So Confused

Chapter 7

“CONGRATS GUYSSSS” maki hugged us ng magkita kita ulit kami.

It’s been 2 days after ng UM at balik nanaman kami sa reality. Studying.

“Thank you mak” I replied. Inabot ko sakanila yung pasalubong ko and they gladly accepted it.

“two months ulit girl, may laro nanaman tayo after two months” Zylea excitedly stated.

And this time, mas malayo na ang regionals, I think it is a 6 hour trip papunta doon. Mas magagaling na ang kalaban at mas madami na rin.

“yes, I can’t wait for the regionals”

Zylea ordered food for us, libre niya daw kasi nakapuntos siya kay Dane. Mas una niya pa nga yun na kwinento kaysa sa laro niya dito sa tatlo.

“Mely, balita ko nagtransfer daw dito si Jolo?” Abi asked

Nabulunan naman ako sa biglaang pagsabi niya. Pati si Hazel ay napatingin sa akin. Pati si Zylea na dumadaldal kay Maki ay nahinto. Seriously? Jolo?

“Sorry, nagulat ka ata. Akala ko nga nung nakaraang araw ay namasyal lang siya dito.”

Anong akala niya dito sa school, park?

“No its nothing. Nabigla lang ako sa sinabi mo.”

“But I’m serious, he’s here”

Huminga ako ng malalim at saka sumubo ng spaghetti. “That does not concern me anymore”

“Wouln’t you feel awkward?” Hazel asked me.

I looked at her as I reminisce some moments with Jolo “Ako ba ang may ginawang mali?”

Her eyes widen at saka uminom ng Juice niya

“Yes of course, bakit ka naman maawkward sakanya, eh siya nga itong gago” Abi added

“True girl, makita ko lang yan na lumapit lapit sayo, tatawagin ko si Kuya Levian para sa rescue operation”

“Levian?” the 3 girls asked.

Pinandilatan ko naman ng mata si Zylea

Nagpacute naman siya sa akin bago tumawa “Friend naming doctor ni Amelie. Bubugbugin ko si Jolo tapos papatulong ako kay Kuya Levi para sa pagpapagamot” sagot ni Zylea

Tsk. This girl

“But seriously Amelie, you got to see him more of the time now.” Maki said

“It’s been two years, what I feel now is far from what I had for him the last years.”

“Well anyway. He’s not that worthy. Magsama sila ng babae niyang higad” abi said.

Maki raised her glass of pineapple juice “to boys, may they forever be damned” she said and we cheers to it.

.

Madaling lumipas ang araw and its now weekends. Dane has been so adamnant of us going outside. Nangako daw kasi ako na magdedate kami pag nakapasok kami sa Regionals, but as far as I can remember, I don’t agree with it yet. But nothing can beat Dane’s perseverance.

Ilang araw niya akong binulabog hanggang sa pumayag na lang ako dahil naiinis na ako sa kulit niya.

“I thought matatalo kami ng Main, ang tataas nila tumalon at matatangkad pa.” he told me. He was telling me stories about their game nung UM. Lumabas kasi kami ng mall at tumambay sa favorite niyang kainan.

Ang dami niyang kwento. He is much alike with Zylea.

“Matangkad ka rin naman ah”

“Oo nga, basta, buti at nanalo kami. I’m finally going to regional meet. I’m so happy” sabi niya. Pumapalakpak pa siya sa sobrang tuwa niya. I was happy of course, magkakasama kami sa Regionals.

“How about Zylea?” I asked him

Nangunot naman ang noo niya “What about Zylea?”

“She left me and sat beside you, atleast tell me some stories”

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya at sumubo ng kinakain niya.

“She’s too loud. Inannounce niya lang naman sa buong bus na crush niya ako”

I literally bursted into laughter, that girl is really really a brave one.

“Stop laughing. Andun lahat ng teammates ko pati si Coach, they had been teasing me nung nandon pa tayo sa Main.”

“Don’t you find her cute?’

He rolled his eyes. If I don’t know Eumie, I would really think na bakla si Dane. He is not masculine. Ang hilig niya pang mag roll eyes.

“you know what, Zylea’s a good girl. If you got to know her, she is great.”

“You know I’m into Eumie, your giving your friend a false hope.”

“You know, its Zylea’s choice if she got to continue persuading you, I’m not pushing her, but I’m not also gonna stop her. Its her decision.”

He sighed “but to tell you the truth, she’s cute” he said and then blushed.

“I can see that you’ll gonna like her soon”

“I will not. I’m Loyal to Eumie.”

Nagkibit balikat na lang ako “Sabi mo eh”

“How about you Amelie, you are 2 years single”

“And I can be single for another year. That won’t be a problem”

“I know, I know. Wala ka man lang bang nagugustuhan?”

I looked at him and rested my back on the chair. I don’t know but Karlwin’s grin suddenly came into my mind.

“Wala” I answered. Kumain na lang ako ng pizza na inorder niya. I don’t want any complexity in my life again than studying and my father.

After an hour Dane decided na maglakad lakad kami. She wants to look for a gift kay Eumie for her 20th birthday.

“What does she like?” I asked her

“She likes blue”

Tumingin tingin ako sa mga dress na blue, I had seen Eumie pero hindi ko pa siya nakakausap or nakakasama ng matagal. I don’t know if she’ll like my taste.

She’s a typical girl. About my height but mas payat siya. She has angelic face at mabait rin, as dane told me. Lagi kasi siyang nakangiti. Eh lagi din namang nakangiti si Zylea, nakatawa pa nga.

“Finally found you” a familiar voice speaked at my back. Paglingon ko it was karlwin, with his grin.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him. Isinabit ko muna ang blue tube dress na hawak ko. Nakita niya kasi iyon na hawak ko, baka isipin eh ako magsusuot.

“I asked Grant if he had talked to you, he said na nasa mall ka daw.”

Ah, that. I had been talking to grant. I don’t know, I just love the feeling of having a little brother. Lagi kasi siyang nagkwekwnto sa akin.

“Ah. So why are you asking about me?”

“I owe you an ice cream right?”

I looked at him and creased my forehead “I remember it, but you can just give it to me pag nagtraining na.”

“Nandito na ako” He said.

“Have you chosen Amel----“ Dane stopped when he saw karlwin in front of me

“You’re that guy.” Dane pointed as he remembered karlwin.

Karlwin just frowned.

“Maybe we can have the ice cream next time. I’m with Dane” I said to Karlwin pero mas lalo niya lang ikinunot ang noo niya.

“I want it now” He firmly said.

Tiningnan ko siya. Seriously? Bata ba siya para magcrave sa ice cream.

Hinila naman ako ni Dane “Sige na, mabubulilyaso pa ang lovelife mo dahil sa arte mo. I’m fine here, may napili naman na ako for Eumie.” He said those and pushed me to karlwin.

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. Pagkatapos ko siyang samahan, ganto na lang? Parang aso na ipapaalaga sa iba?

“Have fun Amelie” He winked before bidding his good bye.

I watched his retreating back silently cursing him. I was sleeping pretty in my apartment ng bulabugin niya ako tapos iiwanan niya ako sa lalaking hindi ko naman close? Nice bestfriend.

“Hey” Karlwin snapped at me.

“What?” I said creasing my forehead.

“Let’s have your ice cream.”

I inhaled and exhaled before agreeing to him. Wala naman na akong magagawa.

Pumunta kami sa isang ice cream parlor. Hindi naman siya pang bata masyado but the designs are really attractive for kids.

“What flavor do you want?”

“Rocky road.” It has always been my favorite.

I sat into vacant chairs and waited for my ice cream. Nagbrowse muna ako ng f*******: ko dahil medyo maraming nag oorder. May message dun si Grant telling that Karlwin messaged him, there’s also levian asking if he could visit me.

‘I’m not at home.’ I replied to him.

Baka dadalhin niya nanaman si Morris. Yung aso niya. Nakalimutan ko ang breed, but it was super cute. Tumatambay sil madalas sa apartment every 2 pm kasi gala time daw yun ni Morris.

Another message came and it was from my brother asking me if I will go home. As much as I want to see him, maiinis lang ako pag umuwi ako. Dad will just piss me.

Amelie Marie

‘I won’t. Just persuade Jade. Stop pestering me.’

Aurelio Jose is typing…

‘I got her pregnant. I don’t know what to do’

I was shocked. Bakit naman ang mga gantong kaimportanteng bagay ay sa messenger niya sasabihin. Kahit ano pang itype ko. Hindi nun maeexpress ng maayos ang nararamdaman ko. Minsan si Kuya kulang sa sensitivity.

‘can’t you atleast call before telling me that?’

‘I can’t say it personally Amelie. I don’t know what I’m feeling’

‘That’s your child. You’d better be happy’

‘I don’t feel it. I think im not ready for it’

‘Asshole. Then go cut your d**k, you irresponsible old man’

Tinadtad ko pa ng demon emoji bago ko itinapon ang cellphone ko sa bag.

That guy! Matagal na akong naiinis sa treatment niya kay Jade. Tapos ngayon na nabuntis niya magpapakagago siya? Well for me he is in the right age to get married. He is 28. I don’t get it why he is so stubborn. Gagawin gawin niya tapos sakin pa siya magtatanong ng gagawin. Anong alam ko jan? biglang gusto kong umuwi at ihataw sakanya ang padded cane ko.

“Are you fine?” karlwin asked me matapos niyang ilapag ang ice cream

I breathed heavily at kinuha ang ice cream ko. Sumubo ako ng tatlong malalaking subo. Naiinis ako. Parang gusto kong pumalo ng tao.

Karlwin looked shocked.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing”

“You can tell me. Mabigat mainis mag isa.”

I looked at him at sumubo ulit.

“My brother. He got his girlfriend pregnant and won’t take responsibility.”

Napatango naman siya and laid his back on his chair.

“Oh, that’s a hard case huh.”

“Hard ba yun? Is taking responsibility of your doings a hard thing?”

“Well, If you know your brother you’ll understand him more.”

“He is nothing but an asshole.”

“Maybe he is not ready.”

“f**k him” I took one spoonful of icecream and stared at it so hard.

“Tell me Amelie, if you’ve done something horrible and you know you’d make things worse if you fix it. Would you still fix it?”

I stared at him. Hindi ko alam ang gusto niyang sabihin.

“You know, I don’t like complexity. Tell it to me directly.”

“Maybe your brother don’t love her enough to risk himself for a greater responsibility. Maybe he is thinking that the baby won’t be enough to make things between them smooth sailing. Maybe it would worsen.”

“What does that mean again?”

Sumubo siya ng ice cream niya. Naiinis na ata siya magpaliwanag sa akin.

“Let’s just eat” he said and smiled.