Queen Bee's Diary

II | 07 - Who's Era?

"GIRL, DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE NAMED ERA?" Tanong ng kasama ko sa project na so Yuki. Taga kabilang dep't siya at classmate ko lang sa isang minor subject namin.

"Era?" Takang tanong ko. Who is Era? Is she someone famous here? I really don't know who's who nowadays.

"Yung muse sa Arts Dep't." She said like it's something that every one must know in this school.

Honestly, wala na akong time para kilalanin lahat ng tao sa school na'to. Bukod ang daming estudyanteng nagkalat kung saan saan, college na ako at kinalimutan ko na ang hobby kong maki-tsismis at makialam sa buhay ng may buhay.

My hubby is working for my tuition that's why I don't have the heart to slack. I don't have the same leisure of doing my wicked hobby anymore.

"Okay, so what about her?" Kunot-noong tanong ko. This must be a very highly good gossips and I honestly want to end this conversation.

"Look, oh." May tinuro siya. Wala akong panahon para dito pero napapatingin pa rin ako sa bandang tinuro niya.

Pero sana pala di na lang.. kasi mula dito sa kinauupuan ko, kitang kita ko yung tinatawag nilang Era na masayang nakikipag-uusap kay Justin.

Si Justin. Kelan pa siya nakauwi? Akala ko ba busy siya? He didn't even told me first.. Nor approach me first. Who is she? They knew each other? What are they talking about? Why am I so left behind?

"Baka close sila." I tried to shrug it off after gathering myself back.

Kelan pa naging close sa ibang babae si Justin? Ewan ko. Yung last 'best friend' niyang girl, in love na in love sa kanya. So, pano kapag mainlove din etong si Era? And she's so beautiful na lahat ng lalaking nasa paligid niya, halos mabali na ang leeg masilayan lang siya. A beauty no man can resist.

Pano nga kung this time, si Justin ang mainlove? She doesn't look ordinary at all. Sa lahat ng babaeng gustong dumikit kay Justin, that Era topped the list effortless.

She's oozing with authority and her existence alone is not someone you can ignore.

Iniisip ko pa lang lahat ng naglalarong posibilidad sa isip ko, naninikip na ang dibdib ko.

"Psh. Akala ko ba kayo na ni Justin?" Tanong naman ni Kayceen na parang na-badtrip na hindi ko maintindihan.

"Who said we're together? Close lang kami." Tama, eto yung masaklap, hindi nila puwedeng malaman ang relasyon naming dalawa.

"Close? So, girlfriend niya yan?" Sabay nguso ulit dun at parang gusto ko ng maiyak ng makitang niyakap ni Justin yung babae. I saw fondness in his eyes that's so rare. He doesn't hug anyone that means she's not just anyone to him.

I mentally cleared my throat and tried to think straight though all I really want to do right now is cry my heart out. Pero hindi puwede.

Every single cell on my body screams to listen to his explanation. Tama. Justin would never to that to me. There must be something going on.

"Could be." I silently took a deep breath and shrugged as I try to mask my real expression.

Pero hindi ko pa rin maaalis ang sakit kaya yumuko na lang ako sa notes ko at nagkukunwaring busy sa pagsusulat. It is one of the reason why I hated being at school with him. I can't claim him as mine.

Saglit lang at bigla na lang may humalik sa pisngi ko. Gulat na nag-angat ako ng tingin para lang matunaw lahat ng sakit ng makita ko ang masayang mukha niya.

"Hi Queen!" Masiglang bati niya. His eyes were radiating with happiness.

"H-Hello." I tried to swallow that lump in my throat.