09 | Guarded
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“How was your class?” tanong ko kay Anaddy habang naglalakad kami patungong cafeteria. “You seem upset. Bumagsak ka sa quiz?”
“No. The weather’s gloomy, that’s why.”
Mahina akong tumawa saka tiningala ang madilim na kalangitan. “Mamaya, okay na ‘yan. Kapag sumilip ang araw, ngumiti ka na.”
Ngumuso siya at hindi na nagkomento pa. Desperate for her smile, I pulled her to me and draped my arm on her shoulders. She immediately threw it away that I almost hit another student beside me. Natawa na lamang ako nang may kalakasan.
She had been so grumpy these days. Maybe I should be careful in touching her especially if she wasn’t consenting. Teenagers hate being touched without their permission.
Dalaga na yata talaga ang prinsesa ko.
Pagkarating sa cafeteria ay nakasalubong ko ang ilang barkada kaya medyo umingay doon at nakaistorbo nang ilang minuto. Manuel was one of them with a mischievous grin. Before he left, he gave me a meaningful sideway glance. It didn’t take much time to realize what he meant.
Janette.
“Anong kakainin mo?” Anaddy interrupted my reverie. “Let’s have some veggies, too. Puro na lang tayo karne.”
“Yes, yes,” pagsang-ayon ko, wala pa sa tamang katinuan. “Anong gusto mo diyan?”
Anaddy ordered for us. May mga tanong siya pero hindi ko alam kung tama ang mga isinagot ko. My mind was elsewhere.
Sinulyapan ko si Janette. She was eating alone as she read her notes. Wala siyang pakialam sa paligid gayong marami ang napapasulyap sa kanya.
Her smile the last time I saw her flashed in my mind. For some unknown reason, I couldn’t forget about it. Kahit sa pagtulog, o kahit sa gitna ng klase, namalagi iyon sa akin at nagpipilit ng permanenteng tahanan.
Weird.
“Are you okay? You seem lost.”
I turned to Anaddy who was looking at me curiously. “I am. Tara na. Hanap na tayo ng table.”
“Dapat kasi naghanap ka na kanina.”
Pasimple kong sinulyapan muli si Janette. Ganoon pa rin ang ginagawa niya – kumakain habang nag-aaral. Her hair was messy and it looked like she just rushed a shower – or didn’t even have one.
Yumuko ako at nangiti.
Weird, weird girl.
“Addy, can I leave you here?”
Anaddy’s lips parted. “Why? Saan ka pupunta?”
“I’ll just,” ipinadaan ko ang palad sa buhok, “talk to someone. Is it okay? Bukas, I’ll join you. Libre ko pa.”
She nodded hesitantly.
With my food and arrogance, I walked to where Janette was. Everyone stared and confusion was apparent on them. I lifted my chin higher.
BINABASA MO ANG
If I Have To (Book 3 of If I Trilogy, Villaraza Series #2)
General FictionRodrigo Iñaki R. Villaraza had put his best friend, Anaddy Mouera G. Fortalejo, on a pedestal since they were young. A pedestal only a man worthy of her could climb on and join her there. He knew how much his bestfriend worth. Hindi siya makakapayag...
