Chapter 12

I told Krisa the truth and I don't know, but I know she's a little disappointed that I keep her out of what was happening in my life. She's my best friend and knew it all, but the fact that I hid this from her, I know it was a mistake. She didn't say a word after it, but I know, based on her reaction she doesn't like it.

Bwisit kasi na Griffin 'yon. Hindi naman kami magkakaalitan ni Krisa kung hindi dahil sa kanya.

Pinaliwanag ko rin naman kay Krisa ang side ko. At kung bakit ko nga ba ginawa 'yon. I'm not sure if she's believing it, but I know she's hesitating to believe what I've explained to her.

And today at class, I still haven't see her. She's not accepting my calls or messages. I thought about going to her apartment, but if she needed some space, I will let her have it and once she's ready to talk to me again, that would be an ideal thing to happen.

When my morning classes ended and I went to the cafeteria to grab some lunch, naabutan ko ro'n si Krisa na kakapila pa lamang. Agad naman akong dumiretsyo papunta sa kinaroroonan niya. Nagulat pa ito nang kalabitin ko siya at hindi niya inaasahan na makikita pa ako.

"Hindi ka nagre-reply?" taka kong tanong sa kanya.

"Busy, girl!" sagot niya sa akin. "Kaya nga hindi ako nakapasok kanina dahil may emergency."

"Oh? Ano 'yon?"

"Family emergency," aniya. "But all good na naman. You don't have to worry about it."

"I see... but it's nice to know that. Mabuti na lang din ay wala tayong quizzes kanina sa mga subject natin kanina."

"Buti nga," aniya sabay ngiwi.

Nang marating namin ang counter at um-order ng lunch namin, inayos ang pagkain sa aming tray at naghanap ng mauupuan. I also noticed that Griffin and his friends aren't on their usual table, but I saw Chiena around on the other table with her girl friends.

Nagkaroon naman ako ng ideya na sa table na 'yon kami umupo ni Krisa. Pinigilan niya pa ako at first, pero hindi naman ako nagpapigil din at nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad sa direksyon na kinaroroonan ng table nila.

It was vacant--already waiting for Griffin's arrival. Walang may gustong umupo since they knew if they will take advantage of the vacancy, something bad will happen to them later. Not sure kung ano iyon, but I'm quite certain that Griffin and his friends don't bring good stuff.

Umupo ako na walang pakialam sa mga taong nakatingin sa akin. Even Krisa doesn't want to sit with me, pero ako na mismo ang naghatak sa kanya na umupo sa table.

"Ano ba tong ginagawa mo?" tanong ni Krisa sa akin.

I shrugged off. "Wala naman? We're just here to have our lunch, 'di ba? Anong big deal do'n?"

"Huh?" she wondered. "Hindi mo ba nakikita na halos silang lahat ay nakatingin sa atin? Because they all knew that this table is for someone who they don't want to come up against with. Ayoko ring mangyari 'yon, Aneesa. We should just look for another table."

"Walang vacant," sagot ko sa kanya nang lumingon ako sa paligid.

"Aneesa..." bulong pa nito sa akin.

Pero hindi ko na siya pinansin at nagsimula na akong kumain. I know there are still eyes on me and they all be looking at me na akala mo ba may ginawa ng masama. 

And just a little while, may lumapit sa table namin at nang iangat ko ang tingin ko para kilalanin kung sino 'yon. I wasn't surprised to see Chienna in front of me.

I smiled at her while she's giving me a slight smile on her face.

"Hello," pagbati ko sa kanya. "How can I help you? Do you need anything?"

"Uh... not me, but someone else," she said. "Griffin and his friends are coming in to the cafeteria in a few minutes and you are sitting on their table. You know what... no one dares to sit here and you're the first one I've seen who did that. But please, go find some other table and you can finish your lunch there."

"I can finish my lunch here," sagot ko pa sa kanya. "And I don't see them around yet, so why would I leave the table? And would you please leave us alone? We're having a peaceful lunch."

Napangisi naman si Chienna at napailing ito. "You're a crazy woman. You wouldn't like when Griffin saw you sitting on their table."

I shrugged off as I didn't really mind the consequences of it. 

When I look at Krisa, it looks like she was about to leave me alone on the table. Pero hindi niya iyon ginawa. While I'm in the middle of my lunch, the most awaiting person inside the cafeteria arrived.

At this moment, nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nila sa akin at sa paparating na si Griffin. As they headed towards our table, muli akong binulungan ni Krisa na umalis na kami, but I stayed and continue what I was doing.

"You guys are on our table," Griffin announced as soon as he got into the table.

I look at him. "This table doesn't have your name..."

Umigting lamang ang panga ni Griffin.

"We're about to go," Krisa said. "Sorry..." She immediately picked up her food and she grabbed me as well. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ay kinuha ko na rin ang pagkain ko, but before I could pass by them, binangga ko si Griffin at sinadya kong itapon sa kanya ang natitira kong pagkain.

"Bruha ka!" sigaw ni Chienna.

She was about to come at me pero mabilis siyang pinigilan Griffin. Krisa just pulled me out of the cafeteria and once we're out, she looked straight in my eyes.

"That was a dumb thing to do, Aneesa," she said, shaking her head.

And before I could give an explanation to her, tinalikuran na niya ako at hindi na hinintay pa kung anong ipapaliwanag ko. 

Napasinghal na lamang ako. Alam kong wala akong ginawang masama kung hindi ang gawin lang ang dapat. It's my way to pay for what he had done and I know I can make it up to Krisa once again.

I just have to settle this quarrel with Griffin.