Have You Ever

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

This is Quinn L's work. June 25, 2021

"Steve, sino 'yan?" pag uusisa ko.

"A friend of mine just sent me his invitation for his upcoming birthday." Sabi nya at tinago na ang phone sa bulsa niya.

Is it true?

"Ah, kailan daw?" Dagdag ko pang tanong.

"Next week." Simpleng sagot niya.

"Okay... Pupunta ka ba?"

"I don't know. Maybe, if I'm not busy." Tumango tango naman ako sa sagot niya. Why need to bother? After ilang minutes tapos ko nang kainin yung pasta.

"Steve, cr lang ako then let's go."

"Okay, sige. I'll wait you in the car." Tumango nalang ako at nagpunta na sa cr. Mag aayos lang ako konti at magttooth brush. Syempre, kailangan prepared. Joke! Hehe.

Habang naglalagay naman ako ng liptint, may isang babae na kaliwa ko ang tapos na din mag lipstick at lumabas na ng cr. Lalabas na din sana ako nang biglang may tumawag sakin.

Tyler calling...

Anong mayroon?

Agad ko naman itong sinagot, ["Where are you?"] tanong nang nasa kabilang linya.

["I'm with Steve right now. What's up?]

["I'm just wondering if you're already home. Ah, uhm­- h-hiram sana ako ng notes mo e."] One thing about Tyler is that we have the same course. Iba lang yung block section niya. He's one of my closest friends since our family was close with each other. But why is he stuttering?

["May problema ka ba Jay?] Pagtatanong ko naman. I call him "Jay" since his name is Tyler Jaze.

["I'm fine. I am just… oh shoot! Talo kami ang cancer kasi ng gusion kainis!"] He said while laughing nervously.

["Ayan! Mobile legends pa. Anyway, I'm going to hang up, naghihintay sakin si Steven sa labas."] I reply sarcastically.

["Okay. Ingat ka. Just call me when you need me. AND! Pahiram ng notes mo sa Tax ha, nanganganib grades ko don eh."] Sabi niya naman sabay tawa.

["Okay, ikaw din. Mag-aral ka kasi, puro ka mobile legends eh."] Tumawa na rin ako sabay end call.

Lumabas na ako ng cr at agad naman akong tumingin sa glass window ng restau upang tanawin si Steve. Ngunit nagtaka ako nang may nakita akong babae na kausap niya.

Parang siya yung babae kanina sa cr ha?

Nakita ko namang humalik sa pisngi ni Steve ang babae sabay nag-wave ito at umalis na. Nakita ko namang nag buntong hininga si Steve sa ginawa ng babae.

Who is she?

Is he cheating on me?

Siya ba yung ka-chat ni Steve kanina pa?

I went out, and went after Steve. When he saw me, he's now smiling? Wow? Acting like there's nothing wrong in here? But I don't want to jump to conclusions. Ayaw kong mag away kami, lalo na he prepared something for us. I don't want to ruin our precious moment together.

Baka isa lang ito sa mga kaibigan niya. Inalis ko nalang ang isip ko sa nangyari kanina at ngumiti rin sa kanya.

"Shall we go?" He spoke. I just signaled him and he opened the door in the passenger's seat. I know, he's a gentleman for this. Kalimutan ko na nga lang kung ano ‘yung nakita ko.

May tiwala ako kay Steve. Dahil kung may mukhang mag-ccheat sa ‘ming dalawa, Ako yata yun. He's cold as ice when it comes to women. He's too fine to cheat. Pero ‘di ko naman sinasabi na mag-ccheat ako. I will never do that.

Mahal ko siya para gawin ang bagay na 'yun.

Pumasok na ako sa loob ng kotse at komportableng umupo. Steven finally starts the car engine. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at saka kinuha na lamang ang cellphone ko sa bag. Then I received a message coming from Tyler.

Tyler Sanchez

Active Now

Tyler: Hoy

Kiara: What?

Tyler: You’re still with your boyfriend?

Kiara: Uh, yeah, wdym?

Tyler: What time will u go home?

Tyler: I badly need your notes.

Kiara: Hindi ako uuwi ngayon, abot ko nalang sayo bukas.

Tyler: What? U gonna stay till night with ur boyfriend? May curfew ka diba?

Kiara: I'm not a child anymore. Besides pinayagan ako ni mom.

Tyler: Oh

I don't know what's the matter with him right now. We don't usually talk to each other not unless it’s about some important things. Simula kasi noong naging kami ni Steven, iniwasan na ako ni Tyler. Maybe, ayaw niyang gumawa ng eksena at baka pagselosan pa siya. Well, ‘di naman seloso si Steve at wala namang dapat ikaselos dahil kaibigan ko lang naman si Tyler.

"Who was that?" Steve said for breaking the ice. Ang tahimik kasi. ‘Di ko rin alam kung ano sasabihin ko sa kanya.

Ano ba Kiara Bliss Lopez! Stop thinking about what you saw earlier, he truly loves you! Trust your man!

"Who?" I said confused.

"The one you're chatting with on your messenger."

"Ah, si Tyler nag message lang." I replied.

"Anong sabi niya?" Tugon namang muli ni Steve. Why do I sense like he's getting jealous over a text? Di naman ito matanong sa mga nag mmessage sakin dati, we have privacy. You know, trust.

"He just wanted to borrow my notes for tax."

"Yun lang?" Sagot naman nito at tumingin sa akin at saka binalik ang tingin sa kalsada.

"Are you jealous?" Nakakunot noo kong sagot sa kanya. I don't like his tone right now. Parang any moment sasabog ako dahil ‘di parin ako palagay sa nakita ko kanina.

"Why would I?" He said then chuckled.

"You're acting like as if I'm 'cheating' on you." Naiinis na tugon ko. At talagang diniin ko ‘yung salitang cheating.

"What are you talking about Kiarra?" He replied sternly while still looking at the road. Syempre naman 'no, baka mabangga pa kami.

"Nevermind." Sabay tingin na lang sa car window. Ayoko muna makipag-usap sa kanya baka ano pa masabi ko. Bakit ba kasi nakita ko pa yung kanina?

"I'm not jealous, okay," He said calmly, making the atmosphere less tense. "I'm just starting a conversation with you because you don't seem so fine pagkatapos mong mag-cr kanina. Do you perhaps have your monthly period?" He said, then chuckled a bit.

I sighed. Mukang ako ata yung may problema saming dalawa. Hindi tamang mag conclude agad akong he's cheating. Mali yon Kiara, mali.

"I'm sorry. I should not have acted like that." I said sincerely. "It's okay, Kiara." He laughed and patted my head.

"You know that I love you right?"