Chasing Mr. Right [Complete]

Fifty-fourth Chase

Fifty-fourth Chase

"No. Tell me, Charm.  Nagseselos ka ba?"

"Asked the guy who just admitted in front of a lot of people that he likes Meg." I told him sarcastically.

Tumingin sa'kin si Jasper at unti-unting ngumiti. "Charm, hindi mo naman kailangang magselos---"

"I didn't say I was jealous! Because I'm not. Hindi ako nagseselos!"

Sa tingin niya sa'kin, halatang hindi siya naniniwala sa sinasabi ko, yun bang tingin na parang may sikreto siyang alam tungkol sa'kin na hindi ko alam. "Sinabi ko lang na gusto ko si Meg kasi sa tingin ko, magagalit ka kung pangalan mo yung isasagot ko." Nagpatuloy siya na para bang wala akong sinabi. He shrugged. "Kahit pa hindi naman yun yung totoo."

"S-sabi ko namang wala akong pakialam eh!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at tuluyan ko siyang nalagpasan. "Babalik na ko! Bahala ka diyan!"

Narinig ko pa yung pahabol niyang nang-aasar na, "Pwede mo kong iwasan pero hindi yung pagseselos mo!" At yung malakas na tawa ni Jasper.

Ugh.

* * *

Nung makabalik ako sa harap ng tent namin, wala na yung mga groupmates at classmates namin. Sumilip ako sa tent at nakitang nakahiga at natutulog na sina Meg. 

Huh. Gano katagal ba kami nawala ni Jasper? Pero sabagay, malayo layo na rin ata yung narating ko kanina. Ang layo nung nilakad ko para makabalik ako dito eh.

Nakarinig ako ng malakas na hiyawan at nakitang may mga ilan pa kaming classmates na nasa tabi ng bonfire banda. Nakita kong may mga bote ng beer sa tabi nila. Where the hell is our professor at bakit sila nakakainom ng ganyan? I think they're also playing a version of truth or dare. Yun nga lang they're intoxicated and they all look like the liberated kind so their game has a lot of kissing involved. Probably with people they won't even remember when they wake up tomorrow.

Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanila. Ew. Pano ba yun nagagawa ng ibang tao? Kiss people who don't mean anything to them? Naalala ko pa na nung bata ako, I used to think that there's a special effects involved when actors kiss on TV. Kasi akala ko, you only kiss people you're in love with. Tama nga yung sinabi ni Papa noon, hindi naman talaga ganon yung ginagawa ng ibang tao.

Pero bakit ba si Papa yung iniisip ko? Tumingin na lang ako sa langit. Walang bituin na makikita dahil sobrang maulap.

I wouldn't kiss someone I don't love. I still believe in that. Except for that last time when I kissed Zeke to get even, and I did regret what I did ever since. Kaya nga sobrang inis ko noon kay Jasper nung ninakawan niya ko ng halik. Kung maririnig siguro nung mga taong nasa tabi ng bonfire yung iniisip kong 'yun, pagtatawanan nila ako. But I don't care. Kanya-kanyang paniniwala lang naman 'yan, di ba? So what if a lot more people are becoming liberated? So what if some people may think I'm a prude because I still believe in only kissing people you love when some people even have one night stands with strangers? I wouldn't judge them for their choices so they can't judge me.