Chapter 9: Lie Detected
Mica's POV
Kakauwi lang namin from Nueva Ecija. I just realized that it was not that boring after all. The fiesta was fun. There are contests, parades, we also explored the perya. Nueves missed out the fun.
I'm currently here at the gym na pagmamay-ari ko. It's my own business. Hindi pwedeng puro lang ako gastos, I need to earn and save too.
Sa gym na 'to kami nagkakilala ni Nueves. She enrolled here, something happened between us and we agreed to have that set-up.
"Mommy," I called my mom. She supervised this gym while I'm at Nueva Ecija just like what she said.
"Oh, Mica, why are you here? You should be resting at home." She said after kissing me on my cheeks.
"I just want to check here." I looked around. Everyone is busy with their own workouts. We have three instructors for the clients to have a guide with their routine.
"Don't worry, your business is doing fine." My mommy assured. As it should. I don't want to fail with anything. "How's your stay at province? Did you learn everything you need to learn?"
"Yes, my, but lola said I need to go back on plating season." I answered. I looked at the treadmill area where Nueves usually stays. She's still not there.
"Pwede ka bang bumalik on that time?"
"It depends po on my schedule. Malalaman ko palang sa enrollment."
"Ano bang tinitignan mo ro'n, baby? Are you checking on someone?" My mommy teased. Geez.
"No, my." Mariing tanggi ko. She just laughed at me.
"I need to go. Are you sure you're staying here?" I just nodded as an answer. Nauna na ring umalis si mommy.
I checked the log book. Nueves didn't go here for one week. So hindi na s'ya pumunta rito simula ng makauwi s'ya? And she haven't rang my phone or even chats. Hmm, I guess she's doing fine now? Maybe she's trying to erase her feelings for me. That's good for her.
"Looking for someone's name?" I immediately closed the log book when someone spoke. Tumingin ako kung sino 'yon and I was disappointed to see Niks.
"Why are you here, Niks? Banned ka na rito, 'di ba?" Nilagay ko sa table ang log book at pumunta sa pull-up bar. I started doing pull-ups.
"Anong banned? Sabi ko na nga hindi ko kasalanan 'yon! The girl approached me first tapos nandyan pala yung jowa at sinugod na ako. Of course I defended myself." Paliwanag n'ya habang nakasandal sa gilid with crossed arms.
"Whatever you say, Nixen." Sagot ko nalang.
"Makiki-gym lang naman. Ang susungit n'yo." Wika pa nito saka pumunta sa kabilang pull-up bar and started her pull-ups.
"It's not Free, Niks. Magbayad ka." I demanded.
"Next time na. May pinaglalaanan ako ng pera ko." Sagot n'ya.
"Ano?" I asked.
"I'm planning to buy a space for my own studio." She said and stopped for a while. "Tapos kapag stable na ako, mag-aampon ako ng baby ko at mamumuhay kami nang masaya."
"Stable? Mentally or emotionally?" I jokingly asked.
"Ulol, rejected." Banat n'ya.
"Ew, ghosted." I countered.
"Aba, gago ka ah." Kunyari ay susugurin ako nito pero natigil kami nang may isang boses ang magsalita.
"Niks! Mica," it was Nueves. Una kong napansin ang babaeng nakaakbay sa kanya. The girl is wearing shorts and sports bra. She has a short hair, like a pixie cut or something. Si Nueves naman ay nakasuot ng racerback top with leggings.
"Uy! Nueves, ikaw pala!" Agad bumaba si Niks sa pull-up bar at humarap kay Nueves. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko.
"Yup, need magwork out for work." Sagot n'ya kay Niks. She now turned to the girl she's with. "Hon, kaibigan ko nga pala si Niks. And that's Mica, s'ya yung may-ari ng gym." Nueves introduced us.
Hon? Short for honey? So is this her girlfriend or something? Ang bilis n'ya namang mag-move on. She just confessed to me last week..
Sumulyap sa'kin si Niks. May nakakalokong ngiti ito sa labi nang marinig ang hon galing kay Nueves.
"Hi, Niks!" The girl greeted Niks while smiling. "Mica, hello, I came here 'cause Nueves recommended your gym. I want to enroll here too para magkasama kami." She smiled at Nueves.
Hindi ko naman tinatanong.
"Hm, okay, then. Wait a sec, I'll just get the registration form." Paalam ko sa kanila. I glanced at Nueves, she's looking at me but she immediately looked away when our eyes met.
Pumunta ako sa maliit na opisina ko. Kumuha ako ng isang registration form at ballpen.
I sat on the chair for minutes thinking about my reaction to what happened earlier. Bakit ba ako naiinis sa presensya ng babaeng kasama niya? I shouldn't care. First of all hindi ko gusto si Nueves. I'm still on the process of forgetting Lili.
But what if I'm just annoyed because Nueves confessed to me and now she's with other girl? Like I feel that she's just messing with my feelings.
Fuck it. I'm not making sense anymore. Geez.
...
Nueves' POV
"Magjowa kayo?" Tanong agad ni Niks pagkaalis ni Mica. Nagtinginan kami ni Han at sabay na natawa.
"Magpinsan kami." Sagot ko. Bigla namang tumawa si Niks.
"Maganda to," nakangising wika ni Niks. Naguguluhang tumingin sa'kin si Han. "'Wag mong sasabihin kay Mica na magpinsan kayo ha." Usal n'ya.
"Why?" Tanong ko naman. Pero wala rin talaga akong balak sabihin dahil mukhang hindi naman s'ya interesado. Totoong wala s'yang pake sa'kin at totoong hindi kaibigan ang turing n'ya sa'kin.
"Basta." Sagot nalang ni Niks.
"Does Mica really stares like that?" Kapagkuwan ay tanong ni Han sa'kin.
"Yeah, gano'n lang talaga ang mata n'ya." I answered while imagining Mica's eyes.
Sa lahat ng features ng mukha n'ya ay pinakagusto ko talaga ang mata n'ya. Itim na itim ang mga ito, ang ganda rin ng hugis. It's rounded and the side is upwards. Nagcocompliment lalo sa makapal niyang kilay at pilikmata—
"Nueves," nabalik ako sa ulirat nang marinig ang pangalan ko.
"Oh?" I response.
"I said you can start now. I'll just fill out this form." Wika ni Han habang hawak ang papel at ballpen.
Shit. Nasa harapan na rin pala namin si Mica. Am I starting at her the whole time I'm spacing out? Mukha pa naman akong tanga 'pag gano'n. Mica's slightly grinning. Kainis.
"Okay," sagot ko nalang. Nilagpasan ko na si Mica at dumiretso sa treadmill.
Pwede ko naman siguro s'yang iwasan kahit s'ya pa ang may-ari ng gym na 'to, 'di ba? Ang lawak naman ng place e, 'wag lang s'yang didikit-dikit sa'kin—
"Thanks for recommending my gym to Nessy." Sagot nito habang inaayos ang mga dumbbell sa lagayan.
Oh wow, marunong na s'ya ngayong mag thank you?
"No problem." I coldly answered. Diretso lang ang tingin ko sa pader. Mas gusto kong tumingin dito kaysa sa kanya.
Kung hindi lang nagpumilit na malaman ni Han kung saan ako nagg-gym ay hindi ko naman sasabihin sa kanya. Tapos nagpasama pa s'ya. Paano ko maiiwasan ang isang 'to ngayon?
"How long have you known each other?" Tanong nanaman n'ya.
"Since birth." Tipid na sagot ko ulit.
"You're childhood friends?"
"Yes," pagsisinungaling ko. I don't know but I want to lie about this matter with her. Gusto kong may maramdaman s'ya.. I want her to feel.. jealous..
"Are you dating?" She asked again.
"Yup." Walang gatol na sagot ko. Tumingin ako sa kanya at ngumiti.
"But you just confessed last time," rinig kong bulong n'ya.
"I guess you were right. I was just confused, hindi talaga kita gusto." I sweetly said, may kasama ring matamis na ngiti.
Pero lahat ng 'yan kasinungalingan lang. I still like you, Mica, pero kung ganyan mo ako tratuhin, mabuting kimkimin ko nalang 'tong feelings ko hanggang sa mawala.
Hindi na ito nagtanong pa. Tahimik lang s'yang umalis sa tabi ko. Doon lang din ako nakahinga nang maluwag.
Nauna akong matapos magwork out kay Han kaya nauna na rin ako sa bathroom. Pagpasok ko ay nilapag ko muna sa sink ang mga gamit ko. I stare at myself for seconds hanggang sa nagbukas ang pinto at pumasok do'n si Mica.
Hindi ko sana s'ya papansinin pero lumapit s'ya at sumandal sa pader na malapit lang sa pwesto ko. Pinagkrus pa nito ang braso sa dibdib.
"Take back what you said." She firmly said. Ramdam ko ang malamig n'yang tingin.
"What I said?" Kwestyon ko habang nakataas ang kilay. Tumingin ako sa kanya and I confirmed that she's staring at me fiercely.
"That you don't really like me." Sagot niya. I smiled in my mind. Magdusa ka ngayon. Akala mo ikaw lang ang marunong maglaro? I can play this game too.
"Hindi na pwedeng bawiin ang nasabi na." Usal ko. Just like what she said. She can no longer take it back because the damage has been done.
"Nueves," tawag n'ya sa pangalan ko. Kinuha ko na kasi ang damit ko at naglakad papasok sa isang cubicle pero akmang isasara ko ito nang iharang n'ya ang kamay n'ya.
"Ano ba?" Naiinis nang tanong ko. Nakakainis na ha. Kung kailan umiiwas ako ay saka naman s'ya lapit nang lapit.
Buong pwersa n'yang tinulak ang pintuan. Mabuti nalang at medyo malayo ako ro'n kaya hindi ako natamaan.
"Mica, what the heck?!" Bulyaw ko sa ginawa n'ya. Bigla kasi itong pumasok sa loob sabay ni-lock ang pinto.
"You can't just be in a relationship with someone after confessing to me!" Sigaw rin n'ya pabalik.
"I can and you can't do anything about it!" Hindi rin ako nagpatalo at mas nilakasan din ang boses ko.
She suddenly stare at me. Parang binabasa n'ya ang nasa isip ko gamit ang mga tingin n'ya.
"Say that you still like me, Nueves." She demanded. She stepped forward resulting for me to step backward. Dahil masikip lang ang cubicle ay naramdaman ko agad ang malamig na pader sa likod ko.
"I d-don't like you, Mica. Stay away!" Pagtataboy ko sa kanya pero mas lumapit lang s'ya sa'kin. "Stop it!" Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko sa kanan dahil isang maling galaw lang ay maglalapat na ang labi namin.
"Say it, Nueves." Utos n'ya ulit. Kahit umiyak pa ako ng dugo rito ay hindi ko na aaminin ulit na gusto ko s'ya. She leans forward. Ngayon ay ramdam ko na ang hininga n'ya sa tenga ko. Fuck. Nakakapanlambot. "Say it to me, Nueves, say it.." bulong n'ya sa tenga ko.
"Walangya! Oo na gusto parin kita! Bwisit!" Sigaw ko saka s'ya tinulak palayo. Bwisit talaga!
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