She Crossed That Bridge

17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

There's no turning back . . .

I glanced at Helix over my shoulder. He's walking with Kath.

"You should've brought Ger too, you know," I said to dad.

"Nah. He'll get bored," umiiling na sabi niya. Sa bagay, may point siya. Knowing Ger, madali siyang mawalan ng interes sa mga bagay-bagay.

As we entered the Realgorez State Convention Center, someone from the staff escorted us to our table.

"Cool," Kath muttered.

"Have fun, kid," dad said, flashing Kath a genuine smile.

I kept glancing at Helix, who's not even looking at me. He was just talking to my dad the entire time. Okay, ayaw niya talaga akong pansinin. Galit pa rin yata talaga siya sa 'kin. Can't he just let it go and give me a chance? Kaibigan na nga lang ang gusto ko, ang hirap pang makuha.

Napabuntonghininga tuloy ako.

Few minutes later, my dad's secretary called him and invited him over the table next to us.

Bakas sa mukha ni dad ang pag-aalangan, pero ngumiti ako at tumango.

"Go, we'll have fun. I promise," I told dad, giving him a quick kiss on his cheek. He nodded before leaving us.

Kath kept staring at her phone. Malamang text na naman siya nang text sa ex niya para makipagkita sa kanya. Hindi na siya natuto. Siya na lang 'tong laging naghahabol at nagmamakaawa.

Pero hindi ko rin naman masisi ang kaibigan ko. Napailing na lang tuloy ako habang pinagmamasdan siya.

Maya-maya lang ay bigla siyang tumingin sa 'kin at pilit na ngumiti.

"May pupuntahan lang ako. I'll be right back." She finally left her chair, flashing me a mischievous smile in discreet. "Your time to shine." She mouthed. I glared at her.

Napailing na lang ako at napasapo sa noo. Hindi niya muna hinintay na makapagsalita ako. Ayaw ko sana siyang paalisin kasi malamang babalik na naman 'yon sa 'kin nang maga 'yong mga mata.

Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Helix sa mesa at maya-maya lang ay dumating na rin sa mesa namin 'yong mga pagkain at wine.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba sisimulang makipag-usap sa kanya. Matagal ko na siyang hindi nakauusap at talagang nahihiya rin akong kausapin siya.

Lumunok muna ako nang maraming beses.

"Are you still mad at me?" Finally, I found my voice to speak.

He shook his head, still not looking at me. I let out a frustrated sigh. "Can you not do that?"

"Do what?" he asked, his eyes on the food.

"That." I paused. "Ignoring me."

He finally looked up and stared at me. "I won't be here if I'm ignoring you, don't you think?"

I rolled my eyes. "You're here because of Kath." Totoo naman, nandito siya dahil inimbita siya ni Kath. Kaya buong gabi ay iniiwasan niya lang ako.

"Uh. You're definitely wrong about that. I'm here because Kath said you're the one who invited me."

Natahimik ako nang sabihin niya iyon. Akala ko, kaya siya pumayag sumama sa 'min dito ay dahil nahihiya siyang tanggihan si Kath.