The Perfect Side of You (TAGALOG)

Chapter 11

Tumango ako at agad na iniiwas ang palapulsuhan sa hawak niya bago bumalik sa pwesto ko dati.

Bumalik naman din siya sa tabi ko at sumimsim sa wine na hawak niya. I looked down on my glass of wine, getting awkward of the ambiance around us. 

The insides of me startled when I saw him looked at me in my peripheral vision.

"How are you and Marco?" he suddenly asked that made me looked at him with my eyes a bit widened.

I licked my lower lip. "Uh.. we are.. we are good. We're friends," I replied and looked away from him, eyes focused on the front.

"Hm.."

"But.. But I'm into someone right now. I'm focused.. on you know, someone in our school."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "Natanggal mo na ba ako sa listahan mo?" tanong niya at itinango ko ang ulo ko bago bumuntong-hininga.

"You're the last on the list. It failed right away but it's okay. I don't like you na naman so don't worry. I'll maybe have a new list of my crushes on.. I think.. one of these days."

I looked at him and smiled a bit. He was just serious staring at the glass of wine he was holding. Iniikot-ikot niya iyon dahilan para gumalaw ang wine sa loob nito. My eyes then darted on his finger and I saw a gold plain ring there. He's still not married, isn't he?

I just ignored it and drank my wine in one shot. "I'm feeling a bit sleepy now. We should go back inside now," aya ko dahil ayaw ko na talagang makasama siya rito ng kami lang. Parang hindi ako makahinga at kumportable.

He looked at me for a few more moment before Greige nodded and walked back inside first.

When we reached the dining room, our parents already raised from their seats. I think they are already leaving. 

"Oh. I didn't notice the time flew fast. It's getting dark now. We should get going now," then Greige's father chuckled. "Thank you for the delicious dinner you served for us."

Tumawa naman si Daddy habang si Mommy ay nakangiti lang. "You're welcome, Leandro. You can always give a visit here with your son," sabi ni Daddy at tumingin kay Greige na katabi ko bago tinapik ang balikat nito na may ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

Tumango si Greige at bahagyang ngumiti. "Thank you, Tito."

"You're welcome, hijo. Ngayon ko lang napansin that you looked perfect with my daughter. Don't you agree, Genieva?" nagulat ako sa biglaang tanong ni Daddy. Napatingin ako kay Greige at sa tatay niya. I swallowed hard and an awkward chuckle just came out of my mouth.

"Uhh.." 

"Ginero, it's getting late now. Our children still have their classes tommorow," nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng sumingit si Mommy. I simply bit my lower lip and exhaled silently.

"Oh, right. So.. drive safely," si Daddy at nilakad na namin ang papunta sa labas ng bahay. They talk for a few more minute before they finally bid their goodbyes and left our house. Para akong nakahinga ng sobrang luwag dahil doon. I was also about to say that I'll head into my room now when my father called me. I turned to him and gave him a questionable look.

"Yes, Dad?"

"I think you should get marry to him," aniya na siyang ikina-kunot ng aking noo. Tuluyan ko na siyang hinarap sabay sulyap kay Mommy na nakamasid at nakikinig lamang sa amin.

"Marry? To who?" tanong ko kahit alam na at kinakabahan sa isasagot niya.

"Of course, to Leandro's son, Greige—" napaatras kaagad ako sa sagot niya.

I chuckled nervously. "Wait, Dad. You're joking, right?"

I heard him sighed and slid his hands on his pockets. "I'm not joking, Genieva. We're being serious here."

"Well, Dad, I'll not also take this matter seriously. You already know that I hate this kind of marriage. The arrange marriage. Besides, I'm still not on the right age for that!" I ranted and immediately ran towards my room upstairs, not letting Dad answer more.

I locked the door and threw myself on the bed. I shut my eyes as I wrapped my arms around my pillow.

"I really hate marriage."

Kinabukasan, bad mood agad ako. Siguro'y dahil sa nangyari kagabi kaya gano'n.

"Genieva!" my shoulders lumped when I heard Marco's name as soon as I stepped out of our van. I just stood up in front of the school's gate, waiting for him to go to me but not giving him even a glance of me.

I remained frowning. "What?" tanong ko nang makalapit siya sa akin. Lumakad na ako papasok sa school at dire-diretso lamang sa paglalakad dahil nakasunod naman siya sa akin.

"Bad mood?" natatawa niyang tanong kaya't napa-irap ako sa isipan. Obvious naman diba? Kaya pwede bang lumayo-layo ka muna sa akin? Ha?

"Yeah. Having a bad mood right now. Mamaya na lang tayo mag-usap?" anang ko at tumigil sa tapat ng classroom namin. I turned to him.

"Uh, okay? Lunch tayo mamaya, Genieva?" aya niya.

"I'll see if I have an appetite later. I'll see," I replied.

Tumango siya. "Okay. I'll wait for you in the cafeteria!" sabay kaway niya sa akin at tinanguan ko na lang siya. Pagkaharap ko sa pintuan ng room ay siya namang daan ni Greige sa tabi ko at papasok ng classroom. I looked at him and raised a brow. Tuloy-tuloy lang siya hanggang sa ma-upo sa kanyang assigned seat.

I grinned at myself and walked towards my seat too to settled myself there. I picked up my tint from my bag as well as my small mirror and started applying light tint on my lips and on my cheeks.

"Genieva!!" napatingin ako sa kadadating lamang na si Lexie.

I smiled sheepishly at her. "Nauna akong pumasok, paano ba 'yan?" sabi ko sa kanya at parehas kaming tumawa.

"Oo na. Sige na. Milktea mamaya, libre kita."

I squealed a bit and hugged her. "Thank you!"

Umirap siya at umupo sa tabi ko. "Saya ka na do'n? Kaya mo ngang bumili ng dosenang milktea! Huwag mo 'kong pinaglololoko, Genieva. Masasakal kita. Tamo," I laughed and lightly hit her arm.

"Basta libre ng iba, masaya na ako do'n," sagot ko at napailing na lamang siya.

Nag-kwentuhan pa kami saglit bago dumating na ang teacher namin para sa unang klase, which is Mathematics. 

"Niyayaya ako kanina ni Marco. Sabay daw kaming mag-lunch ngayon. Sabihin ko na lang wala akong ganang kumain. Dito na lang kayo kumain nina Reine. Please? Bilhan niyo na lang din ako ng lunch. Kain tayo dito," ani ko at nag-paawa look sa kanila. Lexie sighed and nodded.

"Akin na pera mo. 'Yung barya lang ha! Baka mamaya ibigay mo na naman diyan isang libo para sa singkwentang lunch!" angal niya na ikinangiwi ko. I took out my wallet from my bag and scrunched my nose when I only have a thousand bill inside. 

Narinig ko ang buntong-hininga ni Lexie. "Wala din akong singkwenta, Genieva! Isa lang meron ako dito. The rest, isang lilibuhin na."

"Wala rin ako eh. Buong isang libo lang meron ako. May dala naman kasi akong lunch dito sa bag," sagot naman ni Reine at nagkibit-balikat. "Hati na lang tayo sa lunch ko. Gusto mo?" tanong niya na ikina-iling ko. Hindi sa maarte ako ha. Nakakahiya lang maki-hati ng pagkain kahit kaibigan ko pa si Reine.

"Hindi na.. hindi na lang ako kakain. Medyo busog pa naman ako—" I was cut off by a voice behind me.

"You should eat. What do you want for lunch? Ako na ang bibili," napatingin kami kay Greige na nasa likod ko na pala. I raised my gaze and he's now towering over me.

I immediately shook my head and my hands in front of him. "Hindi na. Hindi na. Okay na talaga ako. Busog pa—" nagulat ako ng bigla na lang siyang umalis sa harap namin at palabas ng classroom.

I turned to my friends with brows furrowed. They just shrugged at me before chuckling a bit.

"Bad mood din ata."