"So, you guys were in same school?"
Tanong ni Steffi, I heard them but my mind were still puzzled. I sip my coffee while looking outside.
"Aren't you guys-"
Naputol ang sasabihin ni Frank noong takpan ni Alice ang kanyang bunganga, and it caught my attention.
"Syempre naman, masaya kami para kay Yuki para naman sa kanya 'to eh. Right, Yuki?"
"Ah, yeah."
"Pero, kahit na nasa ibang school kana wag mo kaming kalimutan."
Steffi said, sabay pulupot ng kamay sa braso ko.
"People won't forget, if they intend to."
Sabat nito, while sipping her coffee. Lahat kami napatingin sa kanya, she really sounded like a book.
"For my ears sake! Shrice can you stop reading manga, and detective books?!"
Reklamo nitong si Alice na sinang-ayunan ni Steffi.
"I agree, you sounded like a philosophic."
"Haha, she is the great ambiance of your squad."
Told Frank, kaya tiningnan namin siya ng masama, we all definitely look at him scarier than a bear.
"Uh, maybe I choose a wrong word. You guys were just amazing, I wonder why Ms. Cortez need to split?"
So, now the topic is on me again. I thought, I already explained my side.
"Not my choice though, like yours I guess."
"Haha, well for me. It is my choice to be in that school-"
"Tss, quite popular school indeed, every student dream of."
Sagot ko, pero naagaw na naman ang atensyon namin sa nagsalita.
"How interesting! A school of fame, I wonder. Hahaha"
She's always giving me creeps, her laugh is kinda evil yet innocent. No, I can't really explain it because she's an unidentified species to me, totally out of this world.
"Ouch! Makabato Ice!?"
Reklamo nito kay Alice, despite of her weird self, I can still see her human side. Gosh!
"Still wondering? Di ka na nasanay diyan sa alien nating kaibigan, ni apelyido nga niya di natin alam. We only know her as Shrice, and I still wonder if it is really her true name?"
Napalingon ako kay Steffi, I know her as a clever girl but seeing Steffi serious face made me also wonder, kilala ko nga ba talaga ang mga kaibigan ko? or maybe we're just relying on our existence in the past two years?
"I don't know, and I don't want to know."
Sagot ko, sabay bawi naman nito ng ngiti. The cutest smile I've ever seen.
"Always unfair, what would I expect from Yuki Rihya Cortez?"
She added, I was a bit flattered the way she say it. What's with her now? I can see they totally act differently, did I do something wrong?
"Uh, what do you mean by that anyway?"
"Ahm, I mean you only believe on what you see and what others told you."
"Ehh, you guys were taking it seriously?"
Alice cut us off, kaya pareho nalang kaming natahimik.
"Ahm, mind if I join you guys?"
Napalingon kami bigla sa bagong dating, he is fast I just texted him a minute ago and he's with- with, wait?
"Uh, Ms. Rivera?"
I uttered, and maybe I caught all their attention because I literally felt that.
"Hahahaha, Ms. Rivera? Ghad! That's unusual."
Should I be thankful to her for the unbelievable break-in? I don't know what's going on in their freaking minds. But, facing this girl right now was like facing my own fear and insecurities.
"Oh, so you're here too?"
She asked Shrice, but this creepy friend of mine answer her with a smile and said.
"Mind your own business, Ms. Rivera."
Nakita ko naman ang biglang pagkagulat sa babaeng kasama ng Kuya ko, pero nakabawi din ito at sumagot.
"You shouldn't talk like that to your-"
"Nah, nah, just cut it off. You know what I mean."
Lahat kami ay pawang mga lutang, dahil na rin siguro sa mga katanungan na gumugulo sa mga isipan namin. Do they know each other? Why do Shrice talk to her informally? Well all know that she's talking to someone who's superior to her? Besides, doesn't she know this very popular lady? Siya lang naman ang anak ng may-ari ng isang elite school kung saan ako lilipat.
"Oh, you always want to be like that. I wonder now?"
"Eh, y-you know her Shrice?"
Sa wakas ay natanong din ni Alice ang gusto naming itanong at malaman, walang hesitasyon na sumagot ito kay Alice.
"Hmm, who wouldn't know her? She's mostly like a role model to all girls, smart, rich and have a power to mani-"
"She is actually my si-"
Ms. Rivera cut her off, pero agad namang nagsalita itong si Shrice.
"Friends, tss."
"Friend, kind of irony."
Di ko na napigilan ang sarili ko, I don't know what's between them but my ears cannot take all those unrealiable argument they're having right now.
"Hahaha, we actually came here to pick up my sister. So, mind if?"
Napatingin kaming lahat kay Kuya, na napakamot pa sa batok.
"Sorry, I know you guys are having a deep conversation but we still have a family matters and her existence is barely needed."
Paliwanag nito, kaya napatango nalang sila maliban kay Shrice, she intensely looking at me like she's asking me something that I cannot answer. What's with her now, did I do something that is against her law?
"I'm sorry guys-"
"Uh, you don't have to say sorry. This won't be the last time we see each other."
Ani ni Alice, anong ibig niyang sabihin? I look at Steffi like as if she's gonna give me an answer, pero tanging ngiti lang ang aking natanggap. Are this guys, were planning up to something that I don't know? Gosh! What are they really up to?
"See you soon, Yuki."
Iyon lang ang tangi kong narinig kay Steffi at ismid lang ang natanggap kong sagot kay Shrice. I know this will be my last day seeing their faces, and I am afraid I might losing one once again. Pero, matagal ko na ring tanggap na ito ang magiging kahihinatnan ng lahat, pero sa halip na maiwan ay ako ang nang-iwan.
"How long have you've been friends with her?"
Napukaw ang atensyon ko sa tanong niya, kasalukuyan kaming nasa gitna ng biyahe at di ko alam kung saan ang punta namin, maybe a family dinner or a business dinner? Whatever they call it. I know she's talking about Shrice.
"We're not totally so called friends, she is more close to Alice and Steffi. Why bother asking? Seems like you know her better than me."
Kita ko naman ang pagkagulat sa kanya, maging si Kuya...ngunit may halo iyong pagtataka.
"About what happened before, I sincerely apologise for it. But, if you buried all the memories from the past isn't a good thing."
"Then, was it a good thing to remember it all?"
"No, I am not saying that you forget the happy memories than remembering the bad ones."
I was remained silence, what does she mean happy memories? Ipinikit ko nalang ang mga mata ko, at piniling manahimik. I don't remember, that I had a happy memories from my past and who are those persons whom possibly involved with it.