Obviously, This Is Not Love

2| Half Empty, Half Full

2| HALF EMPTY, HALF FULL

Two weeks earlier

"Hindi ako makapagconcentrate kanina," Naiiritang sabi ni Cather sa akin, or more like sa sarili niya. Minsan mahilig si Cather magsalita mag-isa kaya kung may biglang sasabihin siya, papakiramdaman mo muna kung ikaw nga ba ang kinakausap niya o hindi. But this time, ako kausap niya.

"Bakit?" I said, taking a bite from the french fries I bought.

"Napaka-OA kasi ni Julien. I kept on hearing her endless wails!" Cather's hands went up for exasperation. "Have you heard? Julie and Arki broke up!"

Napailing ako. "Ano pa ba maaasahan mo kay Arki? Ever since na nagtransfer siya dito, mas marami pa siyang napaiyak na babae kaysa sa attendance niya sa klase." My comment made Cather laugh. We both laughed, actually. Pero mas hagalpak tawa ni Cather.

Then, Cather's twin brother sat beside us. Dala-dala niya yung lunch tray niya tapos inabutan niya kami ni Cather ng tig-isang Chocnut.

"Para san 'to?" sabi ni Cather.

"Wala. Bigay lang sa akin nung freshman kanina. Ayoko ng Chocnut," sabi ni Torres, with a disgusted look in his face.

Sinipa ako ni Cather bigla sa ilalim ng lamesa. I let out a faint yelp. "What the hell?!"

Cather leaned forward. "Cross out mo na yun sa signs! You like Chocnuts, he doesn't." Bulong niya sa akin, tapos sabay bigay sa akin yung Chocnut na binigay sa kaniya ni Torres. Hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip, kinuha ko na yun kaagad tapos kinain.

I just rolled my eyes at her. Heto kasi si Cather, iniisip niya na may gusto sa akin kapatid niya kahit hindi naman. So one of Cather's signs was 'He'll love what you love'. Hence, the Chocnut.

"Bakit freshman? Crush ka nun?" Kausap na ni Cather kapatid niya.

Busy si Torres kanina sa pagkain kaya hindi niya masyado napansin kung ano napag-usapan namin ni Cather tungkol sa so-called Crush Signs niya.

Torres shrugged his shoulders, "Malay ko."

Cather raised an eyebrow. "Edi wow! Nakakahiya naman sayo,"

Tiningnan naman ni Torres si Cather. "Nasaan na yung Chocnut na binigay ko sayo? Kinain mo na?"

Umiling si Cather, "Nope. Binigay ko kay Aris. Paborito niya kasi yun,"

Then Torres' eyes were at me. I suddenly became a little bit uncomfortable. "Paborito mo yun?"

Tumango lang ako.

"Okay," Matipid niyang sagot. After he finished his food, umalis na kaagad siya.

"Parang moody iyang kapatid mo," I told Cather. "He acts cold."

Then Cather gave me a knowing look, "Bakit? Gusto mo siya ng warm? Ng sweet?" She even wiggled her eyebrows.

It was my turn to kick Cather's foot under the table. She yelped. "Umayos ka nga. For the nth time, hindi ko trip kakambal mo."

Kahit na sinipa ko si Cather, nagawa pa rin niyang mang-asar. "Apparently, half of the girls in this school do."

Yeah, I know Cather. I know.

* * *

Present time

It's Saturday.

Ka-Skype ko si Cather ngayon. She's in her bed, halatang medyo masama pa pakiramdam niya. I fear that she can't go to school on Monday, if that will be the case, Torres will accompany me again. Ugh, hindi ko naman mapilit si Cather na huwag na niyang isama kapatid niya sa akin pag pauwi. But she's too stubborn, I have no choice but to comply. Not fair, siya na lang nasusunod.