His Unofficial Boyfriend

9. Jealousy is a Familiar Friend

After our Philippine Literature class, Lee and I decided to go to the cafeteria to unwind. Pareho kami ng vacant at malapit lang naman ang pagitan ng classrooms namin for the next subject, so pumayag na siya sa gusto kong sumabay na lang kami.

Pre-occupied pa rin ako sa ginawa niyang poem para sa akin. Sa taong hindi natutuwa sa mga bagay na cheesy, nasiyahan ako sa tula niya. Kung ano ang kinatutuwa ko ay gan'on naman ang kinasisimangot niya.

"What's wrong, Lee?" I asked him.

Natigilan siya sa kanyang ginagawa at tsaka siya sumagot ng, "Wala. Sige, kumain ka lang diyan."

"Ang sungit naman," I answered back. "Nga pala, 'yong sa poem mo kanina—"

"What about it?" mabilis niyang pagtatanong habang naka-kunot ang kanyang noo. Kinamot ko na lamang ang batok ko bago ako sumagot ng, "Patapusin mo muna kasi ako."

He sipped on his chocolate drink as he bowed his head.

"'Yong sa poem mo kanina . . . totoo ba iyon?" Tinignan ko siya ng maigi at nakita kong nag-iba ang mood niya. 'Yong kaninang nakasimangot niyang mukha ay naka-smirk na ngayon.

"Oo naman. Bakit, nagustuhan mo ba?"

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko kasi kapag sasabihin kong nagustuhan ko — which is definitely true — baka pagtatawanan niya lang ako. On the other hand, I didn't want to lie since I'm bad at it.

I chuckled before I told him that his piece was okay at best. Then I saw him rolled his eyes at tsaka siya nagsalita ng Korean.

"Ano 'yon, Lee?"

He was still looking down as he replied, "Wala, Greyson. Huwag mo na lang akong pansinin."

After that, wala na siyang inimik. Ako nama'y parang nakikipag-usap lang sa hangin dahil tango lang siya nang tango as his response to my questions.

Pagkatapos ng last subject ko ay pumunta muna ako sa grounds ng Arellano Hall para kunin kay Lee ang susi ng kwarto namin since nawala ko ang spare key ko. I texted him to meet me on the wooden bench under the kalachuchi tree, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siya.

Ang nakapagtataka lang ay dapat nandito na siya since 'yong class niya ay magsa-start na in five minutes. But who am I to know? Marami siyang back subjects despite of his noticeable wit and intelligence. Baka tamad lang talaga siyang pumasok.

I texted him once again nang nakita kong pumasok na ng classroom nila ang classmates niya from Political Science but he wasn't still replying to my message.

I decided to go to the nearest restroom na lang para maghilamos, pero laking-gulat ko na lang nang maabutan ko siya roon na may kahalikang babae.

I was dumbfounded. Namutla ako sa kinatatayuan ko hindi dahil sa aktong nakita ko, pero hindi ko kayang tignan si Lee na may kahalikang iba.

I think my speculation was right: I'm starting to like him.

Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanila nang tumigil na sila sa kanilang ginagawa. "You didn't lock the door," I told him as I was staring at myself in the mirror. "Don't cry," I whispered to myself nang makita kong parang tutulo na ang mga luha ko.

"Uhm —" the girl stuttered. Magsasalita pa sana siya when Lee cut her off.

"Greyson, this is Reese," he said while holding the girl's hand. "Reese, that's Greyson, my friend," he added before he smiled shyly.

Friend. I am just a friend to him.

The reality sinks in: This make-pretend fiasco between us could not turn into a reality.