Missed Pages ✔︎

Chapter 30

QUESTIONS

“Yes, Mr. Zachary? Hinahanap mo ba si Frankie?” tanong ni Miss Lara.

Nandito ako ngayon sa silid-aklatan para sa mahalagang bagay. Sinsakto ko talagang pumunta rito habang wala si Frankie. I wouldnʼt want to spoil the surprise.

“No Miss Lara.” umiling ako. What made her think that I was looking for someone?

Bago ako tuluyang magtanong sa kaniya ay sinigurado ko muna sa aking isip ang bawat salitang aking sasabihin. It would be a shame to ask a simple question in a stuttering way. I came here mentally unprepared.

“Iʼm here to ask kung pwede ba akong mag-apply as student lirbarian?” I was fiddling with my fingers halfway through finishing the sentence.

“Of course naman.” Ang mabilis niyang pagtango ay binuhay ang aking loob at pinakalma ang buong sistema ko. “But first, kailangan kong makita ang class schedule mo.”

I know exactly what I needed to bring before I came here. Kaya naman, kinuha ko ang aking envelope sa bag at inilabas ang aking schedule. Inabot ko iyon agad.

She scanned the whole paper, head low and faced at the paper. She was studying it for maybe whether I should be in morning or afternoon duty. “Morning duty.” Inangat niya kaniyang tingin. “ʼYon lang ang pwede.”

Morning? Well, if ever Iʼm assigned in the morning, then I am in the same duty time as Frankie.

“Okay lang po sa akin ang ganoʼng oras, Miss.”

“Sabay ang duty niyo ni Frankie. Is that okay with you?”

“Definitely, Miss Lara.”

Sa sunod-sunod na pagtango at pagsang-ayon ko sa bawat tanong ni Miss Lara, hindi ko namalayan na iba ang naging iba pala ang tunog niyon para sa kaniya. It sounded that I really wanted to take this position. Well, I wanted it. But not to the point that Iʼd became desperate for this.

“I hope you wonʼt mind me asking. Do you like Miss Denver?”

I knew that sheʼd take it that way. Matindi ʼyung pagsisisi ko ngayon dahil sa tanong na ʼyon. Sana pala hindi na ako nagsalita. Dapat tumango lang ako.

“M-Miss Lara...” natahimik ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasagutin ang tanong. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong sabihin.

“Napapansin ko, mas naging madalas ʼyung pagpunta mo rito. Not only that, I also noticed how closer you two are being.” she stated. It gave me goosebumps.

“We are just friends, Miss.” I clarified. I want to avoid misunderstandings about me and Frankie, as much as I can. I know for sure she would not like it.

“But you know, sheʼs popular and pretty. Boys are just around.”

Anong ibig-sabihin nʼon? Sinasabi ba ni Miss Lara na baka maunahan ako ng ibang lalaki? If I like her and sheʼs not into me, then I have no choice? I donʼt like her. Maybe I just like that sheʼs on the same page as me.

“Your duty will be starting on Monday at eight in the morning.” she informed.

“Noted, Miss. Thank you so much. Mauuna na po ako.”

I was in a rush when I said those. The ambiance sure was awkward.

I was about to leave the library when I saw Frankie running towards me. Bumalik ako sa loob at nanatili sa tabi ng nakabukas na pinto. If I didnʼt do that, I would probably lying in the ground now.

Nagmamadaling pumasok si Frankie sa pintuan at nagdire-diretso lang sa kung saan sa loob ng library.

Thatʼs when I realized something I should probably do at the moment. I took the visible chance and went back to talkingwith Miss Lara who was still on her table.

I bit my lower lip, nervously. “Miss can I ask you a favor?” tanong ko.

Bakas ang pagkagulat sa mukha niya sa bigla kong pagtanong. “Yes. What is it?”

“Pwede po bang ʼwag niyo po muna ipaalam kay Frankie?” That was too much to ask from a student to someone whoʼs on a higher level.

“Sure, no problem. Donʼt worry, I wonʼt.” She raise up her hand and showed me a thumbs up.

Napangiti ako, pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang kaba at pagkahiya sa mukha ko. It remained the same.

Lumipat ang atensyon ko kay Frankie. Papalapit na siya sa amin.

“Marcus!” Shock painted on her face. “Anong ginagawa mo rito?” tanong niya.

“Ah, may hinahanap akong libro.” pagdadahilan ko. “Ikaw?”

“Nakalimutan ko ʼyung wallet ko sa table. Mabuti na lang at nandoon pa.” tinuro niya ang isang table sa hindi kalayuan.

Oh. So thatʼs why she was in a hurry.

“Sige una na ʼko.” paalam niya saka agad nang lumabas. Hindi na niya hinintay ang sasabihin ko at agad na lang umalis. I understand that sheʼs in a hurry.

Sheʼs so impulsive at times. Kakausapin ko pa sana siya kaso mukhang nagmamadali siya at mukhang may klase pa siyang papasukan.

May klase rin ako kaya bago ako umalis ng library, humarap ako kay Miss Lara at nagpaalam na.

— MISSED PAGES —

After I attended all my classes for today, I was planning on asking Cyrus about a serious matter. It kept on bothering me the whole time in class. It will drive my mind insane if my curiosity wouldnʼt be satisfied.

Hinahanap ko ang tamang pagkakataon para itanong ang bagay na iyon sa kaniya. Ngayon, nagkukuwento siya ng mga nakakatawang nangyari noong nag-sleep over kami last week. Nang matapos ang kaniyang pagkukuwento, doon ko na naisipang magtanong.

“Cyrus I have a question to ask you.” sabi ko.

Ang kaninang halos maiyak na sa kakatawa ay napalitan ng seryosong mukha.

“Close kayo ni Hazel ʼdi ba?” I asked.

“Woah, didnʼt saw that one coming.” aniya. Tinawanan ba naman ako. Nang makita niyang seryoso pa rin ang mukha ko, tinigil niya ang pagtawa. Wala naman kasing nakakatawa, buti naisip niya agad ʼyon.

“Anyways, why do you ask?”

“Something about her was bothering me.” I confessed.

“Yeah weʼre close. If you have any questions, ask away.” he nodded, calmly

“Bakit hindi siya pumunta sa party ni Leonardo? ʼDi ba invited siya?”

“I tried convincing her but she didnʼt really want to.” Nagkibit-balikat siya.

The more I ask questions, the more I got curious. None of those many questions had been answered by anyone.

“I know youʼre very curious and your curiosity kills you, but we both deeply know that it has something to do with her and her sister.”

Even though it still lingers in my mind, I couldnʼt just meddle with their relationship. Iʼm just a stranger to them. Frankie may feel much uncomfortable when I ask her about her sister, but eventually, I hope sheʼll be able to give answers to my questions.