeto na lamang ang pag-alis ng aming guro.

Days passed by like a blur. For the month of February, we will have our Prom Night. Laman iyon ng usapan kahit saan ako pumunta. Kahit papaano ay naiintindihan ko ang excitement nila dahil ito na ang huling prom na dadaluhan namin sa Esperanza.