Nasa entrance pa lang ako ng Getto, nakita ko na agad si Caius na may kausap na babae malapit sa table namin kanina. He gave her a quick hug when the girl handed him a gift.
Dumiretso ako sa table namin at naupo muli sa tabi ni Herra.
"Anong oras tayong aalis?" I asked her. Mukha kasing nag-eenjoy na s'ya. May beer na nga sa harapan n'ya, eh.
"We haven't even started yet. Why? Do you wanna go?" she asked me. Sinubukan n'yang basahin ang mukha pero alam kong wala s'yang makukuha. She looked a little worried.
"Yeah." tipid kong sagot. Sumandal ako sa upuan ko. Pinagkrus ko ang mga hita ko. I crossed my arms over my chest and scanned the whole place again. It was getting louder and louder. Mukhang lasing na ang karamihan sa mga bisita.
"Is everything okay?" sunod na tanong n'ya.
"Yeah. Let's just stay for a few minutes?" My shoulders jumped when I felt a hand on my back. I looked up to see Caius standing next to me. He leaned down. His face was right next to mine.
"Tara? Puntahan natin 'yung mga tropa ko?" pag-aaya n'ya. I looked at Herra to somehow ask her for help. But since my face was probably void of any emotion even if I was already panicking inside, Herra just nodded her head to Caius.
I muttered a silent curse when she stood up. Wala na akong choice kung hindi ako sumama sa kanila.
Herra was leading the way. Kahit na anong bagal kong maglakad, sinasabayan pa rin ako ni Caius.
"Okay ka lang?" tanong n'ya. I cleared my throat and simply nodded without looking at him.
Lahat ng mga mata ay nasa amin noong malapit na kami sa table na 'yon.
"Jamie!" Herra squealed. She immediately went to Jaime and hugged her. "Herra, oh my gosh!" pagbati rin n'ya.
When her eyes wandered to me, she enthusiastically waved like we were also long time friends. I couldn't remember talking to her back in the day. Tumango naman ako sa kanya bilang pagbati.
Herra sat next to her. Agad silang nagkwentuhan. They looked comfortable with each other like they weren't separated for a school year.
"Pare, pakilala mo naman sa amin 'yan." sabi nung kaibigan ni Caius. Dahil doon, nalipat lahat ng mga mata nila sa akin. Dian showed me a confused smile habang hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pagtataas ng kilay ni Neri.
"Gago, kilala n'yo naman na." sagot ni Caius sa kanya.
Caius pulled out a chair for me. Tahimik akong naupo doon. Mabilis na naupo rin si Caius sa tabi ko. 'Gaya kanina, inilapit n'ya muli ang upuan n'ya sa akin.
And I hated him for that.
The guy on my other side placed a bottle of beer in front of me. S'ya 'yung lalaking nagtangkang kumuha ng number ko few months ago in the computer shop.
"Kayo na ba?" My eyes darted to Neri who was looking directly at me. Binigyan n'ya ako ng pekeng ngiti bago s'ya tumingin kay Caius para hintayin ang sagot sa tanong n'ya. She knew I wouldn't talk.
"Ha? Ah, hindi pa." sagot ni Caius.
"Hindi pa? Naks!" I found the other girl's side comment a little sarcastic. Binigyan n'ya ako ng matamis na ngiti noong magtama ang mga mata namin. I remember her. S'ya 'yung kasama ni Caius sa japanese restaurant sa mall noong isang buwan.
It was getting a little confusing right now. Caius was involved with a lot of girls. A lot. The girls in the CR were gossiping about him and someone named Nicole. There was also this Shai at may Kali pa. I think I even met his ex girlfriend in the comfort room a while ago-- the one wearing a dress who kept on looking at me and who might be planning on getting back together with Caius. Now, I was sitting in the same table with his friend whom I saw last month. And she was looking at me like I have done something that offended her.
BINABASA MO ANG
Salem's Eyes (COMPLETED)
General Fiction[Completed] Salem Ysabel Joson convinced herself that she was content of being numb- just generally devoid of any emotion. Given the fate that she has been given, she lived her life trying to strain herself from associating with anything that could...
