I Just Loved Too

IJLT 3 - Paris

Dire-diretsong pumasok si Iya sa kwarto ng kakambal. Kasalukuyan itong nakadapa sa kama, naglalaro ng racing game sa tablet nito. Iya sat down on Ken's bed and gave her twin a slap on the nape.

"Aray! What was that for?" iritado nitong tanong.

"Ano ba naman 'yong gift mo kay Ahn! Alarm clock? Really?!"

"Bakit ka nagrereklamo? Ikaw ba ang niregaluhan ko?"

"Hindi. Pero kahit na! Sana man lang pinag-isipan mo 'yong gift mo!" reklamo niya.

"Nagreklamo ba sya?" tanong nito.

"No. She just told me when I asked," she replied.

"Ano naman ang problema mo dun?"

Tiningnan niya ito ng mataman. Minsan, nagja-jive ang utak nilang dalawa. Pero kahit anong titig niya rito, mukhang hindi nito nakukuha ang gusto niyang iparating.

"Clueless mo talaga!"

Ken grunted. "Lumabas ka na nga! Abala ka e."

Padabog syang tumayo sa kama at saka lumabas ng kwarto ni Ken. Minsan, masarap tuktukan ang kakambal niya. To think na ang dami na nitong naging girlfriends pero dense pa rin ito when it comes to his own feelings. She recognized that look from yesterday.

Something changed in him. Pero mukhang hindi nito pansin. Or maybe he just shrugged it off because he didn't think it was that important. But the romantic in her didn't brush it off as easily. Alam niyang may time na nagkaroon ng possibility na magkatuluyan ang mommy at ang ninong Toby niya.

But it didn't work out. And now, there's Ken and Ahn. It's like the universe is telling her that here's the second chance that wasn't given to them. It may be a bit unconventional, but weren't all great love stories unconventional?

--

Kinabukasan, pauwi na sana ang kambal nang makita nila sina Paris at Ahn sa di kalayuan. It looked like Paris was asking Ahn if he could take her home. Parang noong Linggo lang nito napansin ang dalaga. Ngayon naman ay nanliligaw na ito?

"Look at him. He's already all over her!" reklamo ng kakambal niya.

"He's just being nice," he told her. He ignored that itchy feeling in his chest, like something needs to be scratched out of his skin.

Of cource, Paris is anything but nice. He's just nice when he wants something.

Hindi siya nakareklamo sa gulat nang hilahin siya ni Iya palapit sa dalawa.

"Ahn! Paris!" tawag nito.

Napatingin ang mga ito sa kanilang dalawa.

His breathing hitched.

"Oy, cuz!" bati ni Paris.

"Hi po," Ahn greeted politely.

"Uuwi na kayo?" tanong ni Iya.

"Yeah. Kayo?"

"Oo e. Pwedeng makisabay?"

Kumunot ang noo niya kay Iya, na sakto namang tumingin sa kanya. Ngumiti ito.

"Sure," agad namang sagot ni Paris. "Hop in."

"I'll ride shotgun!" Iya declared. Umuna ang kambal niya sa passenger's seat. Siya naman ay walang nagawa kundi sumakay sa backseat. Ahn sat next to him.

--

It was awkward. Kanina pa nagdadaldalan ang dalawa sa unahan pero sila ni Kendrick ay tahimik lang. He's looking out the window. Sya naman ay kinalikot ang phone. Occasionally, she would answer Iya's questions. Pero hanggang doon lang ang pagsasalita niya.