Between Never and Maybe

Two.

"The Devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape."-William Shakespeare

"I almost thought you weren't going to submit it Ms. Larrosa." Ms. Bautista fixed her glasses and glanced at me.

"Sorry po Ms. Bautista, it won't happen again." All I can do was bow my head and tell her I am sorry dahil at fault din naman ako sa sitwasyon. Ms. Bautista heaved a sigh and arranged the stack of term papers on her desk.

"As you should. You know that even if this is a minor course I can still give you a failing grade and it will drag your GWA down right?" I bit my lower lip and nodded. I can't have my grades go down, dahil pag nawala ang scholarship ko mas lalo kaming mahihirapan at ayoko nang kumuha ng dagdag na trabaho si inang. I wasn't fortunate enough to obtain the privilege of having both parents, with my mom dying when I was four and my dad missing for God knows how long. I never met him,

nor did I care if he was alive or not.

"Yes po ma'am, I will keep that in mind po." I muttered. She looked at me sternly and then gave me a dismissive look.

"Good, you may leave. And drag your friend with you." My head perked up at what she said. Friend? But before I could even ask, she was already gone. I sighed and fished out my phone as I went out of her office. I decided to give Haze a call dahil baka hinihintay na naman ako non. But I figured she wouldn't want phone calls dahil baka tanungin ng mama niya kung sino so I just typed a message.

Me:
Haze

Saan ka?

It didn't take long before she replied.

Harlene Azelle:
Miss mu3 nA n@MaN aQoU3h

Dejoke, andito pa ako sa org

Bubwisit na ako dami satsat ng president

Ikaw?

Babaitang to talaga. Napapangiti na lang ako habang nagrereply.

Me:
Siraulo.

Hintay ba kita o susunduin ka ni mama mo?

Harlene Azelle:
Mima una ka na, mukhang di pa matatapos tong piste na to huhu😭😭

Saka baka sunduin din ako ni mama, gagalit 🤧🤧

Ikaw? Mag-abang ka na wuy! Nauubusan ng jeep pag alas-kwatro diba

Ingat ghorl! Text mo me pag nakauwi na u, mwaps😘😗

Me:
Taena kadiri may kiss emoji hahaha

Sige sige, ingat ka din!

I placed my phone inside my bag and started walking toward the school entrance. Nadaanan ko yung room ng drama club, kung nasaan si Haze. Mukhang di pa nga sila matatapos, I thought to myself at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. The sun was quickly setting down, siguro dahil nagsimula na ang ber months. I was walking peacefully when someone spoke behind me.

"Ang late mo umuwi, ha." I almost felt my heart leap out of my body as I stared back at the familiar smirk of the boy I never wished to meet again. I struggled to keep my cool and face him nonchalantly.