Shades of Kagan

Chapter 27

"Cool! The two of you are working on a book?" Klaude asked, clasping his hands.

"Yep," Pru answered, popping the p sound at the end. She looked pretty excited while sharing her thoughts with Klaude. He seemed invested in this topic.

"Pwede ko bang basahin?" Even Klaude looked excited now.

"Yes," Pru said with a high-pitched voice.

"No," I said in a straight-face. Bumaling ang tingin ni Klaude sa akin at ibinalik ang tingin niya kay Pru. Both of them looked disappointed but I don't want to ruin their fun. Napahinga ako nang malalim at sinarhan ang laptop ko.

"Kapag natapos na namin sulatin Klaude. You can read it." Nabuhayan naman ang mga mukha nila at kahit si Klaude ay sumuntok pa sa hangin na akala mo ag nanalo sa lotto.

"Hi!" Nadia just popped in our from nowhere. And if Nadia is here that only means that Dan is here as well. Hindi naman sila mapapaghiwaly na dalawa kaya hindi na ako nagtataka pa.

"Oh! Pru Stanislaski, fancy meeting you here." Nadia said while looking at Pru, then she turned to me as if asking why Pru was here. I shrugged my shoulders, telling her that things just happened. Pru gave her a sly smile.

"Ditto, Nadia." Pru simply said. Lumipat sa tabi ko si Pru at umupo naman sa harapan namin si Nadia at Dan.

"Tell me, Avi. What happened to us that it seems like it was natural for them to sit in are usual spot here in the cafeteria?" Natatawang sabi ni Klaude habang bumubulong sa akin. Hindi ko mapigilan mapangiti sa sinabi niya. Oo nga, no? Parang dati lang si Klaude lang ang madalas kong kasama dito, ngayon naman ay naging lima na kami dito sa table. Not that I mind, though.

Bigla akong napatigil. My body stiffened when I realized that I don't mind being with people. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa kanilang apat. When did I ever part of this group?

When did my circle become this big? I started to wonder. And when did I ever let this happen?

"Hey, Dan." Si Klaude ang unang bumati kay Dan. Dan on the other hand just nodded his head to Klaude, greeting him back. At dahil katabi ko si Klaude ay madali ko lang itong sikuhin.

"When did the two of you start being cool with each other?" I whispered. Lumapit naman siya sa akin at bumulong pabalik.

"The moment I accepted that Nadia will no longer be mine. Life is too short for clinging to something that I knew to myself that I can't have." Pagkasabi niya niyo ay itinuro niya ang kanyang dibdib kung nasaan ang kanyang puso.

"Hindi ko alam kung kelan bibigay ang puso na ito. My weak heart can fail me in any moment. I could even die tomorrow. And even that happens, at least I will not have any unfinished business here." Napatango ako sa sinabi niya.

"Touché,"

"Your name is Dan?" Pru suddenly asked, turning to Nadia's boyfriend. Dan frowned when he looked at Pru.

"Your name can pass as palindrome with your girlfriend's name. Nad and Dan. You two must be a match made in heaven!" At dahil sa sinabi ni Pru ay namula ang pisngi ni Dan. He coughed, clearing his throat. Nadia only smiled brightly as if the sun was shining directly on her.

"Busy ba kayo ngayong darating na Sabado?" Nadia asked, looking at us. Tumingin naman ako sa kanya ng nagtataka.

"Wait lang, hindi pala dapat ganyan ang tanong." She moved her hands as if telling us to forget what she had just said.

"I want to invite you to have two day and one-night vacation at Dan's family guesthouse."

"Can I come?!" Tumingin ako sa gawi ni Pru na namimilog ang mata sa saya.