A Sky Full of Stars

Twenty-first Chapter: Confusion

Caden

I’m currently at the SU’s food court at the university, having some snack with my friend Joseph. He’s my close friend since high school. Kuya Chester’s actions towards Roma are bugging my mind these days. 

“Hoy, pare.”

I turned my attention to Joseph.

“Kanina pa kita tinatawag. Kung puwede raw makiupo sabi ng mga pretty girls na ‘to?” he said.

 At nakita kong may tatlong babae nga na nakatayo sa tabi niya. Tapos ngumiti sila sa’kin at kumaway. 

But I just made a cold, straight face and shook my head as a response.

“Sorry, girls. Better luck next time,” Joseph told the girls. 

You can see a huge disappointment on those girls’ faces. I also heard them whispering something as they walk away. Then Joseph turned his attention to me.

“Hoy, Pareng Rendel. Bakit ka tumanggi? Sayang ‘yon! Gaganda pa naman din ng mga ‘yon. Kala ko naman makakapang-chics na ako kapag dumikit ako sa’yo,” he complained.

“Narinig mo ba ‘yong sinabi ng mga babae? Napakasuplado mo raw! Porket pogi at matalino ka, ganyan ka na. Palibahasa kasi top three ka sa UPCAT passers dito sa campus,” he added.

I’m just ignoring his nonsense tantrums. I don’t care about those girls anyway. Besides, I’m busy thinking about something right now. 

Or should I say, someone?

“Hoy, gutay-gutay na ‘yang burger steak na ‘yan. Kanina mo pa tinutusok-tusok ng tinidor. Alam mo, kung ayaw mong kainin, ibigay mo na lang sa’kin,” he said.

Umiling lang ako habang ang atensyon ko ay nasa pagkain pa rin.

“Ah, alam ko na. May iniisip ka na naman, ‘no? Tell me, pare. Si Kiara the diyosa ba ‘yan?” he asked.

I shook my head, “No. I’m thinking about Kuya Chester,” sagot ko.

“Bakit naman? Ano ba ‘yon?” he asked.

I let out a sigh before I speak, “Well, it seems like...”

I turned my eyes on Joseph and he’s making a gesture telling me to continue talking.

“He likes my fiancée,” I spill out.

His eyes widened, “Ano? Talaga? ‘Yong fiancée mong hilaw? Anong name nga niya?” sambit niya. 

Joseph knew that Roma is living in our house.

“Roma Cassandra,” I answered.

“Ah yeah. The girl who helped you na bugbugin ‘yong grupo nila Marco. Ang angas ng babaeng ‘yon, eh. I want to know how she looks like,” sambit niya.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa bulsa ko. Pinunta ko sa gallery, and clicked Roma’s photo. Yeah, I have this photo of her na stolen pa. Then I showed it to him.

“Wow, pare. Not bad. She’s cute. Crush ko na siya,” sambit niya sabay tawa.

I looked at him, “Woah, pare. You know that I’m joking, right? Parang papatayin mo ‘ko sa tingin mong ‘yan, ah. Samantalang no’ng sinabi ko sa’yo noon na crush ko si Kiara, tumawa ka lang. ‘Yong totoo?” he said while his hands are raising leveled on his shoulders.

“Teka, bakit nga pala may picture ka niya? Kala ko ba ayaw mo sa kanya?” he asked.

I don’t know how would I response so I just ignored his question. Yes, I told him before that I don’t like Roma because she has a rough attitude.

Regarding this photo, it was taken that night after we have saved Kiara from being kidnapped by that Yakuza boss, Resty.

That moment when we’re leaning on my car while staring at the night sky. I laid my eyes on her after she removed her fake moustache and wig. Her long and straight hair was dancing with the cold wind that night.

Then I suddenly found myself staring at her. And you know what’s weird? I suddenly experienced that slow motion thing while staring at her.

And I realized that she’s indeed beautiful. To be honest, she’s cute though. But you won’t notice it on first glance because she’s always wearing her resting-b***h face. Kala mo laging may kaaway.

While she’s staring up in the sky and looking at the stars above, I don’t know what happened to me but I suddenly thought about getting my phone and secretly stole a shot of her. 

And that timing seems perfect because she’s smiling.

From that moment, I felt that my heart skipped a beat.

“Pero, pare. Eto seryoso. Isipin mo, kapag niligawan ni Pareng Chester si Roma at naging sila, magiging malaya ka na. Kahit si Kuya mo na lang ang pakasalan ni Roma, ‘di ba? At magiging malaya ka nang ligawan si Kiara ganda. It makes sense, right?” sambit ni Joseph.

I already thought about that but why I am feeling that there’s something off?

---

There’s still more than thirty minutes before our next class. I am sitting right now at a bench here on Freedom Park. Bigla namang nawala ‘yong kumag na si Joseph. Baka naghahanap na naman ng babaeng popormahan.

I looked at my wrist watch. I remembered that during this time, its recess time on Roma’s school. I wonder what she is doing right now. Have she eaten already? 

Maybe I’ll give her a call so I got my phone in my pocket. Then I searched her number on my contacts. Her name here was Cassandra. Then I dialed it. I can hear that it was ringing. Then after a few moments, she answered.

“Hello,” she said on the other line.

I paused all of a sudden. After a moment, I speak, “Hello, Roma.”

What the actual heck. Why am I feeling nervous right now? 

“Hello, Caden?” 

My heartbeat had suddenly risen like there’s something running inside it. I placed my hand on my chest to feel my heart. This is getting weird.

“Bakit ka tumawag? Anong kailangan mo?”

 Ang angas talaga ng babaeng ‘to.

“Nothing. Bored lang ako,” my alibi.

“Baliw ka. Ano nga?” 

Hindi ka lang maangas, makulit ka rin.

“Sino ‘yan, Roma?” 

I wrinkled my forehead when I heard a familiar voice spoke on the background. 

“Who are you with?” I asked.

“Ah, si Chester kasi nandito,” Roma answered. 

I was stunned. My chest felt heavy and also my breathing. I clenched my jaw and formed a fist. Then, I ended the call. 

Seriously? What’s with Kuya Chester? Is he really interested to my fiancée?

---

Our classes ended at four pm. I rushed on the parking lot beside Comm Arts building where my car is. After hopping inside, I quickly started its engine and drove as fast as I can. I need to go home quick and talk to that girl. Pasaway talaga.

UPLB Campus was only fifteen minute drive away from our house. Our computer-automated gate quickly opened when I push the horn of my car. After parking it inside, I quickly get out and rushed inside the mansion. 

I went straight to where her room is. But when I turned the knob, it was locked. So I knocked on her door many times until she opened it.

Her annoyed and irritated face is the first thing that I’ve seen. She let out a heavy sigh before she speaks.

“Anong ginagawa mo? Bakit kung makakakatok ka wagas?” she complained. It’s obvious that she’s annoyed and irritated to me. 

I get inside and closed the door, “Roma, mag-usap nga tayo.”

She wrinkled her forehead, “Tungkol saan naman?”

 “Kailan ka pa pinupuntahan ni Kuya sa school mo?” I asked her.

She turned her eyes away and thinks for a moment, “Mga one week na yata?” 

“At hinahayaan mo lang?”

“Teka, bakit mo ba tinatanong ha?” she asked.

 “Are you okay, Roma? Ine-entertain mo si Kuya gayong engaged ka pa sa’kin?” I asked. It seems like she got surprised to my question.

“Ine-entertain? Anong ibig mong sabihin? Teka nga, eh bakit ikaw? Nililigawan mo si Kiara kahit engaged pa tayo dahil ‘yon ang napagkasunduan natin, ‘di ba?” she reason out.

I’m just looking at her while she’s raising her eyebrows. Then she rolls her eyes on me. 

“May sasabihin ka pa ba?” she asked.

I was completely stunned while staring at her cold eyes. 

“Hoy, Caden! Naririnig mo ba ako?”

I came back to my senses when she raised her voice and snapped her finger in front of my eyes.

“Tititigan mo na lang ba ako?” she asked annoyed.

I can’t speak. It’s like I swallowed my tongue. I don’t understand what’s happening to me.

“N-no. I-I’m sorry,” I said.

---

 “Young master.”

Earl called me. He’s my personal butler for ten years. I am at my bedroom’s own living room right now. 

“Mukhang hindi po kayo mapakali. Ano po bang problema?” he asked.

Kanina pa kasi ako pabalik-balik ng lakad dito sa kuwarto ko. Baka nahihilo na siya kakasunod sa’kin ng tingin.

“Kuya Chester seems courting my fiancée. What am I going to do?”

He seems surprised to my question, “Young master, sa pagkakaalam ko po, nagkasundo po kayo ni Miss Roma na baliin ang engagement bago pa po kayo ikasal.”

I let Earl knew about our treaty. Only to him. 

“But we’re still engaged and yet…she’s letting Kuya Chester?” I answered.

“Pero ‘di ba po, puwede kayong makinabang do’n? Sa ganoong paraan, puwedeng mapabilis ang pagbali niyo ng engagement ninyo at maligawan si Miss Kiara,” Earl said.

I stopped all of a sudden. Then I sat on the sofa, “But…why do I feel that it was wrong?” I asked.

“Tanong ko lang po, Young master. Si Miss Kiara po ba talaga ang gusto niyo? O nagbabago na ‘to at si Miss Roma na ang nagugustuhan niyo?” tanong niya.

My eyes got widened, “Y-you think so? I mean, you think I already like Roma now?”

“Uhm, sa tingin ko po. Kasi sa totoo lang po, Young master, ‘yang mga kinikilos niyo parang nagseselos po kayo kay Master Chester,” he answered.

 I got stunned, and then I felt that my heart skipped a beat. I slowly turned my eyes away from Earl and placed my hand under my nose. 

Am I really getting jealous?

I don’t know what to say. Because even me, I don’t know what to think anymore. I don’t even understand how I’m feeling right now. But one thing is for sure. That amazona girl is driving me crazy.