Artistry of Love (Abstract Series #3)

Chapter 19

I simply shrugged, wondering as to why I should mention it again given everyone had already read his message on the gc this morning. Fun fact, ilang taon na kaming magkasama pero hindi pa rin kami friends sa facebook. Nobody bothered to add each other. I also deactivated my dummy Twitter account since I found it creepy. Parang ang stalker ng datingan ko.

"Ely," tawag niya ulit nang tumalikod ako kaya wala akong ibang choice kundi harapin siya ulit.

Parang bothered siya sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. "You seemed well."

"Thank you for taking the time to notice, but everything is fine. Ikaw din. You looked happy," sabi ko naman pabalik.

That is, of course, a deception. Nothing is going well. I have nightmares about that accident every time I see Achi struggling. I was a child when I witnessed the event, so it was complicated for me now that I am a grownup. Masyadong malalim ang sugat. Mahirap nang gamutin.

"It's good to know that you are living your life to the fullest," he said, looking content.

Nag-init ang puso ko. "Thank you, Trip. Really. I heard you are courting Jess. Binata ka na," biro ko.

His forehead creased. "I am not courting her."

"Pero doon din papunta," tukso ko. I still had feelings for him, but they were not as intense as they had been. Perhaps because he was my first love, it didn't entirely fade.

"Ayos lang sa 'yo na ligawan ko si Jess?" Halata sa mukha niya ang disgusto.

I smiled. "Oo naman. Bakit hindi? Bagay nga kayong dalawa." Jess is deserving of the finest, and I know Trip would cherish her. Sana lang hindi na niya ulitin ang ginawa niya noon. You can't really say you like someone while also admiring someone else. Unfair 'yon.

"Pero hindi ko siya nililigawan at wala sa plano ko," he explained.

Tumango lang ako. "Buhay mo naman 'yan. Una na ako at baka malate pa. I'll make sure to inform the group."

"Ingat," tipid niyang sabi bago ko siya tinalikuran.

Sa coffee shop na palagi namang pinupuntahan ako dumiretso. Everyone was already there, but they didn't mind me being late.  Nakakatuwa nga kasi naging friends na kaming lahat dito.

"Sabi ni Trip may practice daw sila ngayon kaya tayo muna," I told them, putting my things on the table.

"Yup, we read the groupchat," inaantok pang sagot ni Alice, a nurse student.

See? Nabasa na nila kaya hindi na sana needed na ulitin pa. Pero baka gusto lang talagang manigurado ni Trip.

"May nililigawan daw si Trip sa department niyo, Ely, totoo ba?"

I put down my book and turned to face them. While waiting for a response, their expressions were so amusing. My response seemed to be more significant than the lessons they were about to learn.

"I don't know." Nagkibit-balikat ako. I don't want to say anything misleading because Trip mentioned earlier that he was not pursuing Jess.

"Sure? Crush na crush ko pa naman si Trip." Dianne pouted. Member siya ng group at architecture student.

It's not something new. Trip is really popular. His personality, aside from his divine face, is something that anyone could fall for. Para kasing hindi siya marunong magalit.

"Kaya nga! Naku! Tuwing nagbabasa nga, tulo laway ang side view, sis! Ganda ng genes!" singit naman ni Ferdi, ang bakla naming kasama na isang Fashion Design and Marketing.

"Tumahimik ka, Ferdinand! Kaya ka bagsak sa quiz, e!" pang-aasar naman ni Gel na classmate ni Ferdi.

Ferdi snarled when he heard his name, which made us laugh. He hated being called that because he thought it was 'baduy.'