Cannot Reciprocate

CHAPTER 3

Nakarating kami sa lugar kung saan gaganapin ang fieldtrip namin. We are at the camping site. Papadilim na rin ng makarating kami.

"Each partners build their own tent. Hindi separate ang lalaki sa babae. But, we have a security here that monitoring every tent. Wag kayong gagawa ng kalokohan. Engineers, you are guys are 4th year a senior to be exact, respect your partners." Patrick announced.

"Come here, Ciara. This is a good place to do something." Joshua said. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. I helped him with our things.

Pumwesto kami sa medyo malayo. Peace.

He started to assemble our tent. Hindi ko ito tinulungan. Nilibot ko ang mata sa lugar.

The sunset are beautiful. Kulay kahel ang kalangitan. Other students were taking a photos.

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa dalawa. Uno fixing their tent while Lovely beside him, helping.

Kita ko ang pagbukas ng bibig nila. They are talking.

I wish I was her. Able to talk to him anytime.

Ganyan pala ang gusto niya sa babae. Mahinhin. Opposite of me.

"I need help with this, babe." Hindi ko pinansin si Joshua.

Tila napansin ni Lovely ang tingin ko. She looked at me and smiled. Napatingin na rin si Uno. Uno whispered something on her na ikinatingin ng babae sa kaniya.

I looked away. I prefer to look away to ease the pain.

"Ciara, samahan mo nga ako sa bus. I left something." lumapit sa akin si Annika.

Katabing tent lang pala namin sila.

Sinamahan ko siya.

"Ano bang naiwan mo?" I asked.

"My earphone. Patrick was so clumsy kaya nahulog kanina and he didn't even help me to find it here." inis na sabi nito habang naghahanap.

Tinulungan ko na rin itong maghanap. Wala namang tao dito at nasa labas lahat.

Napabaling ang mata ko sa upuan nila Uno kanina. At the bottom of their seat may nakita akong picture.

I went there and picked it.

A picture of them. Uno was seriously looking while Lovely is widely smiling. She's like teasing Uno.

"What's that?" Annika asked. Kinuha nito sa akin ang picture.

She wants to have peaceful college life but look at the picture. Kung saan saan napupunta.

I smirked. Maybe she can't have a peaceful life because I'm here to ruined it.

Hinablot ko kay Annika ang picture.

"Let's go. You find your earphone, right?"

She nodded.

I put the picture in my pocket.

Tinignan ko si Lovely. I will make you suffer.

"Saan ka ba pumunta? Kanina pa nag announce si Patrick na pumunta na sa mga area." wika ni Joshua. Lumapit ito sa akin at hinawakan ang bewang ko, iginaya ako sa dining area. We are at a forest but our University provided an area where we can eat, take a bath and so on. Parang pinadali nila ang lahat sa amin. All we do is to enjoy the field trip.

Tila naganahan ako sa gagawin kong plano kaya naman kahit naiinis ako kay Joshua ay hinayaan ko ang kamay nito sa bewang ko.

All of them are here. Nasa harap si Patrick. Beside him ay si Annika.