Not Me

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Nakapila kami ngayon ni Val sa isang fast food restaurant. Nakakasawa na kasing lagi na lang kaming bumibili sa nagtitinda ng burger. Ironic dahil burger din naman ang kakainin ko ngayon. Ang kaibahan lang, may fries na kasama.

It was an awkward moment of silence dahil hindi ako kinakausap ni Val at nasa harap namin ngayon si Symon. Gusto kong kausapin si Val para hindi na maging awkward pero wala naman akong maisip na topic. Isa pa, mukhang nag-iisip talaga sya kung anong kakainin niya.

Nagulat ako dahil nilingon kami ni Symon pagkatapos niyang umorder.

"You'd pay for this, right?" He tried to sound friendly while asking me that. Parang kanina lang, hindi siya ganoon makipag-usap sa akin. "Besides, pera din naman namin 'yung baon mo." He added, whispering on my ears na paniguradong narinig ni Val.

"Excuse me?" Val responded. Agad kong hinarang ang kamay ko sa mukha ni Val to stop him from talking more.

"Oo na. Sagot ko na." I answered. Pumayag na lang ako dahil ayaw ko nang humaba pang usapan. Besides, I have an extra money to cater for that.

Symon raised his eyebrow on Val as if he had won something before facing the cashier again and after a while gets his order.

Mukhang para sa circle of friends nila ang order na iyon dahil napakarami for him to finish. He even asked for assistance dahil dalawang tray ang inabot.

Nang makaalis si Symon ay mukhang nagulat ang cashier dahil hindi pa kami umaalis.

"Akala ko po kasama na order nyo doon." Sabi nito sa akin.

"Hindi po. Magkahiwalay na table po kami." I answered.

"Ang bait nyo naman po." Sabi nito before proceeding to our order.

I decided to treat Val as well. Kung meron mang deserving for a treat, I think that's really Val. Kung nagawa kong magbayad for orders that aren't even my friends', bakit hindi ko gagawin for Val?

"You don't have to do that, you know?" He uttered while waiting for our order. I heard the heaviness in his voice when he said that. Disappointed? Naiinis? Naaawa? I don't even know what it means pero halata sa boses nyang hindi nya nagustuhan ang ginawa ko.

"Kaibigan kita. It's fine." I answered.

"Hindi mo kaibigan si Symon." He shove onto my face. "Ano 'yon? May hindi ba ako alam?"

"Mamayang dinner na lang siguro." I answered. Mahirap namang ikwento ngayon dahil nasa paligid lang si Symon.

"Kaya ka ba lutang kanina?" He asked further.

"Mamayang dinner nga." I reiterated.

Val led the way to find a table. Sa bungad nakaupo sila Symon and I appreciate how Val chose to sit at the farthest table just so I can eat in peace away from them.

"Paano nila nalaman? Binully ka ba nila?" He really seemed so bothered because of what Symon did.

"Hindi. Walang nangyaring ganoon." I answered - hoping that maybe, it will calm him.

"Hindi ako naniniwala. 'Yung tono ni Symon kanina, may pinaparating. Natatakot ka ba sa kanila kaya ayaw mong magsalita?"

All my worries a while ago turned into appreciation. Ramdam kong ganoon na ako kahalaga kay Val dahil kanina pa niya sinisigurong ayos lang ako.

"No. Ayaw ko lang ng gulo."