Chapter 10: STOP FLIRTING
I sighed and stopped walking when I saw Carina and Sasha waved their hands in my direction like they were inviting me to sit with them. I look down at the serving tray in my hands.
We've known each other since Junior High School dahil naging magkakakaklase kami. I only met Aisha when she started working at the NeoBar, I was forteen at that time while she was 16. We instantly became friends dahil bukod sa malapit lang ang edad namin at talagang mabait siya, hindi nagbago ang pakikitungo niya sa akin kahit noong malaman niyang anak ako ni Bàba.
I was a year or two younger than my classmates because I got accelerated when I was elementary and still matino pa. And then I met Sydney. Noong nag-college si AM ay naging magkaklase sila ni Syd at naging magkaibigan, and eventually the three of us became best of friends. Carina and Sasha are my friends inside the university while Aisha and Sydney are my friends everywhere outside. They are my home friends. But since Aisha and Sydney graduated, sina Carina na ang laging nakakasama ko at normal na sa araw-araw na sa kanila ako sumasabay mag-lunch dahil sila na lang dalawa ang naglakas loob na makipag-close sa akin sa simula palang.
I was too lazy to socialize and I didn't want to get along with others so I just let myself get close to them. At first, Carina and Sasha were okay being with, it was actually fun. We get along in a lot of things. Dahil na din siguro sa estado ng mga buhay namin at mga kinahihiligang gawin kaya kami nagkakasundo gaya ng mag-bar, mag-shopping, at mag-travel kung saan-saan.
Nagsimula lang magbago ang lahat ng hiwalayan si Carina ng gago niyang ex-boyfriend para ‘daw’ sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangang may magbago sa amin, sa pakikitungo nila sa akin, because it's not my fault and I didn't want it to happen either.
I surveyed the whole place. All I can see are tables that are being occupied until my eyes land on the table that is opposite to my direction. There's only one person sitting in that seat. Her head is lowered as she eats, while her thick and black hair is hiding her face to the people around her. Halata namang mahiyain siyang tao but I didn't think that she's a loner.
“H-Hi, Mia.”
Bumaling ako sa lalaking nagsalita malapit sa akin. I don't know his name but his face is a bit familiar. Nakatayo siya malapit sa lamesa at maluwang ang pagkakangiti sa akin. Maputi siya at medyo singkit. He's not that tall but not also short, tama lang. He looks like he's joining a boyband, not exactly my type for a guy. Ang gusto ko kasi iyong mga mukhang masungit at tipong nambabalibag. Ugh! Yes, Dadii!
Char. Half char.
I saw the corner of his lips turned up as he cleared his throat when he noticed that I was scanning him. Nakita ko ang pang-aasar at pag-iling ng mga kasamahan niya sa lamesa.
“Wala ka na bang makitang libreng upuan? You can sit here with us,” he offered, gesturing his hand to the free chair beside him.
I pouted and shook my head at him, hiding my grin. The smile on his lips faded and his face turned red. Bakas ang pagkabigo sa buong mukha niya nang umiwas ng tingin sa akin. Agad na naghalakhakan ang mga kasama niya sa mesa at nagsingilan ng kanilang mga pusta. Hindi naman sila malayo sa akin kaya't kanina ko pa naririnig ang pagbubulungan nila patungkol sa akin at sa kanilang pustahan.
Napalingom ako muli sa puwesto nina Carina. Nakatingin sila sa deriksyon ko habang nakakunot ang noo na tila nagtataka kung bakit hindi pa din ako lumalapit patungo sa kanila. I bit the inside of my cheeks before I turned my back on them and started walking in the opposite direction.
“Can I sit here?” I asked and placed my tray on the table in front of her.
She stiffened. Naiwan sa ere ang kamay niya at natigil sa paggalaw. She bent down even more and was about to stand up when I grabbed her arm to stop her. She flinched at my touch.
