Chapter 3

"Sino 'yon?!"

Inilayo ko agad ang mukha ni Inna sa' kin nang sugudin niya ako pagkabili nila ng pagkain ni Yzza. Pinaypayan ko ang mukha ko gamit ang dalawa kong kamay.

"Is that a fling?" Yzza smiled widely.

Mabilis ko siyang kinunotan ng noo. "Of course not."

Wala naman kaming ginagawa! Why would they think that Joaquin's my fling? And they knew I never engaged in that kind of thing with anyone! I put my hands in front to tell them that I don't want to talk about it.

Tumahimik naman na sila pero ang nga tingin, gano'n pa rin! Parang hindi naniniwala sa nga sinasabi ko kaya mahina kong hinampas ang lamesa.

"Alam ko kung anong iniisip n'yo. Tigilan n'yo ko. I'm not lying, okay?" I made it clear.

"Okay lang. Just get your thing watered. We're happy for you," Yzza teased more.

Nahilot ko ang sentido ko. Binilisan ko ang pagkain para maiwan ko na sila ro'n. Hindi ko na kaya ang mga sinasabi nila. Bakit ba hindi sila naniniwala sa' kin?!

Padabog akong lumabas ng canteen. I stopped walking when a thought came up on my mind. What if magkaroon nga ako ng crush kay Joaquin dahil sa kakapilit nila?! Mabilis akong napailing. No!

I heard Zea and Inna calling for me but I didn't look back. They were laughing. They just want to insist their judgement about me and Joaquin! Nakaka-stress sila!

Umikot ako sa mas malayong daan para hindi ko sila makasabay sa paglalakad. Ang init pa kaya mas binilisan ko. While walking, I saw Joaquin talking with a woman. Nasa gilid sila ng isang building. Lalagpasan ko na sana sila nang marinig ko kung anong pinag-uusapan nila.

"I.. uhm, really like you for so long," the woman confessed.

My lips parted and take a step back so I could continue hearing their conversation. Nagtago ako sa puno malapit sa kanila. Wala naman akong pakialam but I thought it would be interesting to hear them.

Joaquin scratched the back of his head a little. "Ano kasi.." He didn't know what to say.

I clicked my tounge. Is he going to reject her? Hinawi ko ang buhok ko at mas tinignan silang mabuti. What could be his reason to turn that woman down? Ah, whatever. I don't need to know that.

Balak ko na sanang umalis nang biglang tumunog ang phone ko. My eyes widened when Joaquin heard that, causing him to look at me with his brows furrowed. Nagmadali kong pinatay ang tawag ni Inna at patay malisyang umalis sa likod ng puno.

Joaquin raised his brows at me so I cleared my throat and tried to pass by them but he grabbed my arm. Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at tiningala siya.

"Let me go, dumbass," I mouthed.

I looked at the woman who was staring at me. I wanted to move away from Joaquin but his arm was draped on my shoulder tightly. Pasimple ko siyang siniko pero hindi pa rin niya ako pinakawalan.

"Who is she?" I could hear the crack on the woman's voice.

I awkwardly smiled at her. "Listen, you two can continue on talking. I'll go-" Joaquin pulled me more to him. I glared at him. "What are you doing?" I whispered but he didn't answer me.

"I'm sorry but my girlfriend and I have to leave now," he said to the woman before dragging me with him.

Huminto agad ako sa paglalakad at humiwalay kay Joaquin nang makalayo kami sa babae. Did he just introduce me as his damn girlfriend? I couldn't believe he drag me with his lie!

I inhaled a large amount of air. He was only staring at me, waiting for me to burst my frustration at him but I didn't do that. I still have class. Wala akong oras sa kanya ngayon.

"Okay, that's enough for today," pagtitimpi ko bago siya tinalikuran pero sinundan pa rin niya ako.

"Sorry," sabi niya sa gilid ko.

Hindi ko 'yon pinansin at nilabas na lang ang phone ko nang mag-vibrate 'yon.

Inna:

Asan ka? Vacant daw tayo hanggang sa next class may meeting sa faculty

I stopped from walking after reading that. Wala ng klase hanggang mamaya? Ano namang gagawin ko rito? Hindi naman nagpapalabas ang guard hanggat hindi pa lunch break.

"May problema ba?" Huminto rin si Joaquin.

"Ikaw," m*****a kong sagot.

He covered my head with his right hand like it was enough to protect me from the sunlight. "Sorry na nga, e."

"Sorry na nga, e," I mimicked him.

He chuckled because of that. "Bakit ka nagtatago sa likod ng puno? Nakikinig ka?" tanong niya, nakataas ang dalawang kilay.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "No. Why would I do that? I was just.. trying to get some fresh air, you know?"

Tumango-tango siya. "Ah, sige."

"Totoo nga!" I continued on defending myself.

"Oo nga," napipilitan niyang sagot, halatang hindi naniniwala.

Pumunta kami roon sa mini 'forest' ng University at umupo sa upuan na nasa ilalim ng puno. I leaned on the chair while he was crossing his arms. Humahangin na ng malakas kaya may mga nalalaglag na dahon ng puno.

"Seryoso mo naman," natatawang sabi ni Joaquin.

"Ikaw lang naman ang hindi," nakairap kong sagot.

Tumayo siyang bigla at pumamulsa sa harap ko. Akala ko aalis na siya pero sinenyasan niya akong tumayo rin. I scoffed. Ayoko. Inalis ko ang tingin ko sa kanya at nag-kunwaring busy sa pagtingin sa mga dahon sa paanan ko.

"Tara sa labas?" aya niya.

I raised a brow. "Are you asking me to cut classes with you?"

Umirap siya. "Vacant lahat ngayon."

"The guard will not allow us to go outside."

"Hindi 'yan!"

I stared at him for a moment before I decided to go with him. It was boring to stay here alone.  He smiled when I stood up. Nilagay ko ang nga kamay ko sa likuran ko at sumabay sa paglalakad sa kanya palabas. Feeling ko nga binabagalan niyang maglakad so I could keep up with him.

"Kuya!" tawag niya sa guard na nagbabantay nang makarating kami malapit sa gate.

"Kuya mo?" bulong ko.

He flicked my forehead a bit. "Hindi." Tumawa siya.

Oh okay. I let him talked to the guard. Siya naman ang may gusto nito. Tumalikod ako habang nakikipag-usap pa si Joaquin. May ilan ng mga estudyante ang naghihintay din na makalabas. I faked my cough when some of them looked at me.

Why are they looking at me like I was doing an illegal thing? I'm not the one who's talking with the guard!

"Kiela, let's go." Joaquin grabbed my wrist nang matapos siyang kausapin ang guard.

"What did you say to him?" nagtatakang tanong ko nang makalabas na kami sa University.

"Sabi ko may date tayo," sagot niya.

I hit his arm. "Are you serious?!"

He laughed. "Joke lang!"

"E, ano ngang sinabi mo? Bakit tayo lang pinalabas?"

"Wala. Tropa ko kasi 'yon." Tumawa ulit siya.

Hindi ko na siya kinulit dahil wala naman ata akong makukuhang matinong sagot mula sa kanya. I went inside his car when he open its door for me. Hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta.

I put my seatbelt on. "Where are we going? Is this kidnapping?"

He urged himself not to roll his eyes. "Kusa kang sumama sa' kin. Tanan 'to," biro niya.

Akma ko na sana siyang hahampasin pero kinuha niya ang kamay ko kaya napigilan ako. I glared at him at binawi ang kamay ko mula sa kanya. He shook his head before starting the engine of his car.

Pamilyar pa naman ang dinadaanan namin pero wala akong idea kung saan ba talaga niya balak pumunta. I glanced at him again. He was busy driving, he couldn't take his eyes off the road.

I opened the door when the car finally stopped in front of a mall. Anong ginagawa namin dito? I followed Joaquin when he went inside.

"Where do you want to eat?" he asked.

"Did we go here just to eat?" I was confused.

"Bakit? Ano bang iniisip mo na gagawin natin?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Wala! I mean, why here? We have to go back before 1 PM."

"Maaga pa. Kaya 'yan," pagpapalakas niya ng loob sa 'kin. "Saan mo nga gusto kumain?"

I looked around. "I don't want to eat rice."

"Tara sa shake house." Kinuha niya ulit ang palapulsuhan ko.

Naghanap ako ng available na table para sa amin habang nasa counter siya, umoorder ng shake. He slid my drink over the table when he came back before sitting in front of me.

I opened my phone to see if any of my classmates send a chat on our GC regarding the changes in our class schedule for today. Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Joaquin nang tumikhim siya.

"Is there a problem?"

Umiling siya. "May susundo sa inyo mamaya?"

"Meron. Why?"

He cleared his throat. "Nothing."

I tilted my head. "Do you want to drive me home, is that it?"

"Hindi. Bakit, crush ba kita?"

I scoffed. "I'm just asking. I didn't say you have a crush on me."

He laughed before he sipped on his drink. Nag-stay kami room sa shake house hanggang sa maubos ang mga iniinom namin.

"You paid for this, right?" I raised the cup of my shake. He nodded so I gestured him to wait. "How much is this?"

"H'wag na," tanggi niya nang makitang binuksan ko ang wallet ko.

"Anong h'wag na? Are you a sugar daddy?" I asked sarcastically.

"Pass sa sugar daddy," sagot niya. "Sugar baby mo pwede," he mocked.

I threw a tissue on his face. "Just let me pay for my drink."

"Ayoko. Next time na lang. Libre mo rin ako." He smiled.

He was thinking that there's a next time, huh? Okay, fine. I gave him a nod and grabbed my bag. I stood up so he followed me, nasa likuran ko siya. Nangunot ang noo ko nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang mga balikat ko mula sa likod habang naglalakad kami.

"Meron ka ba ngayon?" bulong niya.

I looked at him sideways. "Ano?"

"You have a stain in your skirt," he informed me.

My eyes widened. Right! I forgot that today's the day! I bit my lip, feeling embarrassed. Joaquin continued on pushing my shoulder from the back so he could cover me.

"Fuck," I whispered while we were walking towards the mall's restroom.

"Do you have pads?"

"I have but I don't have extra undies," humina ang boses ko dahil sa hiya.

"Sige, bibili ako," sagot niya.

I nodded before going inside the woman's restroom. Pumasok agad ako sa isa sa mga cubicles para linisan ang sarili ko. Bahagya kong binuksan ang pinto nang may kumatok pagkatapos ng ilang minuto.

"Ate, pinabibigay po ng lalaki labas." Inabot ng batang babae na sa tingin ko ay high school student ang isang brown paper bag.

"Uh, thank you." Awkward akong ngumiti bago ulit sinarado ang pinto.

I stayed inside the cubicle for almost 15 minutes. I washed my hands and wiped it with tissue at lumabas na pagkatapos. Nakita ko si Joaquin na nakatayo sa labas, hawak ang isang strap ng bag niya.

Lumapit siya sa' kin nang makita ako. "Okay na?"

Nahihiya akong tumango. "Yes. Thank you."

Napatango siya nang bahagya. "Balik na tayo?"

I only did a nod. I didn't know how to talk to him properly now! I was really embarrassed. He even bought panties for me! Oh my god.

Mas tumahimik ata ako nang makarating kami sa sasakyan niya. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano ako magsasalita ngayon! I feel so awkward! Nagkunwari akong may ka-text para hindi niya ako kausapin.

"Do you use your phone like that?" He was looking at my hands.

Doon ko lang napansin na baligtad ang pagkakahawak ko sa cellphone. I bit the insides of my cheeks. How many times should I embarrass myself in front of him? I hate this day!

"Hindi," simpleng sagot ko.

He put his right hand on the steering wheel. "Galit ka ba?"

"Hindi." I still didn't look at him.

"Bakit ayaw mo 'kong kausapin? Galit ka-"

"I'm embarrassed, okay?!" I confessed, nakatingin na sa kanya ngayon.

His lips parted and then slowly formed a smile. He stared at me, amused with the reaction I just made. Mas lalo akong nahihiya dahil sa tingin niya!

I blew on my cheeks and pretended to look at the road. "Drive now. Stop looking at me."

Joaquin smiled. "Cute mo."

---