HOPELESS
FRANKIE
“Good morning to you too.” I greeted back to Marcus after I read his greeting on my cup.
I was keeping everything cool the whole time just so I could show no weakness in front of him—even though that his actions were kinda melting me already.
I sipped through the straw from the cup and put it down for a while. I took my book out of my bag so that I could burn my precious short time while Iʼm on the road.
Umusog si Hazel sa kaniyang kaliwa nang sa ganoʼn ay makausap niya ng mas diretsa si Marcus. I was getting this gut feeling na hindi magiging maganda sa pandinig ko ang mga sasabihin niya kay Marcus.
“Do you like her?” asked Hazel, whispering behind him. She was pertaining to me. Why would Marcus like me anyway? Iʼm probably not his type.
“N-no.” Marcus stuttered. “Why do you ask suddenly?”
He did what?! He stuttered with a single word for a simple question? Grabe...
“Buti na lang.” Hazel sighed in great relief. “She only reads books and fantasize over fictional men all the time. Sheʼs really hopeless when it comes to finding a partner.”
That hurts but as they all say, truth hurts. Masakit ʼyon, pero tama naman siya. Tila abot langit na nga ang taas ng standards ko sa lalaki, paano pa ako magkakaroon ng karelasyon? Kung anong ikinarami ng oras ko sa pagbabasa araw-araw, wala na akong oras na maghanap ng lalaki. Besides, I donʼt like chasing men. They either come and go, or come and stay. Kaya bakit pa ako mag-aaksaya ng oras na maghabol sa lalaki. Marami dʼyan sa paligid, hindi naman ako mauubusan.
— MISSED PAGES —
“Thank you for the ride!” Hazel beamed as she steps out of the car first. She wore her glasses and carried her bag and books.
Bumaba na rin kami ni Marcus ng sasakyan pagkatapos ni Hazel. Habang pinapanood kong mawala sa paningin ko si Hazel, napagtanto kong manatili muna rito sa parking lot hanggang sa umalis na rin si Marcus. Sigurado naman ako na pupunta na siya sa studio dahil sabi niya kagabi, ngayon na ang general rehearsal ng mga tinuturuan niya ng sayaw. Bukas na kasi ang kompetisyon so I really understand if he leaves me here for something else as important as their rehearsal.
Halos mag-iisang minuto na ang lumipas pero hindi pa rin kumikibo si Marcus. Tumingin ako sa kaniya ng diretso. “Hindi ba may rehearsal kayo ngayon?” Hindi ko na naiwasan ang magtanong.
He looked at me but heʼs wearing a plain expression on his face. “Yes pero mamaya pa ʼyon.”
“What time?” panibagong tanong na naman. Frankie, ano ba?!
“8:30 am.” he said. Still emotionless and wearing a plain expression.
I pouted my upper lip as I crossed my arms. I marched through since I had nothing to do here at the parking lot.
While I walked through, I could feel his presence at my back. Sumagi sa isip ko na baka pupunta rin siya sa library.
Hindi pa naman ganoon katagal kaming magkaibigan pero kinikilala ko siya ng maigi. What I mean is I am becoming a very good observant when it comes to him. I wanted to know him better.
Kapag nakikita ko siya sa library nang hindi inaasahan o ʼdi naman kayaʼy nagkataon lang na makasabay ko siya sa hallway patungo sa library, tinatanong ko siya kung may klase ba siya o may mahalagang pakay. Ang tanging sinasagot niya lang ay, “I came here to burn some time.”
He literally mean it.
As soon as we arrived at the library, we sat beside each other at a vacant table.
I decided to bring out the books that we used last night when he was helping me review for my upcoming test.
Habang nilalabas ko ang mga libro mula sa bag ko, hindi ko maiwasang makita ang ginagawa ni Marcus sa tabi ko. He was also doing the same thing—but he did it quick. Ipinatong niya ang phone sa kaniyang harap at nagsimula nang magbasa. Dahil doon, binilisan ko na ang ginagawa ko para makasabay ako sa kaniya.
Nang mailagay ko na lahat sa lamesa ang mga librong babasahin ko, umusog ako ng kaunti para makita ko ang binabasa niya. Nahihiya akong magkipag-usap, sa totoo lang, dahil baka puro matitipid na sagot mula sa kaniya ang tanging matatanggap ko.
He was flipping the pages, normally... But then he covers the book, abruptly. He faces me with a grumpy look. “Donʼt.” he said.
Kumunot ang noo ko. “Ano?” klaro ko.
“May test ka ʼdi ba?” tanong niya.
“Oo pero sa Lunes pa ʼyon.” I replied.
“Mag-review ka.” utos niya sa akin.
“Sa Lunes pa naman ʼyung test eh.” sabi ko. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay. “Magre-review naman ako sa Saturday and Sunday.”
“Mag-review ka rin ngayon.”
“Bakit ka ba nandito? Para utusan ako?” That was the moment I lost it... I lost my control.
“Iʼm here to—”
“Yeah, to burn some time.” I rolled my eyes. “Like what you always say.” I was so pissed off at the moment.
“You know already.”
Gusto ko siyang sigawan at sabihin na naiinis na ako but I need to keep everything cool. Hindi ako pwedeng sumigaw o mag-ingay dahil nasa loob ako ng library.
“We started it together pero parang gusto mong tapusin ʼyan ng mag-isa mo lang.” I harshly opened one of the books in front of me and moved away from him.
Binuklat ko ang libro kung saan ako natapos sa pagbabasa. Napamura ako sa isip ko nang maramdaman ang namumuong luha sa mata ko. Umusog pa ako para hindi niya makita ang mata kong kaunti na lang ay iiyak na. Why am I feeling this...? Why is there tears forming in my eyes? Was it because of frustration?
Hindi ko na inisip at tinignan kung ano man ang ginagawa niya ngayon pero nasisiguro kong itutuloy niya pa rin ang pagbabasa niya. Well, sa bagay, tama siya. May test ako sa Lunes lat mas mahalaga naman talaga ang pag-review, pero hindi ko ba deserve magpahinga kahit saglit lang? May performance pa ako bukas at may iba pa akong gagawin.
Nakakainis! Ano ʼyon? Siya lang ba ʼyung may karapatang magkaroon ng free time? I deserve it as much as he does...!
“Sorry...” mahinang sambit niya mula sa gilid ko. His gentle whisper gave my ear a tingling sensation.
Hindi ko siya pinansin. Hindi ako kumibo. I was being controlled by my pride. “What do you want to do? You want to read with me?” he asked after he lets out a sigh. He mustʼve notice that I was reluctant.
“Nothing.” I said, coldly.
I felt his arm brushed off on the back of my shoulder. He was moving to get near me.
“Iʼll read with you, then.” he muttered. He sat properly beside me and nudged my shoulder so he could see the book clearly. I didnʼt have a choice...! Or rather, I didnʼt have time to think how to react!
Out of the blue, his phone starts making a noise. Mabuti na lang at kaming dalawa lang ang tao rito sa loob ng library.
“Yes?” he answers the phone.
Hindi ko pa rin siya nililingon o kahit isang sulyap lang.
Matapos niyang makipag-usap, hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. “Itʼs about Hazel.”
BINABASA MO ANG
Missed Pages ✔︎
Teen Fiction[COMPLETED] TO HEAL SERIES BOOK 1 August 17, 2022 - August 29, 2023
