Before We Fell Apart [Before Trilogy #2]

06

"Did you miss me?" 

I looked at Marcus with a surprised expression on my face. His lips curved up into a playful smile. Oo na, na-miss ko 'yung mukha niya. Pero syempre 'di ko aaminin sa kanya 'yun. 

"Hulaan mo," I teased, earning a pout from him in return. 

Natanggal naman ang atensyon niya sa'kin ng akbayan siya bigla ni Chase. "Ako, namiss kita! Sobra sobra babe! Welcome back!"

"'Di kasi ikaw tinatanong ko," he rolled his eyes and removed Chase's arm around him. "Pake ko ba sa'yo? Si Jill ka ba?"

Sumimangot naman si Chase. "Ay sige, ganyan ka na. Porket may nililigawan ka na kinalimutan mo na pagmamahal mo sa'kin! Akala ko ako lang!"

"Si Jill lang laman ng puso ko," he said, holding the top of my head. 

My cheeks heated slightly at his words. I still wasn't used to him being so vocal of his feelings. Sa tuwing babanat siya ng ganyan, nagugulat pa rin ako. 

"Hanap ka na rin kasi ng sa'yo para hindi mo na ako ginugulo." 

"Ako? Maghahanap? Aba, sila ang naghahanap sa'kin! Nakapila pa nga sila e," mayabang na sinabi ni Chase. "Kung may single man sa'tin, silang dalawa 'yun!" tinuro niya si Austin at Anika. 

Anika raised a brow at him. "Sure ka?" 

"Niks, single ka pa rin kasi wala kayong label—aray!" napahawak siya sa kanyang balikat ng hampasin ito ng malakas ni Anika. "Austin oh! Inaaway ako!"

Austin looked up from his food and stared at the both of them. He shook his head, taking a spoonful of food into his mouth. Hindi naman 'yun bago kay Austin. He was always quiet and only spoke when he felt like it. 

Ngayon na lang kami nakumpleto sa pag-kain ng lunch. Tapos na kasi ang divisionals kaya balik na ulit si Marcus sa dati niyang schedule. He was like a superstar at school right now! Everyone was congratulating him for their win. He would be busy again in a few months, but at least he has the chance to take a rest now. 

I felt him poke my cheek to catch my attention. "Pst." 

"Hm?" I replied while drinking water. 

"Wala ka naman gagawin bukas diba?" I nodded. "Date tayo." 

Napa-ubo ako ng malakas sa gulat. Buti nalang 'di ko nabuga 'yung tubig sa mukha niya. Gosh this guy! Why did he always have to surprise me?! "T-tayong dalawa lang?" 

"Kaya nga date, e. Malamang tayo lang," tumawa siya. 

Umiling ako. "Hindi ako papayagan ni Mama." 

Nilabas niya ang cellphone niya at pinakita ang messages niya sa'kin. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita ang pangalan ng nanay ko sa inbox niya. What the hell? Textmates sila?! Bakit 'di ko alam at kailan pa?!

"Pinaalam na kita oh. Sabi niya 'Sige 'nak, basta iuwi mo siya ng maaga'. Oh, gusto mo 'yon? 'Nak daw oh. Konting push nalang 'Mama' na rin tawag ko kay Tita J," he wiggled his eyebrows. Ang kapal! Tita J? My gosh, may pa nickname pa!

"Paano mo nakuha number niya?" I looked at him in confusion. 

"Hiningi niya sa'kin. Ayaw mo nun? Close na kami ni Tita," he laughed. "Kaya sige na, mahal. Labas tayo bukas. Ngayon lang naman e." 

I was about to decline when he suddenly looked at me with puppy dog eyes. Well, bakit naman hindi? I guess it would be fun to be with him outside of school. 

"Fine."

"Weh? Totoo?" I couldn't help but laugh when he looked so surprised. Was he expecting me to say no? I nodded just to give him assurance. "Ayun oh! Thank you, mahal. Sunduin kita bukas ah."