Chapter 8

Proposal

Bigla na lang akong may naramdaman na malamig na dumikit sa pisngi ko. And I almost jumped from my seat. It's cold... Pagtingin ko naman kung sino iyon ay nakita kong nakangiti na sa akin si Kalyx at pinakita niya sa akin ang dala niya.

"Strawberry chocolate frappe." Pagkatapos ay binigay niya iyon sa akin.

We were at the library. We agreed to meet here today to study. Malapit na rin kasi ang exams week. Hindi ko alam kung pwede lang ba rito sa library ang pagkain, but it's just a drink...

"You like that, right?"

Unti-unti naman akong tumango sa kaniya. I like food with strawberries in it. I also like strawberry shortcake. And with chocolate pa sa strawberry for me it's just the perfect combination. "Thank you." I thanked him.

Ngumiti lang naman sa akin si Kalyx at nagbukas na ng libro. I also noticed na mukhang pinagbubutihan na rin niya ngayon ang pag-aaral niya. I think makakabawi pa naman siya and he can also graduate on time. Basta ba ay magsipag na siya ngayon sa studies niya. At mukhang iyon naman ang ginagawa niya.

Paglabas naman namin ng library ay nakasalubong namin sina Bianca at Kassie. Masama agad ang tingin ni Bianca kay Kalyx na kasama ko. While Kassie chose to just check on me.

"Hi, Rin. You're probably reviewing for the exams?"

Tumango ako kay Kassie. "Uh, yes. Kayo rin?" Tumingin ako kay Bianca at nakita kong bahagya na lang siyang nagbuntong-hininga.

Pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na rin sila sa aking tutuloy na sa loob ng library.

At pagkaalis nina Bianca ay nakita ko namang mukhang bahagyang tumawa si Kalyx. "I really don't get Bianca. She's still mad at me for something from years ago?" Napailing din siya.

Nalaman ko na rin iyong dati tungkol sa kay Kalyx at iyong naging kaibigan din ni Bianca sa first year pa...

Kalyx looked at me. "Anyway, I think I didn't know that you're a friend to Bianca." He said.

Tumango naman ako. "Oo, noong high school pa."

Nakita ko namang bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Kalyx. "Really? Did we come from the same high school? I didn't notice..." Tumingin siya muli sa akin.

"Uh, ako rin parang hindi rin kita nakita dati... At isa pa hindi lang din si Bianca ang friends ko..." And back in high school I was mostly always with Janine and Ethan than I was with Bianca and the others.

And Bianca also has a lot of friends. She's friendly.

"Ihahatid na kita sa inyo..." Kalyx offered after. At tapos na rin kaming mag-study. It's time to go home...

Umiling naman ako sa kaniya. "Hindi na, papunta na rin ang driver..." sabi ko naman. Palaging hatid-sundo lang ako ng driver namin. Hindi rin kasi ako masyadong pinapayagan ni Mommy na mag-drive.

Si Ethan lang din dati ang nakapagturo sa akin ng driving. At dati ay hinahatid at sinusundo rin ako madalas ni Ethan, but now ang driver na lang namin ang palaging naghahatid-sundo sa akin sa university.

Tumango na rin si Kalyx sa akin pagkatapos.

One time Henry called for us to meet. He's like Ethan's best friend. He was also our class president back then. Henry excelled in both academic and sports. He's also talented and he knows dancing and singing. May skills din siya sa arts. And he's a good guy. Also good looking, too. He was like the leader of our group of friends in high school.

"What's up, Ry?"

Tumingin ako kay Bianca na lumapit na agad kay Henry pagdating namin sa pinagkitaan.

I don't know if it's really over between them now... But we knew that Bianca liked Henry back then...

"Ethan is planning to propose to Janine..." Henry said.

My lips parted. Tumingin din agad sa akin pareho sina Kassie at Bianca. Nag-iwas naman ako ng tingin...

Henry cleared his throat a bit. "And Ethan needs our help..."

"Is he serious?" Bianca asked.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita kong tumango na sa kaniya si Henry.

"Hello, guys!" Kakarating lang naman ni Echo. He's a little late.

"You're late, Jericho!" sabi naman ni Kassie sa kaniya.

"Sorry, had to do something first. So, what's this meeting about?"

Sinabi na rin sa kaniya ni Henry ang tungkol sa plano ni Ethan na pag-p-propose ng kasal kay Janine...

"All right!" Echo sounded excited.

Bahagya naman siyang binatukan ni Kassie. They're like siblings since high school.

Echo didn't mind what Kassie did just now.

And then we all agreed to help Ethan surprise Janine with his proposal...

I helped with the planning until the end... And I was there too on the day that Ethan proposed to Janine.

Napunta ang kamay ni Janine sa labi niya habang nakita na niya ang singsing na nilahad ni Ethan sa harapan niya. Nakita kong nakangiting tumayo na si Ethan mula sa pagkakaluhod niya kanina at sinuot na rin kay Janine ang singsing...

Janine then hugged Ethan.

She just said yes to him.

I was standing there and just watching them. They looked happy. And I wanted to be happy for them, too. Pero tahimik akong tumalikod at tapos na naman. It was successful. Janine was happy with Ethan's surprise. At baka nga magpakasal na rin silang dalawa after graduation...

I was feeling confused...and maybe a little hurt, too—I don't know why... But I need to go out, at magpahangin na muna siguro sa labas.

Pero sinundan naman ako nina Bianca at Kassie pagkaalis ko roon.

"What are you doing, Rina?" Hinawakan ako ni Bianca sa siko para pigilang umalis.

Bumaling naman ako sa kanila ni Kassie na sumunod sa akin. I couldn't answer them, because I myself couldn't tell exactly what I was doing, too... And what I was feeling...

Bianca then sighed.

And then Kassie asked me a question, or rather she stated it. "You liked Ethan, Rin. Even before..." she said.

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya at nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya.

Kassie sighed as well. Nakatingin na rin sa kaniya si Bianca sa sinasabi niya. "At alam kong alam mo 'yan sa sarili mo... Matagal na kayong magkakilala ni Ethan. And you were very close. Dati...kahit nakikita ko pa lang kayo na magkasama, I knew it that there was something with the way you looked at each other. Noong high school pa lang tayo..."

"I think Kassandra is right, Rin..."

Tumingin na rin ako kay Bianca.

Unti-unti naman akong umiling sa kanila.

I tried to forget about that feeling... Since I've known about Janine's feelings for Ethan, too...

Winala ko na iyong nararamdaman ko sa isip ko. I told myself that it was only a crush... And crushing on someone was normal for our age.

Umiling pa akong muli. "I'm leaving, uh, tapos na rin naman tayo rito. Gabi na rin kasi at baka hinahanap na ako ni Mommy sa bahay." sabi ko sa kanila.

Both Kassie and Bianca looked at me like they feel pity on me. But they shouldn't...

I shook my head. "Let's go back inside. Magpapaalam na rin ako kanila Henry na mauuna na ako sa inyo."

At sakto rin na tinawagan na nga ako ni Manang at nagtatanong na kung nasaan na ako. And I told her na pauwi na ako as I answered my phone.

"Ihahatid na kita sa inyo, Rin." Ethan said when I put down my phone after the call with Manang.

Umiling naman ako sa kaniya. "Hindi na. Kasama ko rin naman ang driver namin. Mauuna na ako sa inyo, sorry..." I said.

Nakita ko naman na nagtanguan na rin ang mga kaibigan ko sa akin. And after that I left.

At habang nasa sasakyan na ako pauwi, I received some messages from Kalyx's social media account but I couldn't pay attention to it right now...

Hinayaan ko lang ang phone ko na tumunog ang ilang notification galing sa kaniya. And inside the car I sighed silently and I just looked out the window, pinapanood ang mga nadadaanan namin. And to calm myself down...

It's over.