DUMB WAYS TO SURVIVE [COMPLETED]

Chapter #21: You What?!

CONTINUATION OF FLASHBACK

"Science Laboratory is a workplace for the conduct of  scientific research—"

"Angel, beh!" Tawag ni Hazel at kinalabit ako.

"Problema mo?"

"Absent na naman si Johanna. Alam mo ba kung nasa'n siya?" Mahinang tanong nito. Tumigil ako sa pagsusulat para tumingin sa kaniya.

Umiling ako. "Hindi ko alam," pagkakait ko.

Of course I know where she is. Palagi naman siyang nasa laboratory room. Iilang students lang ang nakakaalam na may sariling laboratory itong school namin. Minsan kasi ay against ang ibang students sa amin kaya napilitan kaming itago sa iba na may laboratory club kami.

Johanna, she's been absent a week. Ang palagi naman nitong dahilan ay may tatapusin pa raw siya na substance at research sa lab. room, mabuti na lang at napapaki-usapan namin ang ibang subject teachers namin na wala kami or absent kami sa oras nito.

"Bisitahin kaya natin," she suggested. I looked at her and arched my brow.

"Alam mo kung saan siya nakatira?" I asked and covered my voice with curiosity.

Johanna is my best friend and of course I know where she lived. Kailangan ko lang talagang maging tanga. It doesn't mean I'm lying to my friends, it's just a cover up to coat our secret.

"Oo naman, pumunta na nga kami roon—"

"H'wag na lang kaya? Malay natin nakakaabala tayo." I shrugged.

Dahil minsan ay hindi siya umuuwi sa bahay nila. Alam din ng mga magulang ni Johanna ang tungkol sa laboratory room ng school namin but they doesn't know that it was hid from the students.

"Sabagay, miss ko na siya—"

"Ms. Hazel Romero, do you want to share your little chitchats with Ms. Angel Peña?" It was our research teacher. I looked shocked when he mentioned my name.

What did I do? Si Hazel lang naman yung kumausap sa akin. Jusko…

"No, sir. I'm just telling the advantage of having a science laboratory—"

"But I heard you saying I missed something. Sinong nami-miss mo?" Putol ni Sir Monte sa sinasabi ni Hazel.

I looked away and acted like I heard nothing. I even bit my inner checks to prevent myself from laughing at Hazel. I tapped her hand and signalled to answer our teacher.

"Ah…I was talking about Johanna, sir. Eh, kasi ilang araw na siyang hindi pumapasok tas wala man lang kaming balita sa kaniya." Napakamot ito sa ulo at umupo.

"Johanna is fine, may excuse letter siya sa akin." He smiled and looked at me.

"Pinapatawag ka ni Ms. Cynthia sa office nito, Angel."

Alam ni Sir Monte ang tungkol sa secret laboratory room ng school. He's a research teacher, of course he knows where it is. He just replaced the word laboratory room by Ms. Cynthia's office.

Halos malagutan na ako ng hininga nang makarating ako sa laboratory room. Mula pa lang sa pinto ay naririnig ko na ang ilang sigawan nila.

"Johanna, what did you do to yourself?!" It was Ms. Cynthia's voice.

Since may maliit na puwang ang pinto ay roon ako sumilip para makita ang nangyayari sa loob. Ayaw ko rin silang abalahin. It looks like Johanna is still in trouble…again.