Who Knows I’ll Be Keeping You

Chapter 21: Bestfriend

Mira Lea Diaz’s Point of View

“What kind of crap is this? Bakit ang pangit ng taong pinakuha ni mom sa akin?!” sigaw ko sabay turo sa mukha ni Marco.

Bakit ang pangit pangit ng mukha niya?

“Pardon?” tanong niya na parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

“Ang sabi ko, taxi driver ka na pala ngayon. Congrats, baka ma promote ka na susunod na buwan.” nakangiti kong sabi at humarap na sa daan.

“What the hell Mira?!” he shouted but I never looked at him again. Wala siyang ibang choice kung hindi ang paandarin ang kotse at bumyahe papunta sa kung saan man sina mom at dad.

I acted like I did not know him at all and I was just busy with my phone. Sinubukan niyang tawagin ang pangalan ko pero inilagay ko na sa aking tenga ang air buds na dala-dala ko. I’m glad that I never forgot to bring this one with me. Baka nagbangayan na kami ni Marco kapag hindi ko to nadala. Kahit na wala naman talagang musika ang naka play, nagbuntong-hininga lang si Marco at deretso na ang tingin niya sa daan. I slightly smiled knowing that I got rid of his activeness and him being too loud.

We arrived in no time thanks to me, keeping myself busy with my phone. Lumabas ako ng deretso at naunang pumasok sa restaurant. Nang makita ko sina mom and dad, naglakad ako papalapit sa kanila at napangiti naman sila ng makita ako.

“Bakit kailangan niyo pa po akong ipakuha? Sabi ko naman po diba na you will spend your time together? Just the two of you?” I said.

Sabi ko naman kasi sa kanila na mag date na sila dahil aalis na naman si dad baka next week. Ang dami kasi niyang mga seminar na pupuntahan at isa siya sa speaker noon kaya kailangan niya talaga na pumunta. Hindi ko naman talaga nakikitang nalulungkot si mom tuwing umaalis si dad pero ramdam ko na iba siya kapag nandiyan di dad at magkasama sila.

“I’m sorry Mira. We got excited knowing that you have a guy friend at your school. Is that true?” tanong ni mom sa akin.

“What? No! Wala po akong kaibigan sa na lalaki. Si Keren lang po ang kaibigan ko.”

“Don’t lie to us. He know you very well.”

“Sino po ba?”

“Eto na pala. Papasok na siya.” tumalikod ako at tiningnan kung saan nakatingin ang mga magulang ko. What the hell? Marco? Paano ko naman siya naging kaibigan? Ni hindi ko nga siya tinuturing na kaklase ko. Argh! Ano na naman ba ang pakulo niya ngayon?

“Akala ko po taxi driver siya.” bulong ko kay mom at pinalo naman niya ako.

“Ikaw talagang bata ka. Tumahimik ka na nga lang.” saad niya.

Hinintay namin na makaupo si Marco sa tabi ko. Basically, ang mga magulang lang talaga ang naghintay sa kanya. Argh! Gusto kong sumigaw ng malakas pero walang boses ba lumalabas sa bibig ko.

Ang paulit-ulit naman na tanong ng isip ko ay kung bakit nandito si Marco at paano niya nakilala ang mga magulang ko? I mean, yes, my parents are famous but the people who know them really well are those who are into arts and their crafts. Hindi naman halata kay Marco na may iniidolo siya dahil sarili pa lang niya, sobra na niyang mahal. May panahon pa ba siya na mahalin ang iba kung sobra sobra na ang ibinibigay niya sa sarili niya? Tch.

“Thank you for picking up my daughter Marco.”

“No problem tita. It’s actually a pleasure for me. We got to talk about stuffs at school.” matapos niyang sabihin iyon ay matamis na ngumiti si mom sa kanya at tumingin sa akin. Bakas na bakas sa mukha niya na proud siya sa akin at sobra sobra ang saya niya. Hindi ba niya nakikita na nagsisinungaling lang si Marco?

“Oh. That’s sweet. Best friend ka talaga ng anak ko. Hindi kasi masyadong nakikipag-usap ang babaeng ito sa iba. Lalo na kapag ayaw niya. Though, sa pagkakaalam ko ay ang dami niyang kaibigan, mabibilang lang sa daliri ko ang para sa kanya ay tunay.” sabi ni mommy at halos maiyak na siya sa mga sinabi niya.

Gaano ba ka big deal kung wala akong masydong kaibigan? It’s good to have a few friends that are the real ones instead of having so much people on your circle without you knowing that some of them did not treat you the same way. And I don’t like that. Keren will surely agree with me kasi ayaw din ng babaeng iyon sa mga plastic at kumakaibigan lang kapag may kailangan. Palagi na kasi siyang biktima sa mga ganun. Alam niyo naman, napakatalino ng kaibigan ko kaya marami talaga ang nagnanais na maging kaibigan niya para may tumulong sa kanila sa mga gawin. Ang hirap kaya ng law at wala ka na talagang panahon para mag party at magbulakbol. That’s the reason why Keren only has me on her side. She is really lucky to have me!

“That’s what I have observed as well tita. That’s why I approached her and make friends with her. She has a very good attitude.” nakangiting wika ni Connor. Is he trying to make me feel bad because I don’t treat him good. Because I think he is being sarcastic right now just to mock me.

“Thank you for not giving up on our daughter easily. She’s really sweet if you will just have the patience to know her.” my dad said and smiled at me. Ngumiti din ako sa kanilang dalawa ni mom pero ng magtama ang tingin naming dalawa ni Marco ay napawi lang din ang ngiti sa mukha ko.

“I know po. That’s why I am trying to be patient at her.” Marco said while staring at me.

Ako na mismo ang bumitaw sa pagtititigan naming dalawa dahil hindi ko kayang magtagal. Mas lalo akong nahihiya kapag nakikita ko ang mga mata niya at naiisip ko kung ano bang klaseng tao si Marco. Argh! Bakit ba ako curious sa buhay niya?

“Let’s eat. Your dad already ordered the food. Wala na ba kayong ibang gusto?” tanong ni mom sa aming dalawa. Pareho naman kaming tumanggi ni Marco kaya nagsimula na kaming kumain.

Ilang oras din ang tinagal namin sa restaurant dahil naisipan ni mom at dad na isama kaming dalawa ni Marco sa simbahan. Marco also said that he was about to attend the third mass in the morning but he was late so he stayed at the restaurant. My parents got late also so thy went to the same restaurant where Marco is and so they met. I really can’t accept the fact that Marco know my parents and he is a fan of them. Is he doing all of these things to annoy me more? Because he is slowly gaining the victory that he always wanted.

“Marco, can I ask you to drive home Mira?” mahinang sabi ni mom kay Marco. Agad naman akong lumapit sa kanila at mahinang pinisil ang braso ni Marco.

“Mom, I can go home with you.”

“May pupuntahan kami ng dad mo Mira. Baka mamaya pa kaming gabi umuwi.”

“Then I can go home on my own.” I said trying to convince my mother that I really don’t want to be with Marco for the second time on his car. Argh!

“He is your friend Mira and I trust him. I know one of his relatives so I don’t need to worry.”

“What?” naguluhan ako sa sinabi ni mom sa akin pero hinawakan na ni Marco ang kamay ko. Why the f*ck is he holding my hand in front of my parents?! Argh!

“I will take care of your daughter tita. Don’t worry po.” Marco said and he slowly pulled me towards his car.

I never had the chance to look back at my parents because he was really walking fast and he is pulling me for goodness sake!

As both of us got inside his car, I threw my phone at him. Unfortunately, nasalo niya ito at ngumiti pa sa akin.

“What is wrong with you jerk? You are a real idiot! Ginugulo mo ang pamilya ko!” I shouted at him.

“What did I do? I did nothing wrong. Did you see the smile on your mother’s face? I made her happy! And your dad as well.”

“Is this what you are planning to annoy me? Because your existence is already annoying for me! Bakit kailangan mo pang idamay ang mga magulang ko sa kabobohan mo?!”

“I may not be that smart but I am not an idiot. I know what I am doing and I am also giving you a favor.” he said.

I sighed because we really can’t end this fight if no one will shut up. Mas mabuti pa na iuwi niya na lang ako sa bahay para hindi ko na siya makita pa at hindi na ako magagalit pa.

“Just drive me home.” I said and looked outside. Napadaan din sa amin ang sasakyan nina mom at dad. Bumusina lang si dad kaya sumagot naman si Marco. Bakit nangyayari ang lahat ng kamalasan sa buhay ko? Argh!

“Do you want to go somewhere before I drive you home?”

“I want to go somewhere without you. Gusto kong pumunta sa lugar na hindi kita nakikita. You are totally ruining my plan and my life.” I said with full of seriousness.

I heard Marco sighed but I never looked back at him. Nagagalit ako lalo kapag nakikita ko ang mukha niyang nakangiti kasi alam kong kahit na ano mang oras ay gugulihin pa rin niya ako.

“I think I have said this to you a couple of times but I really like. I know you already know that but it seems like your reactions towards me did not change.” he said that made me look back at him.

Seryoso ba siya? Mag d-drama siya ngayon? Kasi ako, gusto ko ng umuwi sa bahay at mapag-isa. Ano na namang kadramahan ang gagawin ni Marco ngayon? Iiyak ba siya ng dugo kasi handa kong salurin kung iiyak man siya ng dugo.

“Are you trying to make me laugh?”

“No.”

“Then what kind of sh*t are you talking about? Just drive and shut up.”

“I wanted to know your thoughts.”

“I already told you, my thought is to shut you up.” I said bluntly.

“Is there a chance that you will like me?” he asked and that statement alone made me laugh. “Why are you laughing? I’m serious.” Marco said at tiningnan ko siya sa mga mata niya pero wala akong maintindihan dahil tawang-tawa pa talaga ako sa mga sinasabi niya ngayon.

“You are funny.” I said and then laughed again.

Hindi pa man ako natapos sa pagtawa ko ng bigla niyang hinawakan ang baywang ko at inilapit ako sa kanya.

Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya kaya hindi ako gumalaw at hinayaan si Marco na hawakan ang baywang ko. Wait, is he really touching my waist?!

“What the f*ck Marco?!” I shouted at him. Ang lapit kasi ng mukha niya at nararamdaman ko na ang paghinga niya. Kahit na ang dami naming kinain kanina sa restaurant, and bango pa rin ng hininga niya. Tao ba ‘to?

He then moved closer towards me and that made me stopped him through putting both of my hands on his chest. It feels so hard just by touching it. Nag g-gym ba si Marco? Argh! Bakit ba tinatanong ng isip ko ang mga bagay na iyan? Hindi dapat ako mag-isip ng mga ganyang bagay ngayon. Crap! Ang lapit na niya sa akin!

“Wh. . . at a—re you do. . . ing Ma— Marco?” I asked stuttering.

A mischievous smile was plastered on his face and he went more nearer. I could feel his lips on mine but he is not kissing me. What the hell is he doing?

“Don’t trigger me, best friend.”