If I'm Not In Love

16

"Ate Lala!" sigaw ni Tai.

Mabilis ko siyang nilingon at hinila paupo sa tabi ko.

"Sshh," I placed my finger on my lips.
She tilted her head and arched her eyebrow. Tinitigan niya muna ko bago ngumisi. "Are you stalking someone?" she asked.

I smiled at her then nodded saka ako tumingin sa likod niya to check kung nandoon pa si Ethon sa table niya.

"Who is he? Your boyfriend?" tanong ni Tai na nakatingin na rin sa direksyon ni Ethon.

I shook my head "No. He's not"

She scowled at me na parang nagtataka. I chuckled at her reaction and pinched her left cheek. "Hindi lahat ng ini-stalk ng babae boyfriend nila Tai. But we want them to be though"

Mas lalo siyang naguluhan kaya napailing na lang ako.

"You'll understand me kapag nainlove ka sa taong in love sa iba" I shook my head again and frowned, "But I don't want you to experience that." I added.

"I don't wanna be in love" she stated matter-of-factly.

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. She's still young kaya hindi ko alam kung good or bad thing yung sinabi niya.

"I don't want to depend my feelings on someone else. Like, you'd cry because he doesn't text or call you or for whatever reason and you'll be happy because he makes you feel kilig for giving shitty flowers and unhealthy junkfoods" she rolled her eyes.

"You've watched to much movies ha," I grinned that caused her to roll her eyes again.

"Nah. I just got it in school and my annoying classmates always talks about their partners and the girls were crying because of shitty reasons."

"You observed?"

"Duh, Ate Lala" she gave me a are-you-kidding-me look "I don't care about them to waste time observing. I just don't have a choice but to hear their whines and saw their corny 'romantic stuffs'" sabi niya na inemphasis at nag-quote-unquote finger gesture pa sa ere.

Napailing na lang ako. Magkaiba talaga sila ni Troy. Sabi ni Tita Honey kaugali daw ni Tai si Tito Great, but I can't imagine Tito Great being snob and rude. Ang bait niya kaya sakin.

"Bakit ka nga pala nandito?" tanong ko.

Mas lalong kumunot ang nakakunot na niyang noo na parang may biglang nakakainis na naalala.

"Tss"

"Tai?"

She rolled her eyes "I'm going to meet someone" she answered.

My forehead creased as I stared at her. "Who?" I asked curiously.

"Just no one. I was just forced to do this because of Tan. I really believe I was just born to save his ass. He's such a weakling!" she whined.

Napailing na lang ako at tumingin ulit kay Ethon. Paalis na siya pero ayoko namang basta iwan na lang si Tai dito. Tai perfectly arched her eyebrow as she looked passed behind me. I looked over my shoulder and I saw a guy entering the café at mukhang may hinahanap.

"Siya ba?" tanong ko ng ibalik ko ang tingin kay Tai.

"I don't know" she shrugged.

I tilted my head then looked at the guy again.

"Ate, I think it's him. You can go now, umalis na yung ini-stalk mo" said Tai.

"Sigurado ka?" I asked worriedly.

Hindi naman sa judgemental ako, but the guy looks like a gang member or something. Hindi ko naman pwedeng basta iwan na lang si Tai.

"I can handle it" she assured me then gave me a half smile.