Finding Me In You

40 Try harder

Kiran Lin

I was walking on the street papunta sa cafe when I heard someone calling my name from behind.

I faced the caller only to see Mike's face.

Umagang umaga ito agad ang bungad. Malas ba ako ngayong araw?

"Bro. I have something to ask you." aniya. I felt my face turn sour and answered him. "Ok. go ahead. Make it fast." binigyan niya lang ako ng isang nakaka-iritang ngiti at sinenyasan na sundan siya.

Putek, sa cafe rin lang naman ang punta niya. Sinadya niya ba talaga na kausapin ako sa labas paara masira ang araw ko?

Pumunta siya sa isang table at umupo roon.

"Sit first. I asked the other staffs to let me talk to you for a while." Just like what he said, I sat on the chair in front of him.

"I will make it quick. Do you like Yivie?" tanong niya. Geez, what's with these people asking me if I like Yivie?

"Why?" balik kong tanong. He smirked as if he knew something. "Well, just to let you know, Yivie is mine."

Nawala ang ngiti niya at napalitan iyon ng isang seryosong ekspresyon.

If he's trying to scare me, then he failed.

"Try harder." I narrowed my eyes and left the table.

Dumiretso na ako sa locker room at nagpalit.

Kahit sa nagdaang oras ay hindi nawala ang pagkabad trip ko kay Mike.

"Hey, Kiran, ok ka lang?" rinig kong tanong ni Dyen. I looked at her and she just shrugged. Tinuro niya ang table ni Yivie at sinabing hinahanap niya raw ako.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya ako hinahanap, pero kung tungkol na naman ito sa tanong na iyon, i swear. I'll just take a leave for the day.

"Yes?" I said when I arrived. Hinihigop niya ang Latte niya at takang lumingon sa akin. What's wrong with her?

"Hinahanap mo raw ako?" her eyebrows creased at binaba ang iniinom sa table.

"No, I didn't. But I did want to ask something. Ano ang pinag-usapan niyo ni Mike kanina? I saw you when I entered." Bagsak ang balikat akong tumugon sa tanong niya. "I'll answer that later. When everything is clear." I said and went back to work.

Hours came by at hindi ko namalayan na lumipas na pala ang oras. I was about to close my locker when someone knocked on the door. "Kiran. You looked troubled all day. May nangyari ba?" si Dyen. I sighed heavily at tuluyan nang sinarado ang locker.

I faced Dyen who is leaning on the door with crossed arms infront of her chest. "Mike told me something earlier." pag-aamin ko. I honestly don't know why I am troubled with what he said.

"Ano ba ang sinabi niya sayo at napasama ang araw mo?" She asked and we both sat on the couch.

"He said something about Yivie." I said. Kumunot ang noo niya at umayos ng upo. "Did he talk behind Yivie's back? Geez, sabi ko na nga ba't hindi katiwa-tiwala si Mike." putak niya. I halted her with a hush. "Why?" tanong niya sa ginawa ko.

"He didn't talk bad about Yivie. Hindi ko alam kung pananakot ang ginawa niya dahil hindi naman ako natakot, but he told me "Yivie's mine." sabi ko na walang preno-preno. Tinignan ko naman si Dyen na ngayon ay napatahimik at tinitignan lang ako. She looked at me as if I was spouting an obvious statement.

"You know, you said you waren't scared, but you're actually bothered by what he said." aniya na tinaas pa ang kilay. "Yes, i was bothered, but that doesn't mean that I like her." pagsuko ko.

She stood up at tinignan ako bago tumalikod at nagsalita. "Wala akong sinabi na gusto mo siya. I was stating a fact. But are you sure that you're just bothered? Or are you really scared?" makahulugan niyang tanong na nagpakunot ng noo ko.

She left without another word leaving me hanging without an answer.