8

"I said I'll eat with you, didn't I? Tsss." Tumango naman ako at hinayaan ko na lamang siya. Kumain na kaming tatlo. Kitang-kita kung paano hindi mapakali si Stephanie. She kept on staring at both of us. Mukhang nahalata ito ni Sky.

"Eat first and I'll answer your questions later, Steph," Sky smirked. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Stephanie.

"So there is something between the two of you nga?" Umiwas naman ako ng tingin at nag patuloy ako sa pag kain. "I can't na talaga with the suspense! Sky! You tell me! Kasi I know wala akong makukuha na information mula kay Alexis. She won't tell me anything!" Reklamo ni Stephanie.

Tinignan ko ng masama si Sky. I know what's going on inside his mind. He gave me a sly smile. He rested his chin on top of his palm and looked at Stephanie who's giving him all of her attention.

"I'm courting your friend, Steph."

I almost choked on the milkshake. I heard Sky groaning. Kumuha agad siya ng tissue mula sa bag niya at binigay iyon sa akin. "Ang kalat mo, Soliel!" Pagalit na sabi niya sa akin. He was about to wipe my lip pero agad ko naman kinuha mula sa kamay niya ang tissue. 

"Courting? Teka lang! I don't even know you're close with each other! Bakit ligaw agad ang balita ninyo? How many chapters have I missed sa love life ng kaibigan ko? Ikaw Soliel Alexis ha! You don't make kwento sa akin ha! Since when ba 'to?" Tanong ni Stephanie. 

"It's better to ask her nalang, Steph. Since siya ang kaibigan mo. It's better na sa kanya mismo manggaling, hindi ba?" He said while giving Stephanie an innocent smile. Aba! Hayop na lalaki 'to! I don't even know what to say! Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasagutin ang mga tanong niya sa akin since obviously none of it are true! Anong nanliligaw? Ikakasal na nga kami! Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa utak ng lalaking ito para sabihin niya iyon. 

I looked at Sky and he is just smirking! This guy! Stephanie keeps on tugging my arm. Telling me to spill everything. Tinignan ko muli si Sky na may tinetext sa kanyang phone. Two can play it that game. "Hindi ko din alam, Steph. One day he just came up to me and told me he likes me. Bigla nalang siya nanligaw and here he is now. I kept telling him na hindi ako handa and that I don't want to be in a relationship but he is so persistent," I said innocently. Pinipigilan ko ang sarili ko na hindi tumawa sa mukha niya ngayon. Shock was written all over his face. Hindi maka-paniwala na magagawa kong sabihin iyon. He is wiping his mouth with a tissue. Mukhang nabulunan ata siya sa iniinom niyang tubig kanina. Good. Serves you right. 

"What the-"

"Oh my gosh! That's so sweet!"

Sky and I looked at Stephanie with disbelief. "Wait what?" Hindi ko napigilan. "Steph, let's just go already. We've been inside the cafeteria for 2 hours now. We have to prepare for the meeting pa," I told her at sinumulan ko nang ayusin ang mga gamit ko at nilagay ang iPad ko sa loob ng bag ko. Stephanie had no choice but to fix her things as well. 

I was about to leave when Sky grabbed my hand. "I'll come with you."

Kumunot ang noo ko at pilit ko inaalis ang kamay niya. "Of course not! Hindi ka pwedeng sumama. You're not a part of the Council!" Sabi ko sa kanya pero ngumisi lamang siya at lumapit sa aking tenga. 

"I don't think that's a problem. I won't disturb you naman. I'll just listen sa gilid and not make a sound. And besides, isasama mo ako o sasabihin ko sa kaibigan mo na ikakasal ka sa akin at titira tayo sa isang bubong next week? Choose your struggle, princess."

"Steph, Sky will join us," blankong sabi ko. Stephanie was confused pero tumango lamang siya at ngumiti. 

"Sure! Anyone can come naman sa loob ng council room. And you get a free pass kasi you're nanliligaw kay Alexis," Stephanie said with glee. Ang saya naman ata ng mokong na ito. 

We stood up at nag lakad na kami papuntang council room. I was about to get my bag when he suddenly carried it. Aangal na sana ako pero hinayaan ko nalang siya baka magbangayan pa kaming dalawa sa harap ni Stephanie. 

I could feel the stares of everyone as we were walking. Stephanie greeted them habang si Sky naman ay derecho lang ang tingin. Natigil sa paglalakad si Sky when someone went near him. "Hi Sky! My friends and I are throwing a party tonight. You want to come? Oh! You din, Steph! Punta ka ha. Same bar lang," the girl smiled. I sighed. Magpapatuloy sana ako sa paglalakad when I felt Sky grabbing my hand. 

"Is that so," tanging sabi niya lang. The girl smiled and nodded happily. "What time?" Tanong ni Sky. I saw how the face of the girl lift up when she heard him asking. 

"Ah!  11pm but the party starts at 12am. Will you come, Steph?" Stephanie smiled at tumango naman siya. Of course she'll come. Stephanie never says no.

"Are you available?" Nagulat ako sa tanong ni Sky sa akin. Pero mukhang mas nagulat ang babaeng nasa harapan namin. I saw how she glared at me. Hindi manlang tinago ang inis sa akin. 

I get this a lot. Stephanie is socially active kaya naman madami siyang kilala.  Fiona is academically inclined kaya naman kahit invited siya ay hindi siya pumupunta. And me, well no one has ever tried inviting me. Kaya sumasama nalang ako kay Fiona to study. 

"Oh. Umm. Ano kasi... She's not invited, Sky," sabi naman ng babae. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Sky after hearing it.

"And why not? You invited Stephanie, so why not invite Soliel?" I tried tugging Sky's arm. Pero binale-wala niya ito. "What? Can't answer me? Cat got your tongue?" Nilapitan niya ang babae. He leaned closer to her. "You want me to pull it out for you?" 

Agad naman ako lumapit at hinila siya mula sa babae when I saw her arms snaking around his nape. "Let's just go," sabi ko at hinila na si Sky palayo sa babae. I noticed that a lot of people were going near our spot din kaya baka magka issue pa or something kaya mas mabuti nalang na umalis na kami. Ewan ko ba sa lalaking ito. It's not even a big of a deal sa akin. 

"Why did you pull me?" Pagalit na sabi niya. 

"And why not?" Hamon ko. He wanted to say something pero tumingin muna siya kay Stephanie. He sighed and looked back at me. "Let's talk about it later, Soliel. Your friend  is here. I supposed you don't want your friend to here our argument, right?" He whispered the last part. As much as I want to argue, ayaw ko din naman marinig ni Stephanie dahil siguardo ako na maghihinala siya sa amin ni Sky. 

As if on cue ay umalis muna si Stephanie dahil mag reretouch daw muna siya ng make-up niya sa restroom. Pumasok naman kami ni Sky sa loob ng council room. The moment the door closed ay agad naman nag salita si Sky. "Was it always like this?" Tanong niya. His deep voice sends shiver to my spine. 

"Like what?"

"Like this! People leaving you behind! Acting like you don't exist and you're obviously fine with it!" 

Umiwas ako ng tingin. I tried to walk away but he grabbed my hand. Sinubukan kong baklasin ang kamay niya pero mas lalo niya itong hinigpitan. "Sky ano ba!" 

"Can you stop letting other people bring you down? Just for once, Soliel! Huwag mo naman sana hayaan na tapakan ka ng mga tao! Hirap na hirap na ako na iparamdam sayo na deserve ipagmalaki but here you are allowing these bullsh*ts to drag you down! Sana naman huwag mong hayaan na mapunta sa wala ang efforts ko. I can't do it by myself, Soliel. How can I show you that you are actually worth it when you yourself don't feel that you actually are." He cupped my cheek. Nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin. he rested his forehead on mine. I could actually feel his breath near my mouth. 

Why does my heart beat so fast?