I woke up extra early today because of my cousins, they forced me to join them for breakfast. I actually didn't get it, bakit ba kailangan namin magsabay sabay kumain ngayon? Was it because it's almost new year na in few days?
"Aren't you done yet, CK?" Tristan shouted outside my room while I was fixing myself. "We're leaving in a few."
"I'm almost done." I shouted back. "I'm putting on some lipstick lang, Tris."
"Okay. Make it fast."
While walking to the living room where my cousins were waiting for me, I received a text message from Juan. What the hell does he need again? Don't tell me mangaasar nanaman siya ng ganito kaaga ha.
From: Juan Gerardo
Where are u? Let's meet.
My forehead creased. I really couldn't read his mind. Seryoso ba siya sa sinabi niyang maguusap kami pagbalik niya? You are so dead, Camille Kermina!
To: Juan Gerardo
I'm with my cousins, magbe-breakfast kami sa labas. Why do you want to meet up?
"Let's go guys!" I said, smiling widely at my cousins.
"Where are we going ba?" I asked them as we made our way to where Tristan parked his car.
"There's this little breakfast cafe in Fairview. Sobrang cute nung plating nila, parang bear." Nuthalie excitedly told me. Her eyes were glistening when she said that. She's a year older than me pero parang mas matanda pa ako kumilos sakanya.
"Ang layo naman!" I whined. "Tapos traffic pa."
"Walang traffic ngayon, CK." she replied, "It's almost new year na kaya."
"But still, ang layo."
"Stop complaining na." Tristan chipped in, "Hindi naman ikaw 'yung magd-drive."
He has a point.
We were already along Don Antonio when I suddenly remembered Juan, baka nagreply na 'yon. I took my phone out from my bag and checked my messages.
From: Juan Gerardo
I told you that we'll talk when I get back di ba?
From: Juan Gerardo
Hoy kermina! Why aren't u replying?!
From: Juan Gerardo
Are u really with your cousins? Or may kasama kang iba??
Tamang hinala din 'tong si Juan Gerardo eh. Ano naman sakanya kung may kasama akong iba? Tss.
To: Juan Gerardo
I'm with my cousins nga. Wag kang ano jan. Next time na tayo mag-usap, busy ako.
I was about to return my phone inside my bag when it rang and Juan's annoying face flashed on the screen.
"What?!" I didn't bother greeting him.
"Let's meet today na kasi." Gosh, he was so persistent. Hindi ba niya gets na umiiwas na nga ako. "My fam and I will go to Subic tomorrow morning and we'll be back after new year na."
"Edi after new year na tayo mag-usap." I replied.
"No, this can't wait." he insisted. "We need to talk, Camille. I'll pick you up later in your house, after lunch."
"Let's meet halfway, wala nga kasi ako sa bahay ang kulit mo eh." I answered back. "Around 4 na tayo magkita."
"Okay. Let's meet at UPTC later." he replied. "Ingat ka, mamahalin pa kita." he chuckled before he ended the call.
Isang malaking bwisit talaga 'yung lalaking 'yon! Paasa masyado. As if naman may plano talaga siyang mahalin ako, eh patay na patay nga siya sa kaibigan ko.
"Who was that?" Nuthalie curiously asked me.
"Juan." I simply answered. "He's a friend."
"Juan? As in Juan Gómez de Liaño?" she asked again. Nuthalie knew Juan because she's studying in UPD, too.
I nodded, "Yeah. Nangaasar lang 'yun."
"I always see you guys together in school. What's the real score between you and Juan?" Nuthalie asked again. So nosy.
"We're just friends, Nuth." I answered her inquiry, "That guy is in love with my best friend." then I heaved out a deep sigh.
"And you're in love with him." Tristan said as a matter of factly. Didn't know he was listening to us. "Mahirap 'yan, CK!"
"I know!" I agreed with him. The three of us were very close, I didn't need to keep this as secret to them. "I'm actually trying to get rid of this feeling na nga."
"Weh?" Tristan wasn't convinced with my reply. "Then why are you still hanging out with him?"
"Because he's my friend?" I replied. I know I sounded unsure, kahit ako naman kasi pinapaniwala ko pa rin 'yung sarili ko na friends lang kami because I know that friendship is the only thing he could offer to me.
"Tigilan mo na 'yan, CK." Tristan said in a warning tone. "Masasaktan ka lang jan."
"Guard your heart, cousin." Nuthalie added.
Our breakfast date was filled with laughter and life and love advices. I didn't know that these two could give legit advices, lagi nalang kasi kalokohan sinasabi nila sa'kin eh.
"But seriously, CK." Tristan started while we were walking back to his car. "Guard your heart. Remember, Tinkerbell has always been there for Peter but he chose Wendy."
"Oo na," I said to dismiss the topic. Masyado silang worried sa'kin eh, I can handle myself naman. "At the end of the day, si Kassandra at Kassandra ang pipiliin non. Alam ko 'yon guys, wag niyo na ipamukha sa'kin."
"If I were you, I'd give Brent a chance nalang." Nuthalie said, wiggling her brows. She was referring to Brent Paraiso of UST. Nako, palibhasa best friend niya si Brent.
"We already talked about that, Nuth." I replied. "Ayoko talaga kay Brent."
"Hayaan mo na siya, Nuth." Tristan said, starting the engine. "Saan ka namin ihatid, CK?"
"It's still early. Uwi muna tayo." I replied, "Juan and I will meet at 4 pa."
The ride back home was unusually quiet, pero okay rin naman. Nakakapag-isip ako. Mejo kinakabahan kasi ako para mamaya, ano ba kasing pag-uusapan namin?
Is it about us?
Wow. Asa ka naman, Camille Kermina.
I really don't know why I am still hoping. It feels like I'm waiting for something that isn't going to happen. It's clear to me that I would never have a chance with Juan naman, pero eto ako si tanga, umaasa talaga.
But my cousins were right. I should guard my heart well.
"I'll take a nap first." I said as soon as we got home then I headed straight to my room. I need to free my mind.
I was sleeping soundly when I heard my phone ringing, Juan's face was on the screen again. Juan really loves to disturb my sleep, laging tulog ako pag tumatawag siya.
"What?" Annoyance was evident on the tone of my voice.
"You're still sleeping?!" he said on the other line. He sounded annoyed, too. "It's almost 3pm and you're still asleep. Ms. Lopez, 4pm 'yung usapan natin."
"Mr. Juan Gerardo Gómez de Liaño, I live at La Vista lang and it's only 5-10 minutes away from UPTC. Kaya pwede ba." I retorted. "Bakit kaya hindi ikaw 'yung umalis na jan sa bahay niyo dahil traffic sa Commonwealth."
I heard Juan hissed, "I'm on my way. You're not replying to my texts that's why I called."
"Sige na, mag-aayos na ko." I said, dismissing him. "I'll see you in a while. Ingat ka." then I ended the call.
I rolled out of my bed and headed to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I decided to change into a more comfortable clothes, I wore a short and a loose blouse then I paired it with my Onitsuka Tiger sneakers. I applied some powder on my face and a lipstick and I'm good to go.
"I'm going now." paalam ko sa dalawa. They were watching some series in the living room.
"You want me to drive you?" Tristan offered.
I shook my head. "No, I'll just walk nalang. Lapit lang naman eh."
"Are you sure?" he asked again.
Juan might see us together, kung ano nanaman isipin nun. Last time, he saw me with one of my high school friends and he quickly assumed na ka-something ko daw 'yun. Judgemental masyado.
"Yeah. Thanks, Tris." I said with a smile. "I'll be quick lang. See you guys later."
I didn't have to wait for Juan when I arrived at UPTC because he was already there waiting for me at BLK 513, enjoying his charcoal yogurt.
"You want some?" he offered his food to me. "This is really good."
"Nope." I turned down his offer, "I'm still full eh."
His brows furrowed, "Pano tayo kakain kung busog ka pa?"
Juan and his tagalog accent is to die for. It's not everyday you'd hear him speak in tagalog, sobrang once in a bluemoon.
"Pwede naman magdessert di ba?" I replied. "Hindi ka ba naglunch?"
"I had lunch." he answered back. "I easily get hungry though. But dessert will do." then he took a spoonful of his yogurt, "Where do you want to go?"
"The Chocolate Kiss nalang." I replied. "Para walang tao masyado."
"Your wish is my command." he said, grinning at me.
Hoy Juan! Tigilan mo 'yung mga ganyan mo please lang. Baka mahulog ako ng todo.
"Bakit genie ka na ba ngayon ha?"
Juan chuckled, "I can be one if you want me to." then he winked.
"Okay, sige." I replied, sitting on the chair near the window. "Grant all my wishes ah."
Juan sat on the chair in front of me. He was looking straight in my eyes. "Sure, but 3 wishes lang."
"Hoy sabi mo 'yan ah! Walang bawian."
He nodded, "Yeah. So, what are you getting?"
I shifted my attention at the menu. "I'll have Turon with Caramel sauce and Classic Chocolate Cake."
Juan gave me a quizzical look. "The girl who eats alot but never gets fat. How to be you?"
I rolled my eyes at him. "Wag nga ako. You got abs nga eh."
"Someone's stalking me." he said before he placed our orders. Kaasar talaga 'tong isang 'to, masyadong feeling eh.
"Where are you going to celebrate new year?" Juan asked me while we were waiting for our food.
"House lang." I simply answered, "My cousins and our other relatives will celebrate with us."
"Can I celebrate with you guys?" he asked. Ano bang pinagsasabi neto? As if Tita Anna would allow him.
"You'll go to Subic na tomorrow di ba?" I asked back. "Spend time with your family."
He sighed, "Fine."
"Excuse me," the server interrupted us. "Here's your orders." then she placed our food on the table. "Enjoy."
"Thank you." we said in unison.
I ate a spoonful of my Turon dipped in Caramel sauce. "So, you like me." Juan started.
I literally choked. Hindi man lang marunong tumiming 'tong isang 'to, talagang sinabi niya 'yon pagkatapos kong isubo 'yung pagkain ko. And he said it casually lang.
Juan handed me a glass of water, "Are you okay?"
"Kainis ka! Gusto mo ba akong mamatay ha?"
He gave me a puzzled look. "What? Why are you blaming me?"
"You're too straightforward." I said, wiping the side of my lips with a napkin, "You could've said that after I swallowed it na 'di ba?"
Juan giggled, "You're cute, Camille."
I tried my best not to blush. Aasarin lang ako lalo ni Juan eh. "Ewan ko sa'yo!"
"So, ano nga?" he asked again, "Let's talk na kasi."
I cleared my throat and looked straight in his eyes. "What do you want us to talk about?"
"You, having a crush on me." he said. How could he be so blunt? Baka pwede naman akong humingi ng lakas ng loob sakanya.
"Oh, ano naman ngayon?"
"You know that I'm madly in love with your best friend, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
He doesn't need to rub it on my face, I won't force myself to him naman.
"Help me forget her, Cam." he said, looking intently at me. "Make me fall in love with you."
This ain't going to be easy, it's gonna be tough and I am opening myself to the worst possible heartbreak of my life but I am willing to take that risk. All for Juan.
I nodded at him. "Deal."