Aftertaste

Four

I once knew you the best but now, I don't even remember your name.

I yawned as I got out of the room where our final examination on our minor subjects took place. I cranned my neck to stretch it.

"Hayyy! Finally tapos na." Killian yawned and stretched his arms up. I felt him slowly dropped his arms around my shoulder. Tinignan ko sya ng masama pero mas isiningkit nya lang ang mata nya sa pag ngiti.

"Will you get your hands off me?" Annoyance is evident in my voice. Mas lumawak pa ang pag ngiti nya at inilapit ang mukha sakin.

"Ang cute mo talaga." Then stole a kiss on the tip of my nose at saka sya kumaripas ng takbo palayo.

"Omg what was that?" Nagtitili ang mga kaibigan ko habang papalabas ng room.

"Nag kiss kayo? Omg!" Vance let out a girly squeak. Nagapir sila Astrid at Nash.

"Guys! Hindi kami nag kiss!" Umurap ako at hinagod ng daliri ang buhok.

"Eh ano lang? Naku ikaw bakla ka ahh. Sa loob pa talaga ng campus!" Maintrigang pahayag ni Vance at hinampas ang braso ko.

"Ouch!" Singhal ko. Nagtilian pa sila nang biglang sumilip ang isang professor sa kabilang pinto at sinaway sila. Napailing na lang ako at naglakad na palayo.

"Bhie bagay na bagay sila!" Bulungan pa nila habang nakasunod sakin. I cross my arms in front of my chest and looked back at them

"Shut up!" I hissed. Mas binilisan ko pa ang paglalakad nang makita ko si Killian sa gate, nagaabang. I walked passed him and felt him tailing me. Didiretso na sana ako sa sasakyan ko nang makita ko si River doon.

"Hey..." Bati ni River. I was shocked because he did not come to school yesterday until today for some reason. I tried texting him, asking why he did not took his exams.

"Hey! Ano ginagawa mo dito?" Taka kong tanong. Naka blue polo shirt at maong pants sya.

"Can we talk?" He asked. His eyes looked tired but he managed to gave me a small smile.

"Uhh..." Sumulyap ako sa likuran at nakitang wala na doon si Killian, maging ang mga kaibigan ko ay hindi ko na din nakita. "Sure." I smiled. A black pick up truck quickly drove out of thee parking lot that made loud noises. Natigilan ako pero agad ding nakabawi bago sinundan si River papunta sa sasakyan nya.

"Uhh san tayo pupunta?" I asked while fastening my seatbelt.

"You'll like it there." Ngumiti sya ngunit hindi ko maiwansan punahin ang malungkot nyang mga mata.

Words can lie but eyes won't. Kahit gaano pa kalaki ang ngiti at sayang pinapakita nya ay hindi nito maitatago ang lungkot na sinisigaw ng mga mata nya. His eyes screams tiredness, pain and... longing.

"Okay then." I smiled and patiently waited in the passenger seat.

"Uhh..." Tinignan nya ako nang huminto sya dahil sa stoplight. "Malapit na tayo and..." Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay. "May kasama pa tayo." Kumalabog ang dibdib ko ngunit tinanguan ko lang sya at binigyan ng maliit na ngiti.

I knew something was up.

After a few minutes of driving, we arrived at a garden restaurant. Bagong bukas lang nito, payapa at tahimik. I removed my seatbelt and was about to go out when River held my hand.

"Please don't hate me..." Nginitian ko lang sya bago tinanggal ang kamay nya na nakahawak sakin at lumabas ng sasakyan.

Someone tweeted a picture of River kissing Thea's forehead while holding her hands. Kanina ko lang nakita bago kami dumating dito.