Say I Love You Too

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Tahimik.

Nakakunot noo akong napatingin kay Camille. She's laughing, chuckling and giggling all by herself while looking at her phone. And it's very irritating lalo na't nagbabasa ako.

"Can you please keep your emotions to yourself?" saad ko dito. "Just for a while, Cam. I'm reviewing for a long test." sabi ko as I raise my thick Algebra book.

"You're always reviewing naman eh." aniya at para akong nabingi sa pag-iiba ng tono ng kanyang boses pati na rin ang pagbabago nya ng kanyang way of speaking.

"It's because I want to graduate this highschool with a good records." I stated. "And I hope, you too."

"High school is not just about studying, Rae." she defended. "Pano mo mararanasan ang sinasabi nilang high school years ang pinakamasaya if you're just in a corner and studying?"

"I'm happy, Cam. I'm happy with my grades that make my parents happy too." I answered smiling while picturing the wide smiles of mom and dad when they're receiving my quarterly report card. "Masaya na akong nag-aaral ako and also by joining the extra-curricular activities."

"Well, those extra-curricular activities that you're talking about ay required naman talaga." aniya. "It's still needed for your grades. I believe that kung wala namang grade 'yon ay hindi sasagi sa isip mo na sumali doon."

Hindi nalang ako sumagot 'cause it's partly, I mean mainly true.

Noong una ay naiinis pa ako 'cause we are required to join clubs for our ECCA grade. But once I got in a club with my own interest, I feel better at na-eexcite na rin ako every club days dahil iba-ibang activities related to our club ang ginagawa namin. I find it very interesting amd exciting until now.

Ang volleyball naman ay kinahiligan ko na talaga since I was young when my mom and I are watching UAAP. Nakaka-thrill kasing laruin ang volleyball. Also, one of my sports ay ang itinuro sa akin ni daddy which is basketball. Hindi ko pa 'to gamay but I know that I can handle the ball partly well.

"OMG!" tili ni Camille.

Napapikit nalang ako at huminga ng malalim trying to control my temper. Binaba ko ang librong binabasa ko at tumingin sa kanya ng matalim.

Ngumiti sya ng malapad sa akin at kitang-kita ko ang pamumula ng kanyang pisngi.

"What now?" walang ganang tanong ko as she showed me her phone.

From: Henrylove.♥

      Can I ask you for a date? ;) I'll promise to make it memorable as much as I can. You won't regret it. :)

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya pagkatapos kong basahin ang message sa kanya ni Henry. Niyakap-yakap nya ang phone nya na halatang sobrang kilig at sobrang saya nya.

"What should I do? What should I say? Magpapakipot ba muna ako?" natataranta nyang tanong sa akin habang todo ngiti ito.

Napailing ako. "Be yourself." simpleng sagot ko dito at napatigil sya sa kanyang taranta saka umupo sa tabi ko.

"You dont really like Henry for me, right?" seryosong tanong nito sa akin.

I sighed. "It's not that hindi ko sya gusto para sayo." mahinahon na sabi ko. "It's just ayokong masaktan ka. We all know that Henry's some kind of a playboy at ayoko lang na isa ka sa mga babaeng mapaglalaruan nya. You're my bestfriend and you're special to me. Kung sino ang makapagpapasaya sayo, doon ako. But when I know na hindi sya makakabuti sayo, I'll try to support pero hindi mo maaalis ang cold treatment ko sayo and even with the guy twing masasama sya sa conversation natin." I explained. "I'm sorry but that's it."

Ngumiti ito. "Well, I'm already glad with the idea that you're trying to support me with him." aniya. "Masaya na ako doon, Rae." she said as she blushily types her reply.

I dont know but I somehow felt guilty. What if Henry's serious about Cam? Pero hindi pa rin maalis sa isipan ko ang mga possibilities na niloloko lang sya ni Henry. Should I just let her and pretend that I'm already cool with it?

Napailing nalang ako at nagbalik nalang sa pagrereview.

"Malapit na ang PRISAA." ani coach namin pagkatapos naming magtraining. "We need to get prepared for this battle. I'm going to post the line-ups for the upcoming league. Sa mga hindi pa nasama sa line-up, dont worry. There'll be other leagues for you." he said at saka tumayo sa bench. "You may now go home."

Nagsitayuan na rin kami at agad akong naglakad kung nasan ang training bag ko. Tulo ng tulo ang pawis ko dahil kakagaling lang namin sa 3000 ladders nang i-huddle kami ni coach.

"Nasan na ba 'yon?" I uttered to myself habang hinahanap ang face towel ko.

Napatigil ako sa paghahanap ng may nag-abot sa akin ng isang face towel. Nilingon ko ito at nakitang nakangiti ito sa akin habang inaalok ang face towel nya.

"No thanks." sabi ko nalang at kinuha na ang training bag ko para pumunta sa shower room.

"Hindi ko naman 'to gagamitin, Lyrae." ani Henry at hindi ko nalang sya pinansin saka nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungong shower room.

Nakakainis. Hindi ba pwedeng kung gusto nya talaga si Camille ay si Camille lang ang babaeng i-eentertain nya and forget about the rest? Kaya sya lumalabas na playboy eh. Kung sinu-sino ang nilalapitan na babae.

"Nandito na pala si Lyrae." narinig kong sabi ng isang ka-teammate ko at agad akong napalingon sa kanila na papalapit na sa akin.

"Ka-close mo ba si Josh?" ani Martha. "He just told you to call him Josh at ka-close lang ni Josh ang hinayaan nyang tumawag sa kanya ng ganon."

"Then you're also close to him." sabi ko nalang. "You're also calling him Josh." puna ko.

"Not when he's around." she rolled her eyes at kinuha ko na ang towel ko to take a quick shower.

"We're not close, okay?" sabi ko nang ayaw nila ako paraanin para makapagshower. "I barely know him and I dont know why he lets me call him Josh." I elaborated it more. "Now, can I already take a shower?" I said at binigyan na nila ako ng daan papuntang shower cubicle.

"Klare, let's go?" aya ko kay Klare pagkatapos kong magshower.

"H-Huh?" wala sa sarili nyang sabi. "Ahm, sige. Tara." sabi nya nalang at sabay na kaming naglakad palabas ng gym.

Ngayon lang kami nagkaroon ng tahimik na atmosphere ni Klare habang naglalakad sa hallway. I can sense that she has a problem.

"L-Lyrae.." nauutal nyang sambit sa pangalan ko when I was about to call her attention.

"Bakit?" lumingon ako sa kanya at nakatingin lang sya ng diretso sa dinadaanan namin.

She bit her lower lip. "Are you really not close with Joshua?" panimula nya. "Or you just told them that you're not close with him para hindi ka na nila kulitin?"

Umiling ako. "I'm not really close with him." I truthully answered. "It has only been two times that I met him accidentally. It's nothing important."

"Hmm." aniya at tumango-tango nalang.

Napasinghap ako. "Why are they making a big deal about it? About Joshua or Josh or whatever?" I curiously asked.

Nakita ko itong napangiti. "Cause he's everything that a girl dreams of." simpleng sagot. "He's a perfect boyfriend material. If he likes you, napaka-swerte mo na 'cause it's too good to be true."

"D-Do you like him?" I suddenly and nervously asked.

Yumuko ito and she nodded. "Yes, I do." aniya. "I really do." saka ito nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.