Rule #1: Rule of Fate

[17]

Ilang linggo na nakalipas noon at hindi ko na rin nakausap si Kale. I don't know if he has given up on me, or he's just giving himself some space to think. I didn't like that he's trying to control what I do, by avoiding Gray for him.

Gray is my friend. He's my blockmate, classmate or everything else I call him. Hindi naman porket nagseselos si Kale, ay iiwasan ko na siya. First of, he's not my boyfriend. He doesn't have the right to restrict me from seeing people I want to see. At saka, Gray is my blockmate! Paano ko naman siya iiwasan kung araw-araw ko siya nakikita?

"Saan ka magpapasko, Lia?" Yasmin asked.

"Uhm, sa Japan. Kasama Papa ko,"

They looked shocked. A trip in Japan is expensive, that's why I was really thankful to Papa that he bought us a flight to Japan. We'll be staying there for like 5 days. May mga Tita rin kase ako na nandoon, kaya hindi magiging mahirap sa amin ni Papa ang mag-stay doon. Iwas gastos pa.

Last year pa plano ni Papa na sa Japan kaming dalawa magpasko. He really saved up money just so he can treat me to Japan. It'll be my first trip abroad so I'm also excited. He was also happy that I became a dean's lister during the first semester, that's why he told me that he will buy me stuff when we get there.

"Naks! Yayamanin!" sabi ni Allie.

"Pasama naman, kahit sa maleta nalang."

"Pasalubong ha!"

I laughed. They kept asking me for stuff, but I'm not even sure if I can buy them that. I'm sure it's a joke, but it'll also be nice if I get them a christmas gift.

"Gray!"

Napatingin kami doon. Agad nagtama ang paningin namin ni Gray. I noticed that he is with Sheryl. Sheryl also looked at me. Umiwas naman si Gray ng tingin.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero mula nung nagpunta ako sa bahay nila'y naging malamig na ang pakikitungo niya sa akin. Hindi na rin siya tumatabi sa akin. I even chatted him when I got home, asking if he's okay but he only gave me some cold replies.

"Aba, magkasama na naman kayo ah, ayiee." tukso nung isa naming kaklase.

Gray sheepishly smiled, while Sheryl looked at Gray before smiling.

I can't help but feel jealous. Sa ilang linggong hindi rin ako pinapansin ni Gray, mas nakikita ko na rin siyang madalas kasama si Sheryl. I also often hear how our classmates tease them together. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung si Sheryl ba ang babaeng gusto niya sa block.

"Selos ka ba?" bulong ni Allie.

I almost forgot that Allie knew about my feelings for Gray. She's the only one who knows about it in our class. I couldn't tell it to our other friends because it might spread and I don't want that. I also don't want them to look at me teasingly when they see me with him.

"Hindi ah," bulong ko pabalik.

She chuckled. "Halata mukha mo, girl."

I touched my face, wondering if what she said is true. Am I really obvious?

I looked back at Gray and Sheryl. Nagtatawanan na sila kasama 'yung iba naming mga kaklase. Some of them, would even teasingly push Sheryl to Gray. I just stopped watching. Hindi ko na kinakaya na makita 'yun.

When PE came, it turns out that we have to pick out partners. Hindi ko alam kung sino pipiliin ko. I wanted Allie to be my partner, para hindi awkward, but it has to be a guy. Mas marami kase ang babae sa klase namin.

"Lia, tayo nalang?"

Napalingon ako doon at nakitang nakangiti si Mason habang nasa likod ng leeg niya ang kamay niya. Mukhang nahihiya pang alukin ako.