TAMED #1: The Good Boy

CHAPTER 39. I love you

Pumasok na ako sa main building. Everyone gave me the dirty look. Lagi na lang ganito. Sa ganda kong 'to? Titingnan lang nila ako nang masama?

Even when I got into the classroom. Ganun pa rin ang mga tingin nila. Umupo ako sa upuan kong nasa tabi ni Maddie.

She turned to me. "Totoo ba?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Anong totoo?"

"Kagabi."

Parang tinambol ang puso ko dahil sa word na 'yun. Kagabi? Bakit? Narinig ba nila kami kagabi? I was biting my lip the whole time so no one could hear me. And Blaze covered my mouth...

"Anong kagabi?" I asked her, nervous.

"Fred came over?"

Napakurap ako. Ah. Yun lang pala. Kinabahan ako dun ha. Tumango ako. "Ah, oo. May pinadala lang ako. I ran out of clothes."

Lumapit siya sa akin. "Wala si... you-know-who?"

Umiling ako. "Wala naman. Bakit? Miss mo na?"

"Ew."

Maka-ew 'to ha.

"By the way, have you seen Blaze?" Muntik ko pang mahulog ang cellphone ko sa tanong niya. I looked at her. "He wasn't answering his phone last night and Sweet was barging at my door. She should be thankful I didn't have to use a judo hold on her."

Umiling ako. "Nawawala siya kagabi?"

"Yeah... he didn't call you?"

"No. Gumagawa lang ako ng report kagabi eh."

"That's weird. He also wasn't answering in his room."

"Kaya pala binulabog ako kagabi ng babaeng yun."

"She did?"

I nodded.

Bumukas ang pinto ng classroom at pumasok si Blaze. He is now wearing his school uniform. Kanina nasa kwarto ko pa siya. I told him if he didn't want to go to school, pwede naman siyang umabsent. Pero mukhang may plano siyang maging Best in Attendance.

Maayos ang buhok at nakangiti na akala mo hindi takot na takot kagabi. Sumunod sa kanya ang adviser namin. Tinuro nito ang upuang nasa likod ko.

Tumango naman si Blaze at lumapit sa akin. He placed his bag down on the desk and sat on the chair. Pinalipat siya?

"Where have you been?!" Maddie angrily whispered. "We've been looking everywhere for you."

Nilingon ko si Blaze. He also looked at me before turning to Maddie. "May nangyari lang."

Nangyari... May nangyari nga.

May marahas na nagbukas ng pinto ng classroom. Nakita ko ang pag-igtad ni Blaze dahil sa pumasok. Sweet's gaze immediately went to him. Akmang lalapit siya nang tinawag siya ng adviser namin.

Nakahinga naman ako nang malalim. I turned to Blaze. I asked him if he was okay through my eyes. He made a subtle nod.

Mabuti naman.

Pumasok ang first period teacher namin. She asked where Sweet was at sinabi naman ni Maddie na pinatawag siya.

The morning went on. Naging maayos ang report ko. Walang nagtatanong kasi tinataasan ko lang ng kilay.

And now, I am sharing the lunch with Blaze and Maddie. Nasa labas kami ng cafeteria kumain.

Kanina pa ako pinaningkitan ng mata ni Maddie simula nung matapos akong magreport. "I feel like something is different with you."