CHAPTER 2.2: The Planned Engagement (Part 2)

THINKING OF YOU

CASS

"This should do it." He said then handed me the paper containing the introduction for my research.

Chad asked me a lot about my research since he need my plans on how am I going to conduct it. Afterwards, he started telling me the right and concise way of writing the first part of my paper. I am very thankful that he did not ignored my callback last night. Buti na lang at hindi sya nagtampo sa akin.

"Thank you so much Chad! You saved my life!" I even placed my palm in my chest and then I left out a heavy breath na para bang nabunutan ako ng malaking tinik sa dibdib.

He suddenly chuckled at my reaction then he put down the pen on the table. "You're being exaggerated." He then gives me a genuine smile he never gave before.

This is the very moment we had this kind of talk. Masyado ko kasi talagang inilalayo ang sarili ko kay Chad. I never thought I hanging out with him can be cool because I am always fantasizing how romantic would it be with Zeke. I am missing the opportunity to meet another man with genuine kindness for me.

"Is it okay?" He asked again like he was still not sure if his help was enough.

"Yeah! Of course!"

May magagawa pa ba ako? The valedictorian of the batch did it so I have no doubt about his work. He explained it to me completely and everything he wrote was precised so wala akong karapatan na magbigay ng violent reaction.

"You can pass it later." Yeah, I will. Now let’s see kung may masasabi pa ang bwisit na research teacher ko!

***

"Are you sure this is your work Ms. Castillo?" Parang isa akong maliit na mikrobyo sa microscope kung tingnan ni Ma'am dahil halos pumikit na siya sa sobrang paniningkit. Idagdag mo pang nakasalamin ito kaya't pakiramdam ko ay buong detalye ng mukha ko ay tinitingnan nya. Her tone and her is expression scream a complete doubt with my work.

"Of course, ma’am! Hindi ako nakatulog nang maaga dahil dyan!" I tried to sound like I am suffering in insomnia and I am very exhausted but her face become even more dubious as she glances back at the paper then back to me.

"I know your works miss Castillo. This introduction of yours is far greater from your normal work. If I were to ask, I believe it is made by someone but not you." I know that she is completely right but I also felt hurt with what she said. Nanliit ako bigla.

"Well if you don't believe me ma'am, then it’s not my fault anymore. Hindi naman po siguro ibig sabihin na mahina ako sa klase, hindi na ako mag-iimprove." Seryoso kong sabi dahil parang na-degrade ako sa inasal niya. I know I am dumb but it does not mean that I cannot imprve you know?

"Go back to your seat Ms. Castillo." She annoyingly placed the paper in the line of papers in her table before dismissing me. She even rolled her eyes but I did not mind it anymore and I went straight to my chair.

"How was it?" Trixy immediately greeted me while leaning her elbows on the table of her arm chair and smiling at me like an idiot with her face leaning on her hands.

Agad ko itong inirapan dahil naiinis pa rin ako at sinabi niya kay Chad ang tungkol sa problema ko. “Well that monster doesn’t believe that it’s my work.” I irritatedly said before finally sitting in my chair.

"At least you had something to pass today kaysa naman na bulyawan ka ulit niyang si ma'am." This woman really knows what to say to outsmart me. She is right after all since this day would be hell for me if it wasn't for her asking help to Chad.

"Well, that's the only reason why I won't slap you in the face."

***

As a payment for Chad's kindness, I granted his wish and went to the Basketball court not just to see him but also to see Zeke. I am already placing a huge sports bag I brought and check out some things to know if may naiwan ako.Whenever I come here to watch Zeke’s training, I always bring a bag full of water, towel, extra clothes. But now, I doubled everything since Chad was the one who invited me to come.

"May dala ba akong extrang towel?" Panay ang check ko sa bag dahil ayokong isang towel lang ang gagamitin nina Chad at Zeke. Gusto kong amuyin nang magdamag ang mabangong pawis ni Zeke angel at ayokong mahaluan iyon ng pawis ni Chad.

"What did I tell you? You really don't know the term listen huh?" Speaking of the hot and handsome angel, I turned to face the man who angrily spoke to me with his cold voice.

Zeke is now standing while his arms are crossed and his face is pissed. He looks so nice in his blue jersey and his biceps are so freaking sexy!

"Alam ko ‘yong listen angel ko. Kanta ‘yon. Gusto mo bang kantahin ko?" Lalo lang naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin dahil sa pamimilosopo ko. Ang guwapo niya talaga kapag nagagalit.

"Sorry na Zeke oh! Inimbitahan kasi ako ni Chad! Pero don't worry, sayo pa rin ang support ko.” Pagpapaliwanag ko na ikinakunot naman bigla ng noo n’ya sa akin habang naka-igting ang bagang.

"Then go ahead and check out Chad rather than pestering me." He started walking away and it made me feel sad. I'm not pestering him; I did not even know where he was actually.

"Woah! May chicks!" Agad akong lumingon nang magsi-datingan na ang mga varsity players ng Mendel High. They are all looking at me with a playful smile in their faces.

"Si Cassidy Castillo ba yan?!"

"Ang ganda pala talaga ng lahi ng mga Castillo!"

They are all now talking about me which made me felt a bit shy since ako lang ang babaeng nandito at masyado nila akong pinupuri.

"Cass." Agad naman akong napatingin kay Chad na walang saplot pang-itaas at basang-basa. Hala? Bakit sya basa?

"Care to wipe me up?" Napaawang bigla ang bibig ko pero agad ko itong isinara dahil baka mahalata ng lahat. Uminit bigla ang buong mukha ko sa hindi malamang dahilan kaya't agad akong napalingon sa sports bag para ibaling sa ibang bagay ang atensyon.

"You look cute when you're blushing Cass." Lalo tuloy nag-ingay ang mga varsity players at inasar si Chad nang walang pakundangan. Gusto ko na tuloy kainin ng lupa sa sobrang kahihiyan nang biglang may lumagabog na bagay sa sahig kaya't nakuha nito ang atensyon ng lahat.

"We should all continue our training. Not to flirt around." Napatingin kaming lahat kay Zeke na bigla na lamang nagsalita sa tonong seryoso ngunit may bahid ng awtorisasyon kaya’t walang nagawa ang iba kundi ang sumunod.

"A-ahm Chad, start na daw kayo." Nahihiya kong sabi kay Chad dahil hanggang ngayon ay mainit pa rin ang mukha ko at ayoko nang makantyawan.

"I won't until you dry me up." Napangiti ito sa akin nang nakakaloko at lumapit pa sa akin na animo'y nanunukso. Lalo tuloy akong kinabahan pero wala naman akong nagawa kundi ang sumunod.

Nang magawa ko na ay napalingon ako ngayon kay Zeke na pinupulot ang mga nagkalat na gamit niyang mukhang nahulog kanina.

"Tulungan na kita Zeke---"

"Just keep doing what you’re doing. Dry that man's skin. You’re enjoying it aren't you?" Inis n’yang sabi at minadaling ilagay ang lahat ng gamit bago naglakad paalis.

"Zeke--"

"Let him be Cass. He hates you don't you see it?" I was about to follow him but Chad stopped me by grabbing my arm. Well I always see it. It is just that I do not mind about it.

***

"Oh! My sweetheart is here!" Tita Devin exclaimed when Chad and I arrived. He said he will take me to his house since my mother texted me that we will another dinner with them. Is it me or parang gusto na ata ni mama na tumira sa bahay nina tita Devin?

"I see you two are having fun together! I already hear the wedding bells ringing!" tita Devin excitedly said but I almost throw up out of shock. I tried to look at my mom who just laughed at the tease.

"Stop it mom. Let’s just eat then tell her the news." I suddenly glance at Chad who has a plastered smile in his face like he has something in mind. Looks like he knows what is about to happen and I do not have a good feeling about it.

"My son is right, let’s eat first." Tumango naman si mommy-bear habang nakangiti nang malapad kay tita Devin sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. I really smell something fishy about this news they want to tell me.

"We'll prepare the food." Masiglang sabi ni tita Devin at hinila si mama para dumiretso sa kusina kaya't agad naman akong naghabol.

"I'll help you guys out!"

***

"Tita Devin, why don't I see Zeke around?" I am actually busy at mixing the soup for our dinner when I realized that Zeke is not showing up. Hindi ko ito nakita pagpasok namin ni Chad so I waited but still, I have not even heard of Zeke.

"H-he told me that he can't come tonight. He's probably in his unit." He cannot come? But I thought he always stay at his unit every weekend yet it’s still Wednesday. What is going on with him?

"Did he tell you why tita?" Instead of answering, she just shrugged as a response and then everything went silent. Okay? Does that mean no one cares about it? And why do I feel like she was stammering?

"How was your date with Chad sugar-bum?" Now mommy-bear interrupted by asking a silly question since everything felt awkward.

"It wasn't a date mommy-bear. He just took me out then, we had some time."

"Oh, I'm sure dear it was a date! Don't deny it Cass! Don't worry, approved ko kayo ni Chadler baby."

This is what I really hate about staying with them. They keep on teasing me to someone I am not attracted! Why can they not just accept the fact that Zeke is the only guy I want? Ever since I was a kid until now, I am still in love with him! Is it not evident? Have I not proven it to everyone?

"It was not a date tita, I assure you that. We're just friends." Again, I tried to deny but they just laugh at me whenever I disagree. I really think they just keep ignoring my feelings.

"Soon sugar-bum. Soon you won't consider him as a friend."

***

We all sat on our chairs infront of the long table in the dining room of the Trevoirs. Nakaupo sa kabisera ng lamesa si titopapa then katabi nya sa kanan si tita Devina. Katabi naman ni titopapa si mommybear sa kaliwa kaya't magkaharap kami ngayon ni Chad habang katabi ang mga ina namin.

"The soup is great!" Ani ni titopapa pagkatapos sumubo ng isang kutsara ng ginawa kong sopas. Napangiti naman ako sa naging papuri nya sa luto ko.

"Well, my daughter is really a great cook." Proud and boast filled my mother's tone while smiling beside me at napahawak pa ito sa balikat ko bago bumalik sa kinakain.

"You should cook more often young lady." Tita Devin suggested as she look at me with her admiring eyes then glance at Chad who looks happy too.

"I want too tita but, mom will be lazy to cook na." Nagtawanan bigla sila habang si mama naman ay nakanguso sa akin kaya't nakitawa na rin ako. I was in the middle of a little happy convo with them when I remembered something.

"Uhm tita, what was the news you're about to tell me?" Agad silang nagkatinginang apat habang may malapad na ngiti sa mga labi. Looks like every knows about it except me. Maybe this news was made to surprise me.

"Well hija, this news was both decided by your mom and dad and us of course." Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sobrang pagtataka. I glance at my mom who seems very happy even though I haven't even heard any news from them.

"Well you see sugar-bum, you're already 18 which means you're in the legal age. Soon, mapapasayo na rin ang lahat ng properties na ipinundar namin sayo ng daddy-bear mo and we think it’s best to settle this thing since we are looking forward for your bright future..." Napakagat labi si mommy-bear na para bang naghehesitate pa s’yang sabihin ang balita but with trembling lips with a hint of excitement, she speak. "We both decided that you and Chad will be married after you graduate in college."

My eyes got widened and my jaw felt hanging. The information in my head were processing but my body was not functioning right. Maybe this is the state of getting really shocked. I am totally speechless.

"It’s for your own good sweetheart." I did not mind mom since my mind is focused to someone. Zeke.

I need to see him and I want him now. I cannot let this happen. Does he even know about this? Kaya ba s’ya umalis ay dahil alam n’ya ang tungkol sa balita kaya't ipinapaubaya nya na lang ako sa kapatid nya?

"I-I can't. I'm sorry. I need a break."

***