The Warden Doll

Chapter 23

Manipulative Sad Boi

I don't know how to react, I don't know what am I supposed to do right know. I've never experience something like this, okay?! Pero I heard you're supposed to thank them and if you're not interested in him or her, kindly reject him or her. But in the first place why would I thank this guy? Sinabi ko bang gustuhin n'ya ako? Kasalanan na n'ya 'yon!

"Ako, hindi kita gusto." I coldly told him then left him there. 

He wasn't being reasonable! Nakakainis! Did I ask him to do things for me? Hindi naman 'di ba?! Akala n'ya ba kikiligin ako at ma-appreciate s'ya kung patuloy n'yang gagawin 'yan? I tell you it's not something you should be proud of! 'Cause instead of feeling grateful, I feel burdened! Tingin ko ng dahil sa'kin kaya nagka-gano'n ang sitwasyon ni Red.

Naiiling na bumalik ako ng dorm habang kunot na knot ang noo, pagdating ko tuloy sa dorm ay nagulat si Jean dahil akala n'ya na sa kwarto na ako at tulog na, tinanong n'ya rin kung bakit basungot na basungot ang mukha ko. Nakabasungot din tuloy akong umupo sa lamesa dahil naabutan ko s'ya sa mini kusina namin na hindi naman namin madalas ginagamit since sa cafeteria kami kumakain and most hindi na kumakain ng breakfast.

"So what happened?" She asked me and sat in front of me. Napahilamos naman ako ng mukha bago magsalita.

"Elliot said he likes me." I saw how Jean's lips formed into 'o' then sips her tea.

"That's quite surprising." Sabi nito. "Didn't thought that he'd confess agad-agad."

"What?" Umarko ang kilay ko sa sinabi nito.

"I mean hindi na ako nagulat sa fact na gusto ka n'ya, it's pretty obvious kaya." Natatawang sabi nito. "So ano sinabi mo?"

"I right told him I don't like him." Kibit balikat na sabi ko and I saw again how Jean's lips formed into 'o' then sips her tea again.

"Oof." Tanging sabi nito at nailing-iling. "Pretty harsh."

"I mean hear me out." Sabi ko at nag-lean sa may lamesa. "Bukod sa wala naman talaga akong gusto sa kan'ya, he did something I didn't asked him to do. I mean in the first place naman talaga nakakairita s'ya because he never took me seriously but now that I've heard everything, hindi lang s'ya 'irita' eh, 'galit' na." 

"Why? What happened?" Jean asked then puts down her tea cup to fully listen.

"I don't know if you've heard of it but I sent four students kasi sa hospital, well wala naman talaga akong pake kung ma-expel man ako but that guy came then acted like a hero then viola! Instead of receiving an expulsion, I received a punishment that's on level 3."

"Uh shouldn't you be grateful?" Inirapan ko si Jean at pinagpatuloy ang pagku-kwento.

"Besides from that I met Red, Rowena's brother. Hinatid n'ya lang naman ako kasama si Rowena sa room pero pag-uwi ko nabalitaan kong na sa ospital na si Red at si Elliot ang dahilan." Napatango-tango naman si Jean nang maintindihan na ang gusto kong iparating. "Dude, who asked him to do such things for me? Is he expecting me to appreciate him more 'cause he said he did those things 'cause he likes me? There must be something wrong with his head!"

"I dunno what to say." Sabi nito. "You pretty much handled everything."

"Nah, I just want to vent out." Sabi ko at napailing-iling. "Itutulog ko na lang 'to. Good night Jean, thanks for listening."

"You're welcome, I'm always here to listen."

Sumalpak ako sa kama at muling napabuntong hininga, naramdaman ko naman si Vortex na sumampa sa kama kaya agad ko itong kinuha at kinulong sa bisig. As I curl up on the bed like a baby while holding my black cat, I couldn't help but think about Elliot.