One-Shot Compilation

FRIENDSHIP

edited

"Buti naman! andito ka na."

Napahalakhak ako sa malakas na boses ni Shaira. Andito kami kanina pa at ngayon lang sila dumating.

"Miss na miss, Shai?" Nina teased.

"Grabe, beh. Kaya mo yan," wika ni Shaira, may disgusto sa kanyang mukha.

Napakamot sa ulo si Jeremy. "Sensya na, Shai. Traffic sa Edsa."

I grin. "Andito rin kami, Je."

Nag tawanan kaming dalawa ni Nina habang si Shaira naman ay sumimangot at si Jeremy napanguso. Nagpalinga-linga ako, may kulang pang isa.

"Si Kazi?"

Ngumisi si Jeremy. "Malapit na raw."

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa reaksyon niya. Lumapit siya sa akin, nanunuya ang kanyang mga mata. Uh, uh.

"No apprentice today?"

Tumango ako. "Buti nga, e."

He chuckled, amused. "Bago yan, ah?"

"Yeah," ngumuso ako. "Luckily, they let me, for now."

Natigil ang usapan namin nang magsalita si Shaira. "Speaking of the devil."

It was Kazi. Napalingon kami sa kanya. Nakatayo siya habang nakapamulsa. Is that really him?

Well, he changed. Big-time.

His eyes are all on me.

My body weakens as I felt my knees tremble. My heart abruptly pounds strangely, it was heavy and sensational. It was an unusual feeling that I commonly felt for him whenever he was there, close to me, just for him.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa amin at marahang ngumiti. Lahat kami'y tinitigan niya hanggang sa dumako muli ang mata niya sa akin.

Nothing's new. Back then, with those hazel eyes, he still looks at me the way he did recently.

I felt my tongue-tied. Why did I even think of the slightest development of his feelings for me, as if I did something meaningful for him?

Bahagya akong dumistansya sa kanya. Pinilit kong maging natural habang nakatingin sa kanilang lahat.

My lips curled a bit. "Saan tayo kakain?"

"Saan mo ba gusto?" Kazi asked me back.

"Kami ba, Kaz, 'di mo tatanungin?" Jeremy teasingly asked.

Kazi manly rolled his eyes. "Starve yourself, dude."

I unconsciously stared at him, surprised. Why would he ask me? I swallowed. I felt their eyes on me. Am I getting obvious?

Tumikhim ako. "I'm good. Kahit saan."

Nakarating kami sa isang restau rito sa loob ng mall at nag pa-avail ng limang seats. I was about to occupy the seat in between of Jeremy and Nina when Shaira went there. I had no choice but other than to sit beside him.

Kabado akong nagtungo sa gilid niya. Pinagtuunan ko na lang ng pansin ang cellphone upang 'di maibaling ang atensyon sa kanya.

"O-order lang ako," Je announced. The two girls stood up and joined him.

"Sama kami."

Akmang sasama rin ako ko ngunit naisip kong baka magtaka siya. Napabuntong hininga ako at tumango.

I was left with him, an awkward silence filled us.

"El,"

I used to remember how he made that iconic nickname for me. It feels nostalgic hearing it from him.