STATUS

CHAPTER 33

Rafael

I was staring at my phone as Trouble and I both entered the school gate while holding each other's hands.

It doesn't really matter if someone saw us. They already knew about STATUS. "Ahem!" I turned when I heard a fake cough from the back.

It was Pres.

"Can I borrow Attkinson for a minute?" Tumingin muna sakin si Trouble. "Yeah sure. Just make sure he wont be late from class" Trouble let go of my hand.

"I'll see you at lunch" Tumango ako. Nauna narin syang umalis kaya naiwan kaming dalawa ni Maya. "You're so good at acting! Ang ganda ng angle nyo dito oh!"

"Ah Pres" Awkward kong sabi.

"Hmm?"

"That's actually not fake" Napatigil sya sandali at biglang tumawa "Seryoso kaba jan?" Patuloy parin ang pag tawa nya hanggang sa maramdaman nyang hindi talaga ako nag bibiro.

"Seryoso ka talaga?" Tumango lang ako "Omg! That's good then, I'll create a fanpage for your love team. Staystrong" Natulala ako ng tapikin nya ako at masayang umalis.

"Umm" I was still processing what happened when the bell suddenly rang. I didn't get a chance to think deeply why the fuck is Maya's expression showing that she is expecting this to happen.

I went to my classroom. Luckily, the teacher hasn't arrived yet. "Psst" I heard someone calling me and it was Keisler.

"The photos are leaked all over face book. There were many photos of you two even before it was announced. Are you even trying to hide your relationship?" He whispered.

"We were hiding for months" I rolled my eyes "Really? Hindi halata" Puno ng sarkasmong sabi nya kaya napairap ulit ako.

"Wag mo akong tirik-tirikan ng mata Attkinson, baka ma sundot ko yan!" Inis akong humarap sakanya "Hindi ako tumirik! I only rolled my eyes!"  I said emphasizing the word rolled.

"That's the same thing" Nag salubong ang kilay ko "That's completely different things! Iba ang tumirik sa nagpa-gulong!"

We both stopped when we heard a loud banging sound coming from the front and when we turned, the teacher was glaring at us.

"Mr. Attkinson and Mr. Keisler! Out of my class now" Napalunok ako pati narin si Keisler.

"I said out!" Automatic kaming napatayo at lumabas.

Inis ko syang sinabututan habang naglalakad patungong canteen "Kasalanan mo talaga to Keis!"

"Oks lang, makaka-kain naman tayo ng maaga eh" Napa buntong hininga nalang ako sa katakawan nya.

My dad is going to kill me when he finds out what happened today. "Anong gusto mo? Shake or Softdrinks?"

"Libre mo?" Tanong ko at tumango naman sya "Dalawang shake. Isang strawberry at isang chocolate" 

He then gaved me the shake. "Where are you going?" I smiled at him "Trouble's classroom. I'll wait for him"

"Pano ako? Iiwan mo ako dito?" Nag kunwari syang nasasaktan kaya mahina akong natawa at tinapik sya "Humanap ka nalang ng jowang susundan kahit san mo gusto but for now kumain kanalang muna"

Muntikan na nyang mabato sakin ang dala-dala nyang pagkain. Buti nalang at nakatakas ako.

Nakangiti ako habang nag lalakad papunta sa classroom. Their class wasn't over yet so I waited for the bell to rang.

Trouble saw me and he looks confused but I just gave him a smile. Some of the students were looking at us.

There were many side comments.

Some were talking about our relationship and I could hear it from there. I can't believe their still whispering.

After thirty to fifty minutes, the class was finally over. "What are you doing there so early?"

"Pinalabas ako ni Ma'am" I said while awkwardly laughing. Natawa sya at ginulo ang buhok ko. "Stop doing that, I'm not a kid" I pouted.

"You're not a kid? But you're pouting like one" Napa-busangot ako "Why do you care? I want to pout, see" I tried pouting more.

"I also want to do this" Niyakap nya ako mula sa likod at sinubsob ang mukha sa buhok ko "It's smells good"

I can sense some curious eyes staring at us kaya napilitan akong kumawala sa pagkaka yakap nya.

"Let's go somewhere else, it uncomfortable in here" He chuckled and grabbed me.

We are both heading to the tree we used to go to spend time secretely, but now, it's not a secret anymore.

I can see a few students hanging out in there. Our spot wasn't occupied though. "I'll miss those times that we're still alone in here" I said when I saw a few flashing cameras.

The students here didn't really bother us by going against our relationship, they bother us by taking so many pictures and post it on different fan page.

It's annoying sometimes.

"Want to go to the rooftop?" Umiling lang ako "Nah, It's tiring to go there, let's just spend our time here" He agreed and gave me the lunchbox he prepared for me this morning.

"You're really good at cooking" I complemented him "Thanks,  Aside from being part of a family full of chefs, I also need to learn basic chores such as cooking and be independent"

"I admire you"

"Why?"

"Who wouldn't admire you, you lived by yourself for two years now without any help by your parents" I chewed the chicken nuggets Trouble cooked.

It's been awhile since he made this.

"That's not true, my condo was from my grandma" Napa tango-tango nalang ako "Who's your grandma?"

"I showed it to you already but anyways, here" He handed me the photo.

I was shocked when I saw him beside the old lady on the elevator "She's your grandma?"

"Yeah, why?" He asked with a questioning look. "I met her on the elevator when you were drunk.  When we went to the 30th floor last month, she's the old lady we were supposed to meet"

"How come you only know that now? I mean, I showed it to you once"

"My eyes were blurry because I was crying back then. The only thing I heard was your explanation and nothing else. Then I calmed down" Tumawa sya at sumandal sa balikat ko.

"Hey Attkinson, it's been a long time since I talked to her, wanna come with me?"

To be Continued....