Said I Loved You But I Lied... (Book 2)

Chapter 16

Nicko had been meaning to get Lee Ann alone to talk to her. He could sense that she was avoiding him after his last confession and he wanted to know why although he had an inkling.

Masama ba 'yung sinabi ko? Masama ba kung sabihin ko kung ano ang nararamdaman ko? he quietly asked himself as he watched Lee Ann rush out of their classroom without even glancing his way.

He sighed. "Maybe she's just trying to sort her feelings out. Baka naguluhan s'ya dahil d'un sa sinabi ko—"

"Hoy, ano ba ang problema mo at kanina ka pa nakatunganga d'yan?" Donald, one of their classmates, asked. "Kanina pa tapos ang klase at tayong dalawa na lang ang nandito."

"Bakit nandito ka pa?"

"Nahulog 'yung ballpen ko kanina at hinanap ko muna. Ikaw, bakit nandito ka pa?"

"May iniisip lang," Nicko replied.

"Lee Ann Carbonel ba ang pangalan n'yang iniisip mo?" Donald teased.

Nicko laughed. "Gan'un ba talaga ako ka-obvious? Paano mo nalaman?"

"Tapang naman n'yan, talagang umamin, eh," Donald said grinning.

"Gan'un talaga..." Nicko sighed.

"O, nakangiti ka lang kanina, ah. Bakit parang mukhang na-scam ka na ngayon? Basted ba?"

"May boyfriend na, eh."

"Oo, nakita namin minsan na may kasama s'yang lalaki. Hinalikan nga s'ya sa noo, eh."

"Saan n'yo sila nakita?"

"Doon sa parking lot. Mukhang bigatin ang kalaban mo, Nicko. Ang ganda ng tsikot, eh. Pero, mukhang mas matanda s'ya kay Lee Ann, ano? Naka-business suit, eh. Mahilig pala si Lee Ann sa mas matanda sa kanya..." Donald sounded thoughtful.

Nicko did not reply.

"Kilala mo ba 'yun? Baka naman kapatid n'ya 'yun?"

"Wala s'yang kapatid na lalaki."

"Ibig sabihin ay 'yun nga ang boyfriend n'ya. Pero, mukhang nagtatrabaho na 'yun, ah. How old is Lee Ann? Hindi ba't mas bata s'ya sa atin nang isang taon?"

"Oo."

"So, she's just seventeen. Minor s'ya. Alam ba ng pamilya n'ya that she's dating an older guy?"

Nicko would normally say something to discourage the start of a rumor but not this time; he just couldn't seem to make himself care.

Besides, totoo naman. Mas matanda naman talaga 'yung lalaking 'yun kaysa kay Lee Ann.

"Should we report him?" Donald asked. "What if he is taking advantage of our classmate? Ano 'yun, wala lang ba tayong gagawin? Dapat siguro tayong makialam, 'di ba?"

Pero, kung i-re-report nila 'yung lalaking 'yun, sigurado ako na magagalit si Lee Ann sa akin because she is so blinded by her attraction to that man. Besides, it might even ruin her reputation at baka mag-drop-out pa 'yun dahil d'un.

"Wala naman tayong ebidensya na sila nga n'ung lalaki..." Nicholas hesitantly said.

"Nakita nga namin nina James na hinalikan si Lee, Bro. Eyewitnesses kami."

"That's not enough evidence."

"Pero, sabi mo nga ay inamin ni Lee Ann sa'yo na may boyfriend s'ya. You can be the witness—"

"Ayokong makisali d'yan..." Nicko mumbled. He was sure that Lee Ann would get mad at him if that would happen.

"Gusto lang naman kitang tulungan, Nicko. And the best way around this issue with Lee Ann being in a relationship with another man is to take the man out of the picture."