Bitter

Sitting under a tree, earphones plugged in, playing BTS' music, just admiring their wonderful voices...

Finally, a peaceful place.

Sana! Kaso may humatak ng earphone sa tenga ko. I glared at him. Bakit ba palagi niyang sinisira yung momentum ko?

He didn't say anything, he just handed me a carton of banana milk. Umupo siya sa tabi ko at sa kaniya niya sinalpak ang isang piece ng earphone. So we're sharing my earphones while listening to BTS. Kumunot ang noo niya.

"BTS na naman?" he said sounding irritated. You can't fool me! Nahuli kitang hype na hype sa Ddaeng! I chuckled a bit when I remember.

I continued to flip the pages of the book that I'm reading, then I sipped the banana milk he bought for us.

Fun fact about him, he's a banana milk addict. Actually, siya humingkayat sa akin na inumin ito. Since then, it became our favorite drink.

I looked at him but he's already staring. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang kunot sa noo.

"Hanggang kailan?" tanong niya sa akin

"Ha? anong hanggang kailan?" I continued to read the book.

He shake my shoulders lightly so napatingin ulit ako sa kaniya.

"Ilang oras ka na nag-babasa! Tara na, malapit na mag-time." He whined like a child.

Chineck ko kung anong oras na, and he's right. 10 minutes na lang tapos na ang lunch time so I hurriedly packed my things.

"Sinabe ko ba kaseng intayin mo ko?" bawi ko sa kaniya.

"Hindi! Bakit, masamang intayin ka?"

Ito na naman ba tayo, kalma ka lang puso, masyado ka na namang active. It's not like may meaning yung sinabe niya.

Kinuha niya sa akin ang bag ko at ang libro at kusa itong binitbit katulad ng nakasanayan. He's always been like this...

I wish he's not.

While walking, he smiled at me.

"Si Ingrid..."

I stopped the moment he said her name. Napahinto din siya.

"What about her?"

Mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti niya.

"Pumayag siyang kumain kami sa labas!" he tell me excitedly. And then all the butterflies vanished, I can only feel the lump in my throat that I tried hard to swallow.

"Oh edi maganda..." I continued to walk. I tried to smile, pero nanginginig ang aking mga labi.

"Tingin mo, may gusto din siya sa akin?" he asked anxiously.

Who wouldn't fall for you? Kahit nga ako nahulog.

"I guessed so, hindi naman siya papayag kung wala."

Hindi ko namalayan na na sa tapat na pala kami ng classroom ko. He take a peak in the inside of our classroom. Or should I say, he take a peak to Ingrid. I fake a cough to get his attention.

"Papasok na ako." He handed me my things, pagkatapos ay ginulo niya ang buhok ko.

"Okay, galingan mo ha? Fighting~" Masyado ko na ata siyang naiimpluwensyahan ng k-pop. He even gestured with his fist up. Kahit wala na ako sa mood, nagawa niya pa rin akong patawanin. How ironic.

***

"Ang swerte mo noh?" a soft voice came to my right. Ingrid.

I checked my surroundings para masiguro kung ako ba ang kausap niya. Then I turned to her again.

She nodded. " Oo, Amora. Ang swerte mo, sobrang close kayo ni Dashielle." she blushed when she said his name.

I smirked. The bitterness takes over my entire system.

"Oo naman, I'm lucky because he's always with me. Binitbit niya pa ang bag ko, how sweet diba?"

Mas ma-swerte ka, you have his heart. But I won't tell you that. Envy our friendship, kahit doon man lang, mag-selos ka sa mayroon kami.

I saw a little pain in her eyes, but she easily revive to her normal expression.

"Sinabe niya sa akin, kakain daw kayo sa labas?" I asked her. And Ingrid being the soft girl she is, nodded while blushing.

"I-inaya niya kase ako, so I said yes." I tried not to arch my brows.

"Ganiyan talaga siya sa mga gusto niyang maging 'kaibigan'. Tini-treat niya" I emphasis the word 'kaibigan' to ruin her hopes. Call me kontrabida but this is me. I can't help it.

Before she could speak, nag salita na agad ako.

"I remember when he treat me in a fancy restaurant. The price was expensive, but he told me that's fine. Siya na daw ang mag-babayad since masyadong daw akong espesyal sa kaniya."

It's true that he treat me in a high-end restaurant, but I exaggerated my story a bit.

Her eyes drop down low, I flipped my hair then turn back to our teacher who's lecturing.

I'm sorry Ingrid, hindi pwedeng maging kayo.