All that Matters (Absinthe Series 3)

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1

All that Matters

“ Ano bang nagustuhan mo diyan kay Matthew? He’s a jock, Muriel! A jock!”
I stared at Arunika as she kept on pacing back and forth in front of us. Narinig ko ang pagsinghap ni Muriel sa aking tabi at pagkapit niya sa aking braso. If looks could kill, Muriel should be six feet below the ground now.

“What’s wrong with it, Aru? He’s good looking and all. Diba nga ganoon din yung mga ex mo?” I asked.

“ That’s the point, Adi. Guys like Matthew cannot be trusted! See where it got me?” aniya na ginawa ng problem ang pakikipagrelasyon ni Muriel kay Matthew.

Matthew is a basketball player. He was tall, tan and handsome. He’s quite popular with girls and somewhat a Casanova. Girls root for guys like him. Sporty and athletic, charming smile and yeah, a lot of money. Hindi na maiiwasang magustuhan iyon ni Muriel. Muriel could easily get a guy with her looks and pleasing personality. Hindi ko alam kung bakit big deal na big deal iyon kay Arunika.

“ We’re merely senior high students, Aru. Nothing serious here. It’s just a little admiration, ano bang problema doon?” si Muriel at yumakap sa akin. Ngumuso ako bago tinitigan si Aru. She deeply sighed before planting herself on the tiled floor.

“ Ayaw ko lang naman na maranasan niyo yung naranasan ko. I mean, athletes are just so matinik sa mga babae! Tinalo pa yung celebrity!”

I laughed. “ Yeah right. Apparently, you dated a lot of athletes before and take note, sabay-sabay Arunika! I don’t think that the boys are the issue here.” Sambit ko.

“ I was doing it for revenge! Dapat lang na maramdaman ng mga lalaki kung gaano kasakit na lokohin ano! They let me fall for them and yet they’ll just leave me hanging. Kaya ‘wag niyo akong gagayahin. You should find guys who’re willing to fight for you.” Aniya.

“ You know that’s a bit harsh, Aru.” Muriel said. Tumango ako. I wasn’t a fan of it too. The reason is because it could ruin the image of a person. Arunika may not be the face of the campus, but I am. I am the student government president of the school and one wrong move from the people close to me, alam kong ikasisira ko rin ito. It would be the best weapon against me. And Arunika is one of the people close to me. I am still affected by her actions because we’re friends.  It only justifies, ‘birds with the same feathers flock together’.

Arunika smirked. Binalewala ang mga sinabi kanina at napatingin na lamang sa akin. “ You should also stop admiring Trance, Adi. Hindi ba’t ilang buwan mo ng gusto? He doesn’t recognize you at all. He was popular, you belong on the circle of popular and yet he hadn’t even added you on facebook!”

“ I am not desperate for his attention, Aru. I just like him. Hindi naman ako nangangarap na magustuhan niya rin.” I said. Iniwas ko ang tingin kay Aru at bumaling kay Muriel.

Humiwalay siya sa akin sa pagkakayakap at tumayo. I studied Muriel’s appearance as she brushed her hair with her fingers and shake her head a bit.

Her hair’s a bit wavy, similar to mine. Bahagyang maalon ang aking buhok na minsa’y kinaiinggitan ni Arunika. Arunika has straight long hair. Among the three of us, Arunika has the most number of past relationships. Si Muriel ay mage-entertain lang naman kapag may lumalapit at kung wala ay kuntento na lamang sa pagkakagusto sa iilang mga gwapo dito sa school.
Kailanma’y hindi talaga ako naging pabor sa maaga nilang pagkakaroon ng mga boyfriend.

At times, I would scold them for doing such things. Pero hindi rin naman nakikinig at wala na rin naman akong magagawa doon. I, on the other hand, restrict myself on falling for boys in school. Alam ko naman ang bawat galaw nila. I witnessed it first hand on my girl friends. Ganoon lang din naman ang nangyari kaya nga hindi ako nagpapakita ng motibo kay Trance na may gusto ako sa kaniya.