Chapter 13
"Ang tigas ng ulo mo."
Nilingon ko si Hayes na kunot noong nakatitig sa akin. Bahagya akong umilag sa titig niya at bumuntong hininga. Pinasadahan niya ng isang beses ang paa ko bago nilapat ang malamig na titig sa mukha ko.
"Sabi ko magdala ka ng slippers e."
"Next time," I smiled so he'd calm down.
Just another day of endless walking and my feet hurt again. I want to take his advice to bring extra slippers, but I forgot about it. Masakit na ang gilid ng aking paa at nasa ikalawang palapag pa lamang kami.
"Give me your bag."
Nilingon ko siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. I raised a brow at him. His brows connected, showing off that irritating glimpse in his dark blue eyes. He tried to reach out for my tote bag but I swat his arm softly.
"I can manage, alright." I glared at him.
Mabigat 'yong bag dahil makakapal 'yong libro namin at isa pa, may hydro flask ako ro'n. Pero kaya ko namang buhatin. I am not an athlete for nothing.
"Ang tigas talaga ng ulo." He groaned.
"Bakit kaya?" I smirked.
Hindi na siya nakipagtalo at hinayaan ako sa aking gusto. Busangot ang mukha niya habang paakyat kaming dalawa, nakasunod sa mga kaklase namin. Nang mag-uwian ay hindi na siya sumabay sa akin dahil may pinuntahan sila nina Angelo na hinintay pa siya sa labas ng room namin.
Kasabay ko sina Nikita papunta sa parking lot. Nagpa-iwan ako sa learning hall dahil wala naman na silang hihintayin tulad ko. Kailangan kong hintayin ang mga kapatid ko. It's been days of cold and silent treatment. Nagsasabay kaming tatlo papasok at pa-uwi pero hindi nila ako kailanman kinausap. Hindi rin naman ako nag-effort pang kausapin sila kahit na minsan ay nakakatampo na kapag hindi ako kabilang sa mga pinag-uusapan nila. Like always, I act like it's nothing.
Thirty minutes of sitting in the learning hall, I got bored. Alas singko pa lang naman. Dumiretso ako sa canteen para bumili ng pagkain. Tinitigan ko ang iba't ibang Donuts do'n habang inaasikaso ni Ate ang ibang estudyante.
"Anong sayo?"
Nilingon ko si Ate na nagtitinda. Tiningnan ko ulit ang mga flavours na natira. I sighed and pointed at two of my least favourite. Naubo na 'yong ibang flavours.
"Isang Maple Iced at Glazed Cinnamon po."
Nilagay niya iyon sa maliit na brown paper bag at binigay sa akin.
"Ano pa?" She asked.
"Isang fortified milk, Ate." I replied and gave her the money.
Naglakad siya papunta sa dalawang malaking refrigerator at kumuha ro'n ng inumin. I massaged my nape and fought the urge to yawn. I'm sleepy. We had a long quiz this morning, and I only slept for four hours last night.
"Ate, isang red Gatorade po."
I cringed on my place when I heard that familiar low baritone. My brows furrowed as I glance at the man standing beside me. Malik was looking straight at the lady vendor. I blinked at his face. I couldn't drag away my gaze when my eyes caught his side profile.
His Nubian nose looks so sharp at the angle. His face is sculpted in an oval shape, but his impeccable square-jaw made it look like it's not oval. And in this angle, his jaw is shadowed and more outlined. The curve on his neck moved once before he tilted his head and looked at me. His neck strained because of that.
Our eyes met, and my mind went blank for a second. My eyes went to the side of his jaw, where my fist landed. It looks fine, but the deep twisting of muscle in my stomach made me uncomfortable.
