Tales of Antagonist

Chapter 10

Friendzoned

Days passed by and we barely see each other because we have businesses to do. Nagsimulang mag-training si Charles sa boy scout para sa kanilang Jamboree. Bukas na iyon, ang araw din ng division level Press Conference namin. My coach is really strict when we have training. Hindi man lang ako makakagamit ng phone. 

"Ma'am, please? Saglit lang talaga 'to," I pleaded to my coach one time. Napabuntung-hininga siya, "Anong gagawin mo?" tanong niya. 

"May i-cha-chat lang po ako sa messenger," sagot ko. 

"Sino?" Do I have to tell you? I mean, you aren't my mother for pete's sake. 

But still, I answered her queries, "Just a friend." 

She nodded and gave me a go signal. Yes! Agad akong nagtipa sa phone at nag-search sa name ni Charles. 

Me:

Can we talk today? After class, kung pwede. 

I waited a couple of minutes but he only answered a thumbs up. A thumb up! So annoying. 

When I started to type again, someone peeked my phone and let out a giggle. "Boyfriend mo?" tanong niya. She's one of writers. 

I smirked, "Nope." 

"Ngi! Si Charles ba 'yan? Kaya pala, may girlfriend na yan beh so di mo talaga boyfriend." She confirmed it by herself. Another annoying living thing. We're not close with my co-writers. Professional akong makipag-halubilo sa kanila. But this girl feels like she's one of my friends. 

"Ah... alam mo? Wala akong pake," pambabara ko sa kanya para matahimik na siya. 

Imbes na tumahimik ay nagsalita na naman siya, "Alam mo bang maraming gustong agawin siya. Yung girlfriend niya kasi taga-ibang school so may chance talaga mga higad dito na magpapansin sa kanya." 

"Whatever."

"Sus! Hindi ka naniniwala? Tignan natin bukas, pupunta iyong girlfriend niya dito para sa kanya." 

I made a face, "Bakit naman siya pupunta dito bukas? You said taga-ibang school siya." 

"Kaya nga ang sweet di ba? Pupunta pa talaga siya dito sa school para bigyan yung boyfriend niya ng moral support. Ah~" she shrieked after saying that. Naaawa ako sa kanya dahil sa kanyang ka-cornyhan. 

'Yun lang? Kinikilig na siya nang dahil do'n? Tch, she didn't know how my boyfriends with a big S surprises me everyday. 

"Ah, okay. Pupunta siya dito para bigyan ang boyfriend niya ng moral support dahil bukas ang alis ni Charles para sa Jamboree. I get it." 

Hinampas niya ako sa balikat at tumawa, "Ano ba 'yan. Wala ka talagang pake sa love story nila?" P to the U to the K, pukingina ng babaeng to na feeling close makahampas sa balikat ko. Masakit! 

I gave her a stiking glare because of what she did, "You don't have the permission to touch me. Get lost," mahina kong sabi na may diin bawat salita. Mukhang na-gets niya naman iyon dahil takot na takot siyang bumalik sa kanyang desk. 

Natapos ang training namin sa araw na iyon sa classroom ng coach namin at lumabas na. I saw Charles leaning on the wall beside the door. He's busy scanning his phone. 

"Charles," sabi ko at tinignan niya ako. "Nandito ka na pala. Tapos na training niyo?" tanong niya at sumilip sa loob ng classroom. 

"Yeah," tipid kong sagot. Tinignan niya lang ako pagkatapos no'n. "What?" 

Hinintay kong kunin niya ang bag ko pero hindi niya ginawa. He asked again, "What?" 

What a gentleman! I sighed and rolled my eyes at him. Deretso akong naglakad pauwi sa'min. I purposely tell manong not to fetch me kasi plano kong sabay kaming umuwi ni Charles. Doon din naman kasi ang route niya kaya nasisiguro kong okay lang iyun. 

"Sabi mo mag-uusap tayo. Ano pala yung pag-uusapan natin? Tungkol ba 'to kay Aleng Nena?" sinunggaban niya agad ako ng maraming tanong. 

Naglalakad na kami ngayon  sa daan papuntang village namin. Instead of answering his question, "You should quit working in the contruction site," sabi ko. 

Tumawa siya, "Is this what you wanted to tell me?" 

"Yes." 

"Bakit?" 

"Anong bakit? The problem was already solved. You don't have to work just to help them." 

"Teka nga, sinasabi mo ba 'to sa'kin dahil nahihiya ka na mayroon kang kaibigan na nagtatrabaho sa construction site?" 

Kaibigan? 

Did I really classified him as one of my friends? The answer is... I don't know. 

"You could say that. Marami na ang nakakakita sa'tin na magkasama. If they knew you were working-"

He cutted me off, "Darn it. I can't believe you say that. Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago." 

"I'm not going to change myself just because others want me to. Take it or leave it." 

Napamaang siya at mas lalong hindi makapaniwala sa'kin. He asked, "Fine. I believe you're not here to talk about that. What is it?" 

"Well, bukas na yung Jamboree niyo, right?" 

He nodded, "Yes. 1 week siguro kami sa Batangas." 

"Break a leg."

"Ikaw din... sa PressCon niyo bukas..." 

I smiled at him, "Thank you," sabi ko at inilahad ang kamay sa kanya. Confusion drowned on his face while taking my hand, "For letting me get your position in News Writing. I owe you that." 

Kinuha ko pabalik ang kamay sa kanya at nag-umpisang maglakad, "And oh, by the way," sabi ko at lumingon sa kanya habang naglalakad pa din. "I think this will be our last meeting. Let's stop seeing each other. I'm afraid it will create misunderstandings by your girlfriend and others." 

Confusion drowned on his face again, "Why does my girlfriend involve in this?" So he really has a girlfriend. I was indirectly asking him about it. I've never believe it when people say that not until now. 

"You know... baka sabihan pa akong ahas ng mga schoolmate natin. I have resting b***h face pa naman. Baka akala nila aagawin kita sa girlfriend mo." I bark an evil witch laughter after that. 

"You don't need to be swayed by their judgements. What matter is yours. Hayaan mo na lang sila. And there's nothing going on between us, we knew that. You're like my little sister." 

Fuck. 

Do I look like a kid? 

"Whatever." 

"Anong drama yun kanina? Nice try," sabi niya at hinabol ako sa paglalakad. I keep my distance away from him while walking. "I'm serious." 

"Yeah. Yeah. Serious. You're always serious. " 

"I'm not kidding, Charles. Isa pa, baka hindi na ako papasok pa mga ilang araw." 

"Huh? Why?" 

"I'm going back to my old school. My parents will transfer me." That's where I belong... but please tell me you're not going to let me go. Say to me I'll stay. If that happens, I might convince my parents not to transfer. 

He heaved a deep sigh, "Gusto mo talaga sa private no? I thought magtatagal ka, hindi naman pala. Okay, if you're happy about that then I'll just support you, my little sister," he suddenly put his arms on my shoulder and fix my hair. 

There we go again with that word. "Don't call me that." 

"Why?" 

"You see me as a little lad. You don't know me yet. I can do things a man would fall in love." 

"Man?"

I smirked, "My boyfriends are older than me so I consider them as a man, not boys like... you." 

"Okay, then. I'm your boy." 

"You mean my boyfriend?" I laughed. But deep inside, seryoso ako sa tanong ko.

Tumawa siya ng mahina. "Nice try. Friend na boy, hindi boyfriend."

Internally, I want to curse him until he locks himself to Tartarus. Guess what? I'm friendzoned.