Not Me

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

Val and I have already roamed around the university. Nakainan na namin halos lahat but Max exposed us to a place na kahit kailan, hindi pa namin nasubukan.

Truth be told, we're aware of this place. Lagi namin siyang nadadaanan dahil street talaga 'to na maraming kainan. One time, I asked Val if he'd like to try pero ayaw niya dahil delikado daw para sa akin. After all, hindi naman daw 'to tatawaging hepa lane kung wala lang.

He has a point, though. I believed that kaya kahit kailan, I did not dare to invite him to eat there anymore.

I don't know what changed. Hindi siya umangal for the first time but I noticed him guarding every move I make.

"Sarap, 'di ba?" Max asked after I had my first bite.

Natawa na lang ako dahil inabangan pala talaga niya kung anong magiging reaksyon ko. Nakwento kasi namin ni Val habang naglalakad na hindi pa namin nasusubukang kumain dito kaya ganoon na lang yata siya ka-excited na may na-recruit siyang kumain dito.

I'd give it to him dahil he convinced us really hard para lang pumayag kaming kumain dito.

"Pwedeng araw-arawin." I answered. Natuwa ako dahil sobrang sarap niya at sobrang mura pa. No wonder, napakadaming kumakain lagi.

Kung totoo mang nagkakasakit talaga ang mga kumakain dito, I think halos lahat sa university, magkakasakit. Wala pa naman akong nababalitaan na nag-absent dahil lang kumain dito so I think I'm safe.

"Tahimik ni Val. Hindi ka ba natuwa?" Max asked with disappointment in his tone dahil umasa siyang matutuwa si Val.

"Nothing surprising. Lagi naman akong kumakain nito. Pinoprotektahan ko lang si Lij kasi hindi siya sanay sa ganito." He explained.

"RK!" Max concluded. I'd swear na narinig ko na 'yon dati but I forgot what it means.

"Ano nga ulit ang RK?" I asked for clarification.

"Rich kid. Mga tagapagmana ng kumpanya." He answered.

"Wala naman akong kumpanyang mamanahin." I answered.

"Uy pero kamag-anak mo 'yung mga Garcia sa pulitika, 'no?" He asked which caught me at the moment. It was sudden na hindi ako nakapaghanda ng isasagot.

"Saan mo naman napulot 'yan?" I awkwardly asked in return.

On the back of my mind, I was thinking how Symon already announced to everyone that I am that Xander Garcia. Hindi na rin naman nakakapagtaka kung mangyari 'yon.

"I just assumed. Galing kang Ilocos tapos Garcia pa surname mo." He explained.

I sighed. Hindi pa naman pala pinapagkalat ni Symon.

I was about to respond when Val laughed kaya napatingin kami ni Max sa kanya.

"Tinanong ko rin sa kanya 'yan, actually. Parehas pa tayo ng dahilan. Sayang nga, hindi niya kamag-anak. Papa-autograph na sana ako." Val supported me to a point where he sounded so true kahit na alam kong ginawa niya lang 'yon para hindi na maghinala si Max.

"Akala ko pa naman may famous friend na ako. Imagine - napakain ko ng fishball ang apo ng dating Pangulo ng Pilipinas." Max uttered as if he was imagining a flying rainbow in front of us.