Acute Nostalgia

CHAPTER 8

DRIFTED AWAY

Yesterday, I assumed that his mine. But today, I felt his drifting away from me.

From the entrance of the school, I saw Mark. . . I saw him with someone else. His arms circled with the beautiful lady's little waist. They'd chat with some students. In their eyes their look so in love. In students' eyes, there was perfectly made for each other. A beautiful flawless lady–that I wish I could be– and a handsome man.

The corner of my eyes started to water. Why do I feel so hurt? Why do I feel my heart was throbbing so painfully? It felt like, I'm an iceberg breaking into million pieces. I shouldn't have felt this way, right? Why I am hurt? I don't have a right. . . I never had a right.

Before my tears fall, I looked back. But my eyes widened when Zachary was there. . . standing.

My eyes flickered. I want to hide my tears but I know it was obvious. Well, I'm blocking his way. I move away to have his way but he didn't move. What is wrong with him?

A few seconds had passed yet, he still didn't move, I decided to walk away.

"Where are you going? Running away again?" I stopped when I heard him talk. Why did I feel like it has a double meaning?

I looked at him and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"What are talking about?"

"You better face your fear than run away from it. There's no good from running away," he seriously said while looking straight into my eyes. "It will give you another burden and pain."

I looked away from his gaze because his words were accurate. He was right. I love running away than facing my fear.

"I-I d-don't know what you're talking about," I stammered. "Please, excuse me." I'm in the urge of crying now.

I am good at comforting someone. Pero bakit pag ako na ang nangangailangan wala man lang tumutulong?

I was about to walk away when he grabbed my arm and pulled me to enter our school.

"What the heck are you doing?" I wept. "Let go of my hand."

He never uttered a word, he just pulled me. Everyone was looking at us. Even Mark and his comrade looked at us puzzled. I saw him furrowed his brow in us. But I immediately drifted my eyes away from him.

Zachary continued pulling me. The heck. Ang sakit ng pagkakahila niya ah!

"Ano ba? Saan mo ba ako dadalhin?" inis kong tanong. He continued pulling me until we reached the restroom. Restroom? What are we gonna do here?

Padarag niyang binitawan ang kamay ko.

"Aray!" I grunted. "Namumuro ka na ah! Makahila ka, close tayo?"

"Tsk. Fix yourself. We will go to the shelter." 'Yan lang ang sinabi niya pagkatapos ay tinulak pa ako papasok sa lady's room.

"MGA bata, nandito ulit sina Ate Crisha at Kuya Zach. Bumati kayo sa kanila," Ate Honey announced.

"Yehey! Magandang araw po, ate Crisha and Kuya Zach," the kids cheerfully welcome us.

"Magandang araw rin sa inyo." I smiled. Bumaling ako kay Zachary para sabihing s'ya naman ang bumati. Ngunit hindi na ako nabigla ng nakatitig na naman ito sa'kin. He loves staring at me. S'ya 'yong tipo ng lalaki na kapag nahuhuling nakatitig ay hindi iiwas ng tingin bagkus ay pagkakatitigan ka pa lalo.

"Nakatingin ka na naman," bulong ko dito.

"So?" walang modo nitong tanong. Sabagay, ano nga ba ang inaasahan ko sa taong ito. Hindi ata nito alam ang salitang ilang.