Salem's Eyes (COMPLETED)

18 Salem

Nandito kami ngayon ni Herra sa cafeteria. We haven't ordered anything yet because we were waiting for Amara to be done with her class. Two hours naman 'yung vacant ko kaya sumang-ayon naman ako sa gusto ni Herra. She was done for today. Wala 'yung prof n'ya sa last subject kaya after lunch, uuwi na s'ya.

I envy her, though. Gabi pa ang uwi ko.

I checked my phone because it vibrated multiple times. It was Caius as usual.

Caius:

Nasaan ka?

Hindi ko pa man nababasa 'yung ibang texts ay biglang nag-vibrate nanaman 'yung phone ko. He was calling this time.

I swiped the screen to answer his call.

"May joke ako." bungad n'ya. I stayed silent to let him crack his joke. Katulad ng dati, tumatawa nanaman s'ya kahit hindi pa naman nagsisimula ang joke n'ya.

"Anong sapatos ang kinakain?" Inalayo ang cellphone ko sa tainga ko dahil ang lakas ng tawa n'ya. Para s'yang tanga kahit kailan. "Edi shoeman!"

I let him calm down. He sounded like he was with someone. Tumatawa rin kasi 'yung kasama n'ya.

"Nasaan ka?" tanong n'ya noong kumalma na s'ya.

"Cafeteria." tipid kong sagot. I looked at my wristwatch to check the time. It was their lunch break as well.

"Hintayin mo ako d'yan."

"I'm eating with my friends." I said. I couldn't eat with him this time. Lalo na at makakasama ko pa si Amara.

"Sabay ako?" tanong n'ya. He sounded hopeful and I almost hesitated to answer but I really can't.

"No." mahinang sagot.

"Salem," he whined like a kid.

"No." I pursed my lips and looked down when Herra raised her eyebrow at me.

"Sige, hatid nalang kita mamaya sa village n'yo." pagtatampo n'ya.

"I'll be home late." I leaned on my chair and crossed my legs when I already saw him walking towards the cafeteria through the glass door. He was with Sean, his friend.

"Kahit na. Babalik nalang ako sa school kapag malapit na 'yung uwian n'yo." he said as he entered the cafeteria already looking at me. He waved enthusiastically and beamed like a kid.

"You can't keep doing that." Nakahinga ako ng malalim noong hindi na s'ya lumapit sa akin. He walked towards his friends' table still looking at me.

"Basta." makulit na singhal n'ya. "Miss na kita, eh." bulong n'ya.

I was a little embarrassed because he was currently with his friends right now. Paano kapag narinig s'ya ng mga kaibigan n'ya?

"Later," I said and hung up on him because I already saw Amara outside the cafeteria.

"My goodness, you still catch up with Caius?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Herra. She was grinning widely. I threw her a sharp look to shut her up. "I mean, it's been months." dugtong n'ya atsaka ako tinitigan.

"Shut up." suway ko sa kanya noong makapasok na si Amara.

Herra was watching us a while ago. Hindi ko lang pinansin ang palipat-lipat na tingin n'ya sa akin at kay Caius. There was no point in denying because it was very obvious that we were talking to each other. Parehas kaming may cellphone sa tainga.