Our Fate [OUR SERIES #2]

CHAPTER 6

'What's with you and Harper?'

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She knew it! Alam niyang nagsinungaling ako sa kanya tungkol sa kung saan ako nakatira. I shouldn't make this a big deal. Ano naman ngayon? Hindi naman lahat kailangan niyang malaman.

I don't care if she figured it out. Act cool, Dhayne. Damn it.

After composing myself, I took my bag and went out of my car. It's already thursday at noong Lunes pa ang huling punta ko sa archery room. I don't know about the progress or anything about archery. I've been avoiding Kris and Leigh for the past two days and I was also planning to not get involved with them yet.

Saktong oras na ng first period pagpasok ko sa classroom ko. Tahimik ang lahat ng estudyanteng naroon habang inaayos ko ang laptop na gagamitin ko sa habang nagdi-discuss.

I fixed my table and looked around to see if all of my students were there. I was surprised to see one of Leigh's students sitting beside her friend while looking seriously at me.

"I believe you're not my student Ms. Hirano." seryosong usal ko.

Walang modo itong umiling saka binuklat ang libro sa table ni Harper. They discussed something as if I wasn't there. "Did you hear me, Ms. Hirano? I command you to explain your presence here."

Huminga ito ng malalim saka tumayo. "I was helping my friend." seryosong usal niya.

"And? Sa klase ko? You can help her during breaktime."

"Nevermind. We're done anyway." she glanced at her friend and signaled her something. "And, I would like to commend you for being such a responsible professor." She slowly walked towards me. Hands on her pocket and her voice were kinda stern. "Taking unannounced absences during practice and for not showing up during meetings. How responsible of you Professor Aragon." Sarkastikong aniya.

Hindi alintana sa kanya ang mga nakikinig na freshmen sa likod niya. Hindi naman gaanong malakas iyong boses niya, sakto lang iyon upang marinig ko ngunit hindi rin ako sigurado kung naririnig ba iyon ng mga estudyante ko.

"I was busy." palusot ko. Ilang araw kong inisip ang magiging palusot ko kung sakali mang mapagalitan ako ngunit bigla ata akong nakalimot.

"Harper told me a different story." paglalaban nito na para bang mas may katotohanan iyong sinabi ng kaibigan niya.

"At sino naman-"

"Make sure to come this afternoon. I'll quit if I won't see you there later and let's forget about our deal, Ms. Aragon." seryoso pa ring aniya saka lumabas ng klase ko.

Sinundan ko siya ng masamang tingin. Nang makalabas na ay nilingon ko iyong kaibigan niyang nakayuko na ngayon sa desk niya, mukhang natutulog na.

Nakangiwi akong napakamot sa batok dahil sa nangyari. Gusto ko nalang sakalin iyong estudyante kong masyadong pakealamera at matabil iyong dila. Sana pala ay hindi nalang ako tumambay dito sa klase nila tuwing breaktime ko. Pansamantala ko atang nakalimutan na merong mata dito ang Hirano'ng iyon.

Nasira man ang umaga ko ay napanatili kong maayos and maganda ang performance ko sa klase ko. I need to separate and keep my personal emotions well managed.

The way Thana approached me for not attending their practice was inappropriate. Wala kami sa tamang lugar at wala siya sa posisyon para pagsabihan ako ng ganun.

But I wasn't able to defend myself in an instant because she, somehow, had a point.

Pinili kong kalimutan ang tagpong iyon nang pumasok ako sa archery room dala ang bag ko. Kompleto silang lahat na naroon at ang tatlong players ay ginagawa na ang warm up nila. Agad akong nilapitan ni Kris.