Stay with me, Tiffany

Chapter 2: Unexpected Friendship?

UNEXPECTED FRIENDSHIP?

Apollo's Point of View

HINDI ko maalis sa isip ko'yung babaeng nakita namin kanina habang paakyat sa room namin. I think I've seen her before, but I can't remember when. Pero kung ano man 'yon, there's something inside me telling me to figure out who she is and where I saw her.

'Sa ganda niyang 'yon, paano ko siya nakalimutan?'

"Hoy Apollo," nagising ang diwa ko nang yugyugin ako ng malakas ni Blaze. "Wala ka bang balak lumabas ng room? Nag ring na 'yung bell oh."

Umupo si Dylan sa Teacher's desk at ngumisi sa 'kin. "Anong gamot na naman ba tinira mo? Para kang may sariling mundo eh."

"Gago, I was thinking of something kaya hindi ko narinig." sambit ko at hinilamos ang kamay sa mukha ko. s**t, why am I thinking of her anyway?

"Something ba talaga?" patanong na biro ni Blaze.

Hindi ko iyon pinansin at tumayo na lamang saka nangunang lumabas ng room.

Inakbayan ako ni Dylan. "Something o someone?" panunukso niya.

And at that moment, the "someone" I was thinking of earlier was already in front of us. She smiled and waved at me the moment she realized. Walang pinagbago sa mukha niya kanina, her face still looks pretty attractive. Her innocent and cheerful face She's like an angel. A real angel. At kahit hindi siya mag smile, maganda pa rin talaga siyang tignan.

"Oh, Tiffany, 'di ba?" pamungad ni Blaze at mahinhing tumango ang dalaga bilang tugon. "Bakit ka nandito? Tapos na ba class niyo?"

Tinignan ko ng masama si Blaze at napansin kong ganon din ang ginawa ni Dylan sa kanya. Itong mga lalaking 'to nga naman, aagawan pa yata ako.

Tumango ang dalaga. "Tapos na." sagot niya at kagat-labing bumaling kay Dy. "Saan kayo? Yayayain ko sana kayong lumabas kaso mukha namang may kailangan pa kayong puntahan."

"H-huh? Ikaw? K-kami?" nauutal na sagot ni Dylan. "P-pwede naman... S-sige..."

Gumitna si Blaze. "Uy, paano 'yung kaibigan natin sa Hospital? Baka nakakalimutan-" tinapalan ko ng kamay ko ang bibig niya.

"Sure, Tiffany." isang malaking ngiti ang pinakawalan ko. "I'm always- este we're always available for you anytime, anywhere, any place."

"Talaga? Hindi ba 'ko nakakaistorbo sa lakad niyo?"

Kinagat ni Blaze ang kamay ko at napasigaw naman ako sa sakit. "Miss, gusto mo ba sagutin ko 'yung tanong mo? To be honest, nakakaistorbo ka sa 'min. We were supposed to be on our way to the hospital to visit our friend there. She's been lying there for two years-" Luh, anong two years? Magic yan?

"Hoy Blaze, anong two years? forty-eight hours pa lang siya sa hospital 'no. Anong two years ang pinagsasabi mo d'yan?" pagputol ko sa sinasabi niya.

He gave me the death stare. "Shut up," he whispered. "Eh, basta! We don't want you to be in our group. Kung ginagawa mo lang 'to para makuha si Dylan, pwes umalis kana. His ex-girlfriend will kill you if she finds out Dylan is going out with someone else. "

"Blaze, shut the f**k up! One more lie, Itetape ko na 'yang bibig mo." pagbabanta ni Dy sa kanya at natigilan naman siya rito.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko para pigilan ang nagmamakaawang lumabas na tawa ko. Blaze's face was already funny, and by looking at him, there's no doubt I would burst into laughter. But seeing him na tumiklop because of Dylan? Men, that's hilarious!

"How about this," saad ko at nakuha ko naman ang atensyon nila. "You will come with us to the hospital to visit our friend, sleeping beauty. And then afterward, we can hang out at the park."

"Are you guys sure? Pwede? " She asked. She looked excited.

'Oh my lord, she looks adorable when she's excited.'

"S-sure," Dylan replied.

✿❀

We decided to go to the hospital all together to visit our Disney princess friend. Wala pa ring balita sila Tita sa kanya. She's still unconscious. Tuwang-tuwa naman si Tita nung nalaman niyang may bago na kaming friend. She even guessed that Tiff's one of my girlfriends pa nga eh.

Habang nasa Hospital kaming apat ay sandali kaming pinaki-usapan ng Mom ni Cres na bantayan si sleeping beauty. Wala naman na kaming nagawa kahit late na because it's Crescent we're talking about. We can't just leave her here, baka kung ano pang masamang elemento ang bumulabog kay Cres 'no.

Nakaupo si Blaze sa wood na upuan habang umiidlip. Si Dylan at Tiffany naman ay magkatabi sa sofa, not really magkatabi kasi medyo lumayo si Dylan. Bigla atang natakot sa babae.

Wala akong ibang nagawa kundi tumayo at maghintay na makabalik si Tita but ang tagal niyang bumalik. May pinagmanahan naman pala si Cres sa pagiging matagal eh, ayan tuloy nakahilata siya ngayon sa Hospital bed niya.

"Blaze, gusto mo rito kana sa pwesto ko. Ayos lang sa 'kin tumayo." nag-aalalang ani Tiffany at napansin ko namang lumingon si Dy sa gawi ko.

"No need, I'm fine standing. You should be treated like a lady." I whispered the last sentence I said. "I'm sorry, Tiff. Hindi ko natupad 'yung sinabi ko kanina. Si tita naman kasi eh..."

"No worries, I'm totally fine with it. I'm just glad I'm here with you guys." she reassured.

I frowned. What is she fine about? Boring kaya rito. Ako nga kanina pa gustong umuwi eh.

Dylan's Point of View

We've been waiting for Tita Light for hours now, but she's still not back. My parents would kill me if they found out I went home late tonight. Hindi pa nga ako nakakaisip ng way para iincrease ulit nila ang allowance ko, mababawasan pa yata lalo.

I sighed and looked at the girl beside me. Kinilatis ko ng mabuti ang bawat detalye sa mukha niya at hindi ko namalayang nakangiti na pala ako.

She looked my way, and I froze. "Do you need something?"

'Holy crap! That was so embarrassing! Baka isipin niya patay na patay ako sa kanya!'

"Dylan? Hello?" She snapped and I got back to my senses.

Inayos ko ang posture ko. "W-wala... I just thought of something. B-bago ka sa school?"

I tried to change the subject to avoid blushing because I could feel it coming on just by staring at her.

"Yes, k-kakatransfer ko lang."

She looked sad when she said it. Is there something wrong in her old school? Was she bullied?

"Oh, really? Anong section ka?" I asked again, but it took her a few more seconds before she could finally answer.

"Rizal," she replied. "May tanong ako. Totoo ba 'yung sinabi ni Blaze kanina?"

"About what?"

She went silent for a little while. Sandali siyang suminghap ng hangin and then she finally faced me. "Is it true that your ex-girlfriend will kill me?"

"N-no, o-of course not, that's not true."

"Which one is not true? That she'll kill me?" she smirked.

Umiling ako. "I never had a girlfriend."

Sandali kaming binalot ng katahimikan.

Our eyes met each other's gaze. I saw sadness in her eyes.

"Tiffany, is there a problem?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Can you promise me you won't tell anyone about it, Dylan?"

"Why? Are you a vampire or something?" I joked.

She looked disappointed. "Why do I expect so much from him?" I hear her whisper.

My heart ached at what I heard. What does she mean by that? Did the joke make her feel uncomfortable? Did I cross the line?

The whole room was filled with silence, and I didn't realize I had fallen asleep.

✿❀

"Kids! I'm back!" Bahagya kaming napabangon the moment we heard someone knocking at the door. Tita Light's back, and I should be happy because we can finally go home, but the girl sleeping in my arms made me wish Tita Light never came back.

Binuksan ni Apollo ang pinto at bumungad kaagad ang mukha ni Tita Light. Marami siyang dalang paperbags kaya tinulungan naman siya ni Blaze na bitbitin ang mga ito.

Nang tuluyan siyang makapasok sa loob ng Hospital room ni Crescent ay natuon ang pansin niya sa 'ming dalawa ni Tiffany. Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa gawi namin at pumalakpak dahilan kaya nagising si Tiffany. Marahan niyang inunat ang katawan niya at doon niya narealize na nakahiga pala siya sa braso ko all this time.

Napakamot na lamang ako sa ulo ko kahit pa sa loob-loob ko ay gusto ko nang magwala dahil sa ginawa ng Mom ni Crescent. Parang sira naman kasi si Tita Light oh, panira ng lovelife.

"May balak pa ba kayong umuwi? Parang masyado naman ata kayong nag eenjoy." she teased us, but Tiffany looked confused.

"Tita naman eh."

"Oh, bakit? Kaya pala ang defensive mo kanina nung pinagkamalan kong bagong girlfriend ni Apollo si Tiffany. Ikaw pala ang may girlfriend." dagdag niya pa. Lalamunin na ata ako ng lupa sa hiya eh. Hobby talaga ni Tita ang mangasar.

"Tita, I think we should go ahead." usal ni Apollo habang naka pamulsa. "It's already late in the evening."

"I feel wonderful tonight?"

"Shut up, Blaze. This is not the time to joke." pagsaway sa kanya ni Apollo.

"Oh sige, ipahahatid ko na kayo sa driver namin." Tita insisted.

Nang makababa na kami sa Hospital ay nakahanda na 'yung kotse nila Crescent. Sa likod kami umupong tatlo nila Apollo at Tiffany habang si Blaze naman ay nasa tabi ng driver's seat nakaupo.

"Mga sir, magkaiba direction ng mga bahay niyo. Sino po muna ihahatid ko?" tanong naman ng Driver.

Nilingon ko si Tiffany. "Ikaw muna mauna? Saan ka ba nakatira?"

"H-huh? H-hindi, okay lang ako."

"Ah sir, si Tiffany na po muna ihatid niyo." sagot ni Apollo.

"Tiffany? Sino pong Tiffany?" nagtatakang tanong ng Driver at nagkatinginan kami ni Apollo.

"'Yun 'yung girl na kasama namin kanina pa." inaantok na sabi ni Blaze at kumportableng inihiga ang katawan sa upuan.

"Pero wala naman po akong nakikitang babaeng kasama niyo ngayon."

Natahimik kami na agad namang binasag ni Tiffany.

"Joker pala 'tong si manong 'no?" natatawang ani Tiffany at bumaling kay Apollo. "Kayo na muna pahatid kay manong. Bababa na lang ako kapag bumaba na si Dylan. Same village lang naman kami eh."

Tango na lang ang naisagot ni Apollo kay Tiffany at bumaling na kay manong. "Sir, si Blaze po muna. Baka kasi nag-aalala na 'yung Mom niya eh."

"Copy, sir."

Nang umandar si Manong ay hindi naiwasang maglapit ng mga kamay namin ni Tiffany. Ramdam ko ang lamig nito, kinakabahan ba siya? Sabagay, conservative ang mga parents when it comes to their daughters, baka pagalitan siya ng parents niya pag-uwi.

"Same village lang pala kayo." baling ni Apollo kay Tiffany at tumango lang siya. "Pwede ba kaming mag hang-out sa inyo? Mukha namang hindi ako papagalitan ng Dad ko kapag nalaman niyang ikaw ang kasama namin."

Gusto na bang mamatay nitong si Apollo?

"Stop, that's not gentleman-like." saad ko at pinaningkitan siya ng mata ngunit tumawa lang siya.

"Maybe some other day," she chuckled.

Naihatid na ni Manong sila Blaze at Apollo at malapit na rin kami sa village namin. Sobrang lapit namin ni Tiffany sa isa't-isa and I can feel her cold and soft hand again.

Hinarap ko siya. "So, what are we?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, are we friends now or are we-"

"Yeah, sure. Friends."

I smiled, but deep inside I wanted to throw this f*****g car into the river. Kung kanina pa sana kami naihatid ni Manong edi hindi ako nabored at di ko tinanong 'yon kay Tiffany. I was friendzoned for God's sake!

To be continued. . .