Chapter 4

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 nakikinuod. Maingay ang loob ng gymnasium since parehong magaling ang kapwa teams. 

"GO ETHAN! TEAM POL-SCI FIGHTING!" "BABE GO… WOOOOHHHH!" "TEAM BIO DEPT FOR THE WIN" "JB!!!!! GOOOOO" "ANTOOONNNNN MAHAL KITA" So on and so forth, iba iba yung cheer.

It went wild for few minutes with heavy cheers. Nakikicheer na rin ako. Of course, kung may susuporta kay Ethan, it has to be me. Not because I like him kaya sa kanya ang suporta ko but because, he has been so good to me kaya sino pa ba ang dapat kung suportahan? It will always be Ethan.

To cut it short nanalo ang department namin. All thanks sa players ng Pol Sci. Department. Nakita kong nagkukumpulan na ang mga studyante at players sa baba.

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

Si Fernan, siya yung boyfriend ni Kendra. 

"Dito na lang ako. Aantayin ko na lang si Ethan, uuwi na rin kami eh." I responded.

Tumango naman si Kendra bago siya bumaba sa bench papunta sa players ng department namin. 

Nakita kong kanya kanyang offer ang mga babae at binabaeng students ng face towel, water, energy drink and etc sa mga players pati na rin 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 ang ace, beauty and brain. She handed Ethan a bottle of the same brand I used to give him which I also have now. Ethan swiftly received it and even drank it, which he usually won’t 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.

"Let's go!" Hindi ko namalayan na nasa harap ko na siya.

I was spacing out for a minute not until I heard him. 

"Ah, Yeah!" Tipid kong sagot.

Tumayo na ako sa bleacher na kinauupoan ko, nauna akong maglakad nang hablutin ni Ethan ang dala kong drink kanina.

"Oh!" Gulat kong sabi.

Inakbayan niya ako. 

"We won today's match, I haven't heard anything from you yet." Bulong niya sa teynga ko.

Ramdam ko yung kilabot sa batok ko. I feel like I’m blushing so bad. It’s just the effect of his presence.

"Hmm.. Congrats!!" Tipid kong sabi.

Napatingin ako saglit sa kanya. He smiled genuinely sabay pina-pat ang ulo ko na madalas niyang ginagawa.

*****

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

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

 She’s smiling and she looks so happy. Everyone is happy.

"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 Daddy ni Ethan sa Daddy ko. 

"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 their talks about their own matters, pero hindi na ako nag-abalang makinig. Mas gusto kong kumain at magpakabusog. Magsimula na sana akong pumili ng gusto kong kainin.

"Have this." Saad ni Ethan sa akin.

He 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.

He seems satisfied sa reaksyon ko and then he caressed 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 Tito Harold. 

"We plan that." Simpleng sagot ni Uncle Harold. 

"Yes, but we are still discussing things." Ani naman ng Daddy ko. 

"Why did you ask?" Uncle Harold 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." Sabi niya

Walang isang segundo matapos niyang sabihin yun ay nabulonan ak. Ethan immediately handed me a glass of water. Ininom ko naman agad yung tubig. 

"Kuya!" Ethan called Kuya Edward's attention.

 He looks like he is upset with what Kuya Edward had said. 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 Harold 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.. Auntie-Uncle… 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." I’t like I said it as a defense.

"Kumain ka na lang." Bulong sa akin ni Ethan.

I saw Kuya Lio giving me a doubtful reaction. Sinamaan ko na lang siya ng tingin bago ko pinagpatuloy ang pagsubo ng pagkain.

*****

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 magkikita. Wala pang isang minuto nag reply siya. Yeah, he never ignores my messages though, not even once. But I pouted about his response.  

"I can't have lunch with you today, I need to help a student, one of our Prof asked. Let's meet after school."

Naglakad ako ng tuloyan. Biglang may napansin akong 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?" Dinig kong tanong ni Hannah kay Ethan.

"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 studyante na bumangga sa akin. 

"Shhhh" Bulong ko sa kanya.

He looked so 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.

Kasunod ‘donay ang mga yapak ng paa nila papalayo. 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 bump you.” Paliwanag ng lalaki.

Pinulot niya yung mga gamit ko.

"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.

Feeling ko kasi mapapahiya ako sa ginawa ko. Hindi talaga mapapahiya kundi nakakahiya talaga.

"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.