The Secret's Magic

Kabanata 16

Everything's back to square one.

After the pageant, umuwi ako sa Whitehouse with my friends. Our plan na mag celebrate sana was postponed because they noticed my sudden change of mood that night.

I did everything. Lahat! Para lang iwasan siya. People may call me super sensitive and nag-iinarte, but can you blame me?

I thought we are getting along. Akala ko there's something building between the both of us na. Tapos I'll just see him hugging Yasmin?

Is that the reason why she kept on thinking that Almario's always there for her? Kaya ba ganon na lang niya isipin ang mga galaw niya? Because he's giving her false hope just like what he's giving to me?

He is so unfair. 

"Sabi mag review. Hindi tumunganga."

I got back from my reverie when Rod snapped his finger on my face. Mabilis kong pinulot ang reviewer ko sa table and tried to review again.

It's the last day of prelim examination, and our last subject too. May one hour pa before the last subject kaya we decided na mag library para maka review kami ng maayos.

Maayos, Calla? Kanina ka pa nag i-space out! Last subject na nga 'to, minor pa. 

"Ano bang problema mo, Jess? Ilang araw ka ng wala sa sarili." Mary asked me.

I heave a deep sigh before trying to neglect him from my mind.

"Just something...personal. Don't mind me, tara review."

I don't want to add some burden to them. I know they've been too stress these past days reviewing. 

"Hahayaan namin ngayon 'yan, Jessica. Pero kwento ka pag nasa Elyu na tayo ha?"

We planned to spend our weekend sa rest house nila Jam sa San Juan, La Union. Matagal na naming pinag plaplanuhan 'yan but we are too busy sa school. Mary's permitted by her parents naman kaya we are all set to go.

I need fresh surroundings too. 

Sinagot ko nalang si Jam ng isang tango at ngiti. Rod on the other hand's silently examining me.

Well, alam ko naman na they have the idea. Napapansin nila na I'm totally avoiding Almario. Again. 

"10 minutes na lang. Tara na."

Sabay sabay kaming tumayo at inayos ang mga kanya-kanya naming gamit. Our next room is sa third floor pa ng CBEA kaya it's nice na magandang we go there ahead of time.

"Sikat na sikat, girl!" Pang aasar sa akin ni Jam.

When I won last week, people started to recognize me kahit saan kami mag punta dito sa school. My fake IG account's also flooded with notifications and it gained a lot of followers.

Not that I'm not sanay sa fame, that's what I lived in sa Manila. 

"Swerte mo kaibigan ka." Asar sa kanya ni Rod.

"Syempre. Gusto mo itakwil ka namin?"

Umiling-iling kaming nauna ni Mary sa pag lalakad. There they go again. 

Maraming paakyat at pababa na nakasalubong namin sa stairs kaya hindi kami maka takbo para maka akyat agad. It's not time pa naman, pero syempre it's better kung makarating kami sa room ng mas maaga so we can scan our notes pa.

"Naku po," We all look at Jam when she speak. Binaling niya ang tingin niya sa akin bago siya ngumuso, na para bang may tinuturo. "Sunod ka nalang sa loob, Jess."