He Who Never Liked A Girl Before

CHAPTER 12

"Let's continue walking. Gagabihin na si Caledonia." Eiji promtly stood up and began walking towards my direction. The very little hint of amusement he showed us a while ago is now completely obscured. Si Cielo naman ay pirming itinayo ang bisekleta niya bago tuluyang lumapit din sa akin.

"Get up."

"Tara?"

I heaved a sigh when they both lent their hands for me. Bahagya pa akong nalito kung alin sa mga kamay na nasa harap ang kay Cielo at ang kay Eiji.

"Ako ang nauna." Tinapik ni Cielo ang kamay ni Eiji dahilan para bahagyang gumilid ito. Eiji's eyebrow sloped down in a serious expression.

"Says who? I lent my hand first." Bahagyang umuna si Eiji at inilapit ang kamay sa akin. He blocked Cielo who is now lamenting on his back. Nang hindi nakatiis ay hinawi ng nasa likod na si Cielo si Eiji. Eiji then slightly moved involuntarily, giving me the chance to see Cielo behind him.

"Kamay ko ang abutin mo, Cania. Dali na..." Cielo stared straight into my eyes and tried to convince me to accept his waiting hand. Bahagya pa siyang tumango sa akin, sinasabing iyon nga ang dapat kong gawin.

"Don't listen to him. Accept my hand so we could go now."

My forehead creased with their remarks and the tone they used. Their expression is ridiculous, too. Para akong bata sa ginagawa nila. A little kiddo who can't decide on her own, wondering which lollipop she would like to have from the two vendors who got a degree in pursuading.

Sa huli ay napangiwi ako sa inaasta nila at tumayong mag-isa. I arched my left eyebrow the moment I faced them. Pinagpagan ko ang damit at nilampasan ang dalawa nang nagsimula na akong maglakad.

"Para kayong mga bata."

"I told you to stop stealing the moment!" I heard Eiji drawled lazily but I can still sense a little hint of repentant on his voice. He snorted after giving his rebuttal to Cielo.

"Oh bakit?! Ikaw lang may karapatang umeksena?" Nai-imagine ko si Cielo na padarag na nagpamewang matapos sagutin ang kausap.

"Why can't you just let me bring Caledonia home? You're really doing it on purpose."

"E, ano naman ngayon. Sa gusto ko ding ihatid si Cania, eh. Atsaka I already told her Lola that I'm gonna visit her."

"Don't make her Lola an excuse. Ang sabihin mo ay gusto mo lamang makita si Caledonia."

"Gano'n nga! Ang galing mo! Up here!" Cielo laughed. Marahil ay dahil sa hindi sinakyan ni Eiji ang gusto niyang mangyari o 'di kaya naman ay natutuwa talaga siya sa naiinis na reaksyon ng kausap. "Atsaka anong tingin mo sa akin walang diskarte? Wais 'to, wais."

"Are you courting Caledonia?" Biglang naalerto ang tenga ko sa narinig. My stomach churned when I heard Eiji's query. Seems like a harsh avalanche is currently going in me.

Tumikhim muna si Cielo sa naging tanong. Kahit nakatalikod ay nai-imagine ko ang kaniyang posibleng maging reaksiyon. He's maybe hesitating on Eiji's probe because he's fully aware that I'm listening to their conversation.

"Y-yes! N-nililigawan ko nga. At ano naman sa iyo ngayon? Hindi ba't ganoon naman talaga ang ginagawa ng mga lalaki kapag may gusto sila sa isang babae?"

Oh, so he's courting me. I nodded mentally after hearing his answer. The avalanche inside had intensified, crumpling my senses and making me lost for words. Nanatili akong nakatalikod sa kanila habang naglalakad palayo sa kanilang direksiyon.

I convinced myself that that is just normal. A guy, courting a girl he's attracted to is normal. Ngunit sa kabila ng naisip ay walang pasubaling bumalandra sa aking labi ang ngiti. I bit my lower lip to repress the ghost of smile which shamelessly just appeared. Para bang sa pamamagitan ng pasimpleng pagkagat dito ay mapapatay ang lumitaw na kurba sa labi. I fixed my eyeglasses in place when I managed to gather my senses back and combat the crazy thought in mind.