Her Unveiled Love

One Hell Of A Joke

[Via's POV]

"Thank you, thank you talaga!" Mangiyak-ngiyak akong niyakap ni Rose na ikinairap ko.

"Sige na, pumasok ko na." Ani ko at bahagya siyang tinulak para makawala ako sa kanyang mga bisig.

"Gosh, it was suffocating."

"Sabi ko na nga kasi diba? Everyone has their own business, they didn't even notice that you're there... except for the part na maingay ang utensils mo."

"Oo nga eh," ngumuso pa siya sa akin. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay at humalukipkip, hinihintay na tumalikod na siya para makapasok ng kanilang bahay.

"Papasok na ako, kanina pa ako naiihi eh."

Nung tuluyan na siyang nakapasok ay nagpahatid ako sa driver diretso sa bahay. I'm exhausted, my family won't mind if hindi na ako makabalik.

Pagod akong dumapa sa kama ko na yakap-yakap ang malaki kong unan. Unti-unti kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko nung makaramdam ng antok pero mabilis akong napadilat matapos marinig ang pagtunog ng phone ko.

Mabilis ko iyun na sinagot na hindi tinitingnan ang caller. I know for sure it's Mom, no one calls me at night except for her.

"I'm exhausted, Mom. I can't go back there. Just tell them I have things to do, they'll understand." Pagod kong bungad na bahagya pang nakapikit ang mga mata.

Naghintay ako ng ilang segundo pero walang sumagot. Tiningnan ko ang screen ng phone at agad na napaayos ng upo nung makita ang unregistered na number.

"Hello? Who's this?"

"Hi, sorry to bother you but it's Thomas. You said that I should call so we can talk about our project in Readings."

Napaawang ang labi ko at napasapo sa noo dahil halos makalimutan ko na ang tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng partner.

"Saturday, we'll meet up in Saturday. For now..." Nag-isip ako ng pwedeng ipagawa. Damn, working alone is way easier than this, but I guess I'll consider him being a transferee. "List some controversies that you think fits."

"Okay, what about tomorrow?"

Napataas ang kilay ko sa kanyang tanong. "What do you mean tomorrow?" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses ko.

"I mean, ano naman ang gagawin natin bukas?"

"Nothing, like I said we'll do things in Saturday. Okay?"

"Okay," mabilis niyang responde at agad kong pinatay ang tawag.

.

"So what are your plans this Saturday?" Tanong ni Rose nung magkaabutan kami sa gate.

"Well, we have this project in Readings na gagawa ng scrapbook and I have a partner, he's a transferee."

"Wait, wait. Ikaw? May partner?" Inirapan ko na lang siya dahil sa tanong niya. I don't want to answer it again, nakakairita.

"That's new. Maliban sa akin ay wala ka na naging project partner since high school."

"He's a transferee and he doesn't know me."

"That's an exception but let me guess, hindi mo siya hahayaang tumulong noh?"

"Ano pa nga ba," I whispered a reply to myself before sitting in one of the benches before taking out my laptop. I started to revise the designs that I already made last night.

"Wait, si Krae ba 'yung partner mo?" Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Yeah, how did you know?"

"Everyone's been talking about him and he's the only transferee in the Business Department. Ang hot niya, tehhh!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na pitikin ang tenga niya dahil sa maingay niyang pagtili. Seniors looked in our way and even professors stopped walking because of Rose's squeal.

"Aray!"

"Tone down your voice." Maotoridad na suway ko sa kanya pero mas lalo lang na lumapad ang kanyang pagngisi. Gosh, what should I ever do to her? Gusto ko siyang pagalitan pero hindi ko kaya.

"I'm just excited, you know."

"For what?" Iritado kong tanong at itinuon na ang mga mata sa screen ng laptop.

"He's hot and he is your project partner. I can feel some parks, Vi! Maybe this is it! This is your chance to actually interact with a guy."

"Not a chance," tugon ko sa mababang boses.

"Well, I see that chance." Napairap ako. One of the things that I really don't get about Rose is her crazy imaginations. She would often come up with weird speculations and theories... and all of them are proved to be wrong. Ni isa ay hindi pa siya nakakatama, that's the reason why I don't trust her instincts at all.

"Hoy," matinis na bulong niya sabay siko sa gilid ko. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa pag-edit.

"He's coming, he's coming."

"Who's– Oh." Doon ko lang napagtanto nung tuluyan nang nakalapit si Krae sa harapan namin. Nakasukbit ang bag niya sa isang braso at seryosong nakatingin sa amin.

"Hey," he greeted us with his deep manly voice that doesn't suit his nerdy-know-so-well look.

"Need anything?" I seriously asked while closing my laptop.

"Are you going to shop some artwork materials later?"

A-ano raw?

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at kumunot ang noo, natagalan pa bago naproseso ang kanyang sinabi.

"Pfft!!" Rose bursted into laughter. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin kaya bahagya siyang lumayo para ipagpatuloy ang pagtawa.

"Why? Did I said something wrong?" His voice softened and panic became visible in his eyes.

"I don't do shopping, Mr. Thomas. I have a stock of materials in my house if that's what you are worried about." Pinasok ko na ang laptop sa bag bago tumayo. I eyed Rose who is seem to be running out of breath.

"You're coming or what?"

"Yeah, yeah." Natatawang tugon niya at sumunod na sa akin.

"That's one hell of a joke." I heard her mocked Krae.

"Can you please stop it?" Magkasalubong ang mga kilay na suway ko sa kanya nung makalayo na kami kay Krae. Rose couldn't stop laughing and it's hurting my ears.

"Sorry, sorry, I just can't help it." Nanghihina siyang napahawak sa balikat ko na agad kong iwinaksi.

"I kinda imagine what he said. You, the great Quennelle Sylvian Cortez, the powerful heiress of the Minamoto Clan, is shopping for some art materials."

Napapailing ko siyang inirapan nung mas lalo pang lumakas ang kanyang pagtawa. "You know... you know what makes me laugh even more?" Halos hindi na siya masyadong makapagsalita nang maayos dahil sa kakatawa niya. "Sa Divisoria ka nagsha-shopping. With... haha... a bodyguard, a butler haha, and a maid following you around. Just imagine that!" She shrieked.