KSM 1: lateral

44

Sol.

"Hey, you've been on your phone." nakangising sabi ni Lexie. Binaba ko tuloy ito.

"Are you chatting with Cal? Aw, that's sweet and you're so lucky." Amber said and held her chin.

Hindi ako sumagot at ngumiti na lang. We're in a restaurant near the exit of Ams. There are six of us here and they are all my blockmates. Our class just ended and they invited me to come with them.

Everyone in our table have different businesses but when they heard about Callan they all turned their heads to me.

"Yeah right, but why are you not telling us about how you're relationship are going?" Sam interfere.

"There was nothing to tell." i smiled at them, that wasn't a lie tho. "We just met that time, we don't have sort of relationship really." i answered.

"I don't believe you, Sol. No friends kiss each other unless they're friends with benefits." Cleah said and other's agree, some of them laugh.

"Sabihin mo na kasi, Sol. We're just curious." Lexie was smiling sneakily.

"Wala talaga." i chuckled but they continue teasing me and pushing me to tell them something.

"Let's stop na nga. Sol is so kj." Amber rolled her eyes and laughed. She stood up and picked up her bag. "Let's check out na, we have nothing else to do here anyway." she said so we all stood up and went to the cashier.

"That's true, girls, do you want to go to mall? We don't have class na naman later." CL suggest, they all agree except me.

"Hindi na ako sasama, i still have somewhere else to go." i said.

"Oh where's that?" Sam asked.

"Maybe you can go there later—" Lexie was cut off by Amber.

"Just let her be. Let's go na." she turned her back to me. I smiled at others and waited for them to be out of my sight.

I let out a breath, i feel exhausted being with them, i don't think i can come with them anymore again and they don't welcome me at all.

I get in my car and drive to Tearese Colleges. I messaged Rhythm before going. I already parked my car dahil nasa labas ang parking lot at hindi na kailangan ng pass.

Pumunta ako sa entrance at agad kong natanaw si Rhythm na nakangiti sa akin. He immediately wrapped his arm around my waist when i get close to him.

"Tara sa loob, pasyal kita." sabi nya sa akin kaya agad akong tumango.

I wear my face mask dahil mahangin at nadadala ang mga buhangin sa lupa. Students are all around the field, hindi ganun kadami ang buildings di tulad sa uni ko.

Nang makalayo kami ng konti sa entrance ay nakita ko na malapit sa amin ang food court. Tumigil kami sa lilom dahil maaraw pero mahangin naman.

"Sanvio!" sabay kaming napatingin ni Rhythm sa tumawag sa kanya. "Break nyo naman diba? Kailangan ka lang daw saglit sa gym." sabi ng lalaking lumapit sa amin.

I take off my mask and smiled at the guy. Tinanguan ako nito.

Napatingin naman sa akin si Rhythm na mapagpaumanhin. "Iwan muna kita dito ha, may gagawin lang ako saglit mamaya kita ipapasyal." sabi nya sakin, agad naman akong tumango. I know it's more important and I'm not really bothered.

"Clark, samahan mo muna 'to dito saglit lang naman siguro yon." sabi pa ni Rhythm dun sa lalaki.

Pinigilan ko si Rhythm at inilingan yung lalaki. "You don't have to. I can take care of myself. Sige na, Rhy, you can go." i smiled at them.

"Dito ka lang ha, babalikan kita saglit lang 'to." halatang nag-aalala pang habilin nya kaya natawa ako.

"Go na, kanina mo pa sinasabi yan." i said and waved my hand at him until he started to run off.

I wear my mask again when they both left me. I was just staring anywhere where my eyes want to. Madami pa ding estudyante sa paligid, ang iba ay kakain pa lang habang ang ibaba ay pabalik na siguro sa klase nila.

Ilang minuto na akong nakatayo doon mag-isa at bigla naman akong nakaramdam na naiihi. Wala pa si Rhythm kaya wala akong mapagtanungan kung saan yung comfort room maliban sa mga estudyanteng dumadaan.

Nilapitan ko yung isang babae at tinanong kung saan ang cr at tinuro nya naman ang malapit na building at nasa second floor daw nito matatagpuan ang cr.

I thanked her and look for the cr. I immediately found it and i went out already after i finished. I washed my hand on the sink and sanitized my hand.

Nakababa na ako ng bigla namang may tumawag sa aking pangalan. Hindi ako lumingon dahil baka nagkamali lang ako ng dinig pero habang naglalakad ay may pumigil sakin.

"Ceit." i turned to the person who called me. I was surprised to see Callan standing in front of me.

"Hey." i greeted him and take off my mask.

"What are you doing here?" nakangiting tanong nya.

"Oh." i went to see Rhythm. "I came with a friend to visit." i answered. "How about you? As of what i know you don't study here."

"Right, i just came to pick up something. You're with Sijhan?" tanong nya.

Umiling ako.

"Who? I don't know anyone else beside them."

I chuckled. "Grabe ka naman. They are not the only friends i have 'no." i rolled my eyes and when i look at crowd nahagip ng mata ko si Rhythm, ilang metro lang ang layo sa amin.

"Sola! Sola!" pagsigaw nya ng pangalan ko.

I was shocked when he gaze at our direction pero mukhang hindi nya kami nakita.

"So he's your friend?" biglang tanong ni Callan, napatingin ako sa kanya at nakita ko ang direkyon ng kanyang mata.

I suddenly felt guilty lying to him. "Sorry, Callan. Please don't tell anyone." i tugged his sleeve while looking down.

"Don't worry i won't tell anyone." he's smiling when i looked at him.

"Thank you! You're the best! I'll some other time but i have to go." i smiled widely at him.

He chuckled. "Sure, i'll look after it." Callan waved his hand as i run towards Rhythm. Pinili ko talagang lapitan sya nung medyo malayo na sya kung nasaan si Callan dahil baka makita nya ito.

"Rhy." i called him.

He faced me and worry is evident in his face. "Sola." Rhythm hugged me as tight as he can. "Nag-alala ako sayo, akala ko nawala ka na." sabi nya.

My heart melt as i feel that he's very worried about me. "I didn't run off anywhere. I just went to the comfort room." i told him chuckling.

"Matagal ba ako?" tanong nya, umiling naman ako.

"Tara na, we don't want to waste our little time walking around. You still have class later, right?" i asked.

Tumango sya. "Tara na." sabi nya at hinawakan ang aking kamay bago ako hilahin sa kung saan.