Something More

Chapter 016

016

Camping na. Yeah, I decided to come pero kahit ba naman dito ay nasundan pa rin ako nila Xander at Marielle. I tried not to stare at them, pero hindi ko magawang hindi eh. Paano naman kasi, sila ang center of attraction. Paano ko ba maiiwasan sila?

"Hey." someone called behind me. Lumingon ako at nakita ang aking tanging kakampi at kaibigan, si Jared. 

"Jed." I smiled at him. Jed kasi yung nickname niya, so yeah.. you know? Hehe, wala lang.

He smiled back tapos tumayo sa tabi ko. Nakasuot siya ng skinny jeans and black hoodie, and I have to admit, he looks really good. Anubayan, ano bang pinag-iisip ko dito. Gee.
"May partner ka na?" tanong niya.

"Uh.. wala pa eh." bale, yung first activity namin ay dapat may ka-partner ka. Dapat boy and girl, eh wala naman akong ka-close na boy sa klase ko, si Xander lang talaga.

"Tayo na lang," he said. Tayo na lang? Hm, parang iba tuloy yung pumapasok sa isip ko. 

"Oh sige." I nodded tapos we faced the teacher for the details of the activity.

"Ang gagawin niyo ay magsu-suot kayo ng handcuffs, one hand per each partner. Bibigyan namin kayo ng mapa and you have to do the tasks na ibibigay sa inyo. You only have a maximum of 1 hour to reach the goal, at yung mga matatalo ay may punishment. Kuha ba?"

"Opo." we all answered in chorus.

"Okay, just wait, ibibigay na ng teachers yung handcuffs and map. Pag meron na kayo, lumapit dito sa line para magsisimula na tayo."

Nagsimula ng ipamigay yung mga handcuffs and maps, tapos nakuha na rin namin ni Jared yung sa amin. Yung isa kong kamay naka-handcuff at yung isang kamay naman ni Jared, ganun din. So kaylangan talagang hindi kami magkahiwalay.

"Okay, ready.. set.. go!" announced the teacher. Nagsitakbuhan ang lahat, including me nd Jared. Ayon dito sa map, kaylangan namin marating yung malaking puno ng saging. 

"We should just hold hands, para hindi talaga tayo magkahiwalay." a girl's voice said. A familiar voice, yung nagsalita sa may likuran ko.

"Uh.. sige.." someone replied. This time, it's a guy and his voice is more familiar.

"Sssh," bulong sa akin ni Jared at lumapit pa nang kaunti, as in yung bibig niya ay nandoon sa tenga ko. "Don't turn."
I nodded. I was caught off guard, kasi naman, our physical contact is so close. My heart keeps on jumping.

Lumayo na sa wakas si Jared and stared blankly at the map. Then, he stopped walking kaya napahinto na rin ako. At wow, nandito na pala kami sa puno ng saging.

"This must be it," Jared said. Tapos nakalagay sa instructions na may mga nakasabit daw na papel doon, and nakita naman namin. Kumuha si Jared ng isa and opened it.

"Bumilang ng ten steps, and gamitin ang shovel na nasa ilalim ng puno para hukayin ang susunod na instruction."

"Oh." I said tapos sabay kaming nagbilang ni Jared ng ten steps. At nung natapos na kami, nagulat kami na sa tabi namin may mga paa ding huminto.

Which is, Xander and Marielle. This time, napatitig na ako kay Xander, and he stared at me too. Tapos Marielle smiled at me, kaya I looked away from him.
"Hey, long time no talk," Marielle said. I nodded and glanced at her arm, which is hook with Xander's. They look so sweet.

"O sige, maghukay na tayo," I told Jared. Kinuha ko yung shovel at maghuhukay na sana, when Marielle spoke up.
"Eww, maghuhukay ka Audrey? Yuck ah." she said. I just shrugged.

Nagsimula na ring maghukay si Xander at tinulungan naman ako ni Jared maghukay. Tapos nakita na namin yung isang box, and Jared opened it. Sa loob nun ay may susi.
"Hm, para saan kaya ito?" Jared asked.

"Hindi kaya dito sa handcuffs?" I suggested. Jared tried it at tama nga. Ginaya naman kami nila Marielle and kahit wala na yung handcuffs, nakahawak kamay pa rin si Marielle kay Xander.

"Halika na, baka magkaroon pa tayo ng parusa." Jared said. I gave a slight nod, and nagulat ako nang biglang binuhat ako ni Jared. "Off we go." he grinned at me.

I blushed hard. "Jared.." tapos napatingin ako kay Xander, who is staring at me, pero he looked away. Kumapit na lang ako doon sa leeg ni Jared and rested my head in his shoulder. Tapos tumakbo na si Jared nang mabilis, pero minsan babagalan niya rin para hindi ako matakot. I'm so close with Jared, I can smell his hair na amoy shampoo and his spray na mabango. And suddenly, I remembered about Xander, na noong mga bata pa kami, I used to rest in his shoulder, too. But those times.. they are all gone now.

Hindi kami nagkaroon ng parusa ni Jared, kasi mabilis siya eh. Nagkaroon na kami ng room arrangement, at.. unfortunately, Marielle is my roommate.

I started to unpack my things when Marielle stood up in front of me. Napatingin ako sa kanya and she smiled at me.
"Best! Buti magka-roommates tayo! Hay, pwede bang dito na lang ako sa taas mo? Okay lang ba?" she asked. I nodded. Double-deck kasi yung bed namin, eh dito ako sa baba tapos si Marielle na nga sa taas ko.

"Alam mo, Xander's so sweet pala. Tignan mo, he gave me a gift last week." she raised her wrist for me too see it.. and ang ganda. It's a bracelet, na may colored gems and kumikinang ito. 

"Ang ganda.." I just said.

"Hay, balak ko na nga siyang sagutin, pero siguro I'll play hard to get pa. Pero promise, sasagutin ko na siya soon."
"Ah.." sabi ko. 

She smiled at me. "Huy, kayo na ni Jared ano? Xander told me na gusto raw si Jared."
I looked up at her. Xander.. told her that? "Uh.. h-hindi.."

"Hay nako, obvious kaya Audrey. Kaya nga lumalayo na si Xander sa iyo eh, para naman daw maging close kayo ni Jared. You know, he's so happy that, finally, you're in love."

I bit my lip. "I guess.." 

Yeah, I'm in love.. but not with Jared. With Xander, who, I know, will never like me back.

Gabi na, and nagkaroon ng isang barbecue party doon sa labas. May bonfire sa gitna kasi malamig ang hangin, tapos ang daming pagkain. Ako naman, I decided, to just stroll on the beach. Oo, malapit lang sa beach 'tong campsite namin, tapos malapit rin sa mga bundok. Ang ganda nga eh. 

I took a deep breath and hinimas-himas yung braso ko. Whew, ang lamig pala, hindi ako nagdala ng jacket. Umupo ako doon sa harapan ng beach, and touched the sand. I stared at the dark sky, sa twinkling stars and full moon pala, and ang ganda ng view. I hugged my knees to my chest, and sighed.

"Oh." someone said, at napalingon naman ako. I can't figure out who it was at first, but when adjusted my eyeglasses at palapit nang palapit sa akin yung taong iyon, I can clearly point out who it is.

Xander.

"Sorry, magpapahangin sana ako pero hindi ko alam na may tao.. so.. I'm just gonna leave." sabi niya, while his hands are on his pockets, doon sa pockets nung jacket niya.

"No, please, can you stay?" I told him, at tumayo.

He's standing in front me, and turned to face me. He smiled at me. "Parang ang saya-saya mo.. dahil kay Jared ah." he suddenly said. Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya, dahil may diin doon sa tono niya.. which scares me a bit.

"H-huh?"

"You.. you're in love with Jared, right?"

"What are you talking about..? Xander, I'm not in love with him. I'm.. I'm.. in love.."
"Tsk, forget it." sabi niya, then turned, and ready to walk out again, pero I quickly grabbed his shirt. I'm sure I startled him, with this sudden act. Pero.. I can't afford to lose him now, to lose everything.

"Please.. would you talk to me.. kahit ngayon lang?" I told him.

Mahigpit pa rin yung pagkakahawak ko doon sa dulo ng shirt niya. His back is in front of me, kaya hindi ko makita yung facial expression niya. He sighed in defeat, and then I let go of his shirt and faced me. I can now see his features, and I stared at his blank eyes. Hindi ko siya mabasa.

"Audrey.. gusto mo bang malaman kung bakit kita iniiwasan?"