KIMUEL DUANE's GIRL

Chapter 35

I was really shocked after my performance, after the long silence they stand up and fill the court with their echoing applauses. I can't believe that!

With a smile plastered on my face I stand straight and bow at them and with full happiness I say thank you. They just answer me with their nods and whistles.

My heart is full of happiness because they appreciate my performance although It wasn't the best of me. Grabeng kaba ang nararamdaman ko kanina pero ngayon talagang umaapaw na kasiyahan na naman ang naramdaman ko.

Bumaba na ako sa stage para sana hanapin si Jogie at Kyla dahil magpapasama akong magbihis ng damit, I can't endure the heat I was feeling, my body's reaction in the nervousness I feel and also the weather is hot.

"Beshie ko!" napalingon ako nung parang may sumisigaw na palapit sa gawi ko, but before I completely turn my to my side I was lock into her arms and added with more pressure when Maya also hug me.

"Ang ganda besh! Sobrang ganda ng boses mo, para ka lng nakikipag usap pero damang dama ang mensahe!" At niyakap ako ulit na parang ilang buwan kaming hindi nagkita.

"I agree, I didn't know that you had this kind of voice Margaret, it soothes my ear and you did a great impact to the audience as what I observed and see eh natahimik sila na talagang pinangkinggan ang mensahe ng kanta as well as others can't help to let their emotions flow through them. Great Job continue singing" and hug me tightly after Judy let go of me. She said more words that I can't barely understand because of the noise of the audience.

I glance around to look for Jogie and Kyla I can't bare the heat talagang ang init sobra.

"Okay ka lng? May hinahanap ka?" Judy ask me looks like she notice.

I nod and as far as my sight had reach maraming nadaanan ang paningin ko na may ngumingiti saakin at kumakaway so I answer them with a smile and wave as well.

"Sino hanap mo?" She ask me again.

"Jogie or Kyla magpapasama sana akong magbihis ang init nitong damit ni ate. Tsaka ang bulgar naman nito eh nahihiya ako" I answer habang pinapaypayan ang sarili ko.

Tumitingin tingin padin ako sa palagid para makita silang dalawa pero sa dama naman ng mga tao imposibleng isang tinginan lng ay kita ko na sila.

"You look very pretty on that why will you change?" Judy ask me and I was startle when I saw her with a guy holding him in her shoulders.

"Boyfriend mo?" I ask a question that I think it's very obvious to them.

She nodded and smile at me, they look good together actually. I smile bitterly, sana ako den. I laugh at that thought when I realized na hindi lng pala ako ang napapasabi ng sana.

Judy on the other hand is staring at the couple laughing their heart out. Ang saya nila at cute tingnan. She's like imagining I think or not.

I bump her shoulders and whisper that we'll go to the canteen to buy food, I felt my stomach is grumbling wanting for some food that can ease my cravings and hunger.

"I saw you and Kimuel kanina, is there something between you two?" She asked me while kicking the stone in front her keeping on one direction.

"Nah, were friends, seatmate and literally my classmate" I answer her comfortably since wala naman akong tinatago sa kanya and I said the truth to her.  But seems like she's doubting me to the words I've said to her, sinusuri akong mabuti ng kanyang mga mata.

"Are you freaking sure about that? Don't lie to me Margaret I'm once been lied, once is enough." Makahulugan niyang sabi at sumipsip ulit sa juice niya.
I'm about to drink again when I see him at her back leaning while her cap is little bit hiding her face, is he stalking at her? I guess. Nagtama ang paningin namin instead of giving him a bad remark I smile sadly at him. Hindi manlang nahalata ng kaibigan kung fragile.

"Sana sinama natin si Maya nuh? Nang medyo hindi awkward ang atmosphere. Ang tahimik natin eh" I said "I'm telling the truth" I smile at her

"Then what's with the hug scene and ang sabi sabi eh halikan pa daw?!" Is she that mad or shit oo nga.

"He suddenly hug me and wala akong magawa dahil nakulong na ako, tsaka MUNTIKAN hindi hinalikan okay, and I won't fall in love with that lazy monkey" I said but there's a lump in my throat that I really wanted to clear but I can't. Our promises won't be broken and our friendship won't be ruined just by a man .

"Mga girls!" Napaigtad kami sa sumigaw bigla "May ipapakita ako at ikaw explain this tsk" she tsked me and we look at her phone, it's Kimuel a while ago hugging me tightly and looking at me while I was looking away.

"Are you lying Margaret Ynezz?" Judy raise her brow at me, nginisihan lamang ako ni Maya at pinasiringan na wag daw akong magsinungaling dahil alam nitong isa kung may tinatago ako, I only shrug my shoulders and look at her.

"I am not as what I've said niyakap niya ako ng walang pasabi at muntikan ng mahalikan dahil sa panunukso na din ng mga malokong estudyante na tumatambay doon kanina" I answer and gave her my puppy eyes to accept my reason. She sighed and look at me.

"I hate the caption dahil lakas makahatak ng reactor and hatak ng popularidad" she said seriously do I did was I look again at the picture and see the caption. BAGONG BINGWIT: SIRENA ANG BIKTIMA. Napatakip nalang ako sa bibig ko at tumawa dahil sa kalog na caption. Mukha na ba talaga akong sirena sa paningin nila? Baka kamo balyena. Tumawa  nalang ako sa paraan ng pag iisip nila mga malisyosa at maisyu. Jusme.

"Speaking of Sirena, yung chokoy mo sa likod" umirap si Judy saakin at ibinaba ang mukha sa mesa, inginuso ni Maya ang tinutukoy ni Judy na nasa likod ko lamang.

"M?" his voice that gradually gives you chills. "Can we talk?" nakatingin lng siya saaking ng seryoso at tiningnan katabi ko na nakatingin na pala sa kanya ng masama.

"Dito?" Tanong ko.
Umiling siya at tumingin ulit sa mga kasama ko,
"Dito kayo mag usap baka lasonin mo utak ng kaibigan ko" napasinghap ako sa tinuran ni Judy na napa aray ng kinurot siya ni Maya sa tagiliran. Nagbulungan pa pero yung mata niya ay nakatuon lamang sa lalake.
"Fine psh, go" irita niyang sabi at pinagtabuyan na kami ni Maya para makapag usap daw dahil pakakalmahin niya si Judy na nangangalaiti daw. I didn't meant that things would be set like this. She's just afraid na maging katulad ako sa kanya, I have no feelings for this monkey kaya bakit siya nagagalit kung gayon?

Nakarating kami sa bench na napapalibutan ng mga puno, walang mga estudyante dahil ang lahat ay nasa court nanonood ng program, the calmness of the air touches my skin na parang hinehele sa bawat dampi. Naupo ako at tumingin sa kanya na nakakagat labi lng, what's wrong with him? May singaw?

"C-congrats" he said, I smile at him and nodded. He's been saying good luck kanina now congrats. "You sing it well and I like it" sinabi niya pero sa malayo ang tingin. Hindi naman siya ang kinantahan yet he compliment it so, okay. Napansin ko ang isang kamay niya  nasa likod niya na parang may tinatago.

"There's nothing in there" I look at him but he's avoiding that our gaze will met, how did he know what I was thinking.
"You're looking at my hand" he said kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Iniwaksi ko nalang at tumikhim.

"Ano pala ang pag uusapan natin?" Tanong ko at tumingin sa kanya na nakatingin na din saakin. He's about to say something when he close his lips again and let his hand from the back showed me a boquet of carnation in color pink. I can't help to smile lalo na't mukha niniyerbyos siya.

"Thank you, it's beautiful" I said and smelled the flowers, so fresh and aromatic.

"So are you" he said and clear his throat. I stiff for his words, did he just say I'm beautiful like this flowers?.

Guy's mouth bloomed with flowers tsk.

"Ahm what is it all about again?" I ask him again. He shrug his shoulders and shyly smile at me.

"I LIKE YOU"