Encounter (Onze Series #1)

16

"Uy, problema niyan?"

Napa-ayos ako ng upo nang magsalita si Zoe sa tabi ko, she's busy eating the food that she brought herself. She was pertaining to Claire who's really busy studying, not getting bothered by the noise coming from the tv, and the existence of me and Zoe.

Kumibit-balikat ako dahil kahit ako, hindi ko alam kung bakit siya nag-aaral ng ganyan. Claire, most of the time would always ask me to review her for the exam beforehand. She was acting weird and very unlike her these past few days rin.

"Wag kayong mag-alala, naga-advance reading lang ako." She assured us.

But as much as I wanted to confront her, ayoko na muna kasi marami pa namang araw na pwede ko siyang kausapin. Tsaka kapag ayaw niya, I won't force her naman.

But I was bothered talaga nung late na siya palaging umuuwi. Minsan nga, galing na ako sa tulog at magigising na lang sa ingay na nagagawa niya. Her only alibi was going to Bataan because she misses her family. So sinong niloloko niya?

"Saan ka pupunta after?" I asked Zoe, changing our topic. Kakatapos lang ng finals nila kaya kami ang pinuntahan niya because the Young's were planning to go to California. Kaya kami ang binubulabog niya.

"Kay Ian," tipid na sagot niya na ikinagulat naming pareho ni Claire. "Ano?" Biglang tanong niya dahil sa tingin namin sa kanya ni Claire. Well, close naman talaga sila ever since high school pero ibang level na ata ng closeness ito dahil palagi na silang nagkikita nung mga nakaraan.

'Judger,' a piece of my mind said.

"May ano kayo?" Mali mali ang sentence structure ni Claire, hindi marunong magtanong! Dakilang slow pa naman si Zoe.

"May ano kami?" Zoe asked back.

"Kayo ba?" I bluntly asked. Syempre dapat straight to the point na 'no.

"Gago ka ba?" Zoe's glare made me and Claire laugh really hard. "Hirap na hirap na nga ako kung paano mapapansin ni Deb, tapos tatanungin niyo kung kami na ni Ian? Ampota."

"Ay, serious ka ba dun sa Corneza?" I suddenly asked.

"Duh, I wouldn't be in Katipunan for almost every day if I'm not serious." She stopped and gave us a glare. "Tsaka don't make such a big deal about me and Ian. We're just friends." She said and then shrugged.

Nagliwanag naman ang mukha ni Claire dahil sa narinig niya. "Ay weh? Nagka-Katipunan ka rin?!" Zoe rolled her eyes. "Oh My! We should be buddies!" Claire excitedly ran to Zoe and clung her arms around Zoe's.

"Gee! What should we call our duo ha?" Maarteng sambit ni Zoe. Napailing na lang ako dahil sa inaasta nila.

"Sa mga Atenean lang kakalampag!" Sabay na sigaw nilang dalawa at nag-apir pa.

Etong si Claire napaka-scammer. May hindi talaga siya kinukwento pero hinayaan ko na lang muna. Zoe immediately left after.

Today is Saturday and is a very special day. I called Jared to ask what is he doing right now. Pero duh, malamang mag-aaral. Boba ka talaga Valerie.

[Hello?] I instantly bit my lower lip when he greeted me with his husky voice. Gosh, this guy.

"Oh? Nasaan ka?" I tried really hard not to stutter. Grabe, masyadong malakas ang dating niya saakin.