After recess ended, me and Ezekiel continue to decorate the event hall. Its sad that no one really did came to give us a hand.
Wala bang ibang nakaka-alam na 2 lang kami dito? Are they not aware that this event hall need to be decorated and it is so big for only two people to decorate?
"Angel.. pakitingin naman sa malayo kung pantay." My head snap at Ezekiel's direction. He's decorating the background of the stage and sticking the lettering by the wall.
I nod and run towards the the opposite direction of the stage, far away from it.
"Itaas mo ng konti." I said and he push it up but too high.
"Ibaba mo ng konti napa sobra e." I said, he nod and push it down, but too much again.
I scratch my head, "Too low, higher just a bit." I said even doing the hand thingy.
He push it up, just right. "Okay na?" He ask and I nod, even clapped ny hands.
"Yes yes, its perfect!" I said and he nod before going down the stool he got from the janitor's room awhile ago.
"Malapit na ba tayong matapos sa decoration?" I ask out of curiosity. Kanina pa kasi natapos ang recess and its almost lunch. It's not that tinatamad na akong tulungan siya because it's my job to do that as his assistant. I'm more of tired already. Kanina pa kasi kaming umaga maraming ginagawa, right when I just enter the school.
"Uhm... hindi pa e." He replied from the stage. I sigh and nod before continuing on putting the decoration at the entrance are.
Though the event hall is big, the planned decoration of the place will look like there's another hall inside this hall. Because the students that bought the cheaper tickets will be the one who'll take the seats from the higher parts. While the ones who but tickets such as VIP and VVIP can take sets down here. So there's entrance for the ones who got VIP separated from the ones who got VVIP.
"Hey..." my head snap at Ezekiel's direction. I'm pretty sure I'm the one he's calling cause its just the two of us here.
"Yes?" I ask with a smile on my face.
"After this, lets have lunch." He said while his back facing me. My lips parted a bit and nod.
"S-Sure, no problem." I said before facing back on what I'm doing and grabbing a box that contains the metallic silk foils straps for the entrance and went to the entrance of VIP.
We've finished setting the chairs which took too much time specially its just the two of us. We've also set the table for judges and technical. For staffs such as the officers.
An hour and a half, Ezekiel called me and told me that we will eat lunch already. That immediately boosted my energy even though I felt so drained already. Just by the thought of eating makes me energized despite the fact that I'm tired already.
"Sandali lang, yung mga gamit ko sa office? Hindi ko ba kukunin muna? Andun yung wallet ko." I suddenly realized as we are leaving the hall.
"Kukunin ko muna." I said and was about to turn my back at him and he held me by the wrist taht made me turn around and look back at him.
"Wag na, ililibre na kita. Its on me." Ani niya at napakunot ang noo ko.
"Pero gutom ako, marami akong gustong kainin at bilhin." I said and he chuckled.
"Edi sabihin mo lang, its on me nga e." He said and I pouted.
"Pero Ezekiel, nakakahiya. No, I'll get it." I said and he flicked his tongue that made me change my mind go not get it anymore.
Medyo nakakatakot din yun. It feels like galit siya parang hindi. Ang confusing ng mukha. Mukhang gagalitan niya ako any minute.
"Lets make a deal then, ako muna ang mag babayad ng pagkain mo. Anything you want, pero... once you got your wallet, you'll pay me, okay? Malayo kasi ang office dito, matatagalan pa tayong kumain kung kukunin mo pa yung wallet mo. Akala ko ba gutom kana?" He said which I'm actually surprised how long what he said. I just slowly nod since I don't know what to say anymore.
He smiled, "Okay, lets go." He said before letting go of my hand and started walking towards the exit of the hall. Hawak-hawak pala niya ang palapulsuhan ko the whole time?
I shake my head and run after him to chase him. When I finally reach after him, I hear him chuckle but still looking in front.
We entered the cafeteria, loud cafeteria to be exact. We went to the counter and wait in line for few minutes before its finally our turn.
"Piliin mo kahit anong gusto mo. Think as if ikaw rin ang magbabayad kasi yun naman talaga ang mangyayari mamaya." He said and I slowly nod.
"At tsaka, 'wag kang mahihiya kung madami ang bibilhin mo." He added, napakunot naman ang aking noo bago humarap sa tindera. Bakit naman ako mahihiya kung marami ang kakainin ko? Whats the point? Why would I be shy?
"Ate isa po ng porkchop, isang order ng macaroni salad, isang order po ng fried siomai, 4 po na Shanghai, isang order din po ng beef steak, tapos isang cup po ng rice, yung yellow po, thank you." I said and faced Ezekiel'z direction, as I look at him he's already looking at me and I saw how shocked his expression is.
"What? Is it too much?" I ask and he shake his head.
"No no no, hindi, it's fine." He said and I nod and look back in front nd wait for my foods to be served. When the staff handed me my tray, and so is Ezekiel got his foods, I waited beside him until he paid for the foods.
He pick up his tray and face me, "Where do you usually eat?" He ask, I pursed my lips, honestly, I don't know. Its always Ellie who pick our lunch table. And now, I don't know what to do.
"Ahm... you can pick the table. It's doesn't matter naman kung saan. If you want... pwedeng kasama friends mo." I said and give him a smile.
But he shake his head, "No no, we can't do that. Aasarin nila ako or ikaw, mai-ingay sila and you know Ace. Let's just eat somewhere else." He said, looking around, my lips formed a small 'o'.
"Outside the cafeteria?" I confusedly ask, he look back at me and smiled.
"No, I mean, sa ibang table nalang." He said and I slowly nod. He started walking towards the empty table's direction and I just followed. I held tight on my tray since its full and one wrong move and the foods will meet the dirty, tiled floor.
"Angel, here." My head snap up as I heard Ezekiel's voice. He already put his tray down but I'm still here struggling with my tray. I saw him run towards me and reach for the tray from my hand.
"Akin na." He said and walk towards our table with my food.
I place the foods on the table which almost took over the whole plane. Ezekiel have rice with breaded pork only while I have all those foods I ordered a while ago.
I started with macaroni salad, followed by siomai and shanghai. While eating I would notice Ezekiel's glances at me which made me conscious a bit.
"Bakit ka ba tingin nang tingin?" I asked, irritated, his eyes widened before shaking his head.
"Wala naman, wala lang. I'm just.. amused on how you eat." He said and my eyes squinted.
"Ha? Bakit naman?" I confusedly ask,
He chuckled and shake his head, "Wala wala, kasi yung ibang mga babae na nakakasabay kong kumain, they would... eat lightly. Para bang... sinasadya nilang maging mahinahon kumain whenever I ask them to eat with me." He explained and I slowly nod.
"In short, they are just acting cool in front of you." I said before taking a whole piece of siomai to my mouth. I hear him laugh and when I look up, he's shaking his head.
"Siguro nga," he said and I just shake my head.
"So it means marami ka nang inaaya kumain?" I suddenly ask, he look at me and slowly nod.
"Yes, specially yung mga officers. Pero hindi naman madalas, whenever aabutin lang kami ng lunch na magkasama." He explained and I nod.
"Mhm, okay, this is the first time I ate with someone else bukod kay Ellie. All these years kasi, siya lang ang kasama ko kumain." I said and I hear him hum.
"Mhmm, sana lang di magalit sa akin si Ellie. Baka suntukin din ako kagaya ng ginawa niya kay Ace." He jokingly said making the both of us laugh.
"Uy, hindi naman... siguro?" I unsurely said and he look at me with shocked expression and I could only grin at him.
Classes ended and here I am at our van next to Ellie. She's wearing her ear buds and scrolling through her social media feed while I'm here hugging my bag.
She has been so quiet starting I enter the van which is not new to me. But she haven't even spared a glance at me which is what odd.
I pursed my lips and pull my bag closer go my chest, "Ellie... how's your day?" I asked while facing her. She look at me before looking back at her phone as if I didn't say anything.
I pouted "Uy, galit ka ba? Ellie? Ellie?" I said as I slightly tap her arm. When she move her arms and remove he earbuds I slightly jolt up.
"I don't know Angel. May dapat ba akong ika-galit?" She ask and I look at her dumbfounded.
May kasalanan ba ako? Wala naman ah, hindi ko nga siya halos nakita buong araw para magkaroon ako ng kasalanan sa kaniya.
"Wala...?" I unsurely said and I saw her roll her eyes.
"Fine, I'll say it dahil mukhang hindi ko naman ma re-realize. Bakit hindi ka sumabay sa akin kumain kanina? I waited for you, tapos makikita lang kita kasama ang Guillermo na 'yon?" She ask and my eyes widened.
My eyes widened, "Ellie, I'm sorry. Bukas ikaw na ulit sasabayan ko kumain. Don't worry, promise yun." I said as I hug her that made her groan.
"Angel ano ba, ang init kaya!" She exclaimed which made me giggle and pull away.
"After foundation day, sa weekend, lets bake some cupcakes, okay? Sister bonding time." I said and she rolled her eyes.
"Ikaw bahala, just don't be too close kay Zek." She said and my brows furrowed.
"Bakit naman? He's nice." I said and she sigh
She look at me, "Pero yung asungot niyang kaibigan hindi. So there's a chance na hindi rin siya ganoon kabait." She said before looking back at her phone and I am left there confused.
I lean back on my chair and pouts, "Mabait naman siya, he gave me his cheesecake nga."
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