After All

n i n e

KEITH LUSTERIO

"Absent again?" Sabay punta sa pwesto niya si Pia habang nakatingin pa rin sa pwesto ni Cath. Almost a week na kasing absent si Cath - well, not if she'll come tomorrow.

"Have you contacted her yet?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Bigla naman kaming nakarinig ng isang tunog. Malakas palang isinara ni Darryl ang librong binabasa niya.

"Isn't it surprising? You actually cared?" Sarkastiko niyang sabi.

"Seriously? What the heck is your problem with me?" Naiirita kong tanong sa kanya. Nahahalata ko na kasi ang pagiging mainit niya sakin these past few days.

"Your mere existence. Will you take that as an answer?" Sabi nito at tumayo na para umalis.

I sighed. "I didn't do anything if my memory serves me right," sabi ko.

"Let him be. Parang lagi lang talaga 'yang meron eh," sabi ni Pia at naghalumbaba.

~

"Aish!" Nagulat nalang ako sa biglaang pagtayo ni Pia kasabay nang malakas na paghampas sa table niya.

"Tara ulit kay GD," pag-aaya niya.

"Wag na. Masasayang lang ang pagod natin. He won't tell us,"

"Sabagay, for sure nasa kapatid niya ang loyalty niya," then she let a deep sigh. We've been stuck here like this for almost how many days. Pagkatapos ng dinner namin last week, di na namin ulit nakita si Cath.

~

"By the way, how's your relationship going with your girl?" Out of the blue niyang tanong.

"Well, alive and kicking?" Wala akong maisip na isagot eh.

"Any more answers? If Cath were here, I'll bet she'll say, lame answer, try again," then she chuckled. Napangiti naman ako. Lagi nalang naisisingit si Cath sa usapan. Ganun na ba talaga kalaki ang epekto niya samin?

~

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pag-iisip kung saan kami magde-date ni Kris nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. Si Darryl lang pala. May hawak siyang mga papel at umupo na rin agad sa pwesto niya.

"What's with the long face?" Tanong ni Pia.

"Almost two weeks from now, you know what's the activity?" Balik nitong tanong. Dali-dali 'kong nilapitan ang laptop sa harap ko at tiningnan ang calendar. "Clash of clubs," bulong ko.

"Ano ngayon?" I suddenly imagine Cath with her remarks. Wait, - what?

~

"It felt as if it's been months passed when she's gone," Darryl said randomly. Napatango naman ako.

"Parang ang boring nga, though most of the time, hindi naman siya naattend ng klase," Pia added.

~

Tahimik lang kaming tatlo sa kanya kanya naming pwesto nang biglang nagbukas ang pinto. Andyan na pala si Mr. Cervantes, our biochemistry teacher. Pumwesto siya sa unahan at tiningnan kami isa-isa pagkatapos ay nagpakawala ng isang buntong-hininga.

"I don't know what happened, but please, don't forget the fact that all of you here are students that need to study. Don't act as if this is someone's funeral. Cheer up, guys!"

Bigla namang nagtaas ng kamay si Pia, "Mister, can't we have class 'til Cath is around? Your effort in teaching us will be in vain if we're busy thinking about her and not listening to you,"

"So it's all about Ms. Gonzalez after all," Pia nodded. Si Darryl naman tahimik lang na diretso ang tingin.

"By the way, dear students. Have you already knew about the incoming clash of clubs? I suppose all of you here joined Locked-Out,"