A Setback Beauty

Kabanata 45: STILL CARES...

Still Cares...

- - -

        KUMAWAY sa'kin si Aly nang makita ako nitong palapit sa kanilang cottage. Tanaw ko na rin doon si Star na nag-i-stretching, tila handang-handa na talagang lumusong sa dagat.

Binilisan ko ang lakad ko. Hindi lang dahil sa init ng araw na tumatagos sa balat ko, kundi dahil late na ako. Dumaan pa muna kasi ako sa office at nagbilin kay Janna, kahit wala namang appointment ang naka-line up sa'kin ngayong araw. It's better to do it. At least she knows what she's going to do in case someone asks for me.

"Seriously, Clarity?!"

Kunot na noo ang isinalubong sa'kin ni Star habang pinapasadahan ng tingin ang suot kong summer shorts at black sports bra na pinatungan ko ng puting loose T-shirt.

"I-I'm not comfortable wearing a two-piece around," I explained.

Star tsked as she tightened the string of her two-piece. "You're so old-fashioned. No wonder that man chose to be with that woman."

Sinundan ko ang tingin ni Star nang lumingon siya sa gilid namin. My heart skipped a beat the moment I laid my eyes on the other side. It's Kade and Cleah, who were in the cottage right next to ours.

Nakahiga ang nakarobang si Cleah sa tanning bed sa ilalim ng malaking payong habang nakatayo naman sa gilid si Kade. He looked fine today, with his hair and tan skin drenched in his own sweat and saltwater while they glistened under the scorching sun...

Pinanood ko ang maya't mayang paglingon ni Kade kay Cleah habang nag-uusap sila. I don't know what they're talking about, but it looks like they're enjoying their conversation. Kade is smiling, and so is Cleah.

Hindi lumipas ang ilang minuto ay nag-iwas na ako ng tingin sa kanila. The view of him smiling is pleasing to my eyes, but the fact that he's giving it to the woman next to him...nakaramdam ako ng pagbigat ng dibdib. I felt bitter.

"Hey, magsalita ka naman. Kanina pa kami daldal nang daldal ng pinsan mo tapos ikaw tahimik lang. Para tuloy kaming may kasamang estatwa." I felt Aly's hand on my arms, forcing me to face her.

"I-I'm sorry. May naalala lang kasi ako." I smiled apologetically.

"You're thinking about them?" With the way Aly stares, she didn't need to mention any names because it's really obvious who she's referring to.

"Hey, you two. Enough with the talk. Let's go swimming." Baling sa'min ni Star bago siya nagsimulang maglakad palabas ng cottage ng nakapaa lang. She didn't mind the scorching sand that would hurt her feet.

Aly went after Star, leaving me standing inside the cottage. Hindi muna ako sumunod sa dalawa dahil panaka-naka ang pagsulyap ko sa kabilang cottage, nag-aabang sa kung ano ang sunod nilang gagawin.

Minuto ang lumipas nang hindi pa rin sila gumalaw kaya tumayo na lang ako. I'm going to follow the two who are already having fun swimming before they call me "Killjoy". Para saan pa't niyaya nila akong maligo kung hindi rin naman pala ako makikisama sa kanila?

"I thought you had already forgotten to follow us," ismid sa'kin ni Star nang makitang lumusong na ako sa dagat at lumangoy palapit sa kanila.

I swam with Aly and Star. If someone is watching us, that person can easily tell that we're best friends by the way we interact, giggling with each other na parang hindi namin kinainisan ang isa't isa. It's a surprising sight to see the three of us together, na pansamantalang nagpalimot sa'kin na nasa paligid lang sina Kade at Cleah.

Nagtagal kami sa paglublob sa dagat hanggang sa napasinghap na lang ako nang may humigit sa kamay ko sa ilalim ng tubig.

Mabilis kong nilingon ang taong gumawa no'n.