Not Now But Forever

Chapter 10

Dahil maaga ang uwian at kinabukasan ay hapon pa naman ang pasok namin, my friends had decided to come meet Dale.

Sa ministop na lang daw kami magkita-kita. Doon niya kami tuturuan. Looks like luck is on Dale's side.

Umuwi muna ako sa amin dahil alas tres palang ay tapos na ang klase namin. Nagusap-usap kami na magkita-kita na lang sa ministop. Tutal ay around Naga lang naman ang mga bahay namin.

I went there around six in the evening. Kumain muna ako sa amin. I told my parents that I'll be home late. Walang kaso naman iyon sa kanila basta mag ingat lang ako.

I wore a pedal, enough to cover my legs. Hindi talaga ako kumportableng lumabas na nakashorts lang. I wore a black v-neck shirt and sandals. Dinala ko na rin ang bag ko.

Pagdating ko sa ministop, nandoon na sila. The table is for four persons only. Hindi na ako kakasya kung makikipagsiksikan pa ako.

They were all laughing. Tila ba may kung anong nagbara sa aking lalamunan ng makita si Dale katabi si Rose. He looks happy. They look good together.

I waved at them when Ella noticed me.

"Sorry, late." I told them. May vacant na upuan sa side nila. Medyo malayo dahil daanan iyon pero pwede na.

Sinenyasan ko sila na okay na ako doon. Umupo na ako at saka nagsimulang gawin ang iba pang gawain.

"Okay ka na diyan, Charm?" Rose asked me.

I gave her a thumbs up, "Naturuan na naman ako ni Liam kaya magpaturo na kayo diyan kay Dale." I told them.

Kunot noo akong tiningnan ni Jerard, "Akala ko ba malabo magturo si Liam?" I saw Dale pursed his lips.

I looked at them and shooked my head, "Nabigla lang ako kanina. First time matawag for the board work eh." I awkwardly told them.

I started scribbling something on my notebook. Liam lend me some notes of his nung first sem nila. Iyon na lang ang pilit kong inintindi.

Hindi ko namalayan kung anong oras na pero napatigil ako sa pag-iintindi ng notes nang may maglapag sa akin ng hotdog.

Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Dale at saka tiningnan ang mga kaibigan ko na busy magsolve.

"Eat while I'm teaching you." He said.

I bit the inside of my cheeks. Ano ba tong nararamdaman ko? Parang tanga eh!

He started explaining to me things about it. Mabuti na lang at madali ko namang naintindihan iyon.

My eyes went back to my friends and saw Rose looking at us. She smiled at me. I also smiled at her.

"Sabi sayo mas magaling ako magturo kaysa kay Liam eh." He told me in a low voice.

"Yabang." I whispered. He smiled a little.

Mageexplain pa sana siya when I cut him off.

"Rose is already done." I told him. Kunot-noo niya akong tiningnan.

"What do you want me to do? Teach you or flirt with Rose?" He scoffed.

"Duh, syempre the latter. Iyon naman talaga ang og plan diba?" I prankly told him.

"Og?" He raised an eyebrow on me. Parang bakla to.

"Original, duh" I rolled my eyes at him.

"Mas gusto mong unahin ko iyon?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa akin.

"Oo! Andiyan na nga si Rose oh! Blessing na yung lumalapit, tinatanggihan mo pa." I mocked him.

He shrugged his shoulders and continued writing. Not minding what I just told him.

"Solve this. I'll be back." He told me bago bumalik sa table ng mga kaibigan ko.

I saw how Jerard eyed me. I just smiled and showed to him the problems, Dale is asking me to solve.

Hindi ko alam kung hanggang anong oras ba ako pilit nagsosolve nun. Mahirap kasi talaga.

Nabaling ang attention ko ng makitang nagsitayuan na ang mga kaibigan ko.

"Mauna na ako!" Ella said. She waved at me.

"Ako rin! Kasama ko other friends ko."  Jerard said and pinched me on my cheeks.

And now I'm left with Dale and Rose. Mukhang magiging third wheel pa ata ako dito.

"Mauuna na rin ako. Nagtext na si mama eh." Rose said. I smiled at her.

"Hatid na kita." I heard Dale volunteered.

Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang ballpen ko. I keep on telling myself to fucking calm down. Putangina!

Akala ko ay umalis na sila but Dale stood in front of me.

"Hintayin mo ako. I'll be back. Mabilis lang to." He told me. Tumango lang ako without looking at him.

"Charm," He told me in a serious voice. Tamad akong napatingin sa kanya and nodded.

"Yes yes. Nagsosolve pa ako dito. Hatid mo na si Rose." I shooed him away.

I stretched my arms nang matapos na akong mag solve. Ten problems ba naman ang ibigay ng gagong iyon! Hindi ko namalayan kung anong oras na ba.

I looked at my phone only to see that it's already ten thirty in the evening. I bit my lower lip. Wala pa rin si Dale. Kanina pa sila umalis ah?

Hindi na rin naman traffic dahil gabing gabi na. I sighed.

"Fifteen minutes. Wait for until fifteen minutes." I told myself.

Nagscroll na lang muna ako sa aking cell phone pero fifteen minutes had passed at walang Dale na bumalik. Maybe he forgot. I don't know.

I sadly fixed my things. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang mga sagot ko. Nang maligpit ko na ang mga gamit ko ay lumabas na ako. I crossed the roads para makapaghanap na ng jeep.

My hurt feels so heavy. I saw Dale and Rose going out from the coffee shop. I smiled bitterly. Kaya pala.

Naghintay ako sa wala. Pero, bakit naman ako nasasaktan? I made it clear that I like Liam.

Hindi ko alam kung nakita ba nila ako. They really do looked good together. They are smiling to each other.

Nakita kong napalingon si Dale sa akin. I don't know if he saw me though dahil madilim sa kinakatayuan ko.

Nang may dumaang jeep ay agad akong sumakay doon. Wiping a tear from my cheeks.

Why am I even crying?