L A I N
No matter what happens, I must go on.
Chan steered away from me. Inaasahan ko na 'yon. At hindi siya nagsumbong. Ang pagtahimik niya ang malaking pinagpapasalamatan ko. Mas mabuti na rin 'to, para hindi siya madamay.
Naiwan sa akin ang jacket niya, na sinusuot ko sa panahong mababa ang temperatura ng hangin. I will miss him.
Pumasok akong library. It's our second break pero wala akong balak kumain.
And there, I saw Marga, trying to find a seat. I quickly went to her.
"Marga." Tawag ko nang makalapit ako. Nilingon niya ako. "Are you here to study? Sabay na tayo. We have long quiz later in Physical Science."
Her lazy eyes lingered on mine, "I know. That's why I'm here."
Ngumuso ako at pinadaan ang palad sa mga librong nasa bookshelf. "So, do you mind if I join you?"
Pumayag siya. Magkatapat kami ngayon, nag-aaral. I sometimes caught her glancing side to side as if she's looking for someone.
Nilapag ko ang ballpen sa gilid ng aking yellow paper. Inangat ko si Marga ng tingin, at nahuli ko siyang nakatingin sa aking likuran. Kaya naman napapiksi siya nang makitang nakatingin ako sa kaniya.
"Are you waiting for someone?" I asked, looking bothered.
Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa librong binabasa. "Wala akong hinihintay."
"Are you looking for someone, then?"
Nakita ko ang pasimpleng paghigpit ng hawak niya sa libro. "We only have limited time to spare. Mag-review na lang tayo." Malamig niyang sambit.
Bumalik ako sa pagno-notes. Ilang minuto rin ay sabay na kaming bumalik sa classroom. Tahimik lang naming tinatahak ang daan, not until she broke the silence between us.
"If ever you'll see me again in the library sparing some time alone studying, please do not approach me. I find reviewing alone more effectively. I hope you understand." Malamig na boses niyang sabi.
I frowned, "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
I saw her eyes glanced at me for a second and quickly looked away. "It's not like that."
Tuloy-tuloy lang kami sa paglalakad. May iilang estudyante rin ang dumadaan. Nagku-kwentuhan, kumakain, nagse-selpon.
"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable in any ways. You said you didn't mind joining you earlier, though."
"Hindi ako sanay. Pasensya na."
Wow, Marga Tolentina is apologizing. This is new. Kilangan lang pala mga ka-lebel niya ang kasama para marinig siyang nagso-sorry.
Inilagay ko ang kanang kamay sa bulsa sa suot kong blue stripped skirt. "Why not invite others? Sina Robbie, Ty, Dann and Mike! Wouldn't it be fun? Just try." I said in cheering voice.
"They don't like studying."
"Edi ako na lang isama mo!" Mataas na tono kong suhestiyon. "I kinda relate and feel you. We're both heiress, right? We must learn a lot, and hard to reach our parents high expectations from us. We cannot just take education so lightly and be careless."
Bumuga siya sa sa hangin. "Yes, but still a no. I'm sticking on my decision, Filotimo."
Ngumuso ako. Umikot ako paharap sa kaniya tsaka naglakad paatras.
BINABASA MO ANG
Lain
قصص عامةA senior high school student, committed suicide by drinking tons of pills inside the infirmary. Her name is Lain, whom killed herself but still alive, in someone else's body.
