Salem's Eyes (COMPLETED)

34 Salem

I didn't know how this happened but our schedules became in sync this day. Even Herra that I haven't seen for so long was with us. I didn't exactly agree to merge tables with Holly and her friends but what more could I say if all of them were social butterflies except me.

"Since when did you get close to Zach?" I whispered to Caius. Nakaakbay ang braso n'ya sa likod ng upuan ko. We've been drinking for almost two hours now here in Pledis. Amara and Eli were on their way. Si Herra ay kaharutan si Kiko sa tabi ko habang si Holly, Neri at 'yung ex ni Caius ay nag-uusap sa tapat namin habang tinatapunan kami ng tingin paminsan-minsan. I bet they were talking about us.

Zach was comfortably sitting next to Caius. Sometimes, he would join the conversation of Neri's group. Madalas ay si Caius ang kausap. Si Jenn at Liza ay hindi ko na mahanap. They told me few minutes ago that they would hit the dance floor. Hindi ko lang alam kung saan na sila napadpad.

"Tinutulungan n'ya ako." tipid na sagot ni Caius sa akin. Napakunot ang noo ko. Tinutulungan?

"Saan?" takang tanong ko.

"Sa school. Noong pasukan ay nag-uusap na kami."

Napatingin ako kay Zach na pinapanood kaming dalawa ni Caius. He even smiled at me. I ignored him and looked at Caius again.

"I see." Well, they have the same course. Nagtataka lang ako dahil dati ay magkaaway sila. Noong maging kami ni Caius ay hindi na nagparamdam pa si Zacharias sa akin. It has been so long. Hindi ko naman alam na magiging magkaibigan pala sila in the end.

"Tropa n'ya kasi si Matt." Upon hearing that name, I rolled my eyes at him. I know. Tumawa s'ya dahil sa ekspresyon ko. Matt was that asshole back in the cafeteria. 'Yung kwinelyuhan ko. Buti nalang ay wala sila dito. Kung hindi, aayain ko na talagang umuwi si Caius.

Matt and his friends tried to talk to me but I just ignored them. Nakampante nalang din ako dahil minsan ko silang nakita na magka-akbay at nagtatawanan sa school. I probably just overreacted that day. But I'd grab his collar in a heartbeat if he does that again.

"Is he being nice at you? That's strange." Really. I remembered the scene in the cafeteria when they joined me at lunch. Naalala ko rin 'yung pagseselos ni Caius kay Zach noong nanliligaw palang s'ya sa akin. That was the time when I realized I was shit in love and I couldn't lose him. Wow, that was so long ago.

"Oo. Nagbibigay s'ya ng reviewers sa amin."

"He should be pissed at you."

"Tropa nga n'ya si Matt." he chuckled for the second time.

Once again, I rolled my eyes at him.

"Cute mo, Salem ko." muling bulong n'ya sa akin. His face was close that's why I noticed the dark bags under his eyes. Lagi nalang s'yang nagkakasakit lately. Hinaplos ko 'yung ilalim ng mata n'ya. His eyes weren't as bright as before. Pati ngiti n'ya ay mukhang pagod rin. Sana ay makapag-adjust na s'ya agad para naman bumalik 'yung sigla n'ya. Maybe I should plan an out of the town trip so he could somehow relax.

"Hoy, ang landi n'yo." hampas ni Herra sa akin na nasa tabi ko lang.

Napaupo tuloy ako ng ayos dahil nalipat sa amin ang buong pansin nila. Caius drank on his bottle. Pati ako ay napainom ng alak. His arm remained on my chair.

"Share n'yo naman pinagbubulungan n'yo." pang-aasar ni Kiko na akala mo ay hindi nilalandi si Herra. There wasn't anything going on between them. Kiko was a jerk and he got a lot of girls. Tuwing magkakasama sila ni Herra ay naglalandian talaga sila.

"How long has it been since you started dating?" tanong ni Neri na diretso ang tingin kay Caius. She really hates me.

"One year and one month na." sagot ni Caius.