Chapter 2

I've searched for Hillary after knowing what she'd written in the paper she'd given, but Sun said after I went out of the room, Hillary came back and she gets her bag and left so soon. Hindi ko man lang siya nakausap to clarify if she's just pranking me or what. Pero, dahil panibagong araw na, edi panibagong pagkakataon naman.

Dumiretso ako sa clasroom namin, but I've seen no one. The intramurals continued, kaya nagsiliparan 'yong mga kaklase ko. I went to the teacher's table and wrote my name on the attendance list placed above. Tapos hinanap ko 'yong pangalan niya kung nakalista na ba siya and yeah, andito na nga siya.

But, the problem is, I don't even know where does Hillary probably by now. Hindi ko rin alam kong sa'n siya tumatambay. Tsk!

"Sky!" napatingin ako agad sa kaniya na kasalukuyang nakadungaw sa may pinto.

"Vee," I raised my hand and greeted her. She gave me a smirk afterward. "What?" takang tanong ko dahil talagang ang laki ng ngisi niya habang papalapit siya sa'kin.

"Looking for her, 'no?" kapansin-pansin talaga ang panunukso sa boses niya. Tsk. Ang aga! "Umalis na siya ng school," aniya habang tinatapik pa ang braso ko.

Kapag talaga may event sa school attendance lang ang pinupunta ng mga kaklase ko.

Pero, dahil umalis na nga raw si Hillary ibig sabihin isang araw na naman akong makukyuryos!

I shook my head, then I get my bag. "I'm not looking for her," pagsisinungaling ko pa. "But, thanks for informing me, Vee, though it's not important for me to know if she's here or not," tapos sinenyasan ko na siya na aalis na 'ko.

Pero, hindi ko inaasahan na susundan niya ako. She taps my arm, all of a sudden, then she said, "alam mo, Sky, masyado kang defensive."

Tss. Masyado ka ring manhid!

"Where's my twin?" I changed the topic. Ayokong mag-usap pa kami tungkol sa defensive matter at baka sa'n pa mapunta.

She shrugged as she rolled her eyes inwardly, "busy flirting around," she replied.

I chuckled with what she'd said. That's her term when Sun's busy conversing with other girls. "Are you jealous?" Wow, Sky, where did you get your strength to ask such a question? Minsan napapahanga na lang ako sa sarili ko. Akala mo kung sinong matapang!

"Of course," napangisi ako sa sagot niya, pero agad ding napalitan ng pagtataka ang itsura ko nang lumapit siya sa'kin saka sumigaw sa may tenga ko ng, "NO!" tapos natatawa pa siya nang makita na muntik na 'kong mabingi. Tss. But, I ended up smiling.

I know that Veia has a huge crush on my twin. Noon pa man alam ko na 'yon, bago ko pa siya naging best friend. Kaya lang it seems like she's not confident to tell her feelings for my twin. Siguro dahil she's thinking about Sun's standard? Si Sun kasi her ideal type is beyond opposite with Veia, kaya ayan, her confidence went down.

I let out a deep sigh, "why do people keep on hiding their feelings?" I asked out of nowhere as we continued walking.

Inakbayan niya naman ako agad. "Kaya amin-amin din Sky, 'no?" aniya habang tapik-tapik ang likuran ko.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya na nasa daan lang ang tingin. Ba't pa 'ko aamin sa babaeng 'to kung alam kong useless din naman sa huli? Better hide this, Vee, until I forget my feelings for you.

"Sky!" may babaeng biglang lumapit sa'min kaya napatigil kami sa paglalakad.

"Yes?" I replied, smiling.

She's hiding something from behind and I guess she's hesitating to give it. "Hmm...h-here," she handed me a paper bag after a moment.

"What's this?" tanong ko.

"A gift for you, I hope you will like it," she replied.

"Para saan?" hindi ko naman birthday, walang okasyon kaya bakit may paregalo?

"Remember Yara?" tanong naman niya kaya bahagya akong nag-isip.

"Yara?" tanong din ni Veia. "Oo, Sky, siya 'yong lalaking nakita natin na umiiyak sa field dahil clueless talaga siya sa assignment niya tapos tinuruan mo, remember?" napangiti ako nang maalala ko 'yon saka ako napatango.

"Yes, that's him. I'm his sister and he's kinda shy to say his gratefulness to you personally, Sky, that's why I did it on my own. Hindi lang 'yong kapatid ko 'yong dapat magpasalamat ako rin," nakangiti namang sabi niya na agad ko ring ikinatuwa.

One of the best thing that I wanted to hear is to know that someone is grateful that I exist. Ang sarap lang sa feeling.

I nodded as I gave her another genuine smile. "You're welcome," I replied. "Thank you so much for this, Lira," dagdag ko pa. She asked for a hug before she bid her goodbye at syempre, pinagbigyan ko siya.

"I really am so proud to have a best friend like you, Sky," sabi pa ni Veia nang mag-umpisa kaming maglakad.

"Talaga ba?" I acted like I don't believe in her.

"Oo naman! Kaya I want you to be my best friend, forever!" she uttered with her whole sincerity.

That's it, Sky! Best friend, forever. Walang ka filter-filter niyang sinabi 'yan kaya sana naintindihan mo. BEST FRIEND ka lang.

Naupo kami sa bleachers nang makarating kami sa gym. Lumapit naman agad sa'min si Sun nang makita kami. "Hey!" tumabi siya kay Veia na agad lumipat sa may kanan ko, "you mad, Bee?" Sun somehow pulled a joke.

"Vee, not Bee, since when did I become a bubuyog?" tanong niya na talagang halata ang pagtataray. I knew why she's acting like this. Kanina kasi pagdating namin dito ay nakita namin si Sun na nakikipag-tawanan sa mga babae. She's jealous, no doubt.

"Alright, then let me change what I've said," usal na naman ni Sun na ang laki talaga ng ngiti. "You mad, Veeybee?" tanong niya at pareho kaming natawa pagkatapos.

This man really loves to annoy the woman he's in love with and I am in lo-nevermind!

"I hate you, Sun! Bumalik ka na nga lang sa pakikipagharutan mo ro'n sa mga babaeng 'yon," inis niya talagang sabi at itinuro 'yong mga babaeng agad kumaway sa'min nang tiningnan namin sila.

Hindi 'yon pinansin ni Sun at nagpalipat-lipat sila ng Veia ng upuan. Kapag tumatabi si Sun sa kaniya ay lumilipat siya agad at susundan na naman siya ni Sun. Nagmistula silang mga bata, but they look happy with what they're doing and I just want to leave them and get lost!

Ba't ba kasi hinayaan ko 'yong sarili kong mahulog nang gan'to? Umpisa pa lang alam ko nang may gusto na 'yong kakambal ko sa kanya, pero minahal ko pa rin siya nang higit pa sa best friend!

"Sky, help me to get rid of this annoying creature!" she said while trying to take off Sun's arm, but my twin just clings into her even more.

"No! Your best friend won't ever do that, right, Bro?" 'yong tinginan talaga ni Sun ay sinasabi sa'kin na umu-o ka, Sky.

Napailing na lang ako at saka ako tumayo, "I'll leave you here. Nag text si coach kailangan ko mag practice, I have a game tomorrow," hindi ko na sila hinintay pang sumagot at tuluyan na 'kong umalis. I just tortured myself there, mas mabuti pang mag practice na lang ako for my game tomorrow.

"Coach," I called her as I entered the archery room.

"Oh, Sky, ba't ka andito?" she asked, pero 'yong atensyon niya ay nasa kaniyang mga paperwork.

"Practice," I replied as I am looking for my bow and arrows.

Napatingin siya sa'kin habang nakangiti, "you no longer need it, Sky," aniya, pero umiling lang ako.

"Let's not be confident this time, Coach, I heard that the Tertiary's individual event archeries are very competitive," sagot ko at naglakad papalapit sa table niya.

"But, I know my Senior High archeries are more competitive than them, lalo na ikaw," talagang kumpyansya siya sa skills ko kaya mas lalo akong napipressure. Ngumiti na lang ako sa kaniya at saka ako dumiretso sa Archery area. Mabuti na lang at walang katao-tao rito ngayon kaya mas magandang magpraktis.

I stood up 20 meters away from the archery target. Then, I raised the bow, aiming to shoot the most center ring and make a bullseye, but I suddenly heard a snore behind the tree.

As a human who eventually gets curious, I decided to look for that person who snores so loud. Naglakad ako ro'n nang dahan-dahan at saka ko nakita ang isang babaeng nakasandal sa may puno, natutulog at humihilik pa. Napangiti na lang ako bigla. Akala ko kung sinong Sleeping Beauty ang naririto, eh.

I bent down and stare at her for a moment, then I unconsciously asked, "I thought you already leave?" with a smile drawn on my lips.