Chapter 29

Charlotte Monica POV

Sumama ang timpla ng mukha ni Thirdy nang makita nyang naka-akbay, na halos pumulupot na ang braso ni Chris sa leeg ko, not to the point na hindi na ako makahinga pero iyong akbay na pang-kaibigan na parang he hugged me with his one arm around me. I know Thirdy doesn't like that but he has no choice, he can't complain, I'm a friend with this guy. And there's no malice, at least with me.

Nang nakalapit na kami, "I apologize about what happened earlier." Straight to the point na sabi ni Chris but Thirdy just gave him a straight face and maybe he nod a bit. He said nothing. Boys thing again?

Ewan ko sa kanya nag-apologize daw pero bakit masama pa rin ang tingin nya kay Thirdy napansin ko kasi nag-iba na rin ang expression ng mukha ni Thirdy. Tapos sinilip ko din ang mukha ni Chris.

"Ginagawa nyo? Magsusuntukan kayo dito? Thirdy! Chris!" Sinapak ko si Chris sa ulo dahil sya lang ang pwede ko masapak, nasa gilid lang ako ni Chris nakatayo.

"What the hell, Charlotte Monica!" Baling nya sa akin habang sapo nito ang likod ng ulo nya na sinapak ko just to get their attention, na nilingon ako.

"What the hell, Charlotte Monica." Ginaya ko kung paano nya sinabi ang pangalan ko. "What the hell ka dyan!" Matapang kong ani. "Magsusuntukan ulit kayo?"

"I'm trying to intimidate him." Mahinang sabi nya, as if Thirdy couldn't hear him.

"You can't intimidate him." Eh? Baliw na Chris, hindi ba nya alam na mas malaki ang katawan ni Thirdy kesa sa kanya? You cannot intimidate Thirdy just like that! You have to be tougher than him.

Tumawa bigla si Thirdy, natawa na din si Chris. Mga baliw. Pero nakitawa na din ako. I guess there's some hidden code within them, man to man, they don't have to put it in a word but by just staring at each other they already got the message for each other. And I don't know what it is. Men are unpredictable. Hard to understand. At least for me. Then maybe I need some advice from Enrique since that he told me once.

So are they friends? Friends with caution. Friends pero nakabantay sa isa't isa na parang ang isa ay may gagawing hindi maganda sa akin. I don't want to be the reason. And I don't want to be the center of anything. We're all friends. Walang special treatment.

Before Chris left, pinakain ko muna ng banana cake na gawa ni mama, hapon na rin naman. Alam ko matakaw 'yan pagdating sa bake or luto ni Mama, sya kaagaw ko at taga-ubos ng mga natira. Syempre kami din ni Thirdy kumakain habang nanonood ng movie sa star movies.

These days busy si Lolo Faust sa farm, madalas after lunch, binibisita nya ang farm. Siguro epekto na din ng insomnia nya. He needs a divertion to change the pattern of his sleeping hour. Iyon ang narinig ko, para daw mas mahimbing ang tulog nya sa gabi.

Matapos umalis ni Chris inaya naman ako ni Thirdy na pumunta sa cabin.

"Let's go?"

Eh? "Where to?"

"Cabin, maybe?"

"You done packing up your things?"

"Yes, can we go to the nearest mall tomorrow? Let's invite Chris and Erica, the girl's name, right?"

"Yes." I paused. "Why suddenly you asked me to go with you in the mall?"

"I want to give you something."

"Ok, ill ask mama later. And I'll invite Chris and Erica later too. Well, actually I want to give you something too."

"You, too, thought of that?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad, you think of me."

"Eh?" He just flashed a smile then my pat head and messing my hair. "Argh! Thirdy! Don't mess my hair!"

Humalakhak lang sya pagkatapos tumungo na sa hagdan, "See you later, Charlotte." Ako naman naiwan sa sala na naiinis dahil ginulo nya ang ayos ng buhok ko. Tss. Hindi na kami pumunta pa sa cabin this afternoon kasi masyado na din late, alas singko na ng hapon, siguradong pauwi na sila Mama at Tita Claire.

Later that night after we had our dinner

we talked about him and Chris. He said they were cool na daw.  Wala lang daw 'yong nangyari kanina, guy thing, that a girl like me won't understand. Well hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung ayaw naman nila ipaliwanag sa akin. Bahala nga sila, ang importante, okay na sila. Natawagan ko na rin kanina sila Chris at Erica, pumayag naman silang sumama. At nakapagpaalam na rin ako kay Mama kahit si Thirdy nakapagpaalam na rin. And yes pumayag naman sila. Pagkatapos namin nagkwentuhan, pumasok na kami sa kanya-kanya naming mga kwarto.

"Good night, Charlotte. Sleep well."

"Good night too, Thirdy."

Noong Sunday lang umalis sina Angelique, Brian at Enrique. Monday was hilarious, Thirdy and Chris almost had a fight. And he almost kissed me the reason why they almost strike each other. And today, Tuesday. Tuesday na! Thirdy already packed up his things. I want to give him something memorable. Yet tomorrow, pupunta kami ng mall. I'm excited!

Then I received a message from messenger.

"Still awake?" Thirdy? Napangiti naman ako. Alas diyes na kasi ng gabi pero gising pa sya.

"I'm still awake, Thirdy."

"I can't sleep."

"Why you can't sleep?"

"I'm thinking on what to give you."

"Thirdy, don't overthink. Whatever you want to give, I'll accept it, sincerely. Don't have to be fancy or expensive." Baka naman nag-iisip sya na dapat mamahalin ang ibigay nya, hindi ako ganoon.

"Alright. But still, I still don't know what to give to you."

"Uhmm. That's why we're going to the mall.  So don't overthink. And sleep now. Hehe."

"Alright. Okay. Good night again, Charlotte." 😘

Eh. Oh my gash! 'Yung emoji!

"You must be sleeping now, good night again. See you tomorrow."

Grabe, iyong puso ko, lumulundag! Hindi mawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. Hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko.  Gusto ko na rin ba sya?

To be continued..

📝 Jannmr