The Opposite of Hate (Upper Crust #1)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8
"Without"

"How about you, Aris, did you have fun?" baling ni Ham kay Aris. Nanatili ang nanunuyang ngiti habang malamig na nakatitig.

Nagsukatan ng tingin ang dalawa. Parehong mainit ang ulo pero nagpapanggap na kalmado. I can sense tension. Pakiramdam ko kaunting tulak na lang mauuwi sila sa pisikalan. Ngayon ko lang silang dalawang nakitang ganito. Madalas ay asaran lang. Biruan. But this is different. And I can't believe it's because of that girl! The hell!

Aris shifted his gaze to me. Binabalewala na si Ham.

"You called me," aniya when he came closer to me. Nasa harap ko na. "I called back but your line's busy. Hindi ka sumasagot when I tried again."

Sinulyapan ko muna si Ham na naglalakad na papunta sa kung saan bago tumingin kay Aris. He is still wearing this pissed expression.

"Magpapatulong sana. But it's okay. Tinulungan na ako ni Ham," malamig kong sabi.

Gumalaw ang panga niya.

"What help?"

"Sa jail booth. He bailed me out dahil hindi naman pwedeng magbayad para sa sarili."

He nodded and calm down now.

"Is it true, binigyan mo ng bulalak si Polka?" naitanong ko rin. I am getting irritated again thinking he could be with her earlier kaya hindi niya nasagot ang tawag ko. Walang kwenta ang iniisip ko but I am really annoyed at the simple thought.

Napakunot ang noo niya. Parang nag-iisip pa.

Bakit pa ba ako nagtanong? Anong mapapala ko? He could give all the girls he like for all I care.

"Tsss..."

"It's not how you think it is, Laviña," tila nahihirapan niyang sabi dahil may hindi kayang sabihin. May tinatagan.

Napataas ang kilay ko. Ano ba ang gusto niyang isipin ko? Why would he give the girl flowers kung hindi siya nanliligaw? What could be a good reason for that?

"So you're courting her, huh."

"Fucking damn it!" mahina pero mariin niyang mura. "I am not."

"Whatever, Aris." I arched my brow at him more. "You'd ruin your friendship with Ham just for that..." I can't even say the word. Mali. Masama.

"Hindi, Laviña. What you think is fucking wrong."

Ngumisi ako kahit hindi naman natutuwa.

"You gave her flowers," I pointed out. "Pero hindi ka nanliligaw... you're not close to her or even friends with her... what could it mean, sige nga?"

Humalukipkip ako.

"Or maybe matagal ka ng pumuporma ka do'n ng hindi ko lang alam... and maybe Ham too."

Shut the fuck up, Laviña! Wala kang pakealam, 'di ba? You sounded so nosy and affected! Sa init ng panahon talaga ito!

"Sige na, uuwi na ako," sabi ko para isalba ang sarili sa tuluyang kahihiyan. Baka ano pang isipin niya.

Humakbang na ako kahit naghihintay pa akong ipaintindi niya bakit niya ginawa 'yon. Stupidity, yeah.

Hindi na ako nagulat na sumunod siya sa akin. We are walking side by side now. I thought he'll insist to explain but he was just silent.

Nagtipa ako sa phone ko to tell the driver I am going home. It's really a mistake going here. While waiting, umupo na muna ako sa bench. Nasa tabi ko pa rin si Aris. I hate how he looks at me without saying anything.