Into the Spotlight

Chapter 9

"Malapit na ba ang birthday mo?"

Napakunot ang noo ko sa random na pagtatanong ni Dylan. Napaka-out of the blue kasi.

And yes, you heard it right. I am with Dylan for lunch. He came visiting me out of nowhere, telling me na half-day lang daw sila kaya naisipan niyang puntahan ako. Luckily for me, I had someone I can open up to. Naudlot kasi 'yung kanina, eh.

Agad na namang nanumbalik sa isipan ko ang nangyari kaninang umaga.

Seeing them together is painful, in a way na masaya sila habang ako, mag-isa. Then I heard my name. That time, my emotions were just too clouded that I decided to leave and head for our building instead.

All along, I was thinking of only one thought. That I was his best friend, ako dapat 'yung kinakausap niya. Dapat sa akin siya nag-aalala, hindi roon sa tao na siyang rason kung bakit ako nagkakaganito.

Selfish, but for once, I want to be.

Hanggang lunch, wala akong kibo unless teacher ang kausap ko or if it's a necessary concern. I actually told Earl that I'm eating alone for lunch today.

"Ay, ano ba 'yan! Sayang naman." paghihimutok niya. "Nagyaya pa naman sila na kumain nang sabay-sabay! Minsan lang 'yung magkasabay-sabay tayo kaya sayang. Hays!"

I gave him a timid smile. "Just this once, please? And tell them nothing."

"Fine. Pero kapag sila ang namilit, labas na ako riyan, ah? Pero mamsh, pwede ka namang sumama if ever magbago ang isip mo. May conflict kayo ni Ryan pero 'di mo naman kami kaaway lahat."

I ended up waiting a few minutes after lumabas ni Earl. As much as possible, I don't want to bump into them. Ayaw ko nang tinatanong about this issue. I'm vulnerable at the moment.

Mabilis akong pumasok ng canteen. As much as possible, iniwasan ko ang mapadaan ang tingin sa bandang likod dahil doon ang usual table na inuupuan namin. I guess sa may unahan na lang ako para medyo malayo.

"Sof!" I stood frozen in place nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses ni Pat. "Nandito kami, oh! Yuhoo!"

I sighed and ran outside the canteen as fast as possible. With a heavy heart, I ran away from them. It's better this way, kaysa naman mahirapan silang pakisamahan kaming dalawa ni Ryan. It's better na umiwas hanggang sa 'di pa kami nagkakaayos.

"Sophia!" another voice called and sounded like the owner was chasing me.

It was Dylan. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang malamang siya pala ang humahabol sa'kin. And he didn't even tried to stop me. Alright.

"Oh, Dylan! Hey. What are you doing here? Wala ka bang pasok?" I greeted him.

"What are you doing here, running from the canteen? Hindi ka kakain? Hindi ka ba na-orient na masama ang magskip ng meal?" he asked back.

Ano ka, siya? I asked myself.

Naiinis ako na naiiyak kasi umiiwas nga ako sa kanila tapos ipapaalala naman nitong si Dylan 'yung isa sa mga kina-babadtrip-an ko.

He ended up forcing and pulling me towards the canteen so I have no choice but to tell him about our conflict. He understood my thoughts so he agreed to sit somewhere far from them.

Nakita ko pa tuloy silang masayang nag-uusap at nagtatawanan. Awts, gege.

I just shook my head to stop reminiscing and focused on his question. "Sa December pa naman ang birthday ko. Why, is it important?"