TOUGH LOVER

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Since then, hindi ko na hinayaang masolo ako ni Jace. Mabuti nalang at tinutulungan din naman ako ni Bree sa pag-iwas sa kanya. But not without giving me a piece of her mind.

"Kung hindi ka ba naman isa at kalahating gaga, may pa-confess-confess ka pa tapos hindi mo lang din naman pala kayang panindigan! Hay naku! Kahit kailan, duwag ka! Pasalamat ka best friend kita at medyo love din kaya tutulungan kita."

At iyon nga, kapag kinakausap ako ni Jace o kaya ay binabalak na kausapin, umi-extra si Bree. Minsan nga lang, epic fail ang pang-e-extra niya at napaghahalataang hinaharang niya si Jace.

I was thankful that Jace didn't actually tell anyone. If he did, I wouldn't know. Hindi naman kasi nagbago ang pakikitungo sa akin ng magic 10. Maingay pa din sina Cyril, Sai at Jei na ginagatungan naman ni Bree. I have noticed Bree and Duke 'lie-lowed' from getting into each other's nerves. Gem and Jaine still are suspended in their own different world. I couldn't understand them sometimes. May mga topics kasi silang hindi namin masakyan. It's like they're talking in a different language or something. Especially Lee. She's still her usual weird self. Spitting words I couldn't decipher. Hindi ko alam kung naiintindihan siya ng iba. Well, Cyril maybe does. After all, kambal sila. Then the boys, napansin kong marunong din naman palang ngumiti ng sincere si Jarez. Well, I've learned the attitude of the rest of them except him.

That went on for days. Hanggang sa magsimula na naman ang klase. Akala ko, magtatagal na iyong ganoon. I really believe I can dodge everything that comes in the way. Little did I know...

It was a Friday and we finished early. Bahagi na rin ng paghahanda para sa Civic Welfare and Society Development vacation namin kinabukasan. Alas cuatro ng madaling araw kami tutulak papuntang Barangay Lumbayao, Valencia City bukas. Malapit lang iyon dito at madadaanan lang kapag pumupunta kami ng Valencia City. I learned na hindi lang pala sa Barangay Lumbayao kami maa-assign. Every classes will be spread out to different barangays. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa din sinasabi sa amin kung sino ang magiging pair namin. Bukas na dawn g umaga namin malalaman ang designated partners namin at lahat ng impormasyong kakailanganin namin sa bus na maghahatid sa amin sa lugar. I wonder what the fuss is about. I just wish its Bree I'll be paired with. I'll be much comfortable living in the farm with my best friend.

I was on my way to the locker room to get stash my books when I saw someone uninvited leaning against my locker door. Gusto ko sanang bumalik o kaya naman ay magtago kung hindi lang nagkasalubong ang paningin namin. It would be very obvious if I just suddenly run out the lockers room to avoid him. Nauna nang umalis si Bree kasama ang Magic 10 dahil sa Apartment na naman daw sila kakain. They're "addicted" to my cooking nga daw.

Napatingin akong muli sa lalaking nakasandal sa locker ko...

No one's going to save me now. This is it, Triss. Wala ka nang kawala. Magdasal ka nalang na sumalangit nawa ang iyong kaluluwa. Damn. This doesn't help a bit. I should probably just run?

Goodness gracious. Okay Triss. This has been a long overdue. Just face this once and for all. Para na rin sa ikatatahimik ng kaluluwa ko. I'll do it. I inhaled a maximum amount of air and let it out with a huff. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad palapit sa locker ko. He looked bored. Kanina pa kaya siya dito? Kaya ba bigla nalang siyang nawala kanina? But how did he know I'm still coming here? Bakit hindi nalang siya sumama pauwi sa Apartment? Nakalagay ang dalawang kamay niya sa bulsa ng kanyang pants.

Ano ang sasabihin ko sa kanya? Dapat bang may sabihin ako? ako ba dapat ang unang magsalita? Damnit. Just walk up to him and whatever! Goodness! Hindi naman ako umiinom ng kape pero bakit sobrang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib na kulang nalang ay lumabas na?

Tumigil ako ilang metro ang layo sa kinatatayuan niya. I keep looking around, not sure what I'm actually looking for and silently wishing. I realized I need to finally get this over and done with. Ready or not. Panaka-naka nalang ang mga estudyanteng dumadaan sa corridor. And they're not even aware of the tension going off between the two of us. My eyes settled at the green paint of the lockers behind him. naramdaman ko ang titig niya pero hindi ko kayang salubungin iyon. This should work. Hindi na ako mawawala sa sarili kapag nakipagtitigan na naman ako sa kanya.

I cleared my throat. What should I say?

Before I can deliberate further, he pushed himself off the wall and stood at his feet. He was a tower over me. Matangkad na ako kumpara sa ibang kaedad ko. I'm standing 5 feet 6 inches. But I think he is a six-footer or something. Kinakabahang napatingin ako ng diretso sa kanya nang magsalita siya.

"I think we really need to talk."

You bet we should.