Wakas III

Isaiah’s Point of View 

"Dude, yung crush mo ‘yon ‘di ba?" bulong ni Mateo.

I glance at the group of girls coming our way, they sit on the couch near us. One of them caught my attention, it's her again, the only woman that caught my attention. I didn't respond to Mateo, nanatili akong nakaupo roon habang pasimpleng nakatanaw sakaniya. But damn, hindi nakakatulong ang ingay ni Paul at Davis.

"Sino bang type mo dyan, bro?" Paul asked, he's not yet wasted, they are in their usual self, mahilig mangolekta ng babae.

I shoot dagger-like stares at them but it seems like they didn't even care. I don't know why we ended up being friends, si Mateo ang pinakamalapit sa’kin at nakilala ko lang si Paul at Davis nitong college na. Nakakasundo ko sila sa ibang bagay pero pagdating sa trip nilang manggago ng mga babae, iwas ako sa gano’n. I even stopped them but they didn't listen to me.

"Yung naka black, pare, yung labas yung likod. Kaso.. mukhang masungit, e. Baka hindi ako pansinin nyan,” Davis said, he looks nervous.

That's Treia, si Treia yung babaeng tinutukoy niya. I laughed in my mind, hindi ka talaga papansinin nyan. Ako nga, hindi tumalab.. Ikaw pa kaya? Paul gave him advices on how to win a girl's heart. Hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang pagkabahala dahil sa plano nila. I cannot let them hurt the girl that I love, kahit pa kagat ng langgam lang 'yan, magkakamatayan kami.

"Dude, kahit anong sungit nyan, bibigay rin 'yan. Kailangan cool ka lang, 'wag mong ipahalata na gustong gusto mo siya dahil kapag nahalata niya ‘yan, wala na bro, olats na!" Paul said before drinking the remaining liquor on his glass.

Hindi ko na kaya pang pakinggan ang mga sinasabi nila. I stood up and walk my way up to the smoking area. Narinig ko pa ang pagtawag ni Mateo pero hindi ko ito nilingon. I'm expecting Treia to notice me but she didn't even glance at my way. Wala masyadong tao sa smoking area kaya roon na muna ako tumambay. I already quit smoking years ago, thanks to her.

I sat on the long chair and lean my head at the back of it. Pumikit din ako para magpahinga, it's been a tiring day because of exams, kung hindi pa 'ko pinilit ni Mateo na sumama ngayon, hindi ko pa makikita si Treia. I should thank him for that.

After few minutes, I heard someone opening the glass door. I didn't bother to open my eyes, nanatili itong nakapikit at hindi na inalam kung sinong pumasok.

"Nagkayayaan mag bar sila Ken, ihahatid naman ako ni Mads pauwi don't worry."

I gulped the moment I heard that voice. That is her voice, hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. Naramdaman kong umupo siya sa tabi ko, the distance between us isn't helping, alam kong medyo malayo pa kami but this is the third time we've become this near.

Gusto kong matawa nang marinig sa kabilang linya ang sigaw ng kapatid niya, mabuti at napigilan ko. I just listened to them while my eyes are still close. I never knew she has sense of humor, akala ko parati lang siyang seryoso at hindi nagbibiro. Naramdaman kong gumalaw ng konti ang upuan, sumandal din yata siya. I badly want to open my eyes but I stopped myself from doing that, ayokong makita siya dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang iaakto ko sa harap niya.

Nakilala niya kaya ako? I hope so.. It's getting a little harder not to open my eyes, ramdam kong tinitingnan niya 'ko ngayon, wala naman akong magawa kundi manatiling nakapikit dahil baka malaman niyang alam ko ang ginagawa niya. Somehow, I feel happy. She's paying attention to me now, improving na ba 'ko?

After few minutes, I heard her coughing. I was eager to open my eyes so I did. She's coughing intentionally to get the attention of the other man standing on the side, naninigarilyo ito at lahat ng usok ay napupunta sa banda namin. She doesn't like the smell of smoke coming from the cigarette, alam kong gusto niya lang patigilin yung lalaki kaya nag fake cough siya and she get what she wants. The guy throw his cigarette on the floor, stepped on it before he went out of the smoking area.

I closed my eyes immediately after that, I don't want to see her eyes, baka manlambot ako bigla rito.

"Ang baho, amoy usok, nakakainis!" she ranted.

She stood up, I heard her footsteps.. Teka, aalis na ba siya? No way, I want to talk to her. I think of right words to say para manatili pa siya rito at kausapin ako.

"This is a smoking area, miss. Kung ayaw mong maka-amoy ng usok, then this place isn't yours. You shouldn't be here..” shit. Fucking shit!

I think I picked the wrong words, hindi siya nagsalita at narinig ko nalang ang pagsara ng glass door. I shouldn't said that, mas lumabo yata ang tiyansang mapansin niya 'ko.

Bumalik ako sa table namin, she noticed me. She looks irritated because of me, mas lalo tuloy akong nainis sa inasta ko. My friends aren't helping, Davis stood up and offered her a glass of liquor. I looked away, I know she wouldn't accept his offer.. But I guess I'm wrong, napatingin ako sakanila nang maghiyawan ang mga kaibigan ko. She fucking took the glass, they fucking shook hands! I saw her glance at me so I shot my brow up and looked away.

"Bro, easy ka lang. Baka mabasag mo 'yang baso..” Mateo said mockingly, he isn't helping!

Kalaunan ay nagpasya kaming umuwi na. We are with them the whole night because my friend, Paul, is hitting on one of her friend, Kendall, she's one of our schoolmate. I gazed at her the whole time, she's standing next to her friend while waiting outside the hotel. She looks tired..