The Breakup

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

"Nathalie, wala na tayong klase, free cut na tayo. 'Yung bag mo nandito pa sa room. Nasaan ka? Saan ka nagpunta? Bakit hindi mo pa dinala itong gamit mo," may pagkairita kong saad tapos ay inipit ko sa pagitan ng tenga at balikat ko ang cellphone ko saka dinampot ang bag ni Nath.

"Aba malay ko bang hindi pala dadating 'yung prof natin sa next subject. Pakidala nalang dito, ha? Nandito ako sa garden. See ya!" She said and hung up the call. I pursed my lips and sighed. Minsan talaga gusto kong dagukan ang babaeng iyon. Kung hindi ko lang siya mahal, e. Nagawa pa akong utusang dalhin ang gamit niya sakaniya.

I went out from the room at naglakad papunta sa garden which is hindi naman ganoon kalayo sa building namin. When I was almost there natanaw ko si Nat na nakikipagtawanan kasama ang mga... varsity players?!

Halos tumalon ang puso ko sa nakikita ko. When did she become close with those guys?

I was hesitating if I'll continue going to her direction when someone placed his arm around my shoulder. I looked at the person and gulped.

What the heck?

"You're Nathalie's friend, right? Bakit nakatayo ka lang dito?" He started. Bagaman hindi ko pa maiproseso sa utak ko ang presensya ni Jadd at ang pagkakaakbay niya sa akin ay nagawa ko siyang kausapin ng normal— which is achievement para sa akin.

"He's with lots of guys," tanging sagot ko.

"And then? What's wrong with that?" He said with his arm still around my shoulder.

"Duh. It's uncomfortable," I said sarcastically.

"Don't be. Mababait kaya kami," he said then flashed a smile and removed his arms around my shoulder. Good! I thought he forgot that we were not close.

I just shrugged at him, after that, I heard Nath calling me making the whole varsity team turn their attention on me— or to us: Jadd and me. They all stared at us na parang may scandalously kaming ginawa.

Wew. People and their malicious minds.

Nath run towards me while Jadd started walking towards his team.

"Bakit nand'yan ka lang? Tara! I'l introduce you to my people," she said with full of excitement. I didn't say anything to her instead, I just handed her bag. She pouted. "What? Uuwi ka na ba?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Dito ka muna! And Jadd is there!"

Yeah, obviously, I know that. Kaya nga gusto ko ng umalis! Hindi ako komportable lalo. I wanted to tell her that but I can't so instead...

"Alam mong hindi ako mahilig makipagkaibigan sa boys."

She wasn't convinced.

"So? Maybe it's time for you to be! Tara! They don't bite, swear! They are funny to be with. Don't judge them, Miya."

So in the end, after minutes of convincing, I gave up.

"Ikaw 'yung natamaan ni Jadd ng bola diba?" The guy with brown hair said.

I just nodded at him. Why does he need to point that out?

"Jadd haven't apologized to you right?" Wika pa nung isang varsity player na familiar sakin, parang naging classmate ko siya sa isang subject.

Hindi ko siya kinibo dahil hindi ko gusto ang magiging takbo ng usapan. Ngayon palang ay ramdam ko nang iaasar nila ako kay Jadd at kahit pa crush ko siya noon, ayoko naman ng ganoon dahil nakakailang din.

"He should apologize, right?" Dagdag pa nito tapos ngumiti ng mapang-asar. I rolled my eyes heavenwards. Ano bang trip ng mokong na 'to?

I glanced at Jadd who's now getting red. Mukhang nahihiya siya sa ginagawa ng mga ka-tropa niya.

"Tyrone umayos ka nga," he warned and gave the Tyrone a glare. I suddenly felt a butterfly on my stomach because he looked good when he did that.

Tyrone laughed. "Nagsu-suhestiyon lang. May atraso ka pa kay Miss Beautiful diba?" Patuloy pa nito. Napailing nalang ako. Sige, bahala nga sila r'yan. Mukhang d'yan sa pang aasar samin masaya itong si Tyrone, e. Why not hindi pagbigyan diba?

"Don't mind them. They just want to get your number," wika nung katabi ni Jadd na faded 'yung cut ng buhok. They all laughed at his statement even Nathalie did. Seriously these people... "Anyway, he will apologize to you once he got the balls—"

"It will be better if you all shut up, right?" Jad said cutting his friend and gave him a glare. Both Nathalie and I just looked at them clueless. They are bunch of weirdos. No wonder why Nathalie likes to hang out with them.

***

"Why do you even hang out with them, wala naman doon kanina 'yung crush mo?" I asked Nath as we headed out of the school.

"Syempre pampalakas na rin, no. If I can't directly shoot the main target, I'll take it slow and start from the bottom muna which is getting close to his friends or even his family,"she said and winked at me. I gave her a disgusted look. She's seriously going head over heals on that basketball player? I didn't know she can go overboard just to get that man's attention. Unbelievable. She has the most unbelievable fighting spirit!

"Well, goodluck. Just don't forget to take care of yourself while chasing that guy. Be careful. Di lahat ng gwapo, maganda din ang kalooban."

"Thanks for the concern, Miya. I know my limits."

I pursed my lips. "Okay, that's good. At least you already have yourself."

***

It was a long weekend since holiday ng Monday and I didn't have class yesterday which was Saturday. Makakapag-relax ako ngayon dahil wala akong upcoming quizzes sa Tuesday at Wednesday. I do not have anything to worry about.

I was planning on going out somewhere but I can't think of any places to go...

Kidding. I actually have lot of choices but I cannot choose where because I want to try doing all of it at once, especially going to a spa and salon. I also want to do bowling or go to the beach but I only have today and tomorrow. I have strict parents they will not let me out for two days so I am choosing between today and tomorrow. Sakit sa ulo. Siguro mag-spa and salon nalang ako. Saka nalang siguro 'yung iba pa. I'll just make time for it.

Later on, nagpaalam ako sa parents ko na aalis ako at magpupunta sa mall. Gladly they didn't bother to question me further like asking me who's the person I'm coming with or why I am going there. Maybe because they were too busy with their work. Whatever.

But what should I do first? Going to spa or salon? ‍♀️

Gosh. Bakit ba pati maliliit na bagay pinoproblema ko?

In the end naglibot nalang mula ako sa mall and bought a black t-shirt on a clothing shop. After that, I wasn't still able to decide so I went to NBS. As I arrived there, dumiretso kaagad ako sa novel section and found myself floating on a cloud as I saw my favorite author with her new published book and luckily I was still able to see this before I completely missed it. It was the last copy here! Of course before someone get it before me, I quickly landed my hand and gripped it. As I finally got it in my precious hand, a face suddenly appeared infront of me coming between the books from the other side of the shelf. I almost jumped in surprise and nervous especially because it is Jadd.

He laughed upon seeing my expression. I rolled my eyes at him really hard nang mahimasmasan ako. The f?! Did he do that intentionally?! It wasn't funny though?!

I was obviously annoyed but at the same time, nervous. He's still my ex crush. Naiintimidate pa rin ako lalo na't mas gwapo siya ngayon! Halata namang napipikon ako sa panggugulat niya sa akin pero tawa pa rin siya ng tawa.

Why I even liked him before? If I only knew he was like this, I would have stopped my feelings for him immediately. He was annoying. Or I am just annoyed because I don't like him anymore na talaga? As in no feelings na talaga kaya ganito na ako sakaniya?

"Sorry. You must be not in the mood," he apologized and smiled a bit nang makabawi sita. Medyo na-guilty naman ako because he felt bad yata dahil sa badtrip ako.

I smiled back to him. "It's fine. Nagulat lang ako sa'yo." Mukha naman siyang nakahinga ng maluwag sa sinabi ko at 'yung ngiti niya kaninang matipid ay medyo lumawak.

"I guess you're also reading Nicholas Sparks?" He said as he walked closer to me and glanced at the book I was holding. I arched my eyebrow at him for a second because I didn't like the idea of him meddling with me... it will be good if he did it before though. But that thought quickly snapped out from my mind as I realized what he was saying.

"So you also read his works?" I said, quietly amused. Well, I already noticed that he liked reading novels when we were in high school but I didn't think he would read novels of Nicholas Sparks!

He nodded. "Yup. I already read that. Want me to give my copy to you so you won't be buying that anymore?"

Napaisip ako sa offer niya. Well... mahal din kasi itong libro pero it will be weird if I will accept his offer... I liked his idea but I don't really want him get involved in my life again. It might bring back the same old story I already revised. It's better to prevent the approaching wound so I shook my head at him, declining his offer.

"Thanks for the offer but I can't do that..." Then I tried to flash a smile so he won't think felt bad.

He kinda pouted but that only lasted for a second and immediately wiped off and smiled back at me. "Okay. I just want to offer," he said and winked at me that gave me chills down to my spine. His audacity!



**

Pagkalabas namin ni Jadd sa NBS sakto namang nakasalubong namin si Nathalie at may kasunod siyang lalaki. Agad kumunot ang noo namin sa isa't isa. Siya ay nakatingin sa amin ni Jadd samantalang ako ay nakatingin sakanila ng lalaking kasama niya.

Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil sa nasasaksihan ko ngayon. Magkasama sila ng matagal niya ng kinukwento sa akin na crush niya! Paano nangyari ito?

Pero bago pa man ako magsalita ay agad niya akong hinila sa gilid, medyo malayo sa pwesto nila Jadd.

"Nath! Paanong magkasama kayo nun? Kailan lang..." hindi ko na tinapos ang sasabihin ko dahil napasinghap talaga ako. Napalagay ang kamay ko sa aking bibig. "Paano?!"

Nathalie hushed me. "I'll tell you later— pero ikaw muna! Bakit magkasama kayo ni Jadd, ha? Yung sa akin at kay Iñigo hindi naman siguro ganoong nakakagulat pero 'yung makita kayong magkasama ni Jadd? Iyon ang mahirap unawain! Kaya sabihin mo nga, may something ba sainyo ni Alarcon?"

Halos atakihin ako sa puso sa akusa ni Nathalie sa akin. Seriously?! Porke nakita niya kaming magkasama may something kaagad?! Bakit ganito ka-malisosya ng utak ng kaibigan ko?!

Umirap ako sakaniya. "Sira. Walang namamagitan sa amin. Wag ka nga masyadong malisosyo."