#2: Strumming the Pain

Strumming 11

"Good Morning, Khaisia! Bakit ka absent kahapon?"

That was Ariell's question the moment she saw me entering our classroom. She clung onto me, waiting for an answer with a curious look on her face. Kiel also greeted me when he saw me before going back to what he's doing.

"Just..." my gaze suddenly landed on Kirk who was sitting on his seat while looking at me. I looked away and looked at Ariell who is patiently waiting for an answer. "Not feeling well."

"Hala! Bakit? Okay ka na ba?" she asked, worried.

"Yeah, just fine." I answered and gave her a small smile.

They were all asking why I'm absent, kahapon pa. I'm just giving them the same answer. Even me, I don't know why I chose to skip school and follow him. Honestly, I don't really regret it... because it made me feel better.

"What happened to Epione?" I asked Ariell when I spotted Epione being so quiet.

"Nag-away sila ni Jacen." she whispered, clearly don't want Epione to hear it.

I just nodded and didn't ask anymore. Noong break time ay hindi sumama sa amin si Epione. Hinayaan na lang namin siya at hindi na rin siya kinulit pa nila Ariell at Kiel.

Kaagad din kaming bumalik nang makabili na kami dahil walang kasama si Epione. Napatigil kami sa paglalakad nang tumigil sila Ariell at Kiel na siyang nasa harapan namin. We saw Jacen with Kirk, they are standing near our classroom.

"Oh, Jacen, pupuntahan mo ba si Epione?" Ariell immediately asked.

"Oo, pupuntahan niya." Kirk is the one who answered for him.

"Ikaw ba si Jacen?" pakikipag-away ni Ariell sa kanya. "Spokesperson ka ba niya, ha?" she sarcastically asked one more time.

"Can you give this to her? I'll talk to her later." Jacen said, inabot niya ang hawak niya kay Ariell.

"Bakit hindi ikaw ang magbigay? Kung gusto mo siyang suyuin, nandoon lang 'yun nakaupo." sagot ni Ariell sa kanya.

"Ibigay mo na lang, Ariell, late na nga 'to sa klase niya." sabi naman ni Kirk.

"Nagcut ka?" Ariell asked, shocked. "Sige, ibibigay ko na lang sa kanya." sabi pa nito.

"Thanks." Jacen said, still with a serious face.

Bumalik na kami sa classroom pagkatapos no'n. Binigay nila kay Epione ang pinapabigay ni Jacen. I can clearly see how curious the two are but they are stopping themselves to ask Epione so many questions.

"Are you feeling okay now?" Jeshua suddenly asked that made me look at her. "You told me last night that you weren't, that's why you skipped school." she added, raising her brow a bit.