Find me in your pages | THE WATTYS 2023

Chapter 9:

Ilang araw na ang lumipas. Hindi parin nagmemessage sa akin si Nikolai. It was the day of the exams, buti na lang nakafocus ako sa exams until the last day. What if something happened? Hindi ko rin sya nakikita na pumasok. "Fuck..." Bulong ko habang nagaalala sa rooftop. I bit my thumb nang biglang nag notify ulit ang phone ko. It was from Nikolai. Agad ko naman itong chineck and what he sent shocked me.

[ Niko: Hey, I'm sorry. My parents fought and I'm trying to talk to them right now.
Niko: I know I should've updated you right away, but for now, I can't attend much on school and I hope you understand.
Niko: I'm really sorry Xerena. I'll make it up to you I promise.
Xerena: just tell me if you're doing fine and update me okay?🙁
Niko: Hmm.
Xerena: I love you so much.
Niko: I love you too.
Niko: Please wait for me.
Xerena: I will. ]

At least I didn't have to worry too much. Sana maging ayos lang sya. "Hey Xerena. You seem worried." Rinig ko na bulong ni Lucas na agad kong nilingon. "Did something happen?"

"Nikolai is not around for three days now." Pasimula ko habang tinitingnan ang messages namin ni Nikolai sa isa't isa. "Your parents fought daw?" Tanong ko naman kay Lucas. He seemed confused all of a sudden.

Tinaasan ako ni Lucas nang kilay dahil sa aking sinabi. "What? What do you mean mom and dad fought? Are you serious with that?" Nagaalalang Tanong ni Lucas sa akin.

"That's what Nikolai told me..."

"We even had a family dinner last night and both mom and dad were doing just fine. Sigurado ka ba?" Then realization struck me. Is Nikolai lying about his situation? Is he lying to me to not make me worry? Napa isip agad ako nang iba't iba na posibilidad. "We were even talking about how they'd celebrate my 18th birthday next week..."

"You know what? Fuck it." I cursed silently.

"Nikolai told you that? Wala sya sa bahay for three days. I get it he has his own apartment but he visits every once in a while pag nandoon si papa." Saad pa ni Lucas nang napalingon sya sa phone ko, reading the conversation me and Nikolai had. "He's lying to you."

"Huh?"

"Bulag ka ba? Our parents didn't fight, you can even go check it out yourself mamaya sa bahay since dad will be here for an entire month. Mahal mo si Nikolai oo pero wag ka naman maging tanga." Saad ni Lucas sa akin na ngayon ay nagaalala sa reaksyon ko. "Hindi tanga sa buhay ang Xerena na nakilala ko. Papauwiin ko si Nikolai pero hindi ko sasabihin na pupunta ka."

Lucas figured Nikolai out that fast, fast enough that I didn't even get enough time to process what Lucas just told me. "But wait, aren't you homeschooled?"

"For a while yes but not anymore."

"Bakit?"

"Because I broke up with Raya." And with that, he left me on the rooftop. It looks like he was upset. With me? Or because I asked about it and it involved Raya? I don't even want to know at this point. It was too much for my brain to handle. The exam results are even making me nervous.

But I'll still go later that's for sure.

I walked alone in the hallway, looking a bit more nervous than usual. I can't have Nikolai lying to me like that. I saw gwen at the hallway, finally. After weeks of not seeing her around. "Ate Xeren!" She greeted. Agad naman akong kumalma noong makita ko sya. "You look worried...May nangyari ba?" Nagaalala na tanong nya pa sa akin.

"No...this is nothing. Nalipat ka daw sa ibang building?" Tanong ko pabalik sa kaniya.

"Yes...Napaka boring nga lang doon. I feel like I have to compete with everyone- They're too good!" Reklamo naman ni gwen habang napakamot nang ulo. "They're too good and I hate it. It's like...everyone's treating everyone like competitors, and some look down on me dahil mas matanda sila. I hate it ate. I hate it so much."