Chapter 32

I never did

Alec took a deep breath, and I think he knows where the conversation leads to.

"Do I need to pamper myself after this?"

Natawa ako ng bahagya sa sinabi niya. He's making things light between us pero sobrang hirap-hirap akong i-confront siya tungkol dito. I don't know how he will respond this time. Earlier today, I didn't expect for him to hear those words from me and I was really sorry for that but now, I just wanna be truthful to him. Ayoko nang sirain ang pagkakaibigan naming dalawa.

"Alec..." I started with a low voice, but I grunted knowing that this thing might have hurt him. To calm me down, he reaches for my hand. I took a deep breath. I'm becoming too much over reacting now. "Alec... it is that—you know—"

"Is this about what I've heard on you earlier?" he asked straight to the point—where I couldn't do. I bit my lower lips, indicating I'm too much embarrassed para sagutin siya sa tanong niya. He nodded afterwards, seemingly get it. Naku po. Instead of expecting such reactions coming from him, he just laughed. Napakunot-noo na lamang ako sa kanya. "That phase of us shoulder be over now, Alex."

Mas lalo akong nagtaka doon.

"I'm in the ripple, would you make it clear?"

"Oh, now, I'm the one whose gonna clear the thing between us, huh?" he chuckles, sasagutin ko sana siya but I couldn't find my way in. "No... no. Alex. It is okay, I know that everything we wanted doesn't always gonna come up with the same objectives. You know what I mean..."

Napangiwi naman ako sa kanya, "I'm really sorry you heard that from me."

He smirked, "yeah, at first it really hurts me you know." He then grab his left chest, acting something painful coming out from his heart. "But realizing it, I shouldn't take it a big deal... we've become friends, and I think it is a good move right?"

Dahan-dahan naman akong napatango sa kanya, "I guess staying friends would much likely be good."

"Friends." He said it with hard diction. I didn't make any response kasi alam ko naman kung anong pinupunto niya doon. "By the way, we should all move on... it always the same way." He sighed and smile which bothered me. Okay nga lang ba talaga sa kanya? "Well, how about the new look, Alex?"

"This?" hinawakan ko naman ng buhok ko, "Mia did this."

May pagkagulat pa ng kaunti sa mukha niya ng sabihin ko iyon. "Lathomia?" pag-uulit pa nito kaya tumango ako sa kanya, "why the two of you bonded together when we don't?" aniya, natanga ako sa sinabi niya pero tinawanan niya lang ako. Inaabutan naman niya ako ng jelly beans, inaagaw ko sa kamay niya but he directly make it's way to my mouth, syempre, sino pa bang aarte. "Biro lang, Alex. Mia really had a bad image in some girls, do you know that?"

Umiling naman ako, except on what Pee shooter told me, wala nang iba. "Not really... but I think she's a good company."

"Yeah... she is and she made you look like a ginger." He laughed but then he stopped for a moment, realizing something. "Woah... you look Korgian now."

"Huh? Hindi 'no!" aniko.

"Now, I can say the both of you look good."

"Korg doesn't look the same way I look at him."

"How can you say that?" he asked.

Napangisi naman ako, "look at this, Lathomia is a model, somewhat popularity bring her this kind of image to her. Isama mo pa galing siya sa isang wealthy family and from the Sawyers perspective, mas pipiliin kong maging ka-relationship ang isang babae kung may image at background na ito."

Habang sinasabi ko iyon nakakunot-noo lamang si Alec, his finger were down his chin. "That's not true..."

"Pa'no mo nasabi?"

Umayos ng pagkakaupo si Alec, he's really into this huh. Pinapak ko naman iyon jelly beans, kumukunti na lang iyong nasa plato. "You know what, it doesn't really matter whether the person comes from a really wealthy family or not, or what makes the person bloom her image. Love doesn't always come to that point of view...."

"Are you advicing me now?"

He smirked, "simply I could tell, yeah..." he said and continued, "I don't think Korgian choose Mia because of her background or image, maybe simply he loves her and it changes every now and then. And look at them, now..."

"I see..." I said, nodding. "they did compliment each other... and now she's coming back for him."

"Wala na siyang babalikan." Aniya.

"You're not Korg to say that."

"I know, and I also know Korg, he doesn't do recycle relationships."

"Wow," halos hindi ako makasabay sa mga sinasabi ni Alec. I'm learning from him anyway. "And what about you?"

"Me?" aniya, nagtataka pa sa tanong ko kaya paulit-ulit ang tango ko. "I can simply say that my heart was beatenly broken few minutes ago..."

Naningkit ang mata ko sa sinabi niya, "who?" and a stupid question to ask.

I realized who was it then.

Tinawanan na lang niya ako. Sa sobrang slow ko, hindi ko na-gets ako pala ang tinutukoy niya roon. "I hope walang magbabago sa atin, Alec ha?"

He nodded, "of course, we didn't break up, I was just broken and I can continue that way being a friend to you... and a bridge to Korg."

Pinalo ko naman siya sa balikat niya, "no, you don't. Saka imposible mangyari iyon. We just talked, and yes I had crush on him—no hard feelings for that please and he will never look the same way. It is impossible for me to caught a redhead's attention."

"You say that... not me." Aniya, "but you know what, you can rock that hair in any way."

"Thank you for that... and by the way for your information, I didn't made the poster earlier—Mia also did that."

Dahan-dahan siyang napatango ng malaman iyon. For his knowledge ofcourse, he has to know that.

"That was an effort for her, huh." He said, "but you do the cheering and it's a luck for me on the first quarter."

"I thought so." Ngiti ko pa sa kanya, "atleast it drives you to win the game and here we are, right? Celebrating the victory!"

"Yeah, I thought I would also get a winning heart." He joked but I think it is not intended to be. Nanahimik na lang ako, ayoko na mag-comment. He was just joking about it pero bakit pakiramdam ko, he isn't contended with it. He might have told himself that he didn't deserve this treatment. "Anyway, do you want more jelly beans?"

I handed over the plater, "yes, if you will."

"I'll be back." He stood up from the chair and watched him headed towards the table where the sweets are.

Mayamaya ay dumating naman ang mga kaibigan ko at mabilis akong kinulit sa pinag-usapan namin ni Alec. I told them everything at nalungkot naman sila sa side ni Alec dahil napunta sa friendzoned ang status nito. They also told me that I shouldn't be that rude to him dahil parang sinabi ko lang din na hindi ko siya gusto at mas gusto ko si Korgian kaysa sa kanya. Kung ano-anong pangongonsesya naman ang binigay nila sa akin and I'm finding the hard way to make it up again.

Why does friends always make it so hard when it is already done?

"Bakit ang tagal naman bumalik ng ni-friendzoned mo?" ani Pee shooter.

Muli ko namang tinanaw ang direksyon ni Alec, gano'n din ang dalawa. Nang makita namin kung anong nangyayari napahawaka naman ako sa kanilang dalawa. Korg and Alec were having a conversation and I don't think by the way they look at each other, hindi iyon simpleng pag-uusap lang. Their eyes were sharp looking, the tone of their voice slowing getting loud.

"Ooops, they might be continuing what's left on the field." Pee shooter commented.

Napakunot noo naman ako. I've been wondering what they're talking about.

"I hope, hindi umabot sa inaasahan ko..." bulong ko, nanginginig naman ang binti ko—some people might have been thinking the malicious thing pero hindi ako mapanatag sa nasasaksihan ko ngayon.

Tinalikuran ni Korgian si Alec, and I think it is a good choice to dropped the conversation. But on the other hand, lumapit si Alec kay Korg at tinulak pa nito and because of that, tumaas ang galit sa ulo ni Korg at muli niyang hinarap ito. He also pushes him causes to drop the jelly beans from the plate. Gosh! Sayang!

Binitawan na ni Alec ng tuluyan ang plate at muling tinulak si Korg. Naagaw naman nila ang atensyon ng karamihan. And everyone's watching the both of them.

"Sino kaya mananalo sa kakatulak nila nang ganyan?" dagdag pang komento ni Pee shooter.

Siniko naman siya ni Bella, "manahimik ka nga, it is the fight of the century!" napatingin naman ako sa sinabi ni Bella, "ano? They fight for a girl, obviously, you should know better."

Napailing na lang din ako sa kanya at binalik ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa. Now they're really fighting. Mas lumakas ang kanilang boses. Ni hindi ko maintindihan kung anong tinutukoy nila doon but some people were looking at me saka ibabalik ang tingin sa dalawang nagbabangayan.

"You really should let go of her, dude." Korgian smirked.

Napasinghal naman si Alec, "what are you saying, Korg?! Are you really out of your mind or just dumb enough to not notice it?" Alec did just say the wrong word which turns out Korg's hand landed on his face.

Napaatas at muntik pang mawalan ng balanse si Alec. Sinalo naman siya ng mga nasa likod niya kaya mabilis itong nakabalik sa kanyang balance si Alec at agad na ginantihan ng suntok si Korg. The crowd were cheering, popping a champagne glass. Is this how they plan to celebrate their victory?

Nang tatayo ako, pinigilan ako ni Bella. And mouthed no. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang panoorin ko silang magsuntukan doon. The worst thing had happen ay biglang idinamba ni Korg ang sarili nilang dalawa sa pool at lumubog sila doon. Everyone are on silence waiting for them to afloat. Unang lumitaw si Alec at mabilis na tumungo sa gilid ng pool at inangat ang sarili, kasabay ng pagtulo rin ng mga tubig mula sa damit niya. Sunod na umahon si Korg, he breathe in and out, looking out for Alec, giving him a killer look. Inangat niya ang sarili niya at naglakad papunta sa pintuan pero kaagad siyang sinalubong ng kapatid niya. Her sister followed him entering the house.

Pumiglas na ako sa pagkakahawak ni Bella sa akin saka tinungo si Alec.

"Hey... hey... are you okay?" I hold her arms but he immediately shoved it away.

"Go home now, Alex."

Napuno naman ako ng pagtakaka, "now you're pushing me away?"

He looked at me, his eyes are red maybe cause of the pools chlorine. "I didn't pushed you away, Alex, I never did." He said and stood up, he left me watching him walking towards his mates.

Lumapit naman sa akin sina Pee shooter at Bella.

"I think this is the moment we should go home na." Bella said.

Napahinga naman ako ng malalim.

"Alex, please, we don't need too much trouble here."

Sumunod ako sa kanilang dalawa paalis ng pool side. Gusto ko pa sanang puntahan si Korg para kamustahin pero ayoko nang palalain pa ang sitwasyon. Ni hindi ko nga na-meet ang kanyang parents, or maybe there weren't here at busy sila sa ibang bagay. While we're heading out, someone called me at pagkalingon ko ay si Gell pala ito.

"Is Korg okay?" iyon kaagad ang bungad ko sa kanya.

She nodded, that made me feel okay. "Yes, he is, I think he need to rest now. The game brought him exhaustion."

"I hope he'll be okay..."

"He will." She nodded, "by the way, he says something and I don't think you know it..."

"What is it?" I asked.

"You know what, he should tell that on you, it's not my right to say." She smiled, "get home safe, Alex." She said and hugged me, and bid a goodbye to the three of us.

We booked a car for us, unang bumaba si Pee shooter dahil siya ang mas malapit na drop-off at susunod naman ako sa kanya. Habang nasa biyahe ay hindi mapanatag ang isip ko sa sinabi ni Gell, at pati na rin sa nangyari kanina. It always gonna end up like this. Sobrang complicated.

"What are you thinking, Alex?" Bella asked.

I shooked my head, "nothing... I just wanna lay on my bed right now."

"Nothing doesn't show on your face," aniya. "But don't you worry about it, Alex. You will get your answers... just don't rush it."

I nodded on her, "thanks Bella... I thought the party would be a victory for everyone but not all got the same feeling."

She rubbed hands, "it doesn't always come up with everybody, you know that. And what we feel is an abnormal hesitations we didn't want them to notice but all we wanted, they should notice it."

I come in silence. This day really had me going and I thought it will keep better... but I'm still hoping for one. There are still more days to change the way it was.