Our Alumni Homecoming

Chapter 12

"Ash..." yun lang ang mga katagang nasabi ko noong oras na iyon. I don't know what to say and feel but one thing's for sure. I really did miss this guy. Well, he's still handsome just like the old days but he's a man now. He'd grown a beard and had his body gained some muscles that made him even look more matured and man enough. I couldn't believe that I finally saw him. After 10 years!

"Hey, Chin," he said in a cold voice and offered his hand for a handshake? I guess. Too formal, don't you think?

Inabot ko ang nakalahad niyang kamay and shook it. He smiled then let go of my hand. I was about to hug him but before I could, he moved away and greeted Vince, Mark, Paul, George, pati na rin yung mga dates nila. I was a little moved by the way he acted in front of me. I see coldness in his eyes. Bakit? Ako nga ang dapat na umarte nang ganoon dahil siya ang hindi tumupad sa usapan namin last time at noon din bago ako umalis papuntang ibang bansa. Didn't he miss me?

I ignored his actions towards me and I went back to my seat and just looked at them. I saw George looking at me with a pity and shrugged off her shoulders before hugging Ash.

"Pare, I thought you're not gonna make it. Kanina pa nagsimula ang program." Sabi ni Mark habang hawak ang isang bote ng alak.

"Nagpakabusy na naman yan sa trabaho as usual," sabat ni Vince.

"Ako na naman ang center of attention," seryosong sabi ni Ash.

"Akala ko nga mang-i-injan ka," Paul joked. The guys and their dates laughed except for George.

"Tss. Hindi ko ugaling mang-iwan lalo na kung may usapan." I was shocked when I saw him looking intently at me. Ako ba pinatatamaan niya? I just let it pass. Pero naiinis na din ako. There was tension that's building up. Nararamdaman ko.

"'Cause the last time I talked to you, you were uncertain," dugtong pa ni Paul sa sinabi niya.

"Kung hindi naman ako makakarating, I'll let you know naman. Hindi ko kayo paghihintayin sa wala, right Chin?" He said while looking straight at me. Anger was written on his eyes. I don't understand him. Ano bang pinaglalaban nito?

"Really, Ash? Really?" I said full of sarcasm and I raised my eyebrows. Medyo tumaas na din ang boses ko dahil sa irita. I won't sit here and just listen to all his false accusations. I'm not that kind of person.

"Why Chin? Ganon ka ba?" he said full of sarcasm as if trying to push me to my limits. I looked around the table and saw their reactions. They were all shocked I guess. Before I could answer, George spoke that broke the tension that was building between the two of us.

"Hep, guys, enough okay? Stop na yan. We all know that you two missed each other more than anyone here. Is that your way of saying hi to each other?" George tried to joke and everyone except Ash and I pretended to laugh. 

Ash just shook his head as if disagreeing with what George has just said. I just rolled my eyes at him at alam kong nakita niya 'yun.

Vince cleared his throat and said, "Upo ka na, Ash," while pointing to the seat beside me.

"Hey, Mark move ka naman dun sa kabilang seat," sabi niya. Yung seat na sinasabi niya is yung seat na katabi ko.

"That seat is reserved for you, bro," Mark replied.

"C'mon Mark, gusto kong katabi si Paul may pag-uusapan kami," he said. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Paul sa narinig. Alam ko naman na hindi iyon ang tunay na dahilan. I'm so full of his drama. So before Mark made a move. I stood from my seat.