Drawn to His Flame

Kabanata 40

Burn

"Narinig ko na magre-resign na raw si Treyton sa makalawa."

"Hala! Bakit naman? Dito pa naman ako nagtrabaho para madalas ko siyang makita."

Padabog kong sinara ang pintuan ng aking locker kaya natigil sa pag-uusap ang dalawang kakapasok lang sa locker room. I went here to take a break but here I was, hearing the name of the person I wanted to ignore in the first place. I blew out a tired sigh before leaving the room and heading back to the store.

"Ang bilis namang break 'yon. One minute lang," rinig kong komento ni Hiro kaya inirapan ko siya. He laughed at me but he stopped when I snatched his milk tea. Binalik ko lang iyon sa kanya nang maubos ko na at hindi na naman maipinta ang mukha niya dahil sa ginawa ko.

"Ang ungrateful mo. Tinirhan naman kita ng tapioca balls," sumbat ko sa kanya bago siya talikuran. Narinig ko ang buntong-hininga niya. I groaned when I felt a weight pressed on my shoulders afterwards.

"Libre ka sa Sabado? Nood ka ng laro ko?" tanong niya habang nakaakbay pa rin sa akin.

"Sa Sabado na 'yong palabas ni Katie," sagot ko. I wasn't the only one busy during summer because my sister had activities of her own as well. Katie takes summer classes annually and just as I expected, she tried a different one this year. I wasn't that surprised when she told me that she joined a theater workshop this time because I always wake up to her singing a classical song every single morning before her classes started.

"Hapon pa naman 'yon, 'di ba? Umaga 'yong game namin. Baka pwede ka," Hiro continued and I don't have to tilt my head to see that he's grinning like a fool.

"You know that I'm not really interested in football," I answered sternly because I was still pissed at what happened in the locker room. I felt him slacking before he unwrapped his arm from me. Napalingon ako at napabuga ng hangin nang makita ang nakangusong si Hiro.

"Pinahaba mo pa ang sagot mo. You could've said no directly," sabi niya at napairap ako nang marinig ang nagtatampong tono ng kanyang boses.

Why can't he understand that I just don't want to go with him because football not only reminded me of him but also Treyton? Gusto ko lang ng kapayapaan! The latter's been terrorizing my mind for weeks since the flat tire incident!

Why do they have to excel in the same sports?

"Bakit ba gusto mo akong sumama? Nakakalaro ka naman no'n na wala ako, ah," I asked because Hiro's still looked like a punched puppy in front of me.

He suddenly began scratching his head before he looked at the side. "Kailangan ba talaga ng dahilan? Pumupunta ka naman dati sa mga laro ko ng walang rason," he argued, still not facing me.

Napasinghap ako nang malakas dahil ang slow niya talaga.

"Maghanap ka na kasi ng jowa para hindi ako ang pinipilit mong sumama sa 'yo," I suggested. Nanigas ako pagkatapos nang may dumaan sa gitna namin ni Hiro. He walked fast but I could see his triggering smirk.

Wala na. Sira na talaga ang araw ko.

Treyton was becoming more and more unbearable each passing day. Wala naman siyang ginagawa pero naiinis lang talaga ako sa kanya. I really can't explain this hatred and I had no idea how to even appease it because his presence itself just makes my blood boil automatically.

"Huling linggo mo na rito, Regan. Konting tiis pa at hindi mo na siya makikita ulit," paulit-ulit kong bulong sa sarili ko para lang kahit papaano ay lumamig ang aking ulo. Pero dahil ilang beses ko na iyong ginawa ay hindi na 'yon gumana. I thought about the salary I'll be receiving instead and it's what finally made me regain emotional stability.