11 PM

CHAPTER EIGHT

Since that day hindi na nagparamdam si Mika sa akin which is last week. This week on Saturday is already the concert. Nasabi ko na rin kay Dad kung pwede niya kaming samahan to clear his schedule. Hindi ako pwedeng umasa kay Mika because there is a high possibility na he will dump us.

I also decided not to think about him too much. Masydo akong nag-invest ng emotion sa kanya that’s why madaming naepektuhan but now I learned my lesson. I already know what to do if ever na magparamdam siya sa akin.

Nakwento na rin namin kay Dale ang lahat and they both sermon me and tell me not to expect something about Mika. They literally made me cry on that day for me to realize so many things. So lucky to have both of them because they always got me even though I already said to them na kaya ko, they just witness what I’ve been through from the past.

It is a typical day for us, we are having lunch right now with Dale kakatapos lang ng quiz namin kanina and we are glad na satisfied kami sa nagawa namin.

“So… about the ride, paano na niyan?” asked by Dale, both Cathy and him are still careful from their words na baka may mabanggit sila na related from Mika, I know them very well.

I just laughed from them thought that the 2 day guy na kakakilala ko pa lang gave this so much emotion to me. Ganoon na ba ko karupok? Or dahil iba lang ang impact niya because he is my ideal guy?

Kumagat ako sa pizza na aking kinakain and I am chewing it slowly “Ah…” I really love the pineapple on pizza “I told him about it and he said sure” and I just nod to assure them that it is okay.

“Sa Saturday na nga, ang bilis” said Cathy, while her eyes are sparkling, she is imagining things right now and obviously she is excited.

“Pagkatapos ng concert midterm na” we gave Dale a what-the-f**k look after he said that.

“Hindi pa nga dumadating yung araw na hinihintay natin” still giving him an annoyed expression “you’re already thinking about that” he just laughed at me and gave me a noot noot face, God this guy really, Cathy laughed on the corner.

We back on university as usual for our afternoon class and It is PE class kaya dumeretso na kami sa gym where usually doon nagkaklase because obviously puro physical activities ang ginagawa.

Dale goes to EB because of course iba ang klase niya sa amin kaya kaming dalawa na lang ni Cathy ang magkasama. We have entered the gym and our classmates are already in position for the dance, we did not notice the time na late na pala kami ng 15 minutes and sakto na kakadating lang professor namin.

“Akala ko nag-cutting na kayo ni Catherine” bungad naman sa akin ng ka-partner ko na si Jae.

Natawa na lang ako sa kanya and we’ve just focused on dancing, I saw Cathy glaring at me because she definitely saw me talking to Jae.

“Anong nakakatawa?” tanong naman ng ka-partner ko sa akin, thank God hindi kaliwa ang pareho kong paa at nakakasabay ako sa sayaw.

“Look at Cathy” sumbong ko sa kanya “ang sama ng tingin sa atin” I will expose you to your crush Catherine, and you will thank me for this.

“Huh, why?” titingin na sana si Jae sa pwesto ni Cathy to confirm what I have said but I immediately touch his face to stop him from doing it.

“Huwag mo tignan, sasapakin ako niyan mamaya” naguguluhan naman siya sa akin nang sabihin ko iyon “Kindly explain it to me” why suddenly one dance is so long.

“Maybe she has a crush on you,” I said to him, but still giving him the benefit of the doubt.

No regrets, I just want Catherine to have his jowa. I looked at up to see my partner’s reaction for the revelation that I have spit out, but only grin on his face was had shown.

I furrowed my brow to tell him that now I was the one who is confused now. but instead of giving me an answer he just muttered “Cute” and laughed at me.

“What are you two talking about earlier” kakatapos lang ng PE class namin and we do not have any class to attend because our professor said he could not make it to our class because he’s still on their meeting.

I put a little liptint on my cheeks to look like it I am blushing “Wala naman” I answered Cathy dahil mag mula kaninang nakalabas kami ng gymnasium hindi na niya ako tinigilan about Jae.

Gusto ko nang makauwi to take a bath agad ang lagkit sa pakiramdam “Liar, you both laughing kaya kanina” she is throwing a tantrum right now.

I face her “He’s just asking about something na you can’t relate” sagot ko na lang sa kanya para matigil. I saw in the mirror that she is still not satisfied with what I have said kaya natawa ako.

“Huwag ka mag-alala di ko type si Jae” to assure her, ang bagal kasi di makausad sa crush niya.

She nodded at me “I know, type mo yung mga ghoster” she run away after she said it leaving me here alone irritated from what she has muttered.

Another day nearly passed by again, the concert is what most keeping me alive these days. Cathy and Dale are already asleep and here I am being drowned by my thoughts not in a negative thought though, talagang hobby ko na ata ang pag-ooverthink bago matulog.

11:01 the time on my phone and I decided to sleep but my phone suddenly received a notification and out of nowhere lumakas ang t***k ng puso ko. I keep saying to myself that do not mind it, just sleep already.

Mika:

‘hi?’

‘how’s your day.’

Are the message that is what written from the messages that I’ve received from him.

Putangina talaga ng 11 pm isinusumpa ko na ang oras na’to it’s always something going to happen.

Being me so marupok I replied to his message.

Me:

‘hello, it’s great!’

I composed myself after sending it. Siya lang ‘yan Dan, don’t expect. If ever he asked you to go on a road trip refuse him.

A minute have passed, and I thought he would never replied again, nahalata niya ata na ayaw ko siya kausap.

Mika:

‘magaling ka pala sumayaw’

I furrowed my brow after seeing his reply. Ah… he probably saw us kaninang PE class syempre panigurado nasa gymnasium because of the girl from the accountancy department.

Mika:

‘and you seems so happy kanina’

I am composing a message for the reply nang may mareceive akong panibagong mensahe na siyang mas lalong nagpakunot ng noo ko.

Me:

‘I’m sorry, but I won’t take it as a compliment haha’

‘and yeah I’m happy told you it was a great day’

Not knowing what he means by me being happy kanina I send the two replies to him.

Mika:

‘that’s good.’

The only reply that he said. So random that he messages me again today after almost a week of not bothering me.

Me:

‘what do you want?’

Diretso ko na tanong sa kanya to know what he truly wants na nakaya niya akong i-message na parang walang nangyari na parang normal lang ang lahat. Hurting my pride na ako nga lang talaga ang nag-assume.

Mika:

‘I’m wondering if you are free tomorrow after launch.’

Me:

‘Probably yes, I have an afternoon class’.

What is he planning nanaman kaya?

Mika:

‘to tell you a secret, half day lang bukas ang Engineering department’

parang nabunutan ako ng tinik ng malaman ko ito because we have recitation bukas sa isang major subject namin.

Me:

‘are your for real? Why?’

Mika:

‘Accreditation ng College of Engineering bukas’ 

I form a wow from my mouth after knowing that information.

Of course, I would not doubt him because I know he is someone officer from the Supreme student council of our department.

Mika:

‘So yeah… do you have something to do ba tomorrow.’

I am in a good mood tonight so I will at least be nice to him. Dale would definitely be happy if he heard this because he has a quiz tomorrow and sobrang na-stress siya kanina because he can’t get what their lesson is.

Me:

‘for now nothing, why?’

Mika:

‘let us go to Monasterio’ suddenly?

‘you can invite your friends, I also had said it to my friends they will come also’

I do not know what is happening, but I will probably having hard time convincing Cathy to go.

Me:

‘Okay, i’ll just chat you tomorrow.’ 

If Dale and Cathy are awake right now, they will be going to scold me for this.

We talked a lot of things after that topic, but he did not say nor explain himself bakit hindi niya ako kinausap for almost a week. 

Ayoko ko naman mag-demand basta nag-go with the flow na lang ako sa usapan. Pangalawang katangahan nanaman itong ginagawa but I learned myself I got this. Ang hindi ko lang kaya ang sermon bukas nila Cathy.

 It is already past 12 midnight noong natapos kami mag-usap all the curses that I have said to him last week lahat ng hinanakit ko sa kanya nawala just for the conversation that we had tonight.

“Totoo ba ‘yang sinasabi mo Daniel Hope” hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Dale sa akin. We’re having our breakfast right now and I have told them about the half day class that was Mika said to me.

It’s so nice to have a breakfast lalo na kung alam mong minor subject lang ang papasukan mo ngayong umaga “Oo nga, kaya huwag ka na mag-review” pagdedemonyo ko pang sagot sa kanya.

“And where you’d get that information,” Cathy asked I know that they will not be going to be contented from that they will still ask for more.

“From Mikaela” I muttered from the very low voice na parang ako lang ang nakarinig. But to be expected they heard it.

“What?!” muntik na akong mabingi nang sabay silang sumigaw

“Oh my God! Daniel for pete’s sake!” irritated is what written on Cathy’s face. Yes, I knew it this would be her reaction.

“Ang rupok mo girl” I shrugged after hearing what Dale’s said.

Cathy having her moment na parang I betrayed her from that kaya natawa ako sa kanya.

“Don’t worry for the nth time, I got this guys” pumunta ako kay Cathy to give her a back hug.

Muntik na kaming ma-late dahil kay Cathy almost a half and an hour ko siyang sinuyo, she’s being too dramatic and emotional kanina but I definitely understand na she’s just worried. And I told them to trust me. I learned from it.

Sinabi ko na rin sa kanila ang about sa Monasterio trip namin mamaya. At first Cathy and Dale both refused but, in the end, I still convinced them. 

At wala na silang ibang sinabi sa akin mag mula kanina kung hindi ‘marupok’ na bakit hindi ako marunong magpakipot. I could not get it. Why would I kung sa huli pagsisihan ko if I did not grab on to that.

Me:

‘Mika, we’re here na’ I texted him.

Tapos na lahat ang morning class namin and nasa chowking kami ngayon. Mika said na sabay-sabay na daw kami mag launch with his friends. 

I’m kinda nervous because what if kasama niya yung girl from the the accountancy. Dale is also here.

Mika:

‘Yeah, I saw you already’ 

I muttered a curse because of the nervousness.

“Kalma girl” Dale notices it, and Cathy just smirks at me. I just rolled my eyes at them.

A second later, three guys entered the restaurant door and most of the people on here just stared at them.

“Dinaig pa F4 sa entrance huh?” Cathy jokely said kaya medyo nawala ang kaba ko.

They walked straight into us. And I’m glad that they are just three of them.

“Hi” bubbly greeted by Mika and one of his friends just nodded and the other one just waves his hands wearing his wide smile. Cute.

Cathy on the side is smirking. Damn this girl. I know they are all hot but please act normal.

And Dale also nodded on them.