Touch Of Hearts

Chapter Fourteen

Lunch

It's the last day of our practice. Wala na kaming practice mamayang hapon dahil rest day and a preparation for tomorrow's big event.

I supposed to join Herrieta this time. Sa lunch nila. Hindi naman niya ako inimbitahan dahil sigurado siyang tatanggi pa rin ako, but this time, I want to make it up to her. Gusto kong siguruhin din sa kaniyang hindi ang iniisip niya ang dahilan kung bakit umiiwas at tumatanggi ako sa pagsama sa kanilang kumain. Hindi ganoon iyon. Matagal ko nang hindi crush si Ream, gaya ng inaakala niya. If only I can spell things out to her without feeling the urge to keep it for more time, but I can't. I really can't. Ni hindi ko rin magawang i-proseso iyon sa sarili ko, kaya paano ko maipapaliwanag iyon sa kaniya?

That is why I certainly need to process it my own. And to do that, I have to keep it from any of friends.

It's way borderline to think that she'd take my refusal every time, personally. She do, anyway. This is the only hidden reason I can't let her know while my mind seem to lost a better translation of its thoughts.

Nasa classroom kami to get our things. May mga libro akong naiwan sa ibabaw ng armchair ko, kaya iyon ang binalikan ko. Luvieña, Navy, and Herrieta was also there. Si Luvieña lang ang lumapit sa akin para kunin para sa akin ang mga librong iyon.

Then I saw a paper bag just beside my chair. Si Luvieña ang nag-atubiling kumuha no'n. She's smiling from ear to ear when she checked on the paper bag. Tumingin siya sa akin and her smiles couldn't be contained that for a moment, I got confused.

"Para sa iyo. Lunch box. Kanino kaya galing?" she handed me the bag. Hindi nakatakas ang malisyosang tono sa tanong niyang iyon.

Herrieta and Navy's eyes turned to me immediately. Then it went down to the paper bag I am holding loosely. Navy's lips protruded, hiding a smirk.

Then she walked towards me, almost tiptoeing, her eyes curiously glued on the paper bag.

Now, I am more confused, and a little bit uncomfortable that their eyes were on me. Right, we're friends. But the judging look on Herrieta's poker face is making me feel uneasy right now.

She might be thinking something else right now.

Baka iniisip niyang kaya hindi ako sumasabay sa lunch dahil may nagbibigay sa akin ng pagkain?

Ngumuso ako nang mapagtantong...alam ko kung kanino galing ito.

"I don't know. Ngayon lang ako nakatanggap nito." I lied.

My eyes darted towards Herrieta. She looked like she doesn't buy it. She doesn't believe me.

I understand that she have that kind of thoughts about me. May tampo siya, at hindi rin ako nakapagpaliwanag ng maayos sa kaniya, kaya hindi ko siya mapipigilan sa mga iniisip niya tungkol sa pagtanggi ko ng maraming beses sa kaniya.

Luvieña blocked my view of Herrieta. Siya na ang nagtanggal ng laman no'n, excited and still, very malicious.

"Baka admirer mo nagbigay nito?" she shamelessly bursted out an intriguing laugh, and curiously took out the lunch boxes.

Admirer? Si...Gideon? No.

Dalawa ang lunch box do'n. Ang isa, kanin ang laman, at ang isa ay ulam. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng ulam iyon, but Luvieña's curiosity is so in game, that I immediately know that the dish wasn't particular to me.

"Hmm. Kare kare," she sniffed that I had to take it from her dahil baka may dumapong dumi o ano.

Ngumiti siya lalo. Ngiting ngiti. It's giving me questions again, dagdagan pa na palagi siyang ganito sa akin. Malisyoso at para bang may mga alam siyang bagay na hindi ko nalalaman. Kung titigan niya ako, parang alam niya ang lahat...kahit ang mga tinatago ko.