Serenity

12th

Kids

"I think it's pretty much working, Aki." I foolishly grinned while staring on my phone.

Isang linggo na ang nakalipas matapos ang usapan namin sa condo ko. Isang linggo na rin ang nagdaan mula nang magdesisyon akong tularan ang sinabi niya.

Natigilan siya sa pag-inom ng tubig at dahan-dahang tinakpan ang hydroflask.

Breaktime nila ngayon sa training kaya't heto at nasa bleachers kami ng hall. Nakaupo siya habang nakahiga naman ako at nakaunan sa bag na nasa tabi niya.

Since our last topic, I can't help but hang around him more often. I find myself always wanting to talk about it. Pumupuslit ako rito tuwing wala kaming ginagawa sa teatro upang makisagap.

"Ito ang huling text niya sakin kanina," wika ko saka tinakpan ang contact name at tinapat sa kanya ang screen.

He was vigilant enough to lazily avert his gaze. Iniwas niya ang tingin bago ko pa man maiharap sa mukha niya ang phone. My lips parted.

"I didn't ask." malamig na wika niya, malayo na ang tingin.

"Ang OA mo!" natatawang irap ko at binawi ang phone. "Badtrip ka ba? Were you dumped?"

I chuckled. I get that he's suplado and grumpy most of the time. I mean, that's Aki, okay. I just don't understand the reason why.

He didn't say anything. Napanganga ko.

"Hindi nga? Basted ka na ba?" napabangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga.

Suminghap siya. He gave me a stern look.

"I wasn't." mariing wika niya, as if he was convincing someone.

Napangisi ako, hindi kumbinsido sa reaksyon niya.

"Really? How is it going then?" umarko ang kilay ko habang nagpipigil ng ngiti.

He's actually unresponsive on a daily basis so seeing him getting irked right now is new to me. Mukhang hindi siya natutuwa na duda ako sa kanya. I don't know if he's offended or just pissed.

He released a harsh breath, masama pa ang tingin sa akin bago unti-unting nag-iwas. "We're... good,"

Tila hindi sigurado o nahihirapan pa ang pagkakasabi niya. Napahagalpak ako. Tumalim ang tingin niya sakin.

"Talaga lang ah?" halos naiiyak nang sabi ko.

Kung kanina ay hindi pa 'ko tiyak kung iritado siya, ngayon ay sigurado na ako. May bahid ng kunot sa noo niya. Seryoso ang tingin sa akin.

"Yes." he said with full conviction. Oh god, this kid. He's so cute! "In fact.. I get to spend more time with her these days,"

He seems so worked up in trying to make me believe that his tone even sounds as if he was boasting. Hindi na ko makahinga. I find the whole situation hilarious.

I nodded in disbelief. Kahit nagkukunwari na 'kong sang-ayon sa kanya ay salubong pa rin ang kilay niya habang pinapanood ako. He looks annoyed. I'm pretty sure he's thinking I'm making fun of him. Pano ba naman kasi ay hindi ko pa rin maikubli ang tawa.

Pinunasan ko ang sulok ng mata nang matunawan. He's still trying to justify his answer. I suddenly remember seeing him with Rae a couple of times the past few days.