Torn in Two (Elite Girls 2)

Chapter 10 - Bridge

"Tss inggit ka lang kasi hindi ka nilalandi ng jowa mo. Teka, bakit ka ba nandito? Dun ka sa grupo ng boypren mo. Alis!" asar ni Zin.

Caylee frowned at him and exhaled loudly. "Get lost."

Hindi kasi trip ni Caylee na makisali sa mga kaibigan ni Aaron. She said, they're too aware of her whenever she hangs out with them. Palagi siyang tinititigan at kung umasta ay parang mga takot magkamali. Para bang tingin nila sa kanya ay isang ginto. And that makes her feel so uncomfortable.

Habang mas lalo siyang inaasar ni Zin ay tumayo muna ako upang kumuha ng ketchup. I can't eat fried chicken without ketchup.

Pagkuha ko ng bote ay may isang kamay ding pumatong sa kamay ko. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa sa gulat.

"Hey." Agad binitawan ni Dash ang kamay ko at natawa. "Sorry."

Ngumiti lang ako at kumuha na. Then I handed him the bottle.

"Musta?" tanong niya.

"Okay lang naman."

He smiled and looked at me in a teasing way. "Musta kayo ni Royce?"

I chuckled at his question. "Don't tell me, pinapunta ka niya dito para tanungin ako niyan?"

"Nah. Naubusan lang talaga ako ng ketchup." Pinatong na ni Dash ang bote sa gilid at humarap sa akin. "He talks about you all the time. The whole team, even coach already knows who you are. I heard you guys have been talking for weeks. Why don't you give him a chance?"

I pursed my lips. "He definitely asked you to talk to me."

Tumawa siya. "He didn't but the guy's a good friend of mine. I just want to help him."

"Akala ko ba as friends lang talaga kaya niya hiningi ang number ko?"

"Surely you didn't believe that crap. You're gorgeous and I think you have a nice personality. A lot of guys would want you to be the girlfriend and not just the friend."

I felt myself blush. Sobrang direct niya naman. Hindi talaga ako sanay ma-compliment.

"Thanks but I'll stick to my decision. Ayoko pang isipin ang mga bagay na ganyan. Wag muna ngayon."

Inilagay niya ang isang kamay niya sa bulsa ng pantalon niya at tinitigan ako. "There must be a reason why."

I just held his gaze. There is no way I'd tell him anything.

"Ris! Ako rin ketchup!" I heard Naomi shouted. I glanced at her and nodded, then I grabbed the ketchup bottle and looked at Dash again. Dadalhin ko na lang ito upang kapag naubusan ako ay hindi na 'ko bumalik pa ulit dito. "I should go. Malapit na matapos ang lunch time pero hindi ko pa ubos ang food ko," natatawang kwento ko.

"Yeah. Of course. See you around." Ngumiti lang si Dashiell kaya bumalik na ako sa table namin at umupo sa seat ko. I kept my eyes down and didn't dare to look at the other direction. Ramdam kong paguusapan ako nila Royce at Dashiell pagkatapos ay titingin sila sa akin.

Ugh. Maybe I shouldn't have been too friendly with Royce. Mukhang dahil sa pag-reply ko sa mga chat at text niya ay tingin niya yata may pagasa na siya sa'kin.

I don't want to hurt anyone.

Dashiell's POV

"Maybe she's just like me. Maybe she just broke up with her boyfriend." Aaminin ko hirap pa rin akong wala na si Charmaine sa buhay ko. But not being able to see her and talk to her helps me heal. Alam kong makakasanayan ko ring wala na siya.