decoding the boys ✔️

18 - photos || edited

Tumawa lang si Maxxie. "Akala ko ba kay Jacob ka? Ano naman kung may girlfriend na 'yan?"

Anjo frowned at her. "Ang supportive mo, alam mo 'yon?"

"Wala pa naman confirmation, A..." tahimik na sagot sa kanya ni Hiro.

"Anong confirmation pa ba need mo, girl? Nakayakap na nga, o."

Anjo moved her phone around in the air so all of us could take a look. Saktong dumating si Lhyle kasama ang mga orders namin kaya nakita niya rin 'yon.

"O 'di ba? Maikakaila pa ba? Girlfriend na girlfriend," sabi niya habang tinutulungan ko si Lhyle na ilapag ang mga orders namin sa table.

Umupo si Lhyle sa tabi ko at hinablot ang phone niya para tingnan yung photo. "Ah, heto ba iniiyakan mo? Si Claui 'yan."

"Kilala mo yung girl?" asked Hiromi in her quiet voice. "She looks familiar."

"Oo naman. Childhood bestfriend niya 'yan, kung hindi ako nagkakamali." Lhyle added, "Nag-mo-model 'yan kaya baka nakita mo na dati. 'Di ko lang sigurado kung girl friend pero close nga sila."

I rubbed my neck, suddenly feeling stuffy. Bakit gano'n? I was supposed to getting over my crush on him. Why was I getting uncomfortable because of a mere photo?

Ano naman kung may girlfriend na siya?

"So girlfriend nga?" Ahron prodded, throwing little glances at me.

"'Malay ko. Baka? Tanong ko ba?"

"Girlfriend na 'yan! Sure ako. Nakita ko Twitter niya. In love na in love oh!" Binawi niya yung phone niya at nagmamadaling pinakita sa 'min yung Twitter posts.

I looked away before I could even see anything. Ayokong makita 'yon. For days, pinigilan ko ang sarili ko na i-stalk ang social media niya. 'Di pwedeng ngayon pa 'ko malalaglag.

"For Lhyleee?"

Napadilat ako nang marinig yung tawag mula sa counter. Tumayo kagad si Lhyle para kunin ang additional order niya. Sumabay na rin ako sa pagtayo at nagpaalam na magre-restroom lang ako. I needed to take a second to get my composure.

I could see Ahron's knowing look following me even as I left the table.

Alam kong may hint na siya kung bakit ako nagkakaganito. Like Lhyle, she's perceptive, and we'd been friends for years too. If she'd ask me about it, 'di ko naman ide-deny. I knew she'd understand.

Pero parang ayoko pa munang magkwento kahit kanino. I wanted to deal with my feelings on my own.

I checked myself in the mirror. Damn. I looked so unfocused right now.

Ngayon na lang ulit ako nakaramdam nang ganito. The last time had been with Rohann pa, yung ex ko, and that was years ago.

I'd thought that the next time I'd be attracted to someone, sa tamang tao na. I wanted to enjoy the wild rush of excitement from having a crush sana, to savor every moment because it's been a while and falling in love had always been my dream talaga.

I was so excited to feel again.

Pero why did it have to be with the wrong person pa?

And why was I even jealous?

It was just a silly crush. We weren't even friends. Maganda pa nga 'tong nabalitaan ko. Mas magkakaroon ako ng reason para mag-move on. Dapat talaga matuwa ako.

I tapped my cheeks once, twice, to compose myself. Angelo then texted me nang pabalik na 'ko sa table.

Tazmanian Devil:
Where you at?