Renegade

Chapter 9

Instead of going to school to meet my thesis adviser and Alex, I went to Garnet's dormitory. Para doon magbihis at mag-ayos. My mother was calling me non-stop since last night as I saw her missed calls. I called her back and told her I decided to sleep at Garnet's dorm because we finished late last night in the institute.

Yes, I lied to my mother. There she was thinking she got the most studious and innocent daughter but then in the span of one night... I literally smashed her assumption of me.

Dahan-dahang dumulas ako mula sa pagkakaupo sa pang-isahang sofa sa dorm ni Garnet habang nakasimangot at nakasabunot ang dalawang kamay sa ulo ko.

"Wala na akong reputasyon, Garnet!" I whined, remembering all the craziness I did because of having a crush!

Dumagdag pa 'yung nine thousand na babayaran ko kay Sir Zaragosa at 'yung nakita niyang ginawa ko kanina sa banyo ng hotel.

"GARNET! NABABALIW NA TALAGA AKO!"

I felt my cheeks heated just by thinking of how Sir Zaragosa looked at me after he saw me masturbating myself. Oh gosh. Ano pang mukha ang ihaharap ko sa kaniya?

"I think I had to withdraw my internship in the institute." I looked hopeless at Garnet. Nakatayo siya sa harapan ko habang nakapameywang. Kakauwi niya lang galing ng university kasi sabi ko doon ako didiretso.

Nakaupo na ako sa sahig. My legs were spread wide on the floor while both of my hands were holding my aching nape. Sumasakit na 'yung batok ko dahil sa stress. "I think I had to really withdraw my internship. Hahanap na lang ako ng isa pang research institute—"

"Just what the heck did you do last night, Clang? You look like a mess." Nakangiwi pa sa akin si Garnet bago ako pinaypayan ng mga kamay niya. "Amoy na amoy ang alak sa 'yo! At ano 'yung tinawag sa akin ng nanay mo kanina? Natulog ka rito?"

"Garnet," I clasped both of my hands in front of me and then I knelt on the floor. Tiningala ko si Garnet nang nagmamakaawa ang mga mata. "Iligtas mo ako sa mga katangahan ko kagabi."

Her right eyebrow raised before she poked my forehead using her forefinger. "Maupo ka nga nang maayos sa sofa at ikwento mo muna sa akin ang mga katangahang tinutukoy— ay hindi. Maligo ka muna at magpalit ng damit. Nando'n sa cabinet ko 'yung mga damit na naiwan mo noong last time na nag-sleep over ka rito." Garnet sighed before she tugged my right arm and helped me get up. Inayos niya pa ang buhok ko pero kita naman sa mukha niyang diring-diri siyang hawakan ako. "At nasabihan mo na ba 'yung adviser mo na hindi ka makakapunta ngayon?"

I sighed, nodding. "The meeting was rescheduled after lunch. Pupunta ako ng school for that." I messed my hair out of frustrations. "Hindi pa ako ready na makita si Alex!"

Garnet was stunned for a while before she looked at me with wide eyes. "So, this is about Alex again?"

I bit the insides of my cheeks before I avoided Garnet's gaze. Nabungangaan niya na ako kahapon about my feelings towards Alex. "Liligo muna ako saka magbibihis."

Huminga nang malalim si Garnet bago hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko. She made me look at her. Natigilan ako dahil sa seryosong tingin na binibigay niya sa akin. She was looking at me a little intently. "Namamaga ang mga mata mo, Clarisse Drake. Did you cry?" Hindi ako nakasagot. Napabuntong hininga na lang siya ulit bago ako binitawan. "You better tell me everything later. Wala kang hindi sasabihin. I need to know what Alex did."

Ilang beses akong napakurap. Hindi ko alam kung OA lang ako pero... The way Garnet said Alex's name, it sounded so smooth and familiar coming out from her mouth. Close ba sila ni Alex? Ah... Nagkasama silang dalawa sa isang competition before. Siguro dahil do'n. Maybe, I was just dense to notice that. Kaya rin siguro gano'n niya na lang ako balaan kay Alex.