My Not So Low Quality Self (Social Media Series #5)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Ilang araw na mula noong aksidente ko siyang ma-add sa facebook, halos araw-araw na akong nakatambay sa app na 'yon at nagbabakasakaling i-accept niya ang request ko.

Hindi ko na rin maintindihan ang sarili ko.

"Ava, does Amelie and Matthew are, you know, together?" I asked my best friend.

"Nope, they are childhood best friend." I nooded.

Childhood best friend? Kadalasan sila ang nagkakatuluyan.

"Why did you asked? You like him?" She started to tease me.

"Ava!"

"What? Don't be shy, Zab! You know, most of the girls here likes him. Well, he's really handsome so," she shrugged.

I sigh and look at him. He's laughed in what Amelie said to him.

Hindi mawala sa isip ko hanggang sa makauwi ako, ang pagiging childhood best friend nilang dalawa. Wala na nga akong laban sa ganda niya, tapos best friend pa. Lagi ko pa namang nababasa na madalas magkatuluyan ang mag-best friend.

Pero nawala lahat ng isipin ko nang mag-online ako. Halos tumalon ako sa tuwa.

He accepted my request! Just right now! Oh, my God, after months!

Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang nagta-type ng mensahe para kay Ava.

Arich Elizabeth Venturanza:
Ava, you won't believe it! Oh, my God.

Agad siyang nagreply.

Ava Miller:
What?

Arich Elizabeth Vanturanza:
Matthew just accepted my friend request!

Ava Miller:
Oh, my God! Good for you!

I sleep with a smile in my lips. I'm really happy!

The next day is like a dream, it's like I'm floating in cloud-nine. Matthew Gabriel finally notice me for real.

"Arich Elizabeth, right?" I was shocked when he approached me in the cafeteria. I'm eating with my cousins, Kuya and Ate.

"H-Huh? Y-Yes, why?" Abot-abot ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

"I'm Matthew. It's nice to meet you, Arich." Hindi ko alam kung tatanggapin ko ba ang nakalahad na kamay niya o hindi, pero sa huli ginawa ko. I'm not rude.

We chat each other. We sometimes hung-out with Ava and his friends and Amelie. And sometime, I can feel something special from him.

Umaasa ako...

"Makikinis ang gusto no'n. Huwag kang umasa d'yan." Bulyaw sa akin ni Ate Cardi. Napalabi ako.

Hindi ko alam kung may gusto ba siya kay Matthew o talagang real-talk lang siya. Grabe ah, ang sakit.

Days, weeks and months past by. Matthew and I got more closer and closer. For the first time, I want to thank Kuya of his silly attitude.

Hindi ako ganito noon. I've never been this excited going to school. I've never been this excited to open my facebook app. 

Since I met him, everything change.

We remain friends for almost five months until he tell me he's going to court me. For a girl who like him like me, of course, I'm very happy.

"Pinayagan mo na ligawan ka ni Matthew? Really?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Ate Cardi. Basta-basta na lang siya pumasok sa kwarto ko. Hindi ko mawari kung galit ba siya o hindi. We're not close to each other, but since we live here in California, she become more open to me, puro pagtataray nga lang ang napapala ko.

Tumango ako sa kaniya.

"Huwag kang tatanga-tanga, Zab! Tingin mo ba seseryosohin ka niya? No, never. Stop your illusion, kid." She storm out of my room. I can't get her, really.

Zab:
Hi, Rons!

Rons:
Zab! Mabuti naalala mo pa ako!

Nararamdaman ko ang pagatatampo niya. Dahil sa sobrang busy ko dito sa maraming bagay halos isang beses sa isang buwan ko na lang siya nakausap.

Zab:
May chika ako. Someone is courting me here!

Rons:
Talaga? Weh?

I rolled my eyes.

Zab:
Yes, hindi nga rin ako makapaniwala, e.

I giggle.

Rons:
Anong pangalan? Search ko sa facebook.

Zab:
Matthew Gabriel, wearing black shirt.

Ilang minuto bago siya nagreply.

Rons:
Mukhang fuck-boy, Zab. Sure ka ba na seryoso 'to sa 'yo?

Kumunot ang noo ko. Bakit naman hindi, 'di ba?

Zab:
Ang sama mo

Rons:
Concern lang ako sa 'yo, 'no! Pero kung seryoso naman siya, why not? I want the best for you, Zab.

Nag-init ang puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Always the warm and sweet Rona.

In the other hand, Matthew is so sweet, too, lagi na siyang sumasabay sa pagkain sa akin. Nag-iba kasi ang schedule ko kaya hindi ko na nakakasabay ang mga pinsan ko sa pagkain bukod kay Ate Cardi. She's always present in our table. Kaya awkward, eating with Ate Cardi and Matthew in one table is awkward. While, Ava and Amelie is silent in the other side.

Ang matatalim na mata ni Ate Cardi ay laging nasa kay Matt. 

"I'm done eating, let's go, Zab." Ate Cardi suddenly said. "We're going, excuse us, people." Wala akong nagawa nang higitin niya ako paalis.

Hindi lang isang beses 'yon nangyari, naulit nang naulit hanggang sa mainis na ako.

"Why are you doing this Ate?" I asked her, frowning.

"What?"

"This! You always drag me out of my friends! I can't get you."

"Friends! That asshole Matthew is not your friend! That jerk, ikaw ang pinupuntirya!"

"Hindi po kita namintindihan, Ate."

"Stop being innocent, Zab. You know he won't take you seriously. Ilang beses ko ba dapat sabihin sa 'yo, 'yan?"

Well, she's right. Isang buwan matapos ko siyang sagutin, nakipaghiwalay siya sa akin. With the most nonsense reason.

"Why?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Why? Simple, ayaw ko na sa 'yo."

"I can't get you. Isang buwan pa lang tayo, Matt. Bakit ayaw mo na agad? We can work this out."

"You're so naive, aren't you? You're not pretty like Amelie, your not ever pretty at all."

One stab in my heart. Did he just compare me to his best friend?

"You're not white as her, she's talented and well, we shared a lot of things-"

"Stop," jerk.

"She can handle my attitude and I know you can't-"

"I said, stop!" My tears fell. "How dare you compare me to your best friend?"

Kung kailan hulog na hulog na ako. Kung kailan ayaw ko nang umahon.

I hate you, Matt. Jerk.

I hate you facebook!

-
♡