In Love With You

Chapter 11

"We've grown apart"

ERICA's POV

I was still half awake when I got a call from Jaz. I can't even remember what he said and I just said okay. All I know is that he'll be here any moment now and I need to take a shower now unless I would want him to see me in my 'morning look' in short, mess. It's Saturday and this should be my longest sleep but well, someone's gonna be picking me up for a date and so let's drop everything and go enjoy myself. I know I've changed a lot now and I couldn't get any better than this. This maybe is what they call 'living your life to the fullest' except from sleeping with your bestfriend I guest. Well, who cares when he doesn't even give a damn care about it.

I decided to just wear my usual outfit which I'm always comfortable of. I got my black ripped jeans paired with my white T-shirt and white sneakers. I dried my hair and let it fall on my shoulders. I decided to just wear my contact lenses and omitted the eye glasses since I'm already trying to use contacts. I'm about to leave when I saw the last person I would want to see today. He's leaning on the side of his car focusing on his phone. Good, he might not be able to see me.

I walked straight wanting to avoid him but to my dismay, he noticed me.

"Hey you're out"

Parang tanga. I literally rolled my eyes in 360 degrees.

"San lakad?"

He straightened his back and faced me. Gosh! It's annoying to see him unaffected when I'm all awkward around him. Can't he even feel that?

"Diyan lang. pahangin" is what I got in my mind so that's what I said. Pero ang totoo, gusto ko syang saktan.

"Come here, I have something for you." He opened his car and got a basket of ... fruits? Prutas nanaman? May balak ba syang pagbentahin ako ng prutas? At ano yung sinasabi nyang sobra sa grocery ang Moms nya, e hindi naman daw. Ganyan nalang ba? Hindi manlang ba nya tatanungin kung okay ako o kung okay pa ba kami? I really have to go now dahil baka kung anong magawa ko.

"Hey erica, saan ka pupunta?"

Manhid talaga.

"Dalhin mo nalang sa bahay kelangan ko ng umalis" I decided to walk pass him when I heard Liza's voice.

"Hey Ans..." sh*t! Nobody calls him that except me.

"Hi Liza" pacute naman agad.

"Wow, you didn't have to bring me fruits. But anyways, thank you."

"Am actually-" sasagot pa sana si Ans pero kinuha na nya yung basket. Aba! At iba din talaga. Bakit ba kasi ako biglang may pinsan?

"Erica, let's go." Diko namalayan nasa harap na pala namin si Jaz.

"Jaz nandito ka na pala." E di all-smiles din ako. Kala nyo dyan!

"Anson, I didn't know you're here. And she is?"

Jaz noticed Liza holding a basket of fruits.

"Am Jaz, meet Liza, my cousin" ako na nagpakilala kasi sa diko alam na dahilan, tahimik na si Ans.

" Hi Jaz, nice to meet you." At dahil laking amerika, beso naman ang pinsan ko.

"Wow, that's a lot of fruits. Galing sayo bro? That's so cool of you bro. You know Liza, Anson has been my friend for long but he doesn't normally do this kind of stuffs. Haha!"

Kinilig naman si Liza pero tahimik si Ans at ngumiti lang kaya nagpaalam na ako kasi parang nabingi ako sa katahimikan.

"Actually we're going out for Lunch. Do you wanna join us?"

Eto naman si Jaz, ginagalingan pa!

"Amm I think we should just go Jaz? Maybe they're up to something also."

Kulang nalang sabihin kong No!

"Actually bro I'm planning to eat out also. Will it be fine with you Liza?"

Anak nang! Anong nakain netong Ans na to? Can I really eat with them? Seriously? My bestfriend and his new lady who happened to be my cousin?

"Sure, Is it okay with you erica?"

At dahil ayaw ko namang maging kontra bida, pumayag narin ako. Ano pa nga ba. We waited for her to change and you know what? She dressed up! Skinny dress, hills and make-up. Haha! Bravo!

Since it's our original plan, Jaz and I got to chose the place that we want to eat at. At dahil naughty ako, tignan natin kung makatagal sila sa naisip ko. Hashtag-kontrabida ako ngayun.

"Are you sure about the place?" Liza asked when we stopped at a barbecue house.

"Yup, we actually made a reservation hours ago." I don't know where Jaz got that but I think he felt like saying that for my sake. I've been smiling, laughing and rolling my eyes when we're both inside his car and that might have gave him a clue.

"Yeah, magugustuhan mo dito kasi dinadayo 'to. And they have an unlimited variety of seafoods and meat for barbecue. You'll love it in here"

Paliwanag ko ng nakangiti at excited pero mukha parin syang natatae sa expression nya. Ginusto mo diba?

"You can go and pick all you want now, I'll just go get out reserved cottage." Pero ang totoo walang reserved. I just asked Jaz that I want to enjoy barbecue for lunch. He asked me why but I just laughed. Bakit? Ako ba ang maga-adjust sa dress nya?

"Let's go Liza so you can chose" niyaya ko sya ha. Baka sabihin nyo masama ugali ko. 

"I'm fine. Maybe I'll just rely on your taste."

In short, ikuha ko daw sya.

"You sure?" Si Ans.

So there, Ans and I went on the buffet table to chose our food. Wala naman narin akong magagawa kahit ayaw ko sana muna syang makasama.

"Erica, you should've at least told Liza that we're coming here para nakapagpalit sya."

Kamuntikan kong maitapon sa mukha nya yung hawak kong pinggan na may lamang fresh seafoods.

"W-what?" Yan lang nasabi ko kasi guilty ako eh.

" I mean, you know her. She grew up in the US and she's not accustomed into this kind of food"

Huwaw!! Kasalanan ko na, ako na!

I just realized that I left my mouth open and is out of words.

"Don't misunderstood. I just feel like she's not gonna enjoy the food plus she's dressed-up thinking that we're having a formal lunch."

He continued as he was picking veggies. I lost my senses and dropped the plate on the table that made a loud sound and catches the crews and people around's attention. Gladly, it didn't break.

"Tapos ka na?" I lowered my voice and tried to contain myself.

"Erica, come on. I'm just saying we should be more considerate. She's your cousin"

Talagang pinapakulo nya dugo ko bes! I pulled all of the tensions in for me not to burst.

"Ans, let's not talk about being considerate. It doesn't suit you at all"

Ang kapal ng face nyang sabihan ako ng ganun. Bakit? Ako ba nagyayang sumama sya dito?

"What do you mean? Don't be sarcastic, it won't tell a thing. You know I'm bad at this. Tell me, ano bang ikinagagalit mo?"

"Galit? Ako pa galit? Seriously Ans dito ba talaga tayo magaaway? Fine dinning, formal lunch ba inexpect nyo sa suot kong 'to? You're thinking about her dress and how about my jeans? Ako maga-adjust? If you can't let her take the food here then you're both free to leave. You were the one who insisted to join our date in the first place"

I turned my back at him and went straight outside since I don't want Jaz to see us fighting. Plus I need air.

"So, turned out you didn't want us to join YOUR date?" Stressing the word your date at sinundan talaga ako. Paano ba kumalma!

"Ans, let's stop arguing. You are free to leave"

I didn't face him but he grabbed my arm and turned me to face him.

"Stop being cold with me Erica! You've been doing this for a week now"

"Leave Ans" is what I only had to say kasi baka hindi ako makapagpigil.

"Yeah! I'm leaving your barbecue date. Your kind of sh*t thing. Do you even call it a date?"

I felt my palm suddenly smashed on his face leaving a red mark and we were both shocked. I was shaking but I tried not to let my tears fall.

"I can go out with Jaz and be in his bed whenever we want to. But that's not our kind of thing. That's your kind if a sh*t to every girl that you want to lay in bed and dump the next morning. Get out of my life Ans, I don't wanna see you ever again!"

I was already crying, running out not even thinking of Jaz anymore. I just want to leave. I just can't stand Ans anymore. It's the end of us!