[b]♥ 3.1 ♥[/b] “Hi Ches.” Napatingala ako, it was Kent. Medyo iika ika pa siya, but he seems fine. Umupo siya sa tabi ko. “Ahhh..” “Okay ka lang?” I asked him. He nodded with a smile. Ngumiti rin ako. “Lapad ng ngiti mo ah.” Napatingin kami sa labas, there was Chiles, napasulyap ako kay Kent, lapad talaga ng ngiti. Galak na galak ba. Thought so. She waved hi to him, then he smiled back. It was carefree smile, it was fascinating though, kasi iba yung ngiti niya sakin nuon. Halatang pang-asar, pero the way he smiles at Chiles… It was real. Ewan ko ba, it feels like I want him to smile that way to me too. “Huy, Ches?” “H-Ha?” Oh dang. Napatitig pala ako sakanya. “K-Kamusta ka naman?” I asked him. “Ayus na rin. May bantay kasi ako sa ospital.” “PJ?” Umiling siya. “Yeah, yeah. Chiles.” Ngumiti siya uli. “Landi mo. She’s the girl you like?” I asked. Tumango siya. “I see.” Bigla siyang natahimik saglit. “It’s been so long since I’ve talked to her. Nakakamiss.” “Alam mo kung ano?” “Ano?” “Bago mo sabihin yan, ayusin mo muna yang uniform mo and don’t get to another trouble.: Baka sa susunod pag lamayan ka na.” “Ano ka ba, KJ ka. Kundi dahil sa saksak kong ‘to, hindi ako aalalahanin ni Chiles.” Ngumiti ngiti siya ulit. Napailing ako. I mean, wtf? Handa siyang isugal ang buhay niya para lang magpapansin? Binatukan ko siya. “A-Aray!” “Tanga ka ba? Paano kung natuluyan ka diyan sa ginawa mo? Sa sinasabi mo parang handa kang magpakamatay para lang mapansin ka ng babaeng gusto mo.” “Teka, teka, concern ka ba?” I gulped. “AS… As the student council President, oo concern ako. My duty is to look after all the students in school.” He chuckled. “Yan nga ba talaga?” I raised my eyebrows and looked at him from head to toe. “May ibang rason pa ba?” I said tapos I looked away. “Taray.” He whispered, pero narinig ko. Tss. Dang. Concern ako, oo. Pero yun lang talaga ang rason nuh. -- “How’s Kent in class?” PJ asked me. Well yeah, I’ve been spending a lot more time with PJ now. Lagi na kasi kaming may council meetings, nakakastress nga kasi the exams are coming. Nasa rooftop kami nun habang umiinom ng can of softdrinks. “He’s fine. Actually, happy na siya since Chiles looked after him.” I looked at PJ. “PJ, Chiles likes you, dib a?” Natigilan siya. “O-Oo e…” “Up ‘til now?” I asked. He nodded. “Then why don’t you try liking her? Alam kong alam mo na si Chiles ang most sought-after girl in school.” “Alam ko yun. Alam ko na napakaswerte ko para magustuhan niya, pero hindi talaga. Whatever I do, I just don’t… Feel the same way…” “Are you just scared to hurt Kent?” Umiling siya. “Hindi lang yun ang dahilan, oo, ayokong saktan din si Kent, pero hindi ko talaga gusto si Chiles. Ewan ko, marami naman diyan… Pero bakit ako pa kaya ang nagustuhan niya.” I chuckled. “DUH. Tanung ba yan, PJ. Come on. You’re nice, cool, mature, intellectual, good-looking, rich… Ideal guy ka nga e.” I said out of the blue. He stared at me. “You seriously think that way about me?” “Oo naman.” I replied. He smiled. “That’s… Really nice, Cheska. Thank you.” “Welcome. Tropa tayo dib a?” He nodded. KENT’s POV: “C-Chiles!” I called her habang naglalakad siya pabalik sa room nila, she looked back at me. She still… Looks awesome as before. And everyday, in my eyes, lalo lang siyang gumaganda. “Kent!” She rushed to me. “Teka, wag kang gumalaw masyado.” Yes, I still like this girl For three years, she has been the one in my heart, and alam ko, malabong magbago yun. “Chiles, do you have time to hangout with me…?” “O-Oo naman.” “Punta naman tayong rooftop…” Please say ‘yes’. She nodded. “Tara.” I was delighted. Mabuti naman at hindi na niya ako iniiwasan, well, t o tell you the truth… It was her who went away from me and Paul Jake. After she was rejected, I still followed her around to comfort her, pero tuluyan na siyang lumayo sakin. She cut ties with me and PJ, oo, lumipat siya ng States and stayed there for one year, and now on our fourth year, she’s finally back. And I hope, this time, she’ll give me a chance. -- As we reached the rooftop, nakarinig na kami ng malulutong na halakhakan. “Ches?” I uttered. “Ches-?” She asked. “W-Wala. Wala.” Parang si Cheksa yung tumatawang yun ah. Chiles was before me, at napatigil siya sa paglalakad when we entered the rooftop. Natigilan din ako. “Chiles? What’s wrong?” She reddened, and she started becoming teary-eyed, which I did not like. Oo, madali siyang umiyak, and most of the reasons why she cries… Is PJ. I passed by her. And there I saw PJ and Cheska. Tumatawa silang dalawa. Well, walang masama run, pero as for Chiles.. “Chiles-!” She rushed away. Oo, tumakbo ako para sundan siya, I knew it. She still likes… PJ. -- “Chiles!” I pulled her wrist, umiiyak siya, maraming nakakakita samin, pero wala na akong pakielam pa. “PJ… Has never laughed like that when he was with us… Has he?” Natigilan ako. “H-Hey, Chiles. Wag kang mag-isip ng ganyan…” “Though Cheska said that she’ll never fall for him… Pwedeng mangyari yun dib a… And… And PJ…” She continued sobbing. “He… He seems to like her…” I was silenced. Up ‘til now, siya pa rin pala. It’s still PJ in her heart. Oo, nagseselos ako, pero nagagalit din ako. Bakit hindi ba pwedeng ako na lang? At bakit ba… Patuloy na sinasaktan ni PJ si Chiles…? I got my fists clenched, and I rushed back upstairs. “K-Kent!” CHESKA’S POV: Tawa pa rin kami nang tawa ni PJ. Ewan ko ba, as I crack simple jokes, natatawa talaga siya kahit corny. “Ambabaw mo naman PJ… Haha!” “Nakakatawa kaya talaga! Ahaha!” Tawa kami ulit. Masayang katropa ‘tong taong ‘to ah. Suddenly, may bumalibag ng pintuan. Napatayo kami ni PJ mula sa lapag. Sino naman kaya yun?! Then we saw a shadow, and a person walking with heavy steps as he glares at PJ. “Kent!” I yelled. “Anong problema-?” Then he punched PJ on the face. Bumagsak siya lapag. “Hanggang ngayon, ikaw pa rin ang mahal niya, PJ! Pero bakit hindi mo man lang siya maappreciate at nakikipag tawanan ka pa dito?!” “Ano ba, Kent! Hindi ka naming maintindihan!” I yelled at him. He glared at me. “Wag kang makisali dito.” I gulped, ewan ko, I was seriously offended. Tumayo si PJ. “You saw us laughing?” PJ asked, kalmado pa rin siya. “You know what Chiles might feel kung makikita ka niyang ganyan—” “Pero wala kaming ginagawa ni Cheska!” PJ yelled. PJ pulled me close to him. “Cheska and I are just friends. Alam mong selosa lang yang si Chiles, Kent… At alam mo ring Malabo ko siyang magustuhan! Imbes na awayin mo kami dito dahil sa isang bagay na napakababaw lang, bakit hindi mo na lang siya icomfort para magusutuhan ka niya?! Come on, Kent! Kung mahal mo talaga siya, hindi ka mag aaksayan ng panahon dito!” “Pero pinaiyak mo siya!” “Wala kaming ginagawa ni Cheska, dito. You know that, don’t be stupid, at kung anu man ang maramdaman ko in the near future na maaaring ikalungkot ni Chiles, wala na akong magagawa.” Napatingala ako kay PJ. What ‘in the near future’ ? Pero pagkatapos magsalita noon ni PJ, Kent just ran away, alam ko, galit pa rin yun. Haay. I immediately moved away from PJ, I kinda sensed something, pero ayokong isipin pa yun. ”S-Sorry for that, Cheska.” “I understand. Alam ko naman yung sitwasyon niyo e. Sana pala hindi na lang ako masyadong naging mukhang close pa sayo, PJ. Wew.” “Alam mong wala tayong ginagawang masa Ches, kaya wag kang maguilty.” “But look, may gusto sayo si Chiles. Kent likes her. Daming complications, makakadagdag lang siguro ako.” “Matagal nang umayus yung problema namin, matagal ko nang sinabi kay Chiles yung nararamdaman ko towards her, so look, the blame’s not on you.” Napailing ako. “I don’t know, PJ. But as I can see, she really… Really likes you.” “But I can’t absolutely like her ‘cause Kent will be…” We both sighed for grief. “Bahala na.” “Balik na tayo?” He asked me. Tumango ako. “Sige.” [i][b]I don’t know… Pero ano bang magagawa ko para makatulong?[/b][/i]