Gambit of Hearts: Chasing Black UNO

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Matthew glanced over to where Zean usually sat. Her seat was empty. Blanko. He noticed that Zean have been frequently absent, often cutting classes. Hindi kagaya noon, palaging si Aina ang kausap nito at paminsan-minsan din nyang nakikitang magkasama sila ni Keave. Sometimes, Matthew would eveb see her having serious conversations with Thalia. At parang normal lang din para sa mga kaibigan nito ang palaging pag-absent ni Zean.

Gusto niyang magtanong kung bakit, pero nahihiya siya. Besides, he had told Zean to leave him alone.

After their heated conversation at the field, Zean has been avoiding him. Whenever they crossed paths, Zean no longer looked his way. She doesn't laugh much anymore. Hindi na ito tumitingin sa kanya na may pilyong ngiti. It was like she had reverted to the Zean he first met, distant and withdrawn.

In every group project that were assigned to them, where he and Zean are on a group, Matthew would always found out from his group mates that Zean would switch members from the other groups. Umiiwas ito kung nasaan si Matthew.

But can you blame her? Desisyon ni Matthew na iwasan sya ng dalaga. Na lumayo ito sa kanya. He should be happy. Wala nang nambibwisit ng araw niya. But instead of feeling joy, he felt the opposite. Like as if, something was missing.

Napatigil siya sa pag-iisip at ganoon na rin ang guro nila sa pagkaklase nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. The door opened and the Dean stood there.

"Good morning, Mr. Colem. What brings you here?" tanong ng guro nila.

"Good morning, Ma'am." bati nito bago bumaling sa kanila, "Students, good morning," Mr. Colem greeted and they all greeted him back.

"Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. We decided to tighten the security inside the campus. Hindi na basta-basta makakapasok ang mga tao na hindi dito nag-aaral. Kailangan na itong aprobahan sa opisina bago makapasok dito sa loob. So if you have friends from other universities who visit you all the time, I'm sorry pero kinakailangan nating eminimize iyon. Para ito sa kaligtasan ng lahat," he said directly, causing confusion among the students.

Napakunot ang noo ng guro nila, "For the safety of the students? Bakit, Mr. Colem? May nangyari bang masama?" tanong ng guro nila.

"May isang lalaki na nakapasok dito sa loob and tried to molest one of the students."

The classroom was then filled with gasps. They all stilled and looked at each other. Habang ang ibang estudyante naman, nakaramdam ng takot. Even their teacher looked shocked.

"Who's the student if you don't mind me asking?" she asked.

Mr. Colem sighed, "I don't like to say it but saying this will be both a caution and a safety for her. When you see her, make her feel safe and accepted. I don't want to hear baseless accusations to her again." saad nito, "It's one of your students, Mrs. Macapso. I guess she's not around? I can't blame her. She must be traumatized. Poor girl."

Matthew's forehead furrowed when Mr. Colem said one of their classmates had been assaulted. He looked back at Mr. Colem when he cleared his throat.

"The student was Zean. Zean Iris Akihiro. She's the victim."

Their classmates lips parted in shock and at the same time, Matthew's jaw dropped. His shoulders slumped upon hearing that name. Napababa ang tingin nya sa sahig at kunot-noong prinoproseso lahat.

Mr. Colem faced Mrs. Macapso, "Ma'am, please do look after that child. I'm worried for her. Right now, we are doing the best that we can and tightening the school's security system is the first step."

Matthew opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. Emotions swirled inside him. He looked up when Mr. Colem spoke again.

"You probably saw that paper, right? Picture ni Miss Akihiro at ng isang lalaki na gumagawa ng mga hindi dapat gawin sa University?" he asked, and the class quickly nodded.