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[10]

-JERIC-

"So they're your friends too? Bakit di natin sila isama minsan?" Hannah asked while we're heading to meet Dichi.

"Hindi mahilig sa night outs si Gab eh." I told her.

"Really? Isama natin sila minsan kahit dinner lang. I bet she'll enjoy." Pamimilit ni Hannah.

"Let's see. Gab's a very busy person. Kahit ako bihira ko lang din sya makita." I told her.

"Baller din yung boyfriend nya noh?" She asked.

Hindi ako naka imik. In denial ako. Baka nga naman kasi it has been Gelo along the way. Baka hindi si Gab yung nagpapantasya. Baka, ako...

Baka all this time, iniisip ko na dahil admitted sya na fan ko sya, na dahil wala syang isinusulat na iba maliban sa mga stories about a girl ending up with me, umaasa sya na pwedeng magkaroon ng ganung story between us.

Pero parang mali eh...

Parang ako yung umaasa na dahil fan ko sya, hindi sya magsasawa at mapapagod na magstay at tumayo sa likod ko para sumuporta.

Nakalimutan ko na syempre, may sariling buhay rin sya. At syempre, hindi naman nya paiikutin lang ang buhay nya sakin.

Habang busy ako sa buhay ko, kampante ako na andyan lang sya kagaya ng mga random tweets nya at mga wattpad stories. Hindi ko inisip na syempre, tao rin lang si Gab - napapagod, nalulungkot, nagsasawa at nasasaktan.

"Hindi ka na sumagot dyan!" Hannah chuckled.

"Oo player din sya sa UAAP. Sa NU."

Hannah continued asking about Gab which makes it difficult for me to talk about us and clearing everything about us. Yung lakad namin naging question and answer about Gab - her whereabouts, hobbies, work and everything about her.

-GAB-

"Hatid na kita sa work." Gelo offered.

"May practice kayo bukas di ba?" Pasimpleng pagdecline ko sa offer. No deal, banker. Sobra-sobra na eh.

"Ok lang, maaga pa naman." He started to insist.

"Maaga pa rin ako para sa shift ko. But no. Umuwi na kayo." I hate to sound like I'm shrugging him out pero, with what happened earlier, ayoko na si Gelo na naman ang sumalo ng pagiging affected ko sa mga dine-date ni Teng.

"Makinig ka kay Ma'am." Pang-aasar ni Glenn kay Gelo. Yes, in a teasing tone as if telling a student to follow the prof's instruction.

"Babawi na lang ako sa'yo, Sis ha! Ang aga kasi ng class ko bukas eh." Katrisse told me and gave me a hug.

"Oo, yung walang asungot." Hirit ko naman causing the group to laugh.

I finally convinced them to head home. Well, thanks Katrisse for the help na rin. Haha!

Nung umalis na sila, nag isip ako kung san tatambay. And being the tamad that I am, I walked my way to Starbucks in Glorietta 5 para madaling mag cab papuntang office mamaya. Lucky enough na may isang free spot sa corner where I can charge my phone while checking work stuff like emails and updates.

Jam-packed kasi yung SB dito lagi pag ganitong oras since may sale, uwian and malapit din kasi sa BPO offices - and yes, you all know how we love coffee. I honestly got lost of what's going on around me after my attention was drawn to my email.

"Miss, paupo ha." Someone said.

I didn't bother to look at the person. Why should I even look at him pa? Una, inassume nya na rin lang na wala talaga akong kasama. Pangalawa, hindi naman sya humihingi ng permission to take the seat, we was merely telling me that he WILL TAKE the seat. Pangatlo, nakaupo na sya. Ano pa ang purpose ng script para sakin sa eksena na 'to?

After a few minutes, I suddenly felt uneasy after hearing murmurs,

"Anong ginagawa nya dito?"

"Ka-date nya ba yung kasama nya?"

"Mukang may LQ si idol at si girl friend."

"Dali na, papicture ka na!"

And that pa-picture line works for both the ladies and the gents.

I am in between braving the urge to look at the person seating across me or pretending like I haven't heard anything, pack my stuff and get out of this place. Pero sisilipin ko nalang kung sino sya once I get out of SB before calling a cab. Either way, I can't deny the fact na curious din ako malaman kung sino 'tong nakaupo sa harap ko.

-JERIC-

"So, yung acquaintance, niyaya sa dinner. Is there anything you would like to share, Ahia?" Almira starts the interrogation on our way home.

"I wanted to talk to her about us eh. I mean, people starts to think that there's something between us. At ayokong umabot pa kay Lorr." I told her.

"Concerned?"

"Ayoko ng gulo."

"Buti alam mo. You'd never like to see how she'd react."

As if on cue, I received a call from Lorr.

"There you go." Almira reacted.

I got no choice but to take the call. Hindi naman siguro tama na maparanoid ako agad, right?

"Hey." She said swiftly after I answered her call.

Through my peripheral, I saw how Dichi rolled her eyes the moment she heard Lorr. I am just sceptical with whom she's raising her brow at.

"You free tonight? Let's hang out naman with our friends. I'm so bored."

"Pauwi palang kami ni Almira eh. I picked her up here sa Makati and traffic."

"Wow, ako pa talaga ang ginawang dahilan." Almira whispered her reaction and I gave her a warning look for her to shut up.

"I see. You have practice tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Same time." I answered and Almira just gave me a disappointed look.

"I guess you're too busy no? Just join the group's wine night soon, Je. You're missing a lot." She said with disappointment in her tone.

Everyone's disappointed with me at one point. Wala naman akong magagawa. Nangyari na eh.

"I will let you guys know as soon as I'm free." I told her in the most assuring tone that I can.

"Mag eexpect ako." She chuckled.

"Take care guys. Hi, Al! I know you're hearing me. I miss you."

"Miss you too. Hang soon." Almira answered.

 "Sure, will. Take care, guys. Bye."

"You just made her expect. Again. For the nth time, Ahia." Almira said making me just shook my head.

"You're playing super paasa. With you telling her about your practice, you're making her feel na you'd like her to watch the team's practice tomorrow."

I was surprised because that's not what I meant. I want to be as nice as I could to reject any hangout plans for tonight. I want to tell her na maaga yung practice and I need to pass if they've come up with any plans already.

Dichi sighed.

"You never learned, Ahia."

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