ZYNE'S POV

During dismissal ay mabilis na nag-ayos ng mga gamit nila ang dalawang feeling host sa isang talk show since it's almost time for lunch. I just did the same thing.

Nang matapos ako sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit ko ay sakto namang naramdaman ko ang pagtapik ni Ced sa balikat ko.

"Hey. Let's have a lunch at a restaurant nearby. My treat," yaya ni Ced which is quite new for me.

Sa amin kasing tatlo ay siya ang pinakakuripot at buraot. Pati pagpapagasolina ay pinoproblema. Mas gugustuhin pang makisabay sa 'kin sa kotse kaysa ang dalhin ang sarili niyang kotse para makatipid sa gasolina.

Hmm... Looks like he has something in mind.

"Sorry. I can't join you for lunch. I have to go somewhere," I just told them, when in fact, I don't really have somewhere to go. But now that I mentioned it, something, or should I say, someone crossed my mind.

Can't wait to see her.

"And where is it?" nang-uusisang tanong ni Olie na pinagtaasan pa ako ng kilay.

Here they are. Planning to ask me nonstop.

"Come on, dude. You still owe us an explanation. Don't you dare escape from us," Ced added trying to change my mind by threatening me using his narrowed eyes.

Tss! Now it makes sense. They want to continue asking me such questions. That's why they offered a free lunch. What a genius! Huh!

"As far as I can remember, you were the one who owe me an explanation," I said in a matter of fact voice. Well, it's the truth though.

Agad na nagsalubong ang mga kilay nila at nagkatinginan pa sila bago ako muling balingan ng tingin.

"At kailan pa kami nagkautang sa 'yo, Zyne version 2.0?" mapanuyang tanong ni Olie na mukhang may ideya na sa kung anong tinutukoy ko.

Zyne version what? The fudge! Kailan pa sila nahilig na gawan ako ng nickname? Argh! This bastards really wants to annoy me.

"Why were you with Francine and her friend last friday?" diretsahan kong tanong sa kanila.

A devilish grin made its way to Ced lips, followed by a whistling sound of Olie.

"Oh. That? What about it, pretty boy?" nakangisi pa ring tanong ni Ced habang itinataas-baba pa ang kaniyang kilay to tease me.

The heck! Pretty boy, huh? Tss. Assholes.

"Explain," I said and give them an 'explain-or-I'll-cut-your-tongue-look'.

"Woah, woah, woah. That was kinda scary," pigil ang tawang sabi ni Ced na umarte pang takot na takot na umatras palayo habang mahina namang tumatawa sa kanan ko si Olie.

How did I end up being friends with them by the way? Can someone remind me before I lose control and kick their asses?

"Stop teasing me, asshole. You might regret it," I warned him but he just shrugged it off.

"Hey, hey, hey. Chill," pag-awat sa amin ni Olie na panay pa rin ang tawa hanggang ngayon.

Pabagsak akong naupo sa arm chair ng upuan ko at pinagkrus ang mga braso ko sa harap ng dibdib ko saka ko pinaglipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanila na nasa magkabilang gilid ko.

"Now, talk," I said with finality in my voice.

"Ikaw naman ang isip-bata rito at mahilig sa tsismis kaya ikaw na magkuwento," pagbaling ni Ced kay Olie saka pabagsak ding naupo sa arm chair ng upuan niya.

"Fine. Ako na," napipilitang sagot ni Olie saka pumuwesto sa harapan namin saka sumagot. "We just talked."

"Talk about what?" I asked out of curiousity and wait for any of them to answer.

"Random topics," kibit-balikat na sagot ni Olie na nagpasingkit ng mga mata ko.

"Come on, Olie. I know you. You won't talk to a person especially to a stranger if it isn't important or if you weren't interested to know a thing," pagpapaalala ko sa kaniya. He can't fool me. I know it is something that I should be aware of, not something that I should just ignore.

"Sabi ko nga. Kilala mo na ako," Olie said in a mocking voice.

"I do." I  give him a 'so-you-can't-fool-me-look'. "Now, talk. I want you to be honest. Tell me everything. Don't leave anything behind," I added with authority in my voice.

"We talked a lot of things about you. That's all. The rest, it's unnecessary to mention," kibit-balikat niyang sagot na para bang hindi niya ako kaharap at balewala lang ang sinabi niya.

Marahas akong napatayo mula sa pagkakaupo ko at hinawakan ang kuwelyo ng uniporme ni Olie gamit ang dalawang kamay ko. It's not that tight though. It's how we acquire an answer when provoke to do something aside from asking.

"And what the hell did you tell them about me?" gigil kong tanong sa kaniya dahil mukhang sinasadya niya talagang bitinin ang pagsasalita niya. He could just tell me everything and we're good. But the hell! He was making fun of me. He wants to tease me and he's enjoying it.

"Woah. Calm down, pretty boy. You're being so grumpy," pamamagitan sa amin ni Ced na hindi na rin maitago ang kakaibang ngiti sa mga labi niya just like Olie na bahagya nang nakatungo at gumagalaw-galaw na ang balikat, sign na tahimik siyang tumatawa. Tss!

"Just answer me," I said between my gritted teeth.

"Ahm. About a girl you mess up with," natatawa pa ring sagot ni Olie na hindi alintana kahit bahagya nang humigpit ang hawak ko sa kuwelyo niya dahil sa panggigigil kong mapaamin siya.

"Who?" salubong ang kilay kong tanong.

I don't remember anyone in particular. Si Francine lang naman ang nakabangga at nakasagutan ko recently.

"The one who called you spoiled brat before," walang kagana-ganang sagot ni Olie.

Mas lalo ko pang nahigpitan ang pagkakahawak ko sa kwelyo ni Olie at bahagya ko na rin siyang iniaangat sa ere.

"The hell! Did you just scare her?" inis na talagang tanong ko.

"Mukhang hindi naman siya natakot. Pero nagngingitngit siya sa galit habang inaalala ang mga kabaliwang ginawa mo sa kaniya," nakangisi ng sagot niya na sinabayan pa ng marahang pagtawa niya na sinasadyang asarin ako.

That's a relief. I thought she would be scared that she'll experience the same thing as hers and end up avoiding me.

Kahit papaano ay nakahinga na ako nang maluwag kaya binitawan ko na rin si Olie.

"Thank you for telling me. Now, go," pagtataboy ko sa kanila bago ko pa sila pag-untuging pareho dahil sa kabaliwan nila.

"Aren't you joining us for lunch?" salubong ang kilay na tanong ni Olie na tumigil na sa pagtawa at mukhang bumalik na sa katinuan.

"I already said no," kibit-balikat kong sagot.

It's now my turn to act like I don't fucking care to make it fair.

"But Zyne, my man. You promised to make it up to us," pagpapaalala sa akin ni Ced na tinapik ang balikat ko.

Bigla namang pumasok sa isipan ko ang napag-usapan namin kahapon.

Darn it! Nangako nga pala ako sa kanila. Nawala sa isip ko.

"Now is the time," Olie added na siyang nakakuha ng atensyon ko.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako saka sila hinawakan sa parehong balikat nila.

"I can't," I said in an apologetic voice.

They both sigh in forfeit.

"Fine. But during this weekened, you have to come with us. No more alibis." May diin sa huling sinabi ni Ced kung kaya't alam ko sa sarili ko na kailangan kong tuparin ang pangako ko sa kanila at hindi ito pupuwedeng mapako.

"I will. I promise," I answered and smile at them.

"Okay. We'll now go. Just send our regards to Frans," nakangiting paalam nila at naglakad na palabas ng classroom. Pero bago pa man sila makalapit sa pinto ay muli ko silang tinawag.

"Hey! It's Francine not Frans. And I... I'm not meeting her," pagtatama ko.

Tumigil silang pareho sa paglalakad pero tanging si Ced lang ang humarap sa kinaroroonan ko.

"But she said that we should call her that way." Gumuhit ang isang nang-aasar na ngiti sa labi niya saka muling humarap sa kaniyang likuran at nakatalikod na kumaway sa 'kin. "Una na kami," paalam niya pa bago tuluyang umalis kasunod si Olie habang naiwan naman akong nakatingin pa rin sa pintong nilabasan nila.

Wow! Just wow! Frans, eh? I didn't know that they were that close to her. What a breaking news! Tss.

A/N: Sorry about the late update. Tatapusin ko na dapat 'to last January 5 but unfortunately, kinabahan ako do'n sa lindol. Saglit lang siya pero may kalakasan at sapat na para mawalan ako ng lakas magsulat. Tae. Parang humiwalay kaluluwa ko. Thank God for keeping us safe. Anyway, I hope you like it. Lovelots.