Sinundan ko ang tingin niya and I saw Ethon and Melissa walking towards the table na medyo malayo samin.
"Hindi ka ba nagseselos?" I suddenly blurted out.
Umangat ang kilay ni Troy kasabay ng pag-angat ng tingin niya sakin. "Why? Are you jealous?"
"I asked you first"
Binaba niya ang chopsticks na hawak niya saka mahinang hinila yung buhok ko. "Bakit ako magseselos? At sinong pagseselosan ko?" he asked.
"You said you do like her. So, why aren't you jealous?" I scowled.
"I just like her, Lala," sagot nito saka bumalik ulit sa pagkain na parang wala lang talaga sa kanya.
Hindi na ko nagtanong pa. We ate silently, madalas akong mapatingin sa side nila Ethon. Nakita ko kung paano asikasuhin ni Ethon si Melissa, but the latter didn't seem affected by his gesture. Manhid yata tong si Melissa e. Pagkatapos namin kumain, niyaya ko ng lumabas si Troy at dahil nagfade na yung inis niya, niyaya niya kong magdessert kaya pumunta naman kami sa bakeshop at kumain ng chocolate cake. Hinatid niya ko sa bahay after, ginabi na nga kami. Mama called and we just talked the whole night hanggang sa makatulog ako.
*
"Uy, sorry sa sinabi ni Ethon. I told you, masama ang tabas ng dila nun kapag naiinis," sabi ni Melissa ng magkita kami sa school.
I smiled at her. "Okay lang. He has a point naman," I shrugged.
"But still. Don't worry I defended you naman e. I told him that you're still a freshman and aren't allowed yet to do those kind of things"
"Thanks pero hindi mo na naman kailangan gawin yun." I said but I really appreciated what she did.
Hinampas niya ko ng malakas sa braso kaya napangiwi ako, ang bigat talaga ng kamay niya "I'm your friend, of course i'll do that"
I smiled at her again and clung my arms on hers bago ko siya hinila papasok sa gate.
"Kumusta ang tahi ng sugat mo?" tanong ko saka ko sinilip yung braso niya sa kabilang side.
"Okay lang, medyo kumikirot pa rin pero hindi na nagdudugo" sagot nito.
I nodded. Naupo kami sa may puno dahil maaga pa, nagkita lang naman kami ngayon ni Melissa sa gate kaya naisipan na din muna naming tumambay. Melissa is a very very friendly person. Tinawag na nga siyang Miss Congeniality e.
Classmate sila ni Ethon since senior high kaya medyo close na sila but I really think manhid talaga tong si Melissa e. Ethon likes her, kahit naman hindi niya sinabi sakin yun, alam ko na naman nung simula pa lang. It's very obvious. You can clearly see it by the way he looks at her.
"Hindi pa ba darating si Troy?" tanong niya.
I tilted my head then smiled at her when I remember what I discovered last weekend.
"Bakit ganyan ka makangiti?" she asked.
I folded my arms acrossed my chest then gave her a meaningful smile. "Ikaw ha!" I exclaimed.
"Ano?" takang takang tanong niya.
"Phonepal pala kayo ni Troy, kung hindi pa ko nagpunta sa kanila and hindi nagkweto si Tan hindi ko pa malalaman!"
Her eyes widened then her cheeks turned red. I chuckled then patted her head when I saw her reaction.
"But it's okay. You know, I don't meddle with other people's business unless they've asked for it"
She sighed then looked away "I'm sorry, nasanay lang ako because your phone's always busy," she said defensively.
"Weh? Alam mo namang kapag gabi lang nagiging busy ang phone ko dahil kay Mama," I chuckled again.
"Tsk. Oo na, sorry Lei," sabi nito.
I shook my head and smiled. Gustong gusto ko siyang tanungin if she likes Troy too pero gaya ng sinabi ko, hindi ako yung tipo ng tao na basta na lang nakikialam and knowing Troy, he won't like it. I don't think he will appreciate having a wingman.
"Oo nga pala, about your plans.. Itutuloy mo pa ba? I think he already recognized you" she suddenly said.
Napangiti ulit ako. I remember the first time we've met. Siguro meant to be na magkita-kita kami sa clinic. Melissa and Ethon already got my attention bago mangyari yun pero pinagharap talaga kami ng tadhana para magkakila-kilala.
"Lei?"
I sighed.
"This may be crazy but I'm going to seek for his attention," I finally said.
"What do you mean?" she frowned.
I looked ahead then smiled, "I'll chase him until he finally sees me. As in, really see me. You get it? I wouldn't stop even if he told me to stop, which I think, he already did. You know I'm following the phrase 'chase your dreams'" I chuckled.
"Pero Lei.." she trailed off.
I looked at her and gave her my sweetest smile. "You should've known that I'm the type of person who do everything for my own satisfaction," I said.
She stared at me for a second until someone stepped just a few feet away from us. My eyes automatically landed on his deep set of brown eyes but as usual, they weren't looking at me. Those eyes were looking into someone else which was just sitting in front of me.
"We're late," sabi ni Ethon habang nakatingin kay Melissa. The latter got shocked from a voice just came from behind her.
"Ethon! Gosh! Nagulat ako!" she hissed tapos nagmadaling tumayo at kinuha yung gamit niya, "Lei, mauna na ko. Mamayang lunch na lang ulit," paalam nito.
I smiled at her and nodded. I stared at Ethon pero hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin. I looked away when they started walking away. I then released a sigh.
The best way to be successful is to reach your goal, and how will you do it? Do your best and chase it. Sabi nga sa kasabihan, try and try until you succeed. Alam kong sinabi kong kuntento na ko na pansinin niya lang ako, but as my feelings go deeper, tumataas din yung ambisyon ko.
Tumingin ako sa relo ko, five minutes before the start of the class. I stood up and walked to my classroom, nandoon na si Troy sa pwesto namin sa second row. He was talking to our classmates but they stopped when I stepped inside and sat next to him. Pinag-usapan lang namin yung tungkol sa internship at nagkwento ako tungkol sa nangyari kahapon. I told them what happened minus the 'Ethon-called-me-useless' part.
"Aalis ka na?" I asked Troy after namin maglunch.
Because it's Tuesday at halfday lang yung sched namin and I know na meron silang date ni Tai.
He nodded then smiled at me saka tumayo na. Melissa looked at him while frowning. Napangiti ako sa reaction niya. Hinintay ko munang mawala sa paningin namin si Troy bago ako nagsalita.
"May date sila ng kapatid niya," sabi ko saka binuksan yung burger na inorder ko.
I grinned at her when I saw her sighed and looked relieved. I have a hint na siguro type rin ni Melissa si Troy but still, I won't meddle. Things gets more complicated when someone who isn't involve, interfered. Kaya nga may word na 'you and me' sa relationship. Ibig sabihin dapat you and me lang. Not you, me, exes, family, friends and strangers trying to fit in. And in my situation with Ethon, as far as I know, wala naman akong natatapakan dahil hindi ko naman pinipilit si Ethon. I'm still staying on my line and doesn't have any plan to cross it unless he's the one who will cross it to meet me.
"Wala bang boyfriend yung kapatid niya?" tanong ni Melissa.
I shook my head as an answer. "She's very intimidating and snob and I don't think her three bothers would let her have a boyfriend na because she's too young for that,"
"Bakit? Ilang taon na ba siya?"
"Fifteen"
"Fifteen isn't young anymore," sabi naman ni Melissa.
I frowned as I looked at her and shook my head, "Fifteen is still young. At nag-iisang babae si Tai kaya overprotected siya especially Troy," I shrugged.
Hindi na sumagot si Melissa kaya nagpatuloy na lang ako sa pagkain. We just stayed there until we finished eating our snacks. I walked to the clinic to see nurse Janine for our tutorial lesson. Stitching wounds. Nasabi ko kasi na halfday lang kami every Tuesday and she gladly offered me a free lesson. She's an angel that heaven's sent.
"Good af nurse Janine," I greeted with a smile.
"Leila. Come in, sakto lang yung dating mo, I'm so bored here," sabi niya then asked me to take a seat.
She asked me if we already discussed the proper way of stitching and I said yes. Good thing though, the lessons stayed in my memory.
"Para ka lang naman nananahi ng damit. But it will be a problem kung hindi ka marunong manahi," sabi niya.
I smiled at her "Don't worry nurse Janine. Marunong ako sa lahat ng gawaing bahay. Advantage of living alone," I chuckled.
"Independent ka na?" she asked surprised.
I nodded.
"That's cool. Now we can start in actual stitching process, but no. Not in real wound of course," sabi nito.
Muntik na kong umatras sa unang sinabi niya buti na lang tinuloy niya agad. Good Lord. I thought sasabak na agad ako sa totoong flesh!
"But I have a favor" sabi nito bago tumayo. "Just call me ate Ja. Masyadong pormal ang nurse Janine. I feel so old."
I chuckled when she rolled her eyes. I can see Tai in her but she's more like Ate Yanna since Tai inherented that eye rolls to her.
"Walang problema Ate Ja!" I happily said.
We started our tutorial session. She patiently teached me the right ways and we covered the whole four hours for that.
"You're a fast learner. Pwede na kitang isabak," sabi nito.
I abruptly shook my head. "No. Hindi pa ko ready!" I resisted nervously.
She laughed "Joke!" she kidded "Sige na hapon na, uuwi na din ako," sabi niya.
Nagpaalam ako sa kanya bago ako lumabas. I was walking alone. Wala kasi si Troy tapos nakauwi na yata si Melissa. Magkocommute lang ako ngayon since hindi ko kasabay si Troy. Troy has a driver though, marunong naman siyang magdrive tinatamad lang. Nakatayo lang ako sa may sakayan habang naghihintay ng jeep. Then, I saw one coming but my eyes landed on the very familiar figure walking just a few meters away from me. Kaya kahit alam kong mahihirapan na naman akong makasakay mamaya, I ignored that fact until the jeepney passed me. I strode towards Ethon's direction and followed him as to where he was going.
A smile plastered on my lips habang papalapit ako ng papalapit sa kanya. I don't care if he'll see me. Hence, I'll be happy once he did notice me. Binagalan ko na ang lakad ko nang medyo makalapit na ko sa kanya. I keep quite a distance between us and I stared at his back. My eyes were fixated at his back that I didn't noticed anyone else around me. I stopped when he stopped. I heaved a sighed when I followed his line of vision then looked back at him and bitterly smiled. I took my phone out and captured the sunset with two silhouettes then turned my back and walked back to the loading station.