Chapter 25
1711 Words
"What are you doing this Sunday? Punta tayo sa Belzac!"
I immediately shook off my head.
"Why? May ibang lakad ka ba?"
I smirked at the thought where I am going this Sunday. That made Ayii suspicious.
I nodded excitedly. "I'm with someone."
I noticed how Jay glanced at me who's busy fiddling on her phone.
"May kalandian ka ba ngayon?" Nagdududang tanong ni Ayii sa akin.
"Of course not! Ay basta, huwag ka na lang magtanong."
Jay giggled while looking at me.
"I think I know who's that someone," Jay teased and wiggled her brows.
Tumunog na ang bell, hudyat para bumalik na kami sa klase at tapos na ang lunch time.
"Sino? Hoy, tell me!" Ayii shouted, intrigued, while running towards us na nauna nang maglakad.
It's been three months since the conversation in the plaza with Regis. I"ve been constraining myself to try but something on that night freed me from the shackles of my doubts.
We aren't a girlfriend-boyfriend thing but as what I've said on that beach is I only flirt so that's what we are now. We don't have any label to brand us something but we hang out a lot these past few months. He said he likes me but I am still not quite sure about that. There's something in me that still doubts his motive. His sudden confession amazes me but I can't stay confident with that, that's why there's still doubt living inside my head.
The King:
I'm with the Council. Did you have lunch already?
I bit the insides of my cheek to prevent myself from smiling. I typed for a reply.
Me:
Yep! You?
I tapped the side of my phone while waiting for his reply.
The King:
Not yet. The meeting's not over.
Kumunot ang noo ko nang nabasa ang mensahe niya. He should focus on their meeting, then!
I giggled when I realized that he texted me in the midst of the meeting.
Me:
Pay attention!
I clicked 'send' before turning off my phone to listen to the teacher discussing in front. Ever since Regis and I flirted, I stopped trying guys. I even stopped entertaining guys and just focus on academic stuffs and school. It feels surreal. I didn't imagine myself to be like this then. If they're turned down, most of them asked me why. I can't answer that I'm with Regis because I know that it'll cause a ruckus. It'll become the talk of the town!
I kept it a secret. I didn't tell Ayii or Jay about what's going on with me and Regis. I didn't even share this thing with my mom. I get uncomfortable just imagining of what her reaction will be.
Pababa pa lamang kami sa building namin ay nakita ko na si Regis at Leanne na papunta sa direksyon namin. I cannot pay attention to what Ayii and Jay's chikas are because I am too busy looking at the two people heading our way.
Jay nudged me. "We''ll grab a burger, wanna come?"
I snapped and automatically turned to my friend. Kumurap-kurap ako.
"Burger? Sure."
Ayii grabbed my wrist at lumiko na kami papunta sa daan ng Burger Store malapit sa skwelahan namin.
"Le' Pauline!"
I shut my eyes close when I heard Regis calling my name. Ako na ang naghila kay Ayii at nagmadaling maglakad. Sumunod naman si Jay kahit naguguluhan sa biglaang pagmamadali ko.
"Regis called you. Hindi mo narinig?" I didn't bother to answer Jay's question at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad palabas ng gate.
"Ang sakit ng palapulsuhan ko, Le'!" Reklamo ni Ayii habang minamasahe ang kanyang palapulsuhan nang nakarating na kami sa Burger Store.
Kaagad naman akong naupo sa napiling table na malapit sa bintana. Ayii sat beside Jay who's sitting across me kaya ang bag ko na lang ang inilagay ko sa katabing bakanteng upuan.
I leaned on the table at bahagyang ginulo ang buhok ko.
"Bakit ba bigla-bigla ka na lamang nanghihila ha? May tinatakasan ka bang utang!?" Inis na tanong ni Ayii.
Jay ordered for us.
"May tinatakasan pero hindi utang," Jay said and chuckled.
"Gutom lang kaya nagmadali," I reasoned out. Ayii seems convinced kaya hindi na nagtanong pa meanwhile Jay's not buying it pero hindi na rin nagtanong pa.
I was drinking my juice nang bigla ko itong nabuga dahilan para matalsikan si Ayii.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Naiinis na tanong ni Ayii pero kaagad akong bumaba sa upuan ko at nagtago sa ilalim ng lamesa namin.
I peeped at the counter. I saw Regis and Leanne ordering something pero nakatalikod sila mula sa gawi namin.
I just acted out of my adrenaline rush. I felt stupid! Ako ang gustong magtago ng kung anong relasyon namin pero mukhang ako pa ang mabubuko dahil sa mga pinaggagawa ko ngayon!
Regis is good at everything and he even keep secrets without acting suspicious. While here I am, hinting my friends! The hell, Le' Pauline?
Nang lumingon si Regis sa gawi namin ay kaagad akong napayuko. I closed my eyes, calming myself down.
"What are you doing?" Ayii ridiculously asked habang dinudungaw ako.
I pretended to wipe something from my shoe before standing up slowly. Ayii's forehead creased while Jay's smirking from her seat.
I smiled. "There's something from my shoe," I said and laughed awkwardly.
"Hey, Regis!" I glared at Jay when he called Regis while waving her hand on the air.
I wishfully think that he won't come near us but he did! He's not helping! Can't he see that I'm struggling here? Anong oras mula ngayon, mabubuko kami ng mga kaibigan ko!
"Hey," ani Regis sa malalim na boses nang nakarating sa tapat ng lamesa namin.
"Aalis na kayo kaagad?" Jay asked. Kailan pa sila naging close at nakapagtanong siya ng ganoon?
Regis glanced my way and turned to Jay before nodding.
"Hindi ko na kailangan ng kasama. May bibilhin lang ako sa boutique. You stay here with them," Leanne said.
"I will come with you-"
"I know you want to stay," Leanne whispered to Regis.
My brows shot up. Are they that close with Leanne? May pabulong-bulong pa!
"I'll go na. Enjoy guys! And Regis..." Leanne wiggled her brows at Regis before going out of the store.
Jay gestured the seat beside me. I shook my head to Jay but Regis already lift my bag up and sits on the chair. Tinanggap ko ang bag ko na nilahad niya at naupo na.
"I didn't even imagine that we'll share one table someday," Jay excitedly said.
"Do you want juice or something?" Ayii asked Regis.
"No. I'm fine with water," Regis politely said before raising his glass of water.
Ang mga kaibigan ko lang ang nakikipag-usap kay Regis while I am so awkwardly silent beside him.
"Le' was weird a while ago. Did you wipe the dirt from your shoe?" Ayii asked after throwing a couple of personal questions to Regis.
I rolled my eyes at her before sipping on my orange juice.
"She did! That was unlikely for her to do that," Jay chuckled.
"It's unusual to see the both of you not fighting," Ayii commented after a long while. "Did you reconcile?" She asked, hopeful.
I swallowed the lump of my throat and nervously sipped on my orange juice.
"You used to fight over petty things. Well, Le' here, mostly starts the fight. She's really annoyed at you, you know."
My lips parted and I unbelievably looked at Ayii who's spilling stuffs. I came to question our friendship!
Regis' brow raised. "Are you still annoyed at me?"
I slowly turned to my side to face Regis who's now smiling amusingly.
I invisibly sent him a message through my eyes but his smile even widened. I sighed and looked away.
"Maybe?" I covered my nervousness with a chuckle. "Chances are high that I still am."
Regis shook his head before drinking his water.
It's almost 6:00 pm when we agreed to call it a day. Ayii was busy throwing questions to Regis who just answered short yet politely and Jay intensively observed him and his reactions. I was just sitting uncomfortably beside him the whole time.
"My driver's here already. I'll take Ayii with me," Jay said after gathering her things. Tumayo na rin ako at isinukbit ang bag sa balikat.
"Mauna na kami sa iyo, Regis." Nangingiting paalam ni Ayii kay Regis na tumayo at binigyan ako ng daan.
Jay smirked. "Magpapasama ako kay Ayii sa kabilang bayan. You said that you have a family dinner? Male-late ka."
Was it just me who noticed? Jay is obviously making a way for me to stay. Ayii didn't seem to hint that though.
"You can just drop me by-"
"We're going to take a detour. Just call a cab, magpasundo ka or..." she probed and glanced at Regis.
"Or Regis can drive you home," Jay added.
Bago pa ako makaangal ay hinila na niya si Ayii palabas na naguguluhan.
"Bakit ba palagi akong nahihila ngayon? Wait- how about Le'? Hey!" Ayii shouted when she's being dragged by Jay.
I sighed and sat down on Regis' chair earlier, nanlulumo.
"I didn't have my car with me," he mumbled which made me lift my head up.
"What?"
"May nasira yata sa makina. My car's in SanMon right now."
"It's okay. Magpapasundo ako kay Manong ngayon," I said. "May susundo ba sa iyo ngayon?"
"I was going to hitch a ride with Leanne but she ditched me."
I fished out my phone from my pocket and dialed Manong's number. Nakakailang tawag na ako pero hindi pa rin siya sumasagot.
I checked the time. The family dinner is 7:30! I'm doomed.
He snatched my bag away from me at siya na ang nagbitbit. I looked around the store, buti na lamang at walang estudyante sa paaralan namin na nandito ngayon. Kung hindi, paniguradong mai-issue 'to! He didn't seem to mind the stares of the people here though.
"I'll walk you home."
Binaba ko ang cellphone ko dahil sa kanyang sinabi.
"Seriously? Are you living in the 90's?" I teased.
"It's quite romantic than driving you home," he said and shrugged.
Oh, romantic.
"Fine."
Nilagpasan ko siya at nauna ng maglakad. Nang hindi siya sumunod ay bumaling ako sa direksyon niya na nasa tapat pa rin ng lamesa namin, unmoving.
He's staring at the table. When I followed his vision, he's looking intently at my glass na may lamang kalahating orange juice pa.
Binalikan ko siya at hinila ang manggas ng blouse niya.
"Wait. I'm on the verge of insanity," he mumbled in a low voice.
"What are you saying-"
He held my glass of orange juice at ininom ito hanggang sa maubos.
My mouth fell at what he did. My forehead creased, asking for an explanation when he wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
He looked at me before flashing a smiled.
"An indirect kiss. It's more romantic than direct kiss."
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- Writer
