Chapter 4

continue...

Lia's POV:

Umattend ako ng basketball match, kung saan kasali si Ethan it's just a match within the Campus' teams. Kendra and I both cheered since magka team si Ethan at ang boyfriend niya. Maliban sa amin marami ang dumalo at nakikinood. Maingay ang loob ng gymnasium since parehong magaling ang kapwa teams. 

"Go Ethan... Wahhh Team Pol Sci fighting." "Babe Go!" "Team Med Dept for the win" "JB Go" "Anton Go" So on and so forth, iba iba yung cheer. It went wild for few minutes with heavy cheers and the close points. 

To cut it short Team Pol Sci wins which is our department.

"I'll go to Fernan, wanna go with me?" Tanong ni Kendra sa akin, Fernan is her BF. 

"Dito na lang ako, aantayin ko na lang si Ethan, uuwi na rin kami eh." I responded, she nodded and left me. 

Nakita kong kanya kanyang offer ang mga babae ng face towel, water, energy drink and etc sa mga players specially kay Ethan. Napahawak ako sa energy drink na dala ko, this is the only brand Ethan used to drink after game, may dala na rin akong towel. Gustohin ko mang sumiksik at ipagdiinan ang sarili ko na I can be as passionate liking Ethan na gagawa ng paraan mapansin niya pero hindi ko magawa. Lagi naman niya akong napapansin and I don't have any idea to upgrade such strategy para mapansin niya na gusto ko siya not just a friend he is always with but more than that. 

Nagmamasid lang ako. He took those bottled water, drinks and shared it to his team that went fine not until nakita ko si Hannah the school's Ace, beauty and brain. She handed Ethan a bottle of the same brand I used to gave him which I also have now. Ethan swiftly received it and even drank it, which he usually never do. Not for once he drank bottled water nor any drinks given by someone other than me. Sobra akong nanliit feeling ko mag di disappear ako in a second. Aaminin ko binalot ako ng insecurities ko.

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"Let's go!" I was spacing out for a minute not until I heard Ethan's voice. 

"Ah Yeah!" tumayo na ako sa bleacher na kinauupoan ko, nauna akong maglakad ng hablutin ni Ethan ang dala kong drink kanina. "Oh!" Nagulat kong saad. Inakbayan niya ako. 

"We won todays match, I haven't heard anything from you yet." Bulong niya sa teynga ko. Ramdam ko yung kilabot sa batok ko.

"Hmm.. Congrats!!" Saad ko. He smiled genuinely sabay pat sa head ko.

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Another day came and it's weekend, both our families decided to have a weekend night together sa bahay nila Ethan, we will have a simple dinner. Nag-uumpisa na kaming maghapunan sa mahabang dining table na nakalagay sa gilid ng pool, maganda yung view. 

"I really miss this kind of bond in our family." Ethan's Mom said. 

"Me too, kung hindi lang tayo busy baka nag out of town man lang tayo." Mom said. 

"Arnulfo, how was your business doing?" Tanong ng Dad ni Ethan. 

"Well Harold I'm thankful it's doing so well, I heard you plan to build another branch of your hotel. Congrats." Saad ni Dad. They continue talks about their own matters, pero hindi na ako nag-abalang makinig. Magsimula na sana akong kumain nang- 

"Have this." Ethan took my plate and exchange it with his kung saan naka sliced na yung meat. Napangiti ako, ewan ko sanay na sanay akong inaalagaan at mas spoiled ako masyado ng dahil sa kanya. I took a bite and smile while looking at him being thankful. "Good, eat well!" He said while caressing the back of my head. 

"Owwwshiiiii!!" Our gaze landed on Kuya Lio. 

"Did you see that dude?" He's asking Kuya Edward. 

"Yes! That was smooth" Kuya Edward responded. 

"What's wrong?" Magkasabay na tanong ng mga parents namin. 

"Dad, haven't you thought about merging our company with Uncle?" Kuya Edward asked their Dad. 

"We plan that." Simpleng sagot ni Uncle. 

"Yes, but we are still discussing things." saad ng Dad ko. 

"Why did you ask?" Uncle asked Kuya Edward. 

"Nothing just thinking if merging business includes marrying each other's child to make bond. Hindi naman siguro ito mahirap, you know I see my brother and Lia a potential." Nabulonan ako dahil sa sinabi niya, Ethan immediately handed me a glass of water. Ininom ko naman agad yung baso ng tubig. 

"Kuya!" Ethan called Kuya Edward's attention na tila naiirita sa inaasta ng kapatid nito. I don't know I just feel rejected the way he reacted. 

"Well I'll approve as Lia's brother if that will happen seeing how Ethan takes good care of her." Isa pang ang sarap ibaon sa lupa. 

"They are too young for that so called marriage but I can see that's a good idea too." Uncle said. 

"If that's Ethan I won't say no." Daddy said. 

"Woah kids are you up for this?" Sabay na tanong ng Mommies namin. 

"Mom-Dad pwede ba huwag kayong magpaniwala kay Kuya Lio at Kuya Edward. Para na rin kaming magkapatid ni Ethan. Eh parang mas kapatid ko pa nga si Ethan kay sa kay Kuya Lio eh." Agad kong saad para depensahan ang sarili sa kahihiyan. "Kumain ka na lang." Bulong ni Ethan na saktong ako lang ang makakarinig.

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Papunta na ako ng Cafeteria, mag-isa lang akong naglalakad since Kendra will have lunch with Fernan. Sinasabay ko na ang pagtetext kay Ethan na sabay kami mag lunch pero sa Cafeteria na lang kami magkita, wala pang isang minuto nag reply siya. Yeah, he never ignores my messages though, not even once. But I pouted when his response is 

"I can't have lunch with you today, I need to help a student, one of our Prof asked. Let's meet after school." We always go home ng sabay, nakikisakay ako sa kotse niya eh. 

Naglakad ako ng tuloyan pero nang mapansin ang dalawang pamilyar na tao na nakatayo sa gitna ng hallway, huminto ako sa kakalakad at nagtago sa gilid ng wall. 

"How about let's have lunch first?" Tanong ni Hannah, the pretty and brainy girl in school . 

"Sure, I know a coffee shop that serves meals too, walking distance lang dito sa school. Shall we?" Saad ni Ethan. Yes its Ethan and here I am -- I feel betrayed, jealous and hurt but I don't have the right, RIGHT? 

Babalik sana ako sa dinaanan ko kanina nang bumangga ako sa isang student. Nalaglag tuloy yung mga dala kong books. 

"What's that?" Dinig kong tanong ni Ethan. 

"Are you----" Tinakpan ko ang bibig ng student na bumangga sa akin. 

"Shhhh" I said, he is confused. 

"I guess may nahulog sa utility room." Hannah said, malapit lang sa amin ang utility room. 

"I see, let's go." Dinig ko kay Ethan sabay ng mga yapak ng paa nila palayo. Instead of picking up the remaining things left, napaupo ako sa sahig at humagulgol sa iyak. 

"Miss! Look I'm sorry I didn't mean to--" Dinig ko sa lalaking nakabangga sa akin kanina. Since nakasubsob yung ulo ko sa dalawang palad ko, ramdam kong pinulot niya yung natitira kong gamit. 

"Hindi naman ako umiyak ng dahil sayo eh. I feel betrayed." Saad ko. 

"Were you cheated by your boyfriend?" Napatingin ako sa kanya. 

"Uhmmm--" I have no exact answer, why - bakit ba ako umiyak? "Nagugutom lang siguro ako." I said to change the topic nang feeling ko mapapahiya ako. I saw him chuckled a bit. 

"Para makabawi sa pagkabangga ko sa'yo how about I'll treat you to lunch." He said. 

"Huh?" Napatanong ako.

"I won't take NO for an answer." Saad niya ulit.