I watched them for a minute from a great distance, hindi pa sila nakakalayo. I don't know what exactly they are talking about but the girl laughed. He then offered help to carry the girl's books, and the girl handed the books to him.
Ang akala ko ay tatahimik na si Tori kung sasabihin ko na hindi ko gusto iyong tao pero lumalala lang ang pangungulit at pang-iinis niya sa akin dahil walang pakundangan akong bumuntong-hininga habang naglalakad na kami sa daan.
I didn't mean what I had said to Tori. It was a lie.
Why it is so easy to lie than to tell the truth? I mean, to cover up the truth, we have to lie. But.. In different circumstances or situations, a different form of lie you applied. Some are for great pleasure, selfishness, or whatsoever. Some are protecting the person not to be hurt, another reason is coating the truth with a lie because they don't want to end everything that they have for that person. I know, it's an awful act to lie. I didn't want to lie to others, but I'm a coward.
Luckily enough, Tori stop interrogating me when we parted ways and I came to university with slumped shoulders.
Lunchtime came, Ashton never mentioned anything. I waited for him to tell me but he didn't. My entire system was bothered. Ang sabi ay sasabihin niya sa akin kung may nililigawan na ito. Nakalimutan ba niya ang napagkasundoan namin?
O baka ganun lang siya sa lahat? Is he that sweet to all girls? Are we all treated the same way?
I'm annoyed to myself now, in-assume ko na naman lahat ng mabuting ginawa sa akin ng isang tao.
I know now.. He's being a gentleman to every female friend he had.
"Grace, na lista ko na pangalan mo sa attendance sheet, pirma ka na. Ipapasa ko na ito ngayon sa faculty room." sabi ng kaklase ko. I have been spacing out since the first period. "Hindi papasok si ma'am ngayon."
Luminga ako sa paligid, kanina pa palang nakaalis ang mga kaklase ko, may iba na nanatili sa silid para doon magpalipas ng oras.
Lumabas ako ng silid para doon na sa field magpahangin. Naisip ko ang isang athlete na nag-eensayo roon palagi. Natanggap na ba siya sa grupo? Hindi na rin ulit kasi ako nakapunta doon.
Napagpasiyahan ko na bumili ng tubig para rito, baka hindi naman kasi siya nagdala. But before I could go to the canteen, a male student called me. His body sticks to the wall while his head slightly elevates to take a peek at the room.
"Miss, pakitingnan nga kung dumating na ba Prof. namin" He demanded.
It was rude of him not to say please, but I still obliged.
"Wala pa." I answered.
He plucked himself to the wall and stepped inside the room. Sinalubong naman siya agad ng mga kaibigan niya at isang babae.
"Rude." He didn't thank me after helping me.
Instead of wasting my energy on him. I walked past their room. Pagkatapos kong bumili ng bottled water, I went directly to the field. I roamed my eyes in the running field, and there he is, lying down on the ground, resting from running.
There's no hydro flask, bottled water, or any energy drink beside him. How will he quench his thirst and regain his energy? Taking a grip on the water bottle, diretso akong naglakad papunta sa direksyon niya.
Nagulat pa ako nang bumangon ito sa pagkakahiga para umupo. His knees propped his head, iniyuko nito ang ulo and stayed for that position for too long.
When I got near him, the clearer it was to me that he was someone I know. His back is familiar, and also his hair.
As he utters a repeated mantra, I already recognized who he is.
