Best for Us (GU #3)

four

Four: Tyler Osmond

I couldn't talk. I was aware that I was staring too much. It's just that I could not take my eyes off her.

Kailan na nga ba ang huling beses kaming nagkita? Was it two years ago?

I wanted to smack my head. I was not good at this. This trying to pretend game. Then why the hell am I playing it?

I fully remembered it—when was the last time I saw her. Sino bang makakalimot sa gabing 'yun? Even almost two years had passed, I could still remember everything.

I remembered the way she looked that night, every single word she said, every look of her eyes. Especially the pain in them when I rejected her.

I knew I did a lot of bad things, but I still could do good once in a while. And I still believed I did this naive girl a favor that night.

I showed her a grin, gaining back my cool. "Vanessa," bati ko. "Long time no see."

I almost winced at that. Long time no see? I repeated in my head. Ano bang pagbati iyon? But that was how I greet a friend that I had not seen for a long time.

But the thing is, she's not a friend.

"Hi, Tyler!" she greeted back with fake enthusiasm and a fake smile. Halos mapailing ako. Definitely not a friend.

"You know each other?"

Nalipat ang tingin ko sa pamangkin na nasa tabi ko lang at tahimik na nagmamasid sa amin.

I was about to answer her when Vanessa beat me to it. "Yes, Nali. Kaibigan ng Tito mo 'yung kuya ko."

Tumango-tango lang ang pamangkin ko.

Wala pang nagsasalitang muli nang tumayo si Vanessa at saka pinirmi ang tingin sa pamangkin ko. Ngumiti siya dito, hindi gaya ng ngiting ibinigay niya sa akin kanina. "Nandito naman na ang sundo mo, Nali. Mauuna na ako. Ingat kayo ha."

Tumango ang pinsan ko. "Okay, Ate. I'll miss you," malungkot nitong sabi.

Vanessa smiled at Nali again then bent down a little as she gently pat my niece's hair. "Don't worry, magkikita naman tayo next summer. And I'll miss you too."

Tumayo na siyang muli nang tuwid saka sa akin na naman tumingin. And I was amazed how could her expression change in an instant. Kung kanina'y medyo nagagawa niya pang ngumiti sa akin kahit pilit, ngayon ay wala na talaga.

Her face was void of any emotion. Blank.

"I'll get going," narinig kong sinabi niya saka agad naglakad paalis.

Napailing ako. Hindi man lang niya ako hinintay na sumagot. But, maybe she just wanted to get away that much from my presence. And I could not blame her for that.

Maya-maya pa, inaya ko na rin ang pamangkin ko. We went out and I halted when I saw Vanessa was still beside the road, waiting for a cab, I guessed.

"Why aren't we coming in, Tito Tyos?" narinig kong tanong ni Nali.

I was still not answering when she said. "Oh, si Ate Van."

Nali must saw where my line of vision was. Hindi ko pa rin inaalis ang tingin kay Vanessa. Palipat-lipat lang ang tingin niya sa kanyang cellphone at sa kalsada.

Doon na ako tumingin sa pamangkin ko. "Um, Nali, can you wait here for a minute?"

She didn't let me go easily. "Why?"

A small smile found its way to my lips. Kapareho niya talaga si Ate Teriz. Laging inaalam kung bakit.

"Your Ate Van seems having a trouble looking for a ride," paliwanag ko. "Isasabay na lang natin siya."