Dom was watching tv when I sat beside her.
"Hey." panimula ko.
"Oy what's up?" she put the volume down and face me.
"Madalas mong kasama si Sunny diba?"
"Hindi masyado. Ikaw? classmates kayo ah. Ano bang problema?"
I sighed "I have this feeling of being watched whenever I'm with her and I'm worried."
She turned serious "Okay, what do you want me to do?"
"As much possible siguro, don't let her be alone. She'll be safe in her house and in school but not outside."
"Wait, I think we need to tell her this. She deserve to know."
Umiling ako "We can't. Ayokong takutin siya. Besides, I'm still not sure. Baka I'm just imagining things."
"At kapag nakasiguro ka na?"
"We'll do the right thing."
Tumango tango siya "One question though."
"Shoot."
"Why are you doing this?"
Nalito ako sa tanong niya "Bakit hindi? She's a friend and I am willing to help. Besides, there's a possibility that she's not the target. It could be me."
"You should be careful too."
"I know. I can take care of myself but her? no. Just keep an eye on her okay?"
"Of course. Hindi lang ikaw ang kaibigan niya." she chuckled.
Sana lang talaga mali ang iniisip ko. Na imagination ko lang ang lahat.
Kasalukuyang naglalakad ako papunta sa first subject ko nang makasalubong ko sina Terrence at Lucas.
"Hey." bati ko.
They looked much better kesa nung sa hospital. Ilang araw na rin ang lumipas mula nung huling bisita namin doon.
Tumango lang si Terrence.
"Kelan ka pa lumabas?" tukoy ko kay Lucas.
"Kahapon lang." - Lucas
"At pumasok ka na agad?"
He shrugged "Graduating eh. Kelangan humabol."
"Hmm."
"Nga pala, I want to thank you for helping us." - Lucas
"Kotang kota na ako sa pasasalamat kay Terrence hahahaha. Wala yun. I just did the right thing."
"Well, it's not nothing for me. You see, ayokong magkameron ng utang na loob sa iba. I want to return the favor." - Lucas
Mapride chicken ang isang to.
"Okaaay, so what do you want me to do?"
"We'll do whatever you want us to do." - Lucas
Tumaas ang kilay ko "Are you sure?
"Yes." - Lucas.
I tried to think and I came up with the brightest idea.
"Hmm alam ko na! Libre niyo ako ng lunch." ngiting ngiti ako.
Nagkatinginan ang magkaibigan then back to me "Yun lang??" they said in unison.
"Yes!"
"Sure ka na dyan?" - Terrence.
"Oh yes! Pano boys? I need to go. Ayokong malate. See you at lunch nalang." at iniwan ko sila doon.
Sakto at sabay kaming dumating Ma'am Gatdula.
"Good morning Ma'am!" masiglang bati ko.
"Mukhang masaya ka ah?"
"Oh yes Ma'am! May free lunch ako later hahahaha."
"May nauto ka na naman."
"Ay Ma'am grabe ka sakin! Mabait kasi ako. Try niyo din yun Ma'am ng mailibre kayo hahahaha."
"No thanks, I can buy my own. Anyways, pumasok ka na at malapit na tayong magsimula." she turned serious.
"Wushu! Inggit ka lang Ma'am bleeeh!" patakbo akong pumasok ng ambahan niya ako ng hampas.
Pikon siya hahahaha.
"Good morning!" bati ko sa dalawang seatmates ko.
"Morning." - Erika.
"Bakit ang tagal mo pumasok?" - Sunny.
"Ininterrogate pa ako ni Ma'am. Ang saya ko daw eh." I grinned.
"Bakit nga ba masaya?" - Erika.
"May free lunch ako."
"Sino naman ang nagkamaling ilibre ka?"
"Si L------"
"Ms. Quintana, stop talking and listen to me." sabi ni Ma'am sabay inirapan ako.
Napakamot ako sa ulo "Sorry Ma'am."
Lunch. . .
"Hindi ka oorder?" tanong ni Mico.
"Nope."
"Ay naku may manlilibre dyan." - Erika.
"Talaga? Damay mo naman kami!" - Dom.
"Kalma Dom hahaha sige sige. Hintay lang tayo." hinanap ko sila sa loob ng canteen.
Then nakita ko silang pumasok sa loob na may bitbit na mga plastic.
Yooosh!
Nang makalapit sila "Thanks guys! Sabay na kayo samin para masaya."
"Hi-----" - Lucas.
"You said you'll do whatever I want?" I grinned.
Lucas groaned.
Terrence chuckled "Okay."
Seating arrangement: Erika, Sunny, Me, Terrence
Other side: Dom, Rainee, Mico, Lucas.
"Long time no see Mics!" bati ni Terrence.
Awkward na ngumiti ang lalaki sa kanya.
"Let's eat!"
Kanya kanya kami ng kuha ng pagkain.
"What's this?" I heard Lucas.
I looked and saw he was referring to Rainee's food.
"Beef broccoli. You can have some." - Rainee
Kumuha ang lalaki at kumain.
"Medyo maalat tapos yung karne mahirap nguyain. Tenderloin ba 'to?" - Lucas.
"Yes." - Rainee
"Hmm malambot na ang tenderloin so dapat saglit mo lang siya lulutuin then alalay lang sa paglalagay ng asin." komento niya pagkatapos kainin ang luto ni Rainee.
Nakanganga kami sa mga sinabi ni Lucas.
We didn't expect that from him.
He was known a bully. Kinakatakutan. Temperamental.
Bad boy talaga ang dating. Then he'll lecture about cooking. Diba? I mean unexpected yun.
Terrence laughed "Wag na kayong magulat kasi when it comes to food ganyan talaga siya. Culinary major kasi and he manages one of the finest restaurant here in the Philippines."
"Wow." sabay sabay kami.
"Eh ikaw? anong course mo?" I asked.
"Computer science." - Terrence
"Woah mahirap yun ah."
"Sakto lang naman." - Terrence
Patuloy lang kami sa kwentuhan. Suprisingly, magaan ang atmosphere. Akalain niyo yun, halos lahat kami dito ay magkakaiba ng ugali pero eto kami magkakasamang kumakain ang nagtatawanan.
Dismissal na at pauwin na ako ng maabutan ko si Sunny sa may gate. Mukhang may hinihintay.
"Hindi ka pa uuwi?" lumingon siya sakin.
"Hinihintay ko pa si Manong. Nasira kasi yung kotse ko."
"Malapit na daw ba siya?"
"Yun nga eh hindi pa nagrereply."
"Tara, hatid na kita."
"Hindi na baka parating na rin yun."
I sighed "I insist Tara na." hinila ko na siya para hindi na makapalag pa.
I drove out of the parking lot "Nagugutom ka? Gusto mo kain muna tayo?"
"Wag na."
"Sure ka? Tinatamad pa rin kasi akong umuwi eh. Or ice cream maybe?"
I heard her laugh.
Luh may nakakatawa ba sa sinabi ko?
"You know, if you want to date me all you have to do is ask." she teased.
Huh?
Now, it's my turn to laugh.
"Hahahahahahahahaha y-you thought I'm like asking you on a date? Hahahahahahaha oh Sunny, I'm hungry so I'm asking if you want to eat with me pfft."
Ilang sandali ang lumipas at wala akong narinig na response mula sa kanya.
"Hey you okay?" I asked.
"Yes, I just want to go home." ang cold ng boses niya.
I shivered.
Ooops?
"I'm sorry." I said.
"No, it's okay. My fault. Assumera ako eh."
"Hey that's not what I meant."
"What is that supposed to mean then?!" sumigaw na siya.
I stopped right of her house.
"Look, I'm sorry okay? Nagbibiro la----"
"Biro? tingin mo ba biro lang 'tong pesteng nararamdaman ko sayo?"
"No----"
"No! hindi mo alam kung gaano ako nahihirapan dahil hindi mo ako gusto at ang tanga ko para umasa magugustuhan mo ako. Bwiset!" padabog siyang lumabas ng kotse.
Aish! Ang tanga mo Sky!
Sinundan ko siya at inunahan sa gate. Hinarang ko siya.
"Sorry na okay? Hindi ko sinasadyang masaktan ka."
"Tabi!" she hissed.
"Ayoko." I firmly said.
"Argggh guard!" sigaw nito.
"Aalis ako sa isang kondisyon."
"Wala akong pakialam!"
"Go out with me." I blurted.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit yan ang lumabas sa bibig ko. Parang may sariling itong isip.
Napatigil siya at mataman akong tinitigan.
"Kung gagawin mo yan dahil napipilitan ka lang, wag dahil masasapak talaga kita." makamandag niyang pahayag.
"Paano kung sabihin kong hindi ako napipilitan?" I knelt down and held her hand "Sunny Avila, please go on a date with me tomorrow night."
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I just watched a webseries The 'Other' Love Story in youtube and it was cute. Kinilig ako mga bes hihihi 😆😆😆😆
Thank you for reading!