MASH Romantic (Chase Series #2)

18th Paper

18th Paper

Here

It was weeks ago when I found out I passed Summerridge University. Laking tuwa ko nang malaman ko iyon, at ganoon din si Mama. That even made her threw a little party in house. Hindi ko na inisip kung masyado lang nag-overreact si Mama, pero naging masaya na rin ako.

Gage is still here. At hindi ko malaman kung ano ang mayroon sa kanya kapag nakikita niya si Mae. I remembered how his smirks plays within his lips when he sees Mae at the party.

Nakaupo si Mae sa couch na kausap sina Ten, Aria, at Bff. I'm surprised they all made it, lalo na si Aria na laging sobrang busy. Ibinaba ko ang tray of foods sa harapan nila at isa isa na nilang nilantakan ang finger foods.

"Sino ba 'yong bago mong lalaki rito, Jesca?" Makahulugang tanong ni Mae nang makaupo ako sa tabi niya. Lahat ng atensyon nila ay nakatuon sa akin.

"Lalaki ko? Hindi man ako kagandahan, pero yuck, Mae!" Umirap ako. I know she's referring to Gage. "That guy is sick. 'Wag niyo iyong kakausapin. Nako!"

"We just want to know the name, that's all." Casual na sabi ni Elaine.

Hinanap ng tingin ko si Gage at nakita ko siyang nakasandal sa threshold, with arms folded and a sly smirk on his lips. Here we go. Tumawa siya at napailing. The guy IS handsome, but not enough for me.

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko ba siyang tawagin para ibigay na sa kanya ang responsibilidad na magpakilala, o huwag na lang. Come to think of it, I don't fully know Gage yet. I was only threatened by his remarks while we were on the beach one night. I am not sure if he meant that, or he meant that as a joke.

"Okay. That guy is Gage. Okay na ba? Do you need to know his age, height, phone number–" Bago ko pa madugtungan ang sasabihin ko ay nasingitan na ako ni Mae.

"Yes, please!" Sabi niya kasabay ang isang malakas na pagtawa.

But of course, nagbibiro lang ako. Kung gusto nilang magkaroon ng koneksyon ay bahala na sila. I wouldn't go play cupid for them. Lalo na't alam ko naman na si Sien ang para kay Mae. She just thought needed a diversion—which in this case may be Gage—to forget about her bestfriend. But I knew better.

"Bahala nga kayo!"

We spent the remaining days preparing for school. Naging abala kami nina Mama at Tita Lai sa pamimili ng mga kakailanganin namin ni Drian sa bahay sa La Colina. Si Gage ang nakakasama namin sa pag-alis at pag-aayos dahil palaging wala si Drian. Nakakalungkot dahil hindi ako nakakasilay sa kanya. Pero ang mas nakakalungkot ay noong nakatanggap ako ng balita na he was on a dinner with Aiana's family.

This was supposed to be a fine day for me, if it weren't for that Facebook post with a photo of their dinner. Magkalapit si Drian at Aiana. Ang braso niya ay nakapatong sa balikat ng babae habang parehas silang nakangiting malapad. Ang pamilya naman ni Aiana ay pinalilibutan sila. They looked like a happy family.

Isinara ko ang laptop ko at itinulog na lang ang mabigat kong pakiramdam. I don't have a say. But I do have some say about how I've got to stop feeling this way. Hindi ko man aminin vocally pero nasasaktan ako kapag ipinagpapatuloy ni Drian na sundan si Aiana sa kabila ng kanilang problema, and he still managed to feel okay about it.