Lablayp ng Panget

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4
Kaibigan

James' POV
 
 
Ever since I entered Irosin High, they treated me as if I am a prince, and I don't like it. Di ko gusto ang pagkaguluhan halos araw-araw, nakakahassle. They invade my privacy and personal life. Feeling ko wala akong liberty na gawin ang mga gusto ko. Nakakasakal. Hindi naman ako celebrity but they treat me as one.

I do have friends, a lot, but only few of them are real. I mean karamihan sa kanila, either money or notoriety lang ang habol kaya kinakaibigan ako. And it's bullshit! I really loathe people like that. If I could only punch their damn faces for using me, I would do it.

"Lotlot? Rafa?'' tawag ko sa dalawang taong nasa harapan ng rest room kung saan kagagaling ko lang.

"James?"

"Fafa James?"

I flashed a smile as I went closer to them. "Yeah. What are you doing here? I mean in front of the CR."

''Hehe. Si Puritz kasi Fafa James, gustong mamboso.'' Napataas ang kilay ko sa tinuran ni Rafa. Seriously? I casted a glance at Pureyta.

"Wag kang maniwala sa juding na 'yan James," depensa ni Lotlot. Inirapan naman siya ng kanyang best friend.

"By the way, highway, express way, sino yung Lotlot, Fafa James?'' tanong ni Rafa. I beamed as I looked at Pureyta.

"Siya," I pointed out.

"A-ako?'' Puzzlement was evident on her face kaya natawa ako habang patango tango.

"Ay hindi Puritz! Tinuro ka na nga, diba? Magtatanong pa? Magtatanong pa?" Rafa rolled his eyes.

"Eh sa hindi ko alam eh. Inggit ka lang kasi!" She rolled her eyes, too.

I couldn't help myself from laughing.  I really was amazed on how these two best of friends treat each other. Well, not even sure if they really are best friends. They seem way far from that.

"Ay oo nga pala. Bakit naman Lotlot tawag mo sa akin, James?" tanong ni Lotlot habang naglalakad kami sa mall.

"Coz it's better than Pureyta,'' I said matter of factly. "And it came from your real name, Char-lot-ta."

"Ay wow, may ganern? Eh sa akin Fafa James, ano tawag mo?"

"Eduardo!" sabat ni Lotlot sabay halakhak.

"Tse! Hindi ikaw ang tinatanong ko." Irap ni Rafa saka bumaling ulit sa akin. Nag isip ako ng pwedeng itawag sa kanya.

"Pwede Rafa na lang din?" wika ko nang walang maisip. Napanguso siya't napahalukipkip sa sinabi ko. Malungkot siyang tumango saka biglang bumagal ang kanyang lakad.

"Fafa James, diba pwedeng babe na lang?" He blinked his eyes spryly. Napahalakhak ako ng batukan siya ni Lotlot pagkakuwan.

"Huy Rafa, tumigil tigil ka nga d'yan! Di na 'to nahiya! Anyway, James, gutom ka ba? Libre kita." She gave me a wide smile pero agad ding nawala iyon nang batukan din siya ni Rafa.

"Huy Puritz, ikaw ang manlilibre? E ni pamasahe nga inuutang mo pa sa akin!" Humarap sa akin si Rafa. "Ako na lang Fafa James ang manlilibre." Inilabas pa nito ang pink niyang wallet para ipakitang may pera siyang panlibre.

With that, they proved me something. They are different, different from those social climbers. As a matter of fact, they were the first persons, not family related, who offered me a treat. Nasanay akong ako ang nanlilibre, not the other way around.

Humarap ako sa kanila saka pinasadahan sila ng malapad na ngiti. "No need, guys. Ako na manlilibre."

I, usually, don't trust easily. Mapili ako sa kaibigan but with them, I don't need to think thoroughly. Alam kong they are more than funny persons, they deserve my trust.