26: Out of Shambles, In for Beginnings
“What a shame…what a game,
could this be a new path?
or a new thorn of life’s wrath?”
Nella jumped to my chest and squeezed me like a lemon when she saw me standing in front of their faces. Sitting in front of her was Pamela who, without even looking, casually sighed in acceptance…like she had already predetermined my options.
“I knew it! You cannot betray us!” Bubbles giggles as she drags me to an empty seat. I and Pamela’s eyes met. I shivered when her coldness struck me unkinder than Siberian winter.
“Gaga, who does she have other than us? Sino ba nakakakilala sa kaniya?” Pamela retorted, while eating her snacks.
Well, she has a point. Ayoko sanang magkaroon ng kagrupo sa thesis na kakilala ko kasi baka mangyari na naman ang mga hindi kaaya-ayang kaganapan, pero sila lang naman ang options ko. It’s either I trust their skills or I fail this major requirement for graduation.
Nella immediately reacted and snatched a chocolate chip. “My god, Pami. Ever since talaga you’re so nega,” she said, and even drank from her friend’s water bottle to push the food down her throat because she wanted to talk more rather than eat. “She’s thee Joshel Marie Buela of BSED 3-A kaya...!”
“Nella…” I murmured while pinching her clothes. Itigil mo na, nakakahiya.
“…thee Bb. Sentral 2nd runner-up, thee consistent scholar, thee make-over queen, and thee one and only—”
“—ghost of the year?” Pamela snatched her words, paused then put her forefinger on her lips as if she was thinking deeply. “I mean, ghoster of the century?”
Hindi na dapat ako naaapektuhan sa ganitong mga bagay kasi alam ko naman na. Paulit-ulit na nga, eh. Torture na kung torture. Pero iba pala ang sakit kapag galing sa taong pinagkakatiwalaan mo—scratch that—kinikilala mong kaibigan. Pamela is a good friend…prangka at mapanakit lang talaga pero gano’n siya at wala akong magagawa do’n. Sino nga ba naman ako, ika niya.
“Ghoster?” mapagdudang tanong ni Nella. “And where’s your source? WHAT IS your proof?”
Pamela shot her eyes to mine, like I was thee walking evidence. And the first thing that struck my head is to welcome the gaze and to not break it.
Should I approach her later? I think we should talk about this.
Pero natatakot ako sa kaniya.
Alam ko naman na mali ako. Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ay kung saan nanggagaling ang galit niya. I want to understand her bad impressions towards me because I know there are reasons behind every actions. Isa pa, ayoko na kasing maulit pa ‘yong nangyari sa’mi ni Daela. Hindi pa ako nakaka-ilang araw na walang iniisip na problema tapos dadagdagan ko na naman?
“She isn’t like that…” Nella’s voice slowly went down after she hugged my arm. “…are you? You won’t leave us naman, ‘di ba?”
I gently patted her shoulders and smiled. “You don’t have anything to worry about.” Soon after, she regained her cheerful look and started squirming her head against my arm.
“Patch up, mga gaga. Patch up…” Pamela clapped her hands in between her words to call our attention. “Since everyone has a group now,” she looked around and twisted her lips in disappointment, “I don’t have any other choice but to accept you as a groupmate.”
“Salamat,” tugon ko.
“Yey, PPG is born to be wild!”
Nagtawanan ang lahat ng mga grupong naiwan sa room nang marinig iyon galing kay Nella. We all get satisfied with her funny remarks. But this is way too embarrassing for me.
Pamela tapped her desk to stop her from making unnecessary things before she continued her speech, “I will be the leader, of course. Nella will be the associate and resources manager and you,” she looked at me and started scanning me from head to toe like my thesis abilities depend on how protrude my chests are or how skinny I am…
“What?” I gently asked her. “I can write a research paper on my own. I can also proofread and line edit,” I humbly added to bring up my capabilities. Her brows raised quickly.
Kahit na ang taong ito ay nakalaan muna para sa paghahanda para sa title defense and preliminaries dahil sa sunod na taon naman ang thesis presentation bago ang actual na student teaching, ramdam ko ang intensity sa paligid niya. I didn’t know she’s this competitive.
“OMG! Parehas pala kayong mythic sa research? Carry me to my grave, leaders!” excited at napapatalong sabi ni Nella.
“N-No, no. Hindi ako magle-leader, Nels.” I looked at Pamela whose mood is now quite different. I don’t want an erratic eruption to occur, just to be clear. “She has to do it. I just want to be a member that can help in some or most of the things. Alam kong mas magaling si Pamela and you can testify to that,” dagdag ko sabay ngiti.
“Yeah, she’s really good at keeping things in check ‘pag magka-group kami. Kaso badmouthed lang and pala-irap…” she commented. “and she hates you.”
“Nels…” Ako ang mas kinakabahan sa mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig ng babaeng ito. Napalunok ako sa nerbyos dahil ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng ulo ng kaibigan niya.
“Josh, it’s fine. Makaka-graduate ako,” aniya na parang tiwalang-tiwala siyang hindi kakalimutan ang pangalan niya sa title page ng thesis namin.
“Sure ka na, Nels?”
Nella hastily changed her side and started giggling. She began touching Pamela’s hands like a saint. “Jokes only. Ang ma-hit, affected!”
Her friend, in return, mocked her remarks. “Chaka mo pa rin.” Nella frowned.
BINABASA MO ANG
Ghosting Madness
Romance"She left her madness for good, yet the Madness she hated wants her presence once more." -- After settling in the city to start a new life, Joshel Buela began to face the consequences of her past actions. Meeting blank faces from strangers gradually...
