I don't care

Chapter 23: Her beginning, my ending

I don't know what to feel. Should I be concerned? Or should I laugh at what I am witnessing now? Okay, I should do both.

I knew that she will trip on her own feet, so I readied myself in catching her, which I did successfully. Her hair is kind of disheveled. Hindi rin maayos ang collar ng suot niya.

"Rebecca, hindi naman tayo mamamatay kapag ma-late tayo sa flag ceremony." Pagpapaalala ko sa kanya.

Tumayo naman siya agad nang maayos pagkatapos akong titigan with her widened eyes. Natawa na lang ako sa kalagayan niya ngayon. This Rebecca in front of me is so different from the calm and composed Rebecca I know.

Finding her situation cute, I approached her and then fixed her collar.

"You've been working hard lately. I can attest to that." I started.

I then picked up her hair brush from the table then combed her hair, "Kahit hindi mo aminin at magsinungaling ka man, I know you tried finishing some work last night tapos nag-study ka pa. Nahihiya na nga ang makapal kong mukha na hindi nag-aaral kahit kinabukasan na ang quiz." I continued.

I shared eye contact with her for a brief moment. Her eyes looked glossy, and I admired how they shine even if I can't read what the emotions in there meant. The admiration is immediately replaced with worry when I noticed the bags under her eyes.

I unconsciously caressed the blackened area under her eyes. Hindi lang din nagtagal iyon when she flinched with my touch. I immediately collected myself then proceeded to combing her hair. Nang matapos ako at maayos na tingnan ang buhok niya, hinawakan ko ang magkabilang balikat ng babaeng nasa harap ko.

"I am proud of you, okay?" I assured her, but I just can't help to get curious about why she looked tense. Is she uncomfortable with our proximity?

Dahil sa napansin, lumayo ako ng kaunti sa kanya at binitawan siya. It felt lonely, though. It was brief, but I suddenly missed her warmth. To prevent myself from doing stupid things, I gently tapped her head----which I somehow found stupid because why the hell I would do that? Don't know and don't care.

"But...Rebecca, for the love of anything holy, can you not deprive yourself ng sleep? Don't lie to me; I know you didn't sleep at all!"

Tumitig muna siya sa akin ng ilang segundo, nag-iisip ata ng palusot ang babaeng 'to. She nervously chuckled then hinawakan ang kamay ko na nasa ulo niya. Hindi naman niya ito binatawan but settled with her holding my wrist.

"Erin, natulog nga ako! I just look and act like this dahil kinakabahan ako na late na tayo, okay?" Pangungumbinse niya sa akin.

I scoffed at her defense. Really? Sa akin pa siya nagsinungaling? Sharing a room with her for more than a month, alam na alam ko na yung routine niya before she sleeps.

I crossed my arms, "Really?"

She nodded multiple times. She's trying her best to convince me, hay nako.

"Before you sleep, you always arrange your books sa study table, naka-arrange ba siya nang magising ako? HINDI. Second, you always put the things you need sa bag mo para hindi hassle kinabukasan. Rebecca, one thing that contributed to your routine this morning ay yung paglalagay ng mga gamit mo sa bag mo. Third, putol-putol yung tulog ko kagabi and I know for sure that it was the light from the lamp sa study table ang nakita ko. Should I mention all the out of ordinary actions you did? Okay lang naman sa akin mag-skip ng flag ceremony. Dealing with the president of the student council will be future Erin's problem."

There's consecutive closing and opening of her mouth. Walang masabi dahil totoo naman lahat ng sinabi ko.

"I-Ikaw, ha! Paano mo nalaman iyan? Have you been observing me all along? Crush mo 'ko, ano?" She said, trying to tease me through my scolding.