CHAPTER 7

“Are you ready?”

Napalingon ako kay Red habang nakatayo kami sa labas ng main building. Hawak-hawak ko pa rin ang strap ng bag ko habang pinipigilan ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko.

Itong pakulo niya na ‘to, it’s on another level, okay? Kinakabahan ako.

Ito na ‘yong araw na pag-uusapan ng buong campus ang ‘relasyon’ namin.

Nakangisi si Red habang inaayos ang suot niyang varsity jacket. Nagbago na siya bigla uli ng outfit ah. “Don’t be nervous.”

“I’m not,” I lied while whispering.

He chuckled. “I’m sure you are, don’t lie. Besides, ito naman ang goal natin. You want to see my cousin’s reaction, right?” I nodded. “Then, let’s do it.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Red was confident. He had this boyish charm and relaxed posture na parang wala lang lahat sa kanya. Pero sa likod ng confidence niyang ‘yon, ramdam kong handa siyang sumuporta sa plano ko—kahit pa alam naming pareho na delikado ‘to.

“Ready?” he asked, this time offering his hand to me.

Huminga ako nang malalim. “Let’s do this.”

 Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya, and together, we walked toward the hallway like we owned the damn school.

Heads turned. Lahat ng estudyante na nadaanan namin, napapahinto. Iba’t ibang reaksyon ang naririnig ko—shock, chismis mode, bulungan, sigawan pa nga sa iba.

“OMG! Si Ellyn ‘yan, di ba?”

“Teka… anong ginagawa niya with Red?!”

“Hala! As in, holding hands talaga sila?!”

I smiled inwardly. Good. Let them talk.

Pagdating namin sa cafeteria, mas lalo pang nag-ingay ang paligid. We walked straight to the center table—‘yung dating table kung saan lagi kaming kumakain ni Jared kasama ng tropa.

And guess what?

Naroon si Jared. On his side, there, his woman. Again. His arm was placed on her shoulders.

Nanikip ang dibdib ko sa nakita. Yes. I was supposed to move on, but seeing my ex with his other woman makes me relive all those betrayals again.

Napatigil siya sa pagkain nang makita kami. Iyong mga mata niya, parang gustong magpahiwatig na bumitaw ako sa kamay ni Red. Pero sorry siya. I’m already taken—kunwarian nga lang.

“Jealous?”

Napalingon ako kay Red at nakita ko na tila tinutukso niya ako. Ngumiti ako nang pilit habang hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang kamay niya. 

“Shut up,” bulong ko sa kanya bago ko siya pinaupo sa tapat na upuan ni Jared pero tumanggi si Red sa akin.

“Princess,” he called while smiling. “Do you want me to get your favorite? Caramel macchiato, perhaps?”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Jared sa narinig at napatayo. “Wait, her favorite isn’t—”

Bago pa man makapagsalita ang cheater, ngumiti ako kay Red sabay sabing,  “I would love to. Thank you, hubby!”  

Silence.

Oopsies… Did I do it too much…?

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nung nagsimula na naman mag-ingay ang buong cafeteria. Whoo!

“Anything for you, my love.” I felt his hand touch my face, and his thumb brushed only my lower lip so lightly.

Shit… That sent butterflies to my stomach.

Nilingon niya si Jared sa gilid namin at itinanong, “Bro, are you okay? You look pale.”

Pinigilan kong matawa. Who would really not look like a ghost right now? 

Seeing your ex-girlfriend being a relationship with your own cousin? What a wild plot twist for him, really.

Jared looked away, clenching his jaw, storm building in his eyes. 

The audacity of him! He have no rights na magalit o magselos man sa amin kasi nga ‘di ba, he is a cheater? And cheaters don’t deserve to feel jealous when they see the girl they abandoned be happy with someone else.

Mission: Ouch the ex. Status: Progressing. 

“Huy.” Napaigtad ako at napalingon sa likod ko. Si Carla pala. “Bestieee!” sigaw niya at bigla na lang akong niyakap. “Beh, come on. Punta tayo sa iba nating girl friends.”

Bago pa man ako makapagreklamo, nahatak na niya ako sa kabilang table. There, Diane first asked. “Hey, I didn’t know you dated the hot guy.”

“Ugh, long story,” I replied.

“So, are you two together?” excited na tanong ni Carla.

“Yes.”

Tumili si Carla na daig pa ang mga bumibirit sa mga artista. “OMG, OMG, OMG!”

“Uy, kalma, beh,” sambit ni Diane kay Carla. “So, Ellyn, ano ang hot take? Why are you with this transferee?”

Bago pa man ako makasagot, may humatak na sa akin. Pagkalingon ko ay ang apakapogi ko pa lang boyfriend, dala-dala ang aking caramel macchiato with fries.

“Princess, I brought you some fries. Oh, are these your friends?” banggit niya nang makita ang bffs ko.

Napakaway ang dalawa at tila nasa-startruck. Sino ba namang hindi at na-notice sila ng hot transferee.

“Hi. Nice to meet you, I’m Red.”

“Hi,” sab ni Carla.

“Yo,” sabi ni Diane.

“Can I politely kidnap my wife?”

W-W-W-W-W-Wifey?! “W-Wait, Red, that’s—”

“Sure, sure. Kuhanin mo na ang ‘wifey’ mo,” sabi ni Diane nang may pilyong ngiti sa labi. 

Napatili ako nang hinatak ako ni Red. Umupo siya sa upuan across with my ex and pulled me to sit on his lap. Shit. I never expected na gagawin niya ng maaga ang sinasabi niya.

Well, let’s play his game.

“Aah,” he started saying as he handed out a French fry near my mouth. I smiled and immediately accepted it, habang nakatingin kay Jared.

I saw his eyes in rage. Gosh, how I love to see that.

We continued doing it. Red handed out the French fry and I ate it so deliciously, making sure na kitang-kita ng cheater kong ex kung gaano ko nagugustuhan ang pagtrato sa akin ng ‘boyfriend’ ko.

Next, Red made me sip the caramel macchiato. Napaungol ako sa sarap ng drink, enough for Jared to hear.

Red looked at me in amusement. “Is it that really good, princess?”

I nodded. “Sooo good!”

Napaigtad na lang ako sa gulat nang kumalampog ang mesa at nakatayo na si Jared. Lumapit siya sa amin at diretsang sinabi sa akin, “Let’s talk.”