Krisa still don't have an idea about what happened between me and Griffin. I think it would be good if it stays that way dahil kung hindi, it would be chaos.

Though I feel I'm on a good situation now. I don't need to stress this one out. Ako lang din naman nag-iisip ng kung ano-ano. I'm only just making the worst situation inside my head. I shouldn't overthink these outcomes.

Griffin possibly don't even remember my name.

"May pupuntahan ka ba mamaya, Krisa?"

"Hmm..." Nag-isip pa ito bago ako sagutin. "Wala naman. Dapat pupunta ako mamaya sa isang food place pero bukas pa pala promo nila so I'm free today. Bakit naman? May pupuntahan ka ba?"

Tumango ako. "Meron. Samahan mo ako. May bibilhin lang akong damit."

"Oooh! May date ka na naman ba? Matutuloy na ba ang date niyo ni Caleb?" pang-aasar pa nito sa akin.

"Mukha mo, Krisa. Hindi ko nga alam hitsura no'n, e. Basta na lang nag-iiwan ng kung ano-ano sa locker mo. And the fact that we never got him is kind of suspicious."

"Hm..." Napaisip si Krisa. "Feeling ko si Dean iyong secret admirer mo. Dean Lister ka, 'di ba? Kaya siguro hindi ka naaalis sa DL kasi bet ka ni Dean?"

"Hoy! Gaga ka bibig mo. Walang gano'n 'no," pagdepensa ko pa. "Sa tingin ko ka-year level lang din natin siya. Why don't we plan some time para malaman natin kung sino 'yon."

"But if we caught someone there, sa tingin mo ba siya 'yon o baka naman ibang tao na inutusan niya?"

Napabuntonghininga ako sa sinabi niya. "You're right. That could be a reason as well. Hayaan mo na nga muna. We should get going na."

"Daan muna tayo sa locker mo," excited nitong suhestiyon. "Baka may iniwan na naman si Caleb sa 'yo."

"Let' see..."

Tinungo naman namin ang hallway kung nasaan ang lokasyon ng locker ko. Dahan-dahan ko pa itong binuksan. Nauna pang sinilip ni Krisa ang loob ng locker ko kaysa sa akin.

"Ay, wala," disappointed nitong tugon nang makitang walang kung ano sa loob ng locker ko.

"Wala nga..." aniko. "Baka busy siya today?"

"Tawagan mo kaya. Magkita na kayong dalawa. Sabihin mo pupunta kang mall later. Kung hindi natuloy 'yong pagkikita niyo last time, kahit mabilisang meet-up lang, why not, 'di ba?"

"He doesn't answer my calls. Ayaw niyang makilala ko siya sa boses niya so I guess he intentionally bailed on me the last time. Maybe I can text him."

Me: Hi Caleb! How are you? Are you busy today? I'll be going to the mall today and if you're around... maybe we can meet, right? We haven't had the chance to do it on the last time we agreed to do it. What do you think?

"He's not gonna come," sabi ko kay Krisa matapos kong i-send ang text. "I feel like, ga-graduate na lang tayo, hindi siya magpapakilala ng personal sa akin."

"Ang nega mo naman mag-isip, girl. Just think positive. Siguro naghahanap lang talaga 'yan ng tiyempo."

"Kung hindi niya akong kayang harapin, maybe it's the time to dump him off, right?"

"No! No! No! Masyado pang maaga," aniya. "Don't break his heart right away. We may not know his real intention is, but you're making something out of all the gifts na binibigay niya, 'di ba?"

Napakibit balikat na lang din ako. "Well, you're right..."

Saglit lang din nang makatanggap ako ng reply. Krisa was about to snatch the phone away from me.

Caleb: Hey, Aneesa. I'm sorry... I cannot make it. Maybe some time soon?

"Replyan mo bukas agad-agad."

"Hindi, 'wag na."

"E? Ano bang gusto mong mangyari?" tanong pa nito.

"Ang sabi mo nga, hayaan na lang muna natin. Let's just go to the mall na. Ayoko ring gabihin."

When we both decided to leave the campus and headed to the mall. Dumiretsyo naman kaming dalawa ni Krisa sa isang clothing store kung saan iyong tinatarget kong bilhin for the past weeks na sweatshirt ay mabibili ko na.  But as soon as we get there, we saw people taking the same sweatshirt from the rack and I know it's the only stock left in the store.

"You gotta be kidding be. Naunahan pa ako," asar kong usal.

"Sugurin mo 'yong babae."

"Bantayan na lang muna natin baka ibalik niya ro'n."

Krisa and I were hiding from the other racks while watching this girl—which when she turned into our direction, we recognized her.

"Shit, iyon 'yong girlfriend ni Griffin, 'di ba?"

And speaking of the devil, Griffin showed up and get on to his girlfriend showing her some clothes on his hand. Chienna—his girlfriend, chooses which she would buy. In the end, halos magdiwang kaming dalawa ni Krisa dahil ibinalik ni Chienna iyong sweatshirt na gusto kong bilhin at kinuha niya iyong pinakita sa kanya ni Griffin.

When they left the area, mabilis naman akong pumunta ro'n at kinuha iyon mula sa rack. Pinanood din namin iyong magjowa na pumunta sa counter. Griffin paid for the clothes she picked. Nang lumingon si Griffin sa paligid ay bigla pa kaming napatago ni Krisa dahil baka makita niya kami. Baka sabihin pa nito na sinusundan namin sila.

Nang makaalis sila ng store, sumunod kami sa cashier para bayaran iyong sweatshirt na gusto ko.

Kapag naiisip ko 'yong nangyari no'ng dinner tapos nakikita ko siyang kasama iyong girlfriend niya, I couldn't believe na kayang gawin iyon ni Griffin. Or maybe he was just making it all fun now what happened there was somewhat hilarious.

"O, 'di ba? Akala mo talaga ang sweet-sweet nila sa isa't isa pero parang sugar daddy lang ang datingan ni Griffin. Nakakatawa lang na may naririnig akong chismis sa kanya."

"Huh? Ano naman 'yon?"

"Hayaan mo na 'yon. Kain na lang muna tayo. Bet mo bang i-libre ako? Sinamahan kita rito, remember."

Napasinghal naman ako sa kanya. "O, tara na."

But then when we left the clothing store, nakikita namin sina Griffin at Chienna kaya panay iwas kami ni Krisa para hindi kami makita nito. We were really trying not to get caught. But as if he would remember my face. Ni hindi nga niya ako kilala no'ng bigla siyang sumulpot sa bahay so I guess it doesn't matter anymore.

But what if he remembers me? Kakaloka.