My Other Half

5

Someone is hugging me so tightly. Tight enough which proves that he doesn’t want to let me go. He smells nice. A mixture of mint and cinnamon that makes me feel warm.

“I can’t let you go. Not now. Not ever.” Bulong niya sa tenga ko. His voice is huskily warm. “Izzy please.” Mas lalong humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin.

My name is not Izzy. I’m Lyra. No matter how much I want to say that it won’t come out of my mouth instead, I said. “I’m sorry. Goodbye.”

Hindi ko parin na persuade si Cole. I even asked for his number kay Daniel at ayaw naman niyang ibigay. He keeps saying na dinelete niya at hindi niya daw naaalala. It’s a typical school day today, like usual, I’m with Daniel in the cafeteria at the same usual spot but this time, we are accompanied.

“Is your name google? ‘Cause you got everything I’m searching for.” Banat ni Leighton sa kasama niyang babae. It’s Monday today kaya bago nanaman ang flavour of the week nilang lima. Kinilig naman ang babaeng nakaupo ngayon sa lap niya at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.

“There’s something wrong with my phone.” Jem said while holding his iPhone. “Why what’s wrong with it?” Tanong ng isang brunnette na katabi niya. Hindi ko na maalala ang pangalan niya kahit na kakaintroduce lang ni Jem sa amin.

“It doesn’t have your number in it.” Dugtong ni Jem sa banat niya. Humagalpak naman sa tawa ang katabi kong si Charlie. Nakapatong ang braso niya sa katabi niyang blonde with bobbed cut hairstyle, which again, hindi ko maalala ang pangalan.

“Bro. That fucking pick up line is so fucking gay.”

Hindi parin ako sanay sa mga swear words nila. Hindi yata sila makakapagsalita na hindi naglalagay ng swear words sa mga linya nila.

“Shut the fuck up! Like you can do any better.” Jem threw a piece of chip towards Charlie and Charlie did the same as revenge. Hindi na kami makapag concentrate ng maayos ni Daniel sa ingayan nila. Nabibingi naman ako sa katahimikan ng buong canteen at boses lang nila ang dinig sa buong room. Seriously? Do they not notice how awkward our environment is?

“Of course I can.” Inaayos ni Charlie ang pagkakaupo niya at hinarap niya ang babaeng katabi niya. “Watch.” He looked at Jem sideways and he looked back to his flavour of the week.

“Kiss me if I’m wrong.” Hinawakan niya ang forehead niya na parang nag iisip. “But dinosaurs still exist, right?” Ngumiti si Charlie at agad naman siyang hinalikan ng babae niya. Everyone in our table whistled and laughed. I looked at Daniel.

“You have a bunched of crazy friends.” Napailing ako habang sinasabi ‘yon.

“So you’re saying you’re crazy too?”

“What?”

“You’re my friend too right?” He smiled. That cool boyish grin.

“If you really think of me as your friend then you should ask Cole for our project.”

“Wait, you call him by that? And you still call me Daniel? That’s not fair!”

“I’ve been calling you Daniel. It will be awkward to change now.”

“Dale is easier to pronounce.”

“Daniel sounds better?”

“Dale.”

“Daniel.”

“Dale.”

“Daniel.”

“Argh. Fuck! You too shut the hell up. Just call him Dale, Lyra.” Sigaw sa amin ni Pace. Pace is the most hot headed among them. Mabilis siyang mainis.