OS #4: Claws of Dominance

7th Dominance

Problem

After what we had in the pool, he let me borrow his pair of pants and jacket that he usually wears especially when he has swimming tournaments.

We didn't went to class after that, may isang subject naman lang kasi kami pareho kaya napagdedisyonan namin na doon na lang sa pool mag-antay.

It was a really unexpected encounter with him and we just spent most of the time left just talking how we have been these days.

"Ano na naman?" Tila bantay-atakeng tanong ni Katalina sa akin.

Nandito kami sa may hagdanan. I called her here through text in the middle of class so that there's no one around.

Ayoko kayang malaman ng iba na me, Dahlia Cortez, is apologizing to someone I kept on bullying, it's like I'm declaring to everyone that I lost.

It's not like I want to do this, I just got no choice.

Tumikhim ako ng pagsulyap ko sa likod ni Katalina, sa may gilid ng pasilyo kung saan may anino.

He wanted to hear it himself kaya nandito sya. Walang tiwala sa akin.

Well, me either, I'm not confident if I can do it alone.

"What, Dahlia. I still have classes, you know?" Nakahalukipkip na saad niya.

"Zori!" Mabilis at matigas kong sabi na kahit ako nga hindi sigurado kung sorry nga ba iyon.

"Ano?" Litong tanong niya na ikinairap ko kasi kahit gusto kong ayusin yun ay may parte pa rin sa akin ang labag sa gagawin.

Muli akong bumaling sa third party sa gilid at nakita na nga siyang nakatayo, nakasandal sa pader ng pasilyo.

"I said... sheri." Tiim bibig kong sabi.

"Mabaho ba ang bibig mo at ayaw mong ibuka 'yan?"

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata at sasagot na sana ng nagkatinginan kami ni Zee na agad kong ikinatigil.

His eyebrows moved while giving me a look, reminding me that I should apologize properly. The more sincere, the more fast it will end.

I'm trying here, you know!

Muli kong tiningnan si Katalina na pinagmamasdan ako na para bang ang laking problema ko sa kanya.

Humugot ako ng hininga, "I said, sorry!" Sabi ko sabay cross ng braso sa dibdib.

Pinanood kong kumunot ang noo ni Katalina bago nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa gulat.

"For real?" Bulong niya.

Iniwas ko ang aking tingin at bumuntong hininga.

I have never apologized to anyone and I don't even want to think about doing it. Now, here I am doing it for him.

Mahinang tumawa si Katalina, tumikhim naman ako sa hiya.

"I don't know if it's sincere but seeing how you're trying... alright. I accept your apology, Dahlia."

Medyo gulat ko siyang tiningnan ulit. That's... it?

She now has a small smile on her lips, and I admit, she is indeed pretty... not as pretty as me though.

She casually tapped my right shoulder. "See you then," in a friendly tone she said before walking away.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin.

Its like there's a part of me that's relieved. I was actually expecting that she would laugh me away and embarrass the hell out of me but maybe it's my thoughts talking.