Nakangiti ako kina Ciel at Terrence na parehong nakatulala sa’min. In my mind, nag-iisip na ako ng timeline kung kailan naging close ang dalawang ‘to at kung pa’no sila nagligawan na hindi namin nalalaman.
“Dhae, hi.” Gulat na gulat na bati sa’kin ni Terrence as soon as he recovered. As in same level sila ng redness ni Ciel.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya. “Hi! How are you?”
Nagkatinginan ‘yung dalawa. “Okay lang,” sagot niya sa’kin. “Ikaw?”
“I’m great,” I answered smiling. He glanced at Marco and our clasped hands and it just hit me. “Oh, this is my boyfriend, Marco. Marco, si Terrence.”
“Hi,” Marco said as he smiled at him and instantly offered his hand for a handshake. Medyo nag-alangan pa si Terrence bago niya tinanggap. Bakit ba ang awkward nila?
Lumapit ako kay Ciel na pulang-pula pa rin. “You have a lot of explaining to do to the gang. Nagtatampo kaming lahat sa’yo,” I whispered to her and she fidgeted more. I went back to Marco and held his arm.
“Kakain ba kayo? Sabay na kayo sa’min,” Terrence offered.
I shook my head. “Ay hindi na, okay lang kami. Sige, Terrence, Ciel, we’ll go ahead. Gutom na kami. We still have a movie to catch in two hours. Ingat kayo.” I smiled at looked at Ciel meaningfully. Nagpaalam na din si Marco and then we walked.
“Pulang-pula si Ciel kanina,” he commented as we walk to our table.
“Nako, lagot ‘yun sa barkada kapag nalaman nila. Hindi ko gets kung bakit kailangan niyang itago. Terrence is a nice guy, tsaka kilala naman namin ‘yun,” I answered as we sat down beside each other. Buti nalang konti ‘yung nasa pila kaya nakapag-order kami kaagad.
“Are you gonna tell them what we saw today?”
Umiling ako. “Hayaan nating si Ciel ang magsabi.”
“Schoolmate niyo din dati ‘yung boyfriend niya?” He asked habang inaayos niya ‘yung pagkain namin.
“Nope. Officemate ni Raj,” I answered at naglagay ng kutsara at tinidor sa plate niya. Napanganga ako when I realized something. “OMG!”
Bigla siyang nag-panic. “Oh why?”
“I just thought of something. May gusto kasi si Terrence sa’kin dati. Alam mo naman, sobrang ganda ng girlfriend mo, gustuhin!” I laughed. “We all went out to dinner one time kasi he wanted to meet me. Eh, kaso hindi ako sumasama sa lalaki kapag hindi ko kilala talaga, kaya ayun, kasama ‘yung buong barkada. In-invite pa kami nun sa bahay nila nung birthday ng Mommy niya.”
He turned serious. “Nanligaw ba sa’yo?”
“Hindi. We lost contact after that birthday party. Tsaka nakita namin ni Raj nun na nakatitig siya kay Ciel from a distance. Kaya pala.” I smiled at myself kasi kinilig ako bigla dun sa dalawa. Kaso paglingon ko kay Marco, nakasimangot na siya.
Kinurot ko yung pisngi niya. “Oh, bakit may pagsisimangot kang ganap diyan?”
“Wala.”
I stared at him for a while. “Hay nako, are you jealous?” I asked with a grin as I nudge his arm. Sinimangutan niya lang ako. “Seriously?”
“Did you like him?”
Natawa na ako. Parang tanga ‘to. “Like? As in romantically? Nope. Tanong mo pa kina Raj at Lands.”
“Sure?” Seryoso pa rin niyang tanong. “May itsura naman siya.”
I smiled at him. “’Di ba? He looks good. Ang bait din nun, in fairness naman.”
