KAYLE
After the performace, we all decided to go home.
Walking through the parking lot, we spotted Cal in one of the benches outside.
And he's not alone.
Crystal is with him.
"My goodness," I hissed.
"Cal!" Wade called out.
We walked towards them.
Crystal is clinging on Cal's arm like a what, a snail?
Poor snail.
"Bro what happened to you?"
"Oo nga, bigla ka na lang nawala," sabi ni Tristan.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Cielo, at sabay umiling.
She knows that maybe, Cal remembered something.
But...
He just shrugged and looked at Crystal who's now making beautiful eyes. Yuck.
"Hey guys," she said in a sweet, flirty tone.
Okay fine, maganda siya. Pero may aura siya na 'yung tipong, tuwing nakikita ko siya umiinit dugo ko.
Tumingin ako kay Cielo at binulungan siya, "Negative."
Nanlulumo siyang sumagot, "Oo. Akala ko pa naman may naalala siya kahit konti. 'Yun pala, dahil kay Crystal."
I shrugged.
"Mauuna na kami bro ah? Mukhang nagkakatuwaan pa kayo ni Crystal eh," paalam ni Tristan.
Pinisil niya ang kamay ni Crystal at sumagot, "Sige."
Naunang maglakad sina Wade habang nakasunod kami ni Cielo.
At sa 'di malaman na dahilan, lumingon pa ako ulit sa kanila na agad kong pinagsisihan.
Naghahalikan sila.
***
Pagdating sa kotse, tulala lang ako.
"Okay ka lang sis?" tanong ni Cielo, na napapagitnaan namin ni Tristan.
Tumango lang ako.
Nakita kong tiningnan ako ni Logan sa rear view mirror at tinaasan ako ng kilay.
Ginantihan ko rin siya ng tingin at umiwas na siya, buti naman at baka mabangga kami.
"Crystal," banggit niya.
Wow. Nagsasalita pala siya?
"Oh?" tanong ni Wade. "Ano bro?"
Hindi niya pinansin si Wade at nagpatuloy sa pag-drive.
Awkward silence. Or maybe I was the only one who felt it.
Whatever.
Buti na lang nagsalita si Cielo, "Ganun pala ang type ni Cal?" may halong pandidiri sa tono niya.
Tumingin sa amin si Wade.
"Well, Crystal's pretty hot," he said and grinned.
Malapit na akong matawa.
Hindi naman kasi ganun ang type ni Cal eh. Actually, hindi ko alam kung may type ba sa babae 'yun. Mas mahal niya pa 'yung mga libro kaysa sa mga babae eh.
Muntik ko nang mabatukan ang sarili ko. Ano ba naman? Nagbago na nga siya, Kayle 'di ba.
"Pero kahit na," biglang sagot ni Tristan. Tumingin kami sa kaniya, "Ayaw ko kay Crystal."
Ano daw?
"Ako rin bro," sagot ni Wade.
"Me too," lahat kami nagulat sa pag-amin ni Logan, pero mas nagulat ako nang makita kong nakatingin ulit siya sa akin sa rear view mirror.
I rolled my eyes.
"Bakit naman?" tanong ko, sa isang bored na tono, para hindi nila mahalatang interesado ako.
"She doesn't deserve Cal."
"Huh?"
"Cal's a good guy. We may know him for what, one month? But he's not an ordinary guy," Wade said.
I sighed.
I looked out of the window. It's raining again.
"How can you say that?" I asked.
"He hates to admit it but we know he has an amnesia," Wade said.
I nearly jumped over my seat.
That shocked me a lot!
"Pero paano?" tanong ni Cielo.
"Pumunta kami sa kanila just when we met him in a basketaball court. Akala namin baguhan siya sa subdi, pero hindi pala," sabi ni Tristan.
"Hindi pa namin siya nakitang mag-basketball noon eh. Lagi naman kaming nasa court," dagdag niya.
"He was so friendly. He even invited us to his house," sabi ni Wade.
"Mukha namam siyang mabait kaya pumayag kami. At dun namin nalaman na may amnesia pala siya," sabi ni Tristan.
"Nung una, ayaw niyang sabihin. Dahil hindi naman daw talaga totoo 'yun. Naaalala niya naman daw lahat. Pero nung nagsalita na nanay at tatay niya, pinabayaan niya na lang na malaman namin ang totoo."
"What do you mean naaalala niya naman lahat?" tanong ko.
"Simula nung pagkabata niya, nanay at tatay niya. Dun lang daw sa part na habang lumalaki na siya, naaalala niya naman pero parang may kulang daw. May kung anong hindi malinaw sa alaala niya," sabi ni Tristan.
Biglang tumulo ang luha ko.
Shit!
"Pero para sa kaniya, wala lang naman daw 'yun, pakiramdam niya hindi naman daw makakaapekto 'yun sa kaniya," dagdag niya.
Dali-dali kong pinahid ang luha ko. Mamaya na kayo tumulo please.
"The worse thing is, whenever he tries to remember it, his head throbs a lot. He cries out loud and shouts for help to his mom," Wade explained.
"That's why tita and tito never tried to let him remember those things. Masasaktan lang kasi siya, and they can't bear seeing him crying in pain," sabi ni Tristan.
I felt Cielo pressed my hand and asked, "You okay?"
I nod.
No, I'm not okay. I'm dying inside, Ciel. It hurts so bad.
The boys didn't notice me.
But when I looked at Logan, I saw him staring at me blankly, then looks away.
"Kayle," Wade called out.
"Yes?" I said, didn't even bother to look at him.
"He mentioned your name to us one time."
I looked at them, raising an eyebrow, "What?"
"Sabi niya lagi mo siyang hinahabol at kinulit," sabi ni Trsitan. "Sinasabing bestfriend ka niya."
Malapit nang lumuwa ang mata ko, "Ano?!"
"Calm down," Wade said. "Yes he said that. And added that luckily, you stopped after a lot of tries."
Cielo and I shared a look.
"Alam niyo pala?" tanong niya.
Tumango sila.
"Ba't ngayon niyo lang sinabi?"
"Dahil ngayon lang kami nagkaroon ng pagkakataon," seryosong sabi ni Wade. "At may pakiramdam kami na totoo ang sinasabi mo, Kayle."
"Na ano?"
"Na mag-bestfriend kayo."
Ramdam na ramdam ko ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko.
Nanginginig ang kamay ko.
"Kayle, baka ikaw ang kulang sa kaniya. Siguro ikaw ang sinasabi niyang hindi malinaw sa alaala niya," sabi ni Tristan.
Tahimik lang na nakikinig si Logan.
"Kayle," tawag ni Wade. "Totoo ba?"
Tumingin ako sa kanila, isa-isa.
"Oo," pag-amin ko. "Totoong bestfriend ko siya."
Nakita ko ang pagkagulat nila.
"I knew it," Wade said. "Help him, Kayle. Ikaw lang ang makakatulong sa kaniya."
"I am trying, Wade! But it's never enough."
"Can't you see?" he said.
"Tinutulungan ka namin," sabi ni Tristan.
"This is the reason why I wanted you two to be partners on the project. Ipaalala mo sa kaniya, Kayle. Slowly. You can do it," Wade said with hope in his eyes.
I sighed and looked outside.
"I will."
After that, no one tried to talked again until we reached Cielo's house and dropped her off.
"Bye sis. Expect my call later. Bye and thanks, guys," she said and closed the door.
Not long 'til we reached our house.
"Guys," I said. They looked at me. "Thank you."
Wade smiled, "No need to thank us."
"Oo nga. Ginagawa namin 'to para sa inyo ni Cal, kaibigan namin kayo eh."
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay, "Magkaibigan ba tayo?" biro ko.
Tumawa si Wade, "Hahaha! Get burned."
"Aray," Tristan said, with a sad face.
I laughed a bit, "Kidding guys. And seriously, thank you. For the help and the 'friendship'," I said, shyly on mentioning the last word.
Tinapik ni Tristan ang balikat ko, "No prob."
"Chill with us more often okay?" Wade said.
I just nod, "Gotta go."
Before I closed the door, I said something.
"And don't worry guys, I won't give up on Cal."
I turned around and went straight inside.
***
I was lying on my bed later that night.
Thinking about Cal.
Bakit ganun?
Nasasaktan siya tuwing naaalala niya ako.
Gusto kong umiyak. Patawad, Cal.
But at some point, my tears won't fall out.
Maybe because I had stronger hope on getting my bestfriend back.
Just minutes after, Cal texted me.
Cal:
Hey Kayle. I'm sorry for running outside even before you finished singing. It's because I felt an ache on my head. Sorry again.
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