Young Love Series #4: September Elizabeth Ferreira
September Elizabeth Ferreira has always hated life. One moment, everything is falling apart. The next thing she knows, she's being confessed at by someone she cannot even recognize because everythin...
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I wanted to cut class. But I didn't. Because it's immature.
I wanted to skip class because I didn't want to face Hiram. It's hard not to see him because we're in the same class and we're seatmates so he's inevitable.
So instead, I just acted like nothing's wrong.
Like I didn't get mad he asked me to have lunch with Jonelle, or Jiselle.
Whatever.
When Hiram asked me what's wrong, I acted like everything's fine. I asked him what he's talking about.
"Where did you go?"
"I just ate."
That didn't answer his question.
"Saan?" he asks.
"Outside. I went outside the campus," sagot ko, tinitingnan s'ya nang diretso sa mga mata para isipin n'yang walang problema.
Hiram stared back at me.
Nakaupo na kami sa mga proper seats namin. Naputol lang ang titig ko sa kan'ya nang pumasok na ang teacher namin para sa afternoon period. My classmates stood up to greet the teacher but Hiram and I remained seated.
I looked at Hiram again and he's still staring at me. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita.
During class, Hiram was quiet. Nang matapos, he looked at me again, as if waiting for what I'm gonna do next.
"Where are you headed to?" I asked him just so he wouldn't think that something's wrong.
"You want to eat out?" he asked, still watching me.
"Nope," mabilis na tanggi ko at pinulot na ang bag. "I want to rest today."
"Tell me what's wrong," he said. It's obvious that he's not buying my act.
"What are you talking about," I said, not really asking the question. "I'm tired. I want to go home."
Hindi sumagot si Hiram. When I stood up, he stood up too.
"I'll drop you off," aniya.
"No need."
Natahimik ulit si Hiram. Pinanood n'ya nag pagsoot ko sa straps ng bag ko sa magkabila kong mga balikat.
"You won't tell me, won't you?" he asked, still not buying my innocent act.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, gazing up at him.
Hiram sighed. Inayos n'ya ang isa sa mga straps ng bag sa balikat ko. Pinigilan kong mag-react sa ginawa n'ya.
"Would you be fine going alone?" he asks.
"Of course."
"Then, tomorrow. . . will you tell me?"
Hindi ako sumagot. Kahit anong tanggi ko, alam kong alam n'yang may mali sa 'kin.
"What do you need?" he asks. "Time? Space?"
"I want to go home."
"Okay." Bumuntonghininga si Hiram. "Tomorrow, I'll pick you up."
With that, he let me go home alone.
━━━ ☁ ━━━
The next day, I felt embarrassed about how I reacted to Hiram. I felt sorry for him too because I sure did give him a hard time.
It was obvious. Especially when I saw the dark circles around his eyes the next morning.
I frowned when I noticed his tired eyes. His smile also looks weak.
"Look at what you did to me," was the first thing he said when he saw me while he points at his eyes. "I still can't figure out what I did wrong."
"You didn't do anything," I told him as I gave him my backpack. "I was just in a bad mood yesterday."
"Because of me?"
"I told you, it's not you." It's that J-something.
"What?" Ngumisi si Hiram, yakap-yakap ang bag ko sa dibdib n'ya. "It's not you, it's me?"
Umirap ako at humalakhak naman si Hiram. That HE girl really pisses me off and I hate how it makes me act immature. Nakakainis. I should watch how I react around her. It's embarrassing.
━━━ ☁ ━━━
Nope. I still acted immaturely.
Yep. She went to our room again.
And yes, I left Hiram with her again.
I didn't let him know, though. I left without him noticing.
I just hate that girl's face. I don't want to act childishly like yesterday.
I went to the college cafeteria. Puno ang cafeteria sa hapong 'yon pero naisip kong bumili na lang ng snack para makakain. Hindi na lang ako kukuha ng table.
I thought of what I should buy. Maybe a burger. Or a sandwich. Then maybe I'd add a yogurt drink with that.
Kinuha ko ang wallet ko sa bulsa ng paldang soot. Kumuha ako ng pera ro'n. Nang makakuha na at nang inangat ko na ang tingin ko, tumama ang mga mata ko kay Liam na nakatayo sa harap ng isang table na mukhang apat ang pwedeng umupo. My face brightened up. Maybe I can buy a meal and ask if I could sit with him!
That's right. I want to eat rice today. Liam is annoying but rice is more important.
Yet before I could walk up to him, a girl college student suddenly appeared and talked to him. I waited for her to leave but it seems like they're together.
Is she his sister?
I wonder if I can sit with them.
Siguro hindi.
I shrugged. Pumila ako para bumili ng burger.
The line moved forward and I took a step forward too. Natigilan nga lang ako nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko. When I looked at who it was, I realized that it was Liam.
He's smiling at me.
"Hey, nakita na naman kita," aniya.
Kumunot ang noo ko nang ginamit n'ya akong dahilan para sumingit. I scoffed but I still let him.
"I was about to ask where Hiram is but I figured you'd get mad at me again if I ask," aniya at nainis na naman ako sa kan'ya. Pati boses, nakakainis. "Puno na ang cafeteria. You want to sit with us?"
Tinuro ni Liam ang table na nakita kong inookupa n'ya kanina. I looked at their table. I saw the college girl there, reading a really thick book.
"Yeah, sure," sabi ko.
Liam and I bought food. He bought food for him and the college girl. Magkatabi silang naupo. Nasa harapan ko naman si Liam.
"This is September. The girl I told you before," ani Liam sa babae.
Huh. The girl I told you before. I wonder what he said about me.
"September, this is Jessica. My girlfriend."
Tumango ako.
Wait.
Kumunot ang noo ko at bumalik ang tingin ko kay Liam na nakangiti habang nakatingin sa. . . his. . .
