CRAZY IN LOVE

Chapter 17

Chance Daniel

Well, that one hurts. Though, I wasn't really expecting she'll choose me, still, it was disappointing on my part. Why did I even go there in the first place? I shouldn't have gone there. That was so stupid of me.

"You've got it so bad, dude," nakangising sabi pa ni Terrence kasabay ng marahang pag-iling.

Pero sa halip na kumibo ay nagkunwari akong walang narinig at itinuon ang buong atensyon sa aking cell phone.

"You didn't get to be Kirsten's Romeo. Too bad," nang-uuya pang aniya. At kahit pa hindi ko tingnan ang kanyang mukha ay alam kong hanggang tainga ang kanyang ngiti. "But why did you audition for the role anyway?"

Binalewala ko ang huling tanong niya at nagkunwari pa ring walang narinig.

"Alright. You don't want to talk about it. I get it," natatawang sabi pa niya. "Such a pussy," pahabol na aniya bago tuluyang maglakad palayo, pero parang naglalaro sa aking tainga ang kanyang halakhak.

Umiling ako at marahas na ginulo ang aking buhok. I was trying really hard not to get affected, but it's harder than I thought.

I fvcking sucked at this.

The Foundation Day went well. Surprisingly, Jack seemed to be the guy for it. That wasn't a compliment, though. He did well because Kirsten was his partner. That's just it. Just that.

Nanood ako ng play, pero hindi ako humilera kila Tyrone. I think it was better this way. Kung anuman ang nararamdaman namin ni Kirsten para sa isa't-isa, siguro ay mababago din ito ng panahon kung patuloy na hindi magku-krus ang aming landas. Even if I love her, I have no hold in time. Alam kong possibleng mabago 'yon at kapag hindi nag-work ang relasyon namin ay possible ring masira ang pagkakaibigang mayroon kami ni Tyrone at kahit na kami mismong dalawa. They were like family to me. I would do anything to retain this friendship I had with the Greene's for a long time.

Huminga ako ng malalim at mabibigat ang mga paang nilisan ang Convention Hall.

Months went by so fast. I survived another year without talking to Kirsten. Kagandahan na lang ay puro wala pang seryosong girlfriend ang barkada kaya't na-enjoy ko ang gimik gabi-gabi. Not that we overdo it. Kahit pa nga siguro puro kami bulakbol ay magaganda ang grades namin. The perks of having rich families was also one factor. They just couldn't fail us. Though, none of us actually abused that power. Kahit pa pinakabulakbol sina Dalton at Vaughn ay hindi pa rin pahuhuli ang mga grades nila. Si Tyrone ang pinaka-seryoso sa pag-aaral. Karaniwan ay siya rin ang nawawala sa gimik ng barkada. He was a good son and a good brother.

Matapos ang klase ay sabay-sabay kaming pumasok ng barkada sa school canteen at naupo sa dati naming puwesto. Hindi ko alam kung papaanong nababakante ang table naming iyon sa dami ng mga estudyante. Agad kaming nag-upuan at agad ring sumenyas si Dalton sa isa sa mga waitress.

"Someone's getting laid today," nakangisi pang panunukso ni Vaughn kay Ty kasabayan ng malakas na pag-ubo.

Nananatiling seryoso lang ang mukha ni Ty na parang hindi alintana ang sinabing iyon ni Vaughn. Wala ako sa sariling umiling dahil sa tagal na naming magkaibigan ni Ty, gan'on na talaga siya simula pa lang. Nagkakandarapa na ang mga babaeng naghahabol sa kanya ay wala pa rin siyang pakialam.

"Mamayang gabi, babawi ako!" nakangising singit pa ni Dalton.

"Hi, Tyrone, baby," Tarah said seductively as she kissed Tyrone on the lips.

"Hey..." tipid na bati lang ni Tyrone kasabay ng mapaklang ngiti.

We all knew that he had no interest in her. Kung bakit bigla niyang binigyan ng pansin si Tarah ay wala akong alam.