Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 28

Naglakad ako palayo sa kaniya na parang hinahabol ko ang oras. Malakas ang loob kong umiyak nang marating ko ang gate ng school dahil alam kong hindi na niya ako maririnig.

Although I know he's still watching me from afar, he can't see me crying. The stars know how much I wanted to look back at him, to run back at him, and take my words back.

"Leigh!" Idris ran to me.

Nakaupo ako sa waiting shed hindi kalayuan sa school. I wanted to go home, but my feet have no strength left to walk farther.

"Ayos ka lang? Anong nangyari? Sinaktan ka ba ni Zach?"

I became anmute. Iniling ko lang ang ulo ko dahil abala ako sa pag-iyak, walang salitang gustong lumabas sa bibig ko.

Idris went closer to me. He sat beside me. Nag-aalinlangan pa siya noong una, pero sa huli ay hindi ito nakatiis at niyakap ako. Hinahagod niya ang likod ko habang bumubulong ito nang mga salitang.

"Nandito lang ako, Leigh." He kept repeating that phrase. "Ilabas mo lang."

I hugged him tightly. I buried my face in his chest and cried for as long as I want.

"I lost Yelah," I uttered, grasping his shirt for some strength. "I lost a friend, Idris, a good friend."

"Shhh... magiging ayos din ang lahat." His hand ran through my hair. It's giving me the comfort I wish I'm getting from the person I love.

"I lost Zach. I lost the man who accepted me with all my flaws . . . I lost the man I love—I lost them, Idris!" Hinahampas ko ang dibdib niya. Para bang sa pamamagitan noon ay mababawasan ang sakit na dinadala ko.

He just let me hurt him, he gave me his shoulder and chest to cry on. He didn't complain and it's giving me the guilt that with all those years that I've known him, I never realized that he's also a friend, a silent friend.

"I lost Yelah, I lost Zach. I lost them." Paulit-ulit na lumalabas sa bibig ko ang mga salitang 'yon, parang isang batang iilang salita pa lang ang alam bigkasin.

"Tahan na, Leigh. You might lose everything, but you will never lose me. Tahan na, huwag ka nang umiyak."

His words didn't help either, it pained me more. I lifted my face to look at him. I stared at him intently and it made him a bit confused.

"Bakit? Mali ba ang English ko?" Kinamot niya ang ulo.

"I'm not good at spokening dollars. Sige Tagalog na lang. Iwanan ka man ng lahat, nandito lang ako. Hindi kita iiwan," he said sincerely.

"That was different from what you said first," I pointed out.

"Parehas naman 'yong totoo."

"You'll get tired of me too, Ris. I'll be a burden to you and I'll leave you. Hindi ka rin magtatagal sa akin."

"Hindi kita iiwan, iyon ang sigurado ako. Kahit tawagin mo pa akong cheap, murahin mo ako araw-araw, hindi kita iiwan . . . Basta lagi mo akong ililibre. Short ako ngayon, eh," he tittered.

I asked him to stay still for minutes. He didn't move, he didn't talk, he just listened to my sobs and rants. Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal umiyak sa kaniya. Kung gaano katagal akong nakayakap.

Humiwalay lang ako nang mapagod at humupa ang bigat sa dibdib ko. Tinutuyo ko ang mukha gamit ang palad, until he offered me his handkerchief.

"Jo Malone ang pabango ko. Mahal 'yan, ten thousand bili ko sa shoppee," he brought up.

I rolled my eyes before taking it.

"Are you having a hard time too?" I asked after giving him a once-over.