INVETERATE: Shattered Fate

Shattered #3: Frat Party

Jury's POV:

"What the hell?"

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang lalaki - si Noah. He seems pissed and I have no idea where he's going.

So now that he saw me, I think that's the end of thinking about him. It's unhealthy for me to act like this, dadagdagan ko nanaman ng panibagong problema ang sarili ko. What happened 3 months ago is enough, I can't let myself to be lost again.

"Whaaaat the hell are you doing here?"

I faced the person who spoke behind me, it was Harvy. He got a bored face, I wonder why he's here. Wala naman siyang klase rito.

"Ikaw? Bakit ka nandito?"

"P.E. Coach told me to pick some dodge balls at the gymnasium."

"Was it supposed to be held in the gymnasium? P.E niyo pala, bakit hindi kayo sa gym pumunta?"

He blew a loud breath, "Don't ask me, ask our coach. Anyway, I'll get going. See you at the cafeteria."

Nakakunot ang noong sinundan ko ng tingin si Harvard na tahimik na naglalakad papunta sa gym, he looks like he's not in the mood. Hindi naman siya ganito kapag nakakasalubong ko siya sa hallway.

Nagkibit-balikat nalang ako bago tumalikod at bumalik sa library, nang makapasok ako kay nakita ko roon ang kaibigan ni Noah. He was sleeping and... snoring.

I tsked and just went to my seat again, students really makes this place a sleeping place. The librarian doesn't give a crap about it though.

Napahinto ako nang may makita akong lalaki na nakasubsob sa lamesa ko at mukhang natutulog din, nagtatakang nilapitan ko siya at niyugyog ang balikat niya nang kaunti.

"Chet." Tawag ko, "How long had you been here? Hindi ka rin pumasok?"

He slowly looked up to me, kinusot-kusot niya ang mata niya at humikab.

"Yeah, boring sa room kaya dito nalang ako dumiretsyo."

Umismid nalang ako bago umupo sa upuan ko kanina.

"Saan ka nanggaling? Nathan told me you were here kaya pumunta ako rito, didn't know you have other businesses now." Sumandal siya sa upuan at kinuha ang cellphone niya.

"Wala naman, I just...saw someone." I sighed.

"Oh, really?" He continued to tap on his phone.

Tumango ako, "Yeah, it was strange though. Maybe doppelganger do exist."

He just hummed as an answer without looking away from his phone.

I looked at the door of the library, "But hey, I'm not even dreaming. Someone really looks like him... Someone really looks like Jacob -" tinakpan ko agad ang bibig ko nang mapansin ko ang sinabi ko.

I looked at Chet to see if he heard what I just said pero nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa cellphone niya, he's even humming and saying 'uh-huh' even though he's not listening. But thanks goodness he's not listening. But...

Sumama ang itsyura ko.

He's not listening, even his eyes is not focusing on me. Did he really went here to see me?

I crossed my arms. So he just went here because he doesn't want to be alone? Screw this bastard.

"Ry." Nakangiting tinapat niya ang cellphone saakin, "A party this week, you in? It's a frat party, magugustuhan 'to ni ate malamang -"

"No." Diretsyo kong sagot, "I can't. Walang tao sa bahay if ever this week nga ang party na 'yan, aalis si kuya. Maybe he'll be out for a week or so."

Sumimangot siya, "C'mon, it's a party. We can't be incomplete, we love parties." Nilapit niya ang mukha niya saakin at ngumiti. "You like parties too, right? Ry?"