Your Universe

#YU14

Hinampas ko si RJ sa tabi ko without breaking my gaze at Karla. "Stop staring at me, RJ," I told him. "Kanina ka pa ha."

"Paano mo nalaman?"

"I can see you from my peripheral, ano ka ba. Nasa tabi lang kaya kita."

"Ang ganda kasi ng view from here..." humarap ako sa kanya. "Oh, manghahampas na naman! View ng ulap kasi!"

"Ewan ko sa'yo," I crossed my arms on my chest before turning back to Karla. I felt RJ pull me closer to him so I can lean on his chest. "Hoy ano ka ba!"

"Pinapalapit lang kita, grabe ka. Baka malaglag ka kasi," he said, almost chuckling.

"Hmp," pero ako naman si gaga, naglean din. Arti ko. Hahahaha. "Pero RJ, magkagalit ba tong dalawang to?" I asked him.

"Hindi ko din alam eh," lumingon siya sa'kin, magkalapit na naman tuloy mga mukha namin. "Tanungin mo kaya?"

"Ehhh baka naman kasi ayaw nila pag-usapan? Teka teka sila na ba?"

RJ shrugged. "Hindi ko alam, seryoso. Hindi naman kasi nagkukwento si Pao—"

Nagulat kami nung narinig namin na tumili si Gio. "Hoy kayong dalawa!" she pointed at us. "Harutan kayo ng harutan diyan tapos na ba kayo?!"

"Oo kaya. Hinihintay na lang namin kayo ni Karla," nginuso ko si Paolo and Kevin. "Tapos na kaya sila oh."

Karla went to my side and showed me the design she made. "Ito na yung sa fashion, sports and entertainment. I incorporated it with Gio's work na kanina kaya okay na yan," lumingon siya kay Gio. "Girl tapos ka na rin diba?"

Gio's forehead creased when Karla turned to her. "Bakla, okay ka lang ba?" she asked her. "Feeling ko hindi ka okay kasi hindi mo man lang pinansin na naka-lean si Maine kay Richard?! Bakla anong nangyari sa priorities?!"

Binato ko si Gio ng papel. "Bruha ka, ako na naman nakita mo," tumayo ako at pinaupo na si Karla dun sa katabi naming upuan. I checked her temperature to see if she's sick. "Wala ka namang lagnat. Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo?"

"Karla, okay ka lang ba?" RJ asked. "Baka may ginawa naman sa'yo tong si Paolo. Sabihin mo na."

Napalingon kaming lahat kay Paolo who is still staring at her. I was about to open my mouth when he stood up, went to Karla and grabbed her.

"Hoy saan kayo pupunta?!" sigaw ko sa kanila.

"Mag-uusap lang kami." Paolo answered loudly as they walked inside our house.

•RICHARD•

Nung pumasok sina Paolo sa loob ng bahay nina Maine, alam ko nang kakausapin niya si Karla tungkol sa kung anong meron sila. Wala siyang sinasabi sa'kin, but based on my observation, he likes her.

"Ano bang problema nun? Bakit may pag-walkout?" Maine asked. We heard sobs coming from inside the house. "Is Karla crying?"

Tatayo na sana si Maine papunta sa loob nung pinigilan ko siya. "Hayaan mo na muna silang mag-usap, Maine. I think it's their issue, let them handle it."

"Pero kasi naman umiiyak si Karla," she said as she sat back down beside me. "I'm just worried about her."

"Alam niyo feeling ko sila na," Gio non-chalanty said as she typed something on her laptop. "Hindi lang nila sinasabi sa atin."

"Ipagkakalat mo daw kasi kapag sinabi nila sa'yo." Kevin retorted.

Gio gave him a death stare before turning her back on him. Kevin did the same. Napapailing na lang ako. Parang mga sira tong dalawang to eh.

Natapos na naming lahat yung individual tasks namin kaya inaayos na lang namin ni Maine yung paggawa sa magazine pages. Halos patapos na rin kami nung bumalik sina Paolo and Karla sa garden. At lahat kami nagulat, lalo na yung dalawang babae.

They were holding each other's hand.

Kingina naunahan pa kami.

"Hoy!!! Ano yan kayo na?!" Gio beamed at them. Nilapitan pa talaga niya yung dalawa, niyugyog si Karla at hinampas-hampas si Paolo. "Kayo na ba???!!!"

"Aray ko Giovanna!!" Paolo turned to Kevin. "Kev kunin mo na nga tong si Gio! Langya malalamog ako eh!"

"Paki ko diyan?" Kevin retorted. Binato tuloy siya ni Gio ng unan.

"Bwisit ka Kevin!"

"Karla ano nga? Kayo na ba?" Maine asked them. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa bago tumango. "Ehhhhh!!! Nakakainis kayo!!!"

The three girls hugged each other while Paolo sat on one of the chairs. "Kelan ka pa nanligaw? Hayup, paps. Silent but deadly ka talaga langya." I told him.

"Kelan kayo nagligawan? Bakit di namin alam to?" Maine said as she sat down beside me. I pulled her closer so she can lean on me again. "Saka bakit ka umiiyak kanina Karla?"

"Last month lang talaga," Karla answered. "E kasi tong si Paolo parang tanga. Sabi ko sa kanya kagabi nung magkatext kami, wag na akong sunduin kanina kasi kaya ko na naman pumunta dito. Paggising ko nandun na sa bahay namin."

"Ha? Yun lang?" sabay pang sabi nina Maine at Gio. Natawa naman kami ni Kevin. Pucha, ang babaw akala ko naman kung ano.

Hinila ni Gio si Maine patayo. "Bakla tara na, ang OA na nung friend natin."

"E ang sama kasi ng gising ko!" Karla said, pouting. "Antok na antok pa ko tapos istorbo tong si Paolo."

"Ito naman sinusundo ka na nga pambihira."

"Hoy teka, teka," awat ni Gio sa kanila. "So kailan naging kayo?"

"Kahapon lang." sabay nilang sabi, which earned a shriek from the two girls. Natatawang napapailing na lang ako. Hay, girls and their excitement.

"Poks," Kevin called my attention. "Naunahan pa kayo nina Paolo." he said, laughing.

"Oo nga eh, pambihira."

Kinalabit ko na si Maine, making her turn to me. "Yes?"

"Tapos mo na yan?"

"Ah, yup. Tapos na." She gave her laptop to me so I can check everything.

"Pwede na to ipaprint. Tayo na lang dalawa?" I asked her. She nodded and smiled at me.

The others started to fix their things since natapos na namin yung magazine. "Kayo na lang magpapaprint?" Gio asked us. We both nodded at her. "Sus, magdedate lang kayo eh."

"Hindi ah!" Maine answered.

"Baka pagalitan ako ng tatay niya," I said. "Bawal umalis ng hindi alam eh."

Sabay-sabay na kaming lumabas ng bahay nina Maine para umalis. Nauna na sina Paolo and Karla kasi medyo malayo pa yung bahay ni Karla. Gio was left with Kevin, much to her dismay.

"Gio, magpahatid ka na kay Kevin. Baka magalit kasi yung mommy mo eh." Maine told her.

"Naku, okay lang pagalitan ako ni mommy no. Di bale na. Kaya ko naman mag-isa."

Kevin tapped my back. "Mauna na kami Poks," he told me and grabbed Gio's hand. "Tara na, aarte pa eh."

I've known Giovanna since we were freshmen at alam kong wala masyadong lumalapit na lalaki sa kanya sa sobrang lakas ng personality niya. And no other guy has made her feel flustered as she is right now, except Kevin.

"First time yan," I heard Maine beside me. Napa-fistbump kami as we saw them walking away, hand in hand.

I snaked my arms on her waist and gave her a smile. "Tara na, ipaprint na natin yan."