Chapter Seven
A lot of rumors lately had been spread, At syempre, ako ang nangunguna sa balita. Mga babaeng 'to! Hindi man lang naging proud dahil finally napansin na ako ng taong gusto ko.
Ngumiti ako kay Rowan nang mapadaan ako sa table nila. He smiled at me and nods his head. Nagtataka naman ang mga mukha ng mga kaibigan niya. May babae silang kasama at hindi sinasadyang nag eye to eye kami. Tinaasan ako nito ng kilay and I immediately looked away.
When I turned my back from them narinig ko ang mga tila ulan na tanong nila kay Rowan.
"Ano 'yon Rowan? You're into girls na ha?"
Emery waved her hand when she saw me, hindi na ako nagulat na kasama niya si Land.
"Goodness! You're a celeb na!" Napa-takip pa ito sa kaniyang bunganga dahil umaaktong nagulat. Ngumiwi ako. When I was about to sit down napa-sulyap ako kay Land at bahagyang natigilan nang makitang nakatingin ito. I stifled a smile and looked away.
"I'm not!" Tanggi ko. Agad na umiling si Em at luminga-linga pa sa paligid.
"What if may mga paparazzi na here? Kasi you're a freaking celeb!"
"Em, just eat." Iritadong sabi ni Land.
Napatingin ako kay Land na mukhang wala sa mood ngayon. Emery pouted at siniko pa si Land dahil sa sinabi nito.
"You're boring." Reklamo ni Em at nagsimulang kumain. I started eating too. After a while , Emery started talking and her topics are so interesting!
What if may zombies na raw pala and we were just not aware.
Panay ang tawa ko sa mga pinagsasabi niya. "My kuya is a doctor right? I told him to invent the cure na agad!"
"That's absurd! Kuya Lazarus is a busy person, and as far as I know scientists are the ones who make or invent some creepy stuffs." Umirap siya.
We were like debating here, mabuti na lamang at maingay sa cafeteria at si Land lang naman ang nakakarinig sa'min.
On the middle of listening to Emery, sumulyap ako kay Land at sa pagkain niya. He's just playing with his food at mukhang may iniisip. Bago pa ito mag-angat ng tingin at mahuli ako agad na binalik ko ang atensyon kay Em.
Bahala siya sa buhay niya.
I was about to leave the cafeteria when I suddenly heard my name being called. Nang humarap ako, ang babaeng kasama nina Rowan ang bumungad. She crossed her arms before walking away from their table and then coming towards me.
Nagtataka ako kung bakit siya lumalapit sa'kin. What's this for? My gaze travelled around and stopped when I met Rowan's gaze.
I don't know what he's feeling right now, Is he aware na may sasabihin sa'kin 'tong kaibigan niya? Oh well. Maybe it's just a friendly talk, hindi naman ata magkakalmutan rito.
"What did you do to Rowan?" Naningkit ang mga mata nito. Kumunot ang noo ko.
Pinagsasabi nito?
I was taken aback when she suddenly circled her arms on mine, hinatak ako nito palabas.
She stopped in a not so crowded place, sa gilid ng field.
"He kept on talking about a woman lately, and sa tingin ko you're that woman!" Napataas ito ng kilay at nakapa-maywang.
"He's not usually like this, he thinks you're interesting."
Shocked by her statements, natahimik ako.
Finally huh?
Bothered by my silence the woman pats my shoulder and I stifled a smile as I face her. Her eyes are sparkling, kanina mukha siyang maldita pero ngayon parang hindi na.
She smiled at me and it gives me the view of her beautiful smile. Ang ganda niya, her smile can make a lot of man fall.
I feel so insecure.
She squint her eyes as she throw her other arms on my shoulder. Sobrang lapit namin sa isa't-isa, mukhang ako lang ang na awkward.
"Rowan's a behave man, madamoiselle." Of course he is! Bebe ko 'yan e. May kinalikot ito at nang makuha iyon ay pinakita niya sa akin ang cellphone niya, sa una nagtataka ako kung anong meron pero agad din namang napalitan ng gulat nang tignan ko ang phone niya.
It's a stolen picture of me in the library!
Halata sa picture na masiyado akong tutok sa pagbabasa. Ilang saglit pa bago ko napansin na my picture is posted on twitter! Tinignan ko kung sino ang nag tweet and I almost jump when I read the username!
@breimanR
Walang caption pero ako talaga ang nasa picture!
I looked up to ask more information about this picture, she smiled at me sheepishly.
"Shocked huh?" Nilayo na nito sa'kin ang phone niya at tinago sa kung saang bulsa. "You can break his heart, no pressure! Deserve niya." She winked at me before removing her arms on my shoulder, she even waved her hand at me after that. She left me with a shocked state.
Rowan posted a stolen picture of me?! This is unexpected. I can't go back in again in the cafeteria so I texted Emery to meet me at the field where we usually stay.
We both still have class kaya we decided na kapag lunch time nalang magkita.
Na-una na ako sa field, hindi naman nagtagal ay dumating na siya. She's almost out of breath.
"What? Ang init-init loka!" She sat down and started pulling some innocent grass. Humilig ako sa balikat niya, I can't help but to keep on smiling, she kept on wiggling her shoulders hoping that I'll let go, but I didn't. Bumuga siya ng malalim na hininga bago sumuko.
"What's up?" She casually asked me. The thought of Rowan finally interested to me rush in and I can't help but to let out a shriek. I received a slap on the back afterwards.
"Loka! Stop shrieking, akala ko may baboy na kinakatay."
I faced her with a wide smile drawn on my lips and evident on my face, she looked a little bit shocked by my expression.
"Rowan posted a stolen picture of me on Twitter!" Sa sobrang kilig ko ay hinampas-hampas ko siya.
Napansin kong wala siyang reaksyon kaya natigil ako. I curiously look at her, she's staring at my eyes pero mukhang natulala siya.
Even when I tried to wave my hand in between her gaze, she's still preoccupied.
"Emeryyyyyy" I sounded like a kid. She was a bit startled and her gaze finally flew to mine. "Oh! Sorry... What was that again?" She tilted her head, ready to listen. I reiterated what I said earlier and she seems to listen na talaga, nagulat pa nga.
"Oh really?! Can I see?" Excited na sambit nito. I fished my phone out and searched for Rowan's username. When I gave her my phone she blinked twice, thrice, I don't know, she covered her mouth using her left hand, the other is holding my phone.
"Finally huh?" She genuinely is happy, that is what I saw in her reaction. She jokingly wiped her fake tears away from her cheeks. Loka 'to! Wala namang luha.
"I'm so happy for you!" She kissed my cheeks and hugged me, tightly. I hugged her back and let out a shriek.
Those days I spend trying to get his attention are all worth it huh? What did I do to make him notice me? Is it the way I was humiliated by his cold treatment or is this about the tips that Emery gave me?
Kahit alin pa diyan, I'm thankful. Alam kong may something, he wouldn't post that picture of mine on his twitter!
"What if his friends dared him to do that?" Aniya ni Land na siyang dahilan kaya hindi ko tuluyang na-isubo ang fries na kakainin sana.
After meeting Emery kanina, Land texted her and he's inviting us to eat lunch, in all fairness sa labas kami ng university kumain. Mukhang mamahalin na restaurant. Rich boy.
Mataman ang kaniyang titig sa'kin, hindi ko maiwasan na mag iwas ng tingin.
I realized what he said kaya kumunot ang noo ko at napa-angat ng tingin. His gaze met mine kaya nag kunwari akong sinusuri ang paligid.
He's a friend of Rowan, so he would know kung someone dared Rowan to post a picture of mine.
"Bakit? Did you dare him to do that?" Iwas na iwas akong maka-salubong ang titig niya kaya sa pagkain nalang ako nag focus. Narinig ko ang mahinang 'woah' ni Emery sa tabi ko. She's just silent at kumakain lang pero halatang nakikinig.
"We're not that close." Tanggi niya. Nagkibit-balikat lamang ako at hindi na muling nagsalita. Siniko ko si Emery para naman mag open siya ng topic na lahat kami relate. Ewan ko ba naman kasi dito kay Land, mukhang ewan. Iisipin kong crush ako nito kung hindi lang ako aware na MU sila ni Em.
"Soooo... You're rich pala?" Si Emery. Mukhang hindi gusto ni Land ang topic kaya tahimik lang siya. Well, it's about his status, kung ako din naman ayaw kong pag-usapan. Baka ma-kidnap ako kapag may nakarinig.
Emery noticed that kaya tumikhim siya at nag open ulit ng ibang topic.
"Sino crush mo Land?" Interesting ang topic ni Em kaya kuryuso akong tumingin kay Land na nakayuko na ngayon.
"Wala." He simply answered. Halata ang disappointment sa mukha ko at pati na kay Em, mukhang hindi aware si Land or wala lang talaga siyang pakialam.
"Weh naman? Meron 'yan!" Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa'kin at napa-iwas ako ng tingin. Pero nang ma-realized ko na para akong tanga, lakas loob ko siyang tinitigan. Gawd. Bakit ba ako na-eewan sa kaniya? Psh!
"Meron 'yan e! You're so secretiveeeeee!" Puna ko. Duh! I'm fully aware na may something sa kanila ni Em kaya sure akong si Em ang crush niya, sino pa ba?
"Wala nga, Amaya."
I make a face and rolled my eyes. Wala daw? Psh! Bakit ba dinedeny niya na may something sa kanila? Grr!
On the second thought, wala naman na sinabi sa'kin si Em na MU sila ni Land. Baka nasa proseso pa? Guilt crept in and I almost face palm myself.
Those days where they're both eating at the cafeteria, I was there. Those days where they're reviewing for the upcoming science competition, I was there. Once, where Land visited Emery at their house, I was there!
If I put these pieces all together then...
Holy shit! I'm a disturber?! I disturbed them?!
They both looked up when I suddenly stood up. I met Emery's gaze and I apologize to her using my eyes, if she knows what I'm doing sorry Em. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at bahagyang kumunot ang noo, she's probably curious of why I'm acting like this. Lumipat ako ng tingin.
I met Land's gaze and also apologize. Kung naiintindihan lang nila. Just like Emery, halatang naguguluhan si Land sa ginagawa ko.
With a gritted teeth I waved my hand at them and quickly vanished.
Bakit ang insensitive ko? I should've known! Emery's my best friend, at alam kong hindi sa lahat ng oras ay pwede siya, na pwede ko siyang kausapin o pag sabihan ng mga rants ko.
Just like me, she also have her own life. May sariling routine, point of view at kung ano pa. Kaya siguro wala siyang choice kundi ang payagan akong sumama sa tuwing kumakain silang dalawa ni Land, kahit pag nag review pa sila at kung ano pa dahil alam niya na wala na akong ibang kasamang kumain kundi siya lang.
I am so dependent and this isn't right, I should start being independent na and start knowing that even if I'm alone I'm not lonely.
Kung alam ko lang edi sana they both knew each other na ngayon. Kainis ka Amaya! I've wasted their possible moments together!
"Amaya" Startled by a voice calling my name, I immediately halted. Luminga-linga ako sa paligid and there I saw Rowan.
Nasa lilim siya ng puno at mukhang may hinihintay. The mall we went to is just near at the university, walking distance lang pero mga ten minutes siguro ang lakad. May hawak si Rowan na phone, and judging how he's holding his phone mukhang kumukuha ng litrato.
I don't wanna be assumera so I just ignored the thought.
He noticed that and he slowly hid his phone in his pocket.
"Hi! You must like the view in here?" Puna ko at ngumiti sa kaniya. Mainit ang paligid dahil nasa sidewalk lang kami ng kalsada. I used my left hand to protect my eyes from the heating sun.
He slowly walked towards me. Ngayon ko lang napansin na mas na-una na pala ako sa kaniyang mag lakad. He must've called me kanina lang but I was too preoccupied kaya nalagpasan ko siya at hindi napansin.
That can happen pala? No way! I would notice him immediately! Kahit ilang miles pa! Pero ewan ko ba.
"May pupuntahan ka?" He asked when he's about two steps near me. I smiled and shook my head.
"Sa university lang. Kumain lang ako sa mall." Tinuro-turo ko pa ang building ng mall na natatanaw sa pwesto namin. This is Manila and I can't expect a place that is not crowded.
A lot of students from our university and other universities are walking pass by us. Ang iba nga ay napapatingin pa sa'min. Lol. We're damn hell a good looking couple 'no?
Puro busina ang naririnig namin, mausok at maingay.
I was stunned when he suddenly stood beside me, he pushed my back a little, telling me to start walking. Sweet ah? Grabe. Naiyak ako.
We started walking then, hanggang leeg niya lang ako kaya panay ang tingala ko para lang masulyapan ang mukha niya.
I'm walking with my future husband! Sana aisle na itong nilalakaran namin, like the people who we bumped into while on the way are like flowers na naglalakad lang. Ang mga naka-simangot na mga naka-salubong namin ay mga lantang flowers, the all smiles one are the fresh ones.
Ang tangos ng ilong niya! Magandang lahi kapag kami ang nag evolve.
"It's dangerous to walk alone here." He stated. I tilted my head, nagtataka. Is he concern?
"Hmm... Talaga? Marami naman ang tao, I don't think may mangyayaring masama if ever."
"Exactly. Lots of humans, lots of opportunities."
Kung makapag-salita, hindi ba siya tao?
But may punto naman siya, hindi ko lang makuha.
"Next time, if you're walking here all by yourself you should call me, alright?" Natigil ako sa paglalakad. What is this? Anong klaseng atmosphere 'to? Bakit parang may nabubuo?!