A Thousand Wounds

Wound 12

Wound 12

Passable is an understatement to describe the artwork. I just told him that to spite him, but I never thought he'd be the one to turn the tables.

I entered the room with flustered cheeks. Nang maupo ako ay kuryuso akong liningon ng aking mga kamag-aral.

"Was that the great Cleyton? Close pala kayo, Belle?" usyuso nila kaya naman umiling lamang ako sa kanila.

Siguradong chismis na naman ito. Sa harap ba naman ng classroom maglandian, kung landian nga ba 'yon.. For sure, many noticed our interaction earlier.

"Nah.. It's nothing much. May pinagawa lang ako," I tried to reason out but failed miserably.

Mas lalong lumaki ang kanilang mga mata. Lumapit pa ang mga girls sa akin kaya naman nataranta ako.

"Really, huh? You're lying eh.." the girl beside me commented.

"Sabihin mo na kasi. What's the score between you two?" sabat pa ng isa.

I was about to deny it again, but Mara interrupted us. "She said it's nothing. Bakit ba ang kulit ninyo?"

Natahimik ang mga classmates kong maisyu't chismosa.

"Sorry," they apologized and moved away from me. Napawi ang mga kababaihang nakakumpol sa akin nang makalapit si Mara. Takot ata sila sa top one namin na parang nangangain ng tao.. I stifled a grin with my thought.

"What's that show earlier, bruha?" nakatikwas ang kaniyang kilay kaya naman napaseryoso ako.

"That was nothing. Ano ka ba?" pilit kong tinakpan ang aking kaba at ngumisi sa kaniya.

She stared at me quizzically, as if I'm an interesting specimen under the lens of the microscope before she shifted her gaze to the artwork placed above my desk.

"Is that your project?" she asked.

Tumango ako at tarantang kinuyom ang palad sa natatantiya niyang pagpuna.

"Ang ganda naman!" papuri niya bago bumaling sa akin.

"Kanino mo pinagawa 'to. Kay Cleyton ba? Nakita kong inabot niya sa'yo 'to," she inquired with her observing stares.

Kabado akong ngumiwi sa kaniya. "Uhmm, he offered help, so I accepted.." tipid kong wika.

Nagtagal ang kaniyang tingin sa akin. "Does he like you?" she blurted out, which caught me flabbergasted.

"What? Of course not," iling ko agad. "I heard he has a girlfriend already," I tried to find a way out.

"But why would he offer help to you? That's quite interesting, bruha," hindi pa rin nagpadaig si Mara.

"I asked for help from Michael, okay? Siya ang naki-usap kay Cleyton," pagsisinungaling ko. Sorry, Michael, for using your name. But it's also partly your fault!

"Friend na pala kayo ni Michael? Ang famous mo naman, bruha!" komento niya kaya naman natawa ako.

"Nandiyan na si ma'am," rinig kong kumosyon ng aking mga kamag-aral kaya naman napalingon ako sa labas.

True it is, our Arts teacher is already approaching.

"I have to go, bruha. Balik na ako sa upuan ko," rinig kong paalam ni Mara kaya naman tumango ako.

But before she could leave me totally, she stopped midway and spoke something that shook the hell out of me.

"I see nothing wrong with you and Cleyton, Belle. Ang gusto lang namin, kung may problema, you can always tell us so that we'll understand you."