If I'm Not In Love

11

*

"Nakaalis na si Melissa, sino pang hinihintay natin?" tanong ni Troy habang nasa parking lot kami ng school.

I smiled nang makita kong naglalakad na papalapit si Nico samin "Siya," sabi ko sabay turo sa direksyon ni Nico.

Troy didn't say anything. He just frowned and waited for my explanation. Lagi naman siyang ganyan, alam naman kasi niya na mageexplain ako sa kanya kaya hindi na niya kailangan pang magtanong.

"Kanina pa ba kayo? Sorry natagalan," sabi ni Nico pagkalapit niya.

I smiled at him and patted his shoulder to let him know it's okay. "This is Troy my bff.. Troy, this is Nico, I invited him to join us na kumain kina Nanay Milly, okay lang ba?" I asked though I know, I don't need to ask anymore.

Troy gave me a thumbs up then grinned. "Nice meeting you Nico. We'll have a convoy then?"

Nico nodded at nagpaalam nang sasakay na sa kotse niya. Sumakay na ko sa backseat, while Troy was sitting at the passenger's seat. Hinintay muna namin na makalapit ang kotse ni Nico bago sabihin ni Troy sa driver na paandarin na ang sasakyan. It was just a short ride, after a few minutes, nandito na kaming tatlo sa counter ng lugawan.

"Nanay Milly!" I exclaimed.

Ngumiti agad siya pagkakita niya sakin, "Aba'y kayo pala! O may bago ka na namang narecruit," sabi niya na halatang tuwang tuwa.

I heard Troy laughed. Si Troy kasi ang pasimuno sa pagsabi na recruiter daw ako ng lugawan ni Nanay Milly.

"Nanay, nadala ko na po siya dito noon. And kitam, masarap talaga yang lugaw ninyo, binabalik balikan. Wala po ba akong libreng lugaw?" I kidded.

Troy nudged my shoulder while chuckling. Hindi ko siya pinansin.

"Aba'y, syempre meron. Ipagtetake out kita para may makain ka sa hating gabi at hindi ka na lumabas," sagot nito.

I smiled widely and my eyes lit up "Ayos! Thank you po!" I exclaimed happily.

"Tss. Lumalabas ka pa rin?" tanong ni Troy saka hinila ng mahina ang buhok ko "Stubborn"

I just flashed him my sweet smile saka nag order nang tatlong lugaw. Bumaling ako kay Nico, "Ganun pa rin ba sayo? Itlog at tarapilya?" tanong ko.

"Yep," he answered while grinning. Mukhang excited na kumain.

"Tatlong lugaw po, dalawang may itlog at tarapilya tapos yung isa tarapilya lang," order ko.

Pinauna na kami ni Troy sa table. For some reason, Nico keeps on glancing at me and Troy. So, I tilted my head and smiled "Hindi mo naman iniisip na may relasyon kami no?" I shook my head then chuckled pero hindi na siya nakasagot dahil dumating na si Troy dala yung lugaw namin.

"Put everything there or whatever you want. Last time kasi hindi na kita natanong, I just put everything in your bowl," I giggled.

"I'd like to put everything though" sagot ni Nico tapos tumingin sa bowl ni Troy "Hindi ka kumakain ng itlog?" tanong niya.

Troy grinned "Kumakain," maiksing sagot nito.

"He's allergic to egg," I interfered then turned to Troy "Magtira ka ng chicharon!" Saway ko.

The two boys both chuckled kaya naman inagaw ko na sa kamay ni Troy ang bowl ng durog na chicharong baboy. Tumahimik lang sila nang magsimula na kaming kumain.

"Matagal na ba kayong kumakain dito?" Nico suddenly asked.

Sumandal si Troy sa upuan niya pagkaubos niya ng lugaw niya at siya na rin ang sumagot sa tanong ni Nico. "Almost three years na. We just happen to discovered this by accident, noong nagkacanvas kami ng bahay na pwedeng lipatan ni Lala."

"Lala?" Nico frowned.

Troy snickered and pointed at me "That's Lala"

"I thought her name is Leila?" takang taka na tanong ni Nico.

I shook my head then chuckled "Lala is my nickname"

"Ah. Akala ko mali ako nang nakuhang impormasyon tungkol sa pangalan mo," sabi nito habang tumatango. "But Lala is cute, pwedeng yun na lang din ang itawag ko sayo?"

Tumingin muna ako kay Troy but he just grinned. I tilted my head as I looked back at Nico, hindi naman big deal sakin kahit anong tawag sakin. "Okay"

*

"I saw your post on ig yesterday. Why am I not invited?" nagtatampong tanong ni Melissa.

I cocked my head and smiled at her. "Sa lugawan yun ni Nanay Milly," I shrugged.

She gasped, "Pumunta kayo dun with Nico?" gulat na tanong niya.

I chuckled then nodded. Umiling sya na parang hindi makapaniwala. I know, I still remember Nico's reaction nang una ko siyang dinala doon. Halata naman kasing rich kid din tulad ni Melissa, Troy at Ethon. But Troy's different though. He'd rather choose street foods, carenderia, dirty ice cream, or anything na mabibili sa tabi tabi. He craves for something indifferent from what he used to eat as he grew up, though nagluluto din naman si Tito Great ng normal na ulam pero iba pa rin kapag nasa kalsada ka.

"That's new. He's picky in terms of food," sabi nito na parang kilalang kilala na si Nico. So, that got me curious.

"Gaano mo na katagal kakilala si Nico," I asked.

Tiningnan niya muna ko ng nakakunot ang noo bago sumagot "Senior high pa lang, kasabay ni Ethon, palagi kasing magkasama yung dalawang yun kahit dati pa"

I cocked my head, "Palagi? How come I didn't notice him?" I scolwed.

Sa anim na buwan kong pagstalk kay Ethon to get some info, I've never as in never kong napansin si Nico.

I heard Melissa chuckled which turned me back from my reverie. "Si Ethon lang kasi ang nakikita mo. You don't care about anything else na once you're focused on one thing," She said which is very certain.

I smiled at sumandal ako sa puno saka pumikit.

"Lei.." Melissa trailed off.

Nagmulat ako ng mga mata then I found her fidgeting the strap of her bag. Saka nag-aalalang tumingin sakin. She bit her lips before she took a deep breath na para bang kumukuha ng lakas para makapagsalita. I frowned at her gestures. "Ano yun?" I asked curiously.

She can't meet my eyes kaya lalo akong nacurious. I closed my eyes again and waited for her to speak. I have a clue. Something's telling me it's all about Ethon.

"Sinabi sakin ni Ethon na.." she trailed off again.

I've waited for her to continue amd prepared myself as well.

"Liligawan niya ko"