Truly, Madly, Crazily

Chapter Twelve

I'm already at CU. Dito na ako dumiretso after kong umalis kaninang umaga sa bahay nila Clef. Nakaupo ako sa grandstand seat ng baseball stadium, magisa lang ako ngayon dahil ayaw pa pumasok ni Clef. Nakataas ang isang paa ko sa sandalan ng upuang nasa harapan ko. Dito ako pumupunta kapag gusto kong mag solo, presko ang hangin at tahimik. Walang practice ang baseball team at sobrang layo nito from the campus kaya madalang ang mga pumupunta rito.

I closed my eyes as I felt the wind on my face nang may naramdaman akong malamig sa noo ko. "Today's good mood is sponsored by coffee.." I chuckled upon recognizing Monique's voice.

Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at tumingin sa kanya. She's smiling at me while holding a vento-sized plastic cup of iced coffee. Nginitian ko siya at inilingan ang ino-offer niyang iced coffee, black hot coffee all the way.

"Psh. Coffee lover ka ba talaga? Bat ayaw mo sa iced coffee? Kape pa din naman yon diba?" itinusok niya ang straw sa cup saka sumipsip don. She nodded her head habang ninanamnam ang kape. "I am. It's just that I prefer hot coffee over cold coffee.."

She chuckled and continued drinking her iced coffee. I sighed. Iniisip ko pa rin ang nakita ko kahapon. I'm hesitating if i should ask her about it. She knows that i'm threatened by Raven Brown, hindi ko alam kung bakit kausap niya yon kahapon and it seems like they are close.

"Ang aga mo atang pumasok? Kung ako ikaw pupunta ako sa mall or bar. Basta kung saan pwede akong tumambay. Not here in the baseball stadium.." I looked at her. She's looking at her surroundings with a smile on her face. Hinahangin din ang nakalugay niyang buhok. She suddenly look at me nang hindi ako sumagot sa kanya. "Dang, bro. Stop looking at me like that? Crush mo ba ako? I already love someone pero kung gusto mo let's become a throuple! I'm up for it!"

"Gago hindi!" she just laughed and uminom uli sa kape niya. She offered it to me one more time at tumanggi uli ako. She made a face at inubos na ang kape niya

"Do you want to say or ask something? Spill it, Jan."

"What's your connection with Raven Brown?" Hindi na ako nagpaligoy ligoy pa, sabi nga nila grab the opportunity agad. She looked shocked with the question but she quickly composed herself. Bumuntong hininga siya at tumingin sa akin

"Jan.. i should have said it to you nung una pa lang. Alam kong mapapansin mo na to simula pa sa chapter 7.." my forehead creased. What is she talking about?

"Huh?"

"Basta. Alam ko ring darating ang oras na magtatanong ka tungkol sa amin ng babaeng yon. The truth is she's also my sister. Kapatid ko siya sa ina.. We're half sisters. And what do sisters or families do? They stick to each other thru thick and thin." seryoso siyang nagsasalita at nakatingin siya sa mata ko. "Kaya ako nakipag close sayo ay para makakuha ng impormasyon about you being the ace of the women's basketball team ng CU."

"How dare you!" hinawakan ko ang kwelyo ng tshirt niya and was about to punch her when she started laughing. "Damn, Jan! You should have seen your face! I should have filmed it and shown it sa tropa! They will laugh their asses out!"

"Fuck you!" I let her go and glared at her. She's still laughing at pinupunasan niya ang mata dahil naiiyak na siya kakatawa. Lakas ng amats ng babaeng to. Hinayaan ko na lang siyang tumawa at hinintay na mahimasmasan siya.

"Your place or mine?" she asked i just rolled my eyes at her. Natatawa pa rin siya but she can stop herself already. Unlike kanina na contagious ang pagtawa niya at ang sakit na daw ng tiyan niya. She chuckled before talking again "So back to your question. Si Raven, siya ang mama ng anak ng tatay ng tita ng kapatid ng pinsan ng lola ko." i don't know if she's kidding again or if she's serious. Pero ano daw? Si Raven, a mom already? Then anak ng tatay ng tita ng kapatid ng pinsan ng lola ni Monique?

"Pasapak nga langya ka!" nakaharap ang phone niya sa akin and i'm sure na-videohan niya na ang reaksyon ko. She stopped filming at natatawang ibinulsa ang phone niya

"That's not Raven, Jan." nagtataka akong tumingin sa kanya. "The girl you saw with me yesterday, that's not Raven. That's her twin sister Robin."

"Raven has a twin sister?" she nodded her head continuously. She's not looking at me at nakatingin lang sa field.

"She also took fine arts just like Raven. Raven enrolled at RU, while Robin wants to study here. Robin is part of the archery team and she's really close with Cielo. Kaya ngayon mo lang siya nakita dito ay dahil malayo ang fine arts building sa building natin." so that explains why. Kaya pala napagkamalan ko siyang si Raven, they really looked alike

"You didn't answer my question, Mon."

"Nakasalubong ko siya on our way to the Archery Field. Kaya hindi na ako nakasabay sa inyo kasi i confronted her. I also thought that she's Raven kaya we're on the same boat.. We don't have any connection, relationship whatsoever.." I nodded. I get it so that's the whole story. I'm glad I didn't say anything or judged them right away. "Goods na ba ako, bestfriend?"

"Langya ka.. Next time magpaalam ka naman. Bigla ka na lang nawawala tas nasulpot e.." she smirked at me and i just rolled my eyes on her

"Aye aye, captain! 12 na! Let's go eat lunch sa labas! My treat!" tumayo na ako at naginat. Hindi ako tatanggi, libre daw e. Bibili na din ako ng ibibigay ko kay Lyric mamaya. The usual. "Wow ang bilis basta libre HAHAHAHA"

"Ako pa?"

"Pero kay Miss Lyric Ricafort ang bagal.." i smirked at her kaya nakita ko ang paglaki ng mata niya. "Hey! What was that for? Kayo na ba?"

"Nope.. may progress na between me and Lyric. I'm courting her already.." napatigil si Monique dahil sa sinabi ko. I looked at how her reaction changed from being shocked, confused, worried, emotionless and happy. I got confused for a second but I just ignored it. Maybe she's just worried about me courting Lyric, sa babaeng obvious na wala akong chance.

"Well.. I'm happy for you, Jan. Do you need any tips?" she said while smiling.

"Yes of course.." So on our way to the restaurant she keeps on saying ways, tips and advice kung paano manligaw. I'm really thankful because of those, cause honestly i don't have any idea how to. Aside from Clef I also treat Monique as one of my best of best friends. I wouldn't trade anything in exchange of our friendship

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hola! how are you guys! HAHAHAHAHA. lijan and monique moment muna opo. kamusta kayooo, miss you all. sorry ngayon lang. update pa? HAHAHAHAHA

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041223 | 8:32PM