Walang reply akong natanggap hanggang sa mag-Friday. Lara told me to send him a message again because consistency was key to gaining attention. But I was butthurt and, for me, once was enough... or so I thought.
"Dapat malambing at persuasive para mapaamo mo siya," suhestiyon ni Mari habang nag-iisip ako ng magandang i-message kay Graham. "Malambing?"
"Oo, siyempre, ikaw ang may kailangan sa kaniya, dapat malumanay ka at medyo sweet pakinggan," ngumuso ako at nag-type. Mari was reading beside me.
Right now we finished all of our classes together and were sitting in the lounge of GAB. There were still students here too.
"Hindi ganiyan!" awat ni Mari sa 'kin. Napahinto tuloy ako at pinagmasdan ang draft ko.
Eloise Madrigal: hi, graham! Sorry about our last meeting
"Hindi pa ba malambing 'yan?" pagkuwestiyon ko sa kaklase. "No, ganito." Kinuha niya sa akin ang telelpono at nagsimulang magtipa.
Eloise Madrigal: hi! This is Lara's friend, the one you took home last time. Thank you, I never got to say it. Anyway, I was wondering if you're available.
Kumunot ang noo ko. Ako naman ang umapila sa nilagay ni Mari. "I sound like I'll ask him on a date, no." I took my phone back and deleted the last sentence he wrote.
"Kailangan kausapin mo siya ng personal, 'di 'yan bibigay kung chat lang. 'Di naman kayo friends, e."
"Ano? Pupuntahan ko pa siyang España?" Mari fixed his lanyard. "Alangan namang siya ang dumayo rito sa Faura?"
I closed my phone and laid my head on the chair's back. I wanted to learn badly, learn how to travel alone. Learn so that I could study without the need to stay up until dawn. Learn so that I could spend my weekends with a book in front of my face.
"Can you come with me?" tumaas ang kilay ni Mari sa request ko. "You know what, I will if you say please." I tilted my head. "I've never heard you say please before," kaya...
"Please, come with me to España." Madali naman akong kausap. Ngumisi si Mari at tumango. "Message mo muna siya, 'pag 'di nag-reply, saka natin puntahan sa Lunes."
Sumang-ayon ako. Bibigyan ko pa ulit ng oras, baka hindi lang napansin sa message request ang message ko.
Pero parang pakiramdam ko, hindi talaga ako pinapansin nitong mangga na 'to. Bakit ko nasabi? Dahil nagpalit na siya ng profile photo—hindi pa rin ako in-a-accept as a friend, ni hindi rin sinasagot ang mga message ko.
I messaged Mari on Sunday evening about that.
Eloise Madrigal: he didnt reply
Mario: so monday?
Eloise Madrigal: yeah bwisit
Mario: HAHAHA dapat di ka mukang inis pag nakita mo sya ah, tandaan mo, hihingi ka ng favor
Eloise Madrigal: fine
On Monday morning, I was preparing breakfast when Lara came.
"Do you think he'll talk to me?" I asked my friend while waiting for the water to heat up, I was making oatmeal for both of us. "Not sure, suplado 'yon, e. Gusto mo, i-blackmail ko?"
YOU ARE READING
Head in the Sand (Erudite Series #3)
General FictionSwitching to a condo would be a huge shift in Eloise Danielle Madrigal's life, the Iska from UP Manila. From living in her aunt's home, she will independently live near her school. From growing up with so many hands to help her, she will face a new...
