Lumipas ang mga linggo na nakakasama ko siya. Toby's the complete opposite of what people said about him. He's sweet and funny. I was shocked when I discovered that kasi kapag tinitignan mo lang siya ang sungit niya tignan pero kapag nakausap mo na siya ibang-iba. Minsan nga lang masungit siya kapag hindi ko siya nakakausap ng ilang oras.
"Eh kasi naman," he faked cried over the phone. Nasa cafeteria sila ngayon dahil lunch time nila kaya siya tumawag. Wala rin naman daw sila CK kaya mas lalong siya nabobored. "I've been missing you the whole day. I was supposed to go there but I realized that Mr. Del Fuego still hate my guts."
I chuckled. Even my Kuyas gives him the death glare every time he comes over but he said he understands and the best part? He tries to be with them kahit nakatayo lang siya doon, dead silent whenever they talk about something he doesn't know.
"Sorry na," natatawa kong sabi. "Babawi nalang ako sayo mamaya. Okay?"
Hindi na siya sumagot. Nagpaalam na ako sa kanya dahil hinahanap na ako nila Astra dahil may problema raw si Irene.
I sighed for the infinite time habang nakikinig sa rants ni Irene tungkol sa kaniyang boyfriend. Ilang months na sila pero hindi pa sila official tapos ay nahuli niya ito na may kasama sa bar na babae. I can't keep track with what she's saying dahil iniisip ko ang exams namin next week. I faked a smile trying to console her dahil pinapagalitan lang siya nila Paulo.
"Eh sabi na kasi sayo na babaero yun! Hindi ka naman nakikinig," Irap ni Grazielle sa kanya.
Irene just sobbed louder at mas lalong hinigpitan ang yakap sakin.
"Grace, please," Astra sighed. "Let her be sad. There's nothing wrong with it."
"Uhm no!" Grace widened her eyes. "If she only looked at the red flags she wouldn't be crying like that!"
"Maria! Last call!" The librarian shouted. Dito kasi kami palaging natambay dahil laging puno ang cafeteria tapos masyadong maingay sa coffee shop kaya hindi kami makapag-focus. Inirapan lang ni Grace si Ma'am kaya ako nalang ang humingi ng pasensya.
"Irene, suck it up! You're a Lazi, your tears shouldn't be wasted on a manipulative, low-lying, cheating, sad boy you know better than that," Paulo said, inabutan niya ito ng ice cream at tissue.
"It's hard to let him go kasi eh!" Irene shouted.
The librarian rang the bell again. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil isang bell na lang mapapa-alis na kami dito.
"Irene," hinarap ko siya sa akin at pinunasan ang luha niya. "I know it's hard pero it's your choice if you want to stoop that low or know your worth and step up."
Irene gave a bitter laugh. Her brows creased. "Stoop low?" she mimicked. "Eh wala ngang nanliligaw sayo!"
I stiffened when she yelled. My lips trembled in fear. I stopped my breath. Bakit sa akin nagalit siya? Napatingin ako kaila Grace na nasa tapat ko ang mga mata nila nanlaki sa pag-sigaw ni Irene. Agad siyang tumayo at hinila ako sa likod niya.
"Don't shout at Atalia! It's not her fault na tanga ka pumili ng lalaki. Atleast siya wala mang manliligaw pero hindi siya tanga pumili!"
Pinagtitinginan kami ng lahat ng estudyante. The librarian's already telling us to leave pero hindi pa ata nila balak iyon. Pinunasan ni Astra ang luha ko habang pinipigilan ni Paulo ang pagtatalo si Grazielle at Irene.
"Oh yeah?" Irene faked a laugh. She placed her hands on her hips. "Si Toby lang naman nagtitiis dyan eh! He only likes her para mag-merge ang DFE and Larena Inc.! Everyone in Siquijor knows that!" Sigaw niya muli at kinuha ang bag bago umalis sa library.
