Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 5

I blinked twice a second after hearing what he said. My heart pounded twice as fast as its normal pace. I had to take my amiodarone tablets to calm my heart.

"Leigh, ayos ka lang?"

Concern was reflected in his voice when he asked me. Even after taking my medicine, my heart didn't stop screaming inside of me. Zach's hand on my arms didn't help either.

"Get off your hand from me!" naiinis kong sigaw.

Our classmates looked at us with confusion embedded in their faces. Ang ilan ay masama ang tingin kay Zach dahil gusot ang mukha ko.

"Hala! Tawagin niyo si Miss. Baka inaatake si Leigh!"

"Buksan niyo yung bintana para pumasok ang fresh air."

"Girl, ayos ka lang? Anong nangyari, Kuya?"

Napuno ng pag-aalala ang mga kaklase ko. Most of them gathered around me. Ang iba ay pinapaypayan ako, may nararamdaman rin akong nakahawak sa buhok ko mula sa likuran. Xyrene went to me to check my pulse rate.

"Can you breathe, Leigh? May masakit ba sa 'yo? Do you want me to take you to the clinic?"

Sunod-sunod ang tanong ni Zach pero hindi ko 'yon masagot. I was busy listening to my body. I am not feeling bad. It's just . . . My heart is beating fast.

"Loosen up your blouse, Leigh. Ayos lang ba kung aalisin ko ang ilang butones mo para makahinga ka?"

I immediately turned my gaze to Zach because of his question. Pinasok ng malisya ang isip ko.

"No! Don't you ever touch me."

Napaatras ang mga kaklase ko sa lakas ng sigaw na 'yon. Kahit si Xyrene na nasa tabi ko ay napahawak sa dibdib. Hindi maipaliwanag ang mukha ng lalaki. He looked puzzled. We were just talking earlier and now I am shouting at him.

"Zach, anong ginawa mo?"

"Leigh, samahan ka na namin sa clinic. Excuse ka muna," Idris suggested. "Gago, paano makakahinga 'yung tao, pinalibutan niyo? Lumayo kayo at ayaw ni Leigh ng cheap na oxygen. Baka atakihin pa 'yan lalo," he added.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. It's not the right time to joke around. But since he mentioned it, I suddenly felt irritated by how many hands were touching me right now.

"Don't touch me! Get off your dirty hands on me!"

Like a button that just got pressed, all of them moved away from my seat. Si Xyrene lang ang naiwan sa tabi ko para bantayan ang pulso ko. She didn't let go of my wrist and I wasn't mad about it.

"Ano ba ang nangyari, Zach? Nagalit ba siya nang sobra? Nainis?"

Xy asked Zach multiple questions but he's having a hard time answering. Ramdam kong nasa akin ang atenisyon niya kaya hindi siya makapagpokus sa mga itinatanong ni Xy.

"Idris, Yeh, ihatid niyo na muna si Leigh sa clinic para ma-check siya ng nurse," he suggested instead.

"Tara na, Leigh. Louis Vuitton ang hangin do'n." Idris offered his hand but I didn't take it. Instead, I held onto Yelah's waist for support.

Ihinatid ako ng tingin ni Zach hanggang pintuan. I saw him at the side of my eye. I can stand by myself, I can walk either. Wala naman akong nararamdaman na masama. And now that I'm out of the room and Zach isn't around, my heart seems to be normal again.

"Inaway ka ba ni Kuya?"

"No, he didn't. Bigla na lang akong inatake ng arrhythmia ko. Maybe, I'm lacking medicine."

"Ako rin naman siguro kapag si Zach ang katabi ko, baka magkasakit ako sa puso. Hindi ko matatanggap na may mas gwapo sa akin."

I gave Idris a hit on his nape.