Wonderful Tonight

Chapter FIFTEEN

It was Kaye.

Tahimik at nakapikit ang mundo. Tanging ang liwanag na lamang ng buwan at kaluskos ng kung ano anong insekto ang nakikita at naririnig sa paligid.

Lumapit ito at umupo katabi niya. Sa gitna ng kalsada.

Few minutes of surprisingly not awkward silence. It was rather comfortable than awkward. And you know what they say? If you can sit in silence with other people and still be comfortable, there's something... else.

Something more.

Pero ayaw niyang lokohin ang sarili at si Kaye.

"Uhm," Kaye finally breaking the ice.

Lumingon siya dito.

Stare.

"Sorry kanina," dagdag nito.

Sorry? Diba nga, siya pa ang dapat mag-sorry dito for acting rudely towards her?

"Ha?"

"For walking out?"

"Oo nga, bakit ka nagso-sorry?"

Umiwas ito ng tingin pero naka-smile, "Wala lang. Seems like I ruined your night?"

"Hindi ha. Worried lang lahat sayo."

Tumingin ulit ito sakanya, "Lahat?"

Nag-nod siya before looking at the stars.

"Pati ikaw?"

She couldn't help but smile. She tried stopping herself from looking at Kaye but to no avail. Pati mga mata niya, tina-traydor siya.

"Of course!" tumawa siya. "We're friends na kaya."

"Friends," pag-uulit ni Kaye. Hindi question kundi isang statement. Para bang confirmation na... oo nga, friends lang talaga sila.

"Diba friends naman tayo?"

Nginitian lang siya ni Kaye.

She smiled a small smile, "Sorry din kanina ha. Migz is my childhood friend kasi and he's really close to mama. Ayoko lang mag-isip siya ng iba."

"Ng iba?"

She nodded.

"Na you're hanging out with people like me?"

Napatigil siya. That wasn't what she meant, or at least that's not how she hoped she would sound. Pero kahit anong try naman yata, doon at doon pupunta ang subject.

"I mean... my parents are kind of strict."

"I get it," tumawa si Kaye. "Sanay na rin yata ako sa gantong scenarios."

Another moment of silence. Ayaw ni Kate maka-offend kaya hindi na siya nagsalita ulit.

Kaye is okay. She's fun to be around with, minsan nga lang, when people are looking, when people are listening, when people are aware, it gets hard. She hates judgement above all. Kaya nga she grew up trying to please other people when she shouldn't even care kung anong iisipin nila.

That't just how it is, eh.

"So... friends?" in-offer niya pa ang kamay para makipag-hand shake.

Ngumiti si Kate, "Friends."

She woke up with black circles under her eyes the next day. Nasa bahay sila ngayon ni Jhie, doing a school project.

Totoo nang school project hindi gala.

"Nagpuyat ka na naman?" tanong ni Mae.

"Go away."

Naglapag ito ng coffee sa table sa gilid niya at tumawa, "Ako na nga concern oh. Tsk tsk."