Beyond the Heart's Grasp

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong kumilos para pumasok. Nakahinga na kaming lahat dahil tapos na ang exam, nakita ko na rin ang score ko sa iba't-ibang subject.

"Highest score, as usual. Congrats!" nakangiting bati ni Monice.

Walang masiyadong pinagawa sa amin ngayon bukod sa lecture at pagd-distribute ng mga test papers. May ilan sa mga kaklase ko na masaya dahil sa mga score na nakuha nila, may iba namang nagrereklamo at may mga walang pakialam sa score basta nairaos na ang exam.

"Thanks. Congrats din." I replied.

She smiled. Lumabas na muna ako ng room para pumunta sa cafeteria at bumili ng maiinom habang wala pang prof. May mga kalat-kalat pa rin na mga estudyante paglabas ko kahit oras ng klase. Karamihan pa sa mga ito ay mga Junior High School.

I was surprised when suddenly someone grabbed my arm. When I looked back, she just smiled at me and pulled me somewhere.

"May klase pa ako." I said habang nagpapadala sa kaniya.

"Saglit lang 'to, promise,"

I just shrugged. Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako dadalhin pero sa direksyon ng pinaghilahan niya sa akin ay nasa parte pa rin naman kami ng campus. Ang random din talaga nito ni Aloha. Lagi siyang nasa timing sa tuwing lumalabas ako ng room ko o di kaya'y kapag pumupunta ako sa cafeteria.

"Don't you have class?" I asked.

"I do," she said while holding my arms. "I just want to show you something."

She led me to the farthest part of the campus where there were no students or teachers. If I'm not mistaken, students are not allowed here, there is also a warning sign.

"Bakit tayo nandito? Bawal dito, ah?"

"Hindi 'yun totoo. Tara dun!" itinuro niya yung masikip na pintuan na nasa pinakadulo kung saan naroon ang bakod. Hindi ko nga alam na may pintuan pala iyon.

"Ano bang meron dyan? Baka may makakita sa atin dito."

"Don't worry, I got this," she said boldly.

She untied the wire that locked the gate, and it came off easily for her. Meanwhile, I kept looking around, worried someone might catch us.

"Come on!" she urged as she slipped inside.

"Let's go back, baka may makakita pa sa atin dito."

"Hindi nga, promise... saglit lang 'to."  I raised an eyebrow at her, making her laugh. "I won't do anything to you. Don't worry."

She didn't give me a chance to respond because she pulled my hand into that door. When I finally got inside, I was greeted by plants and flowers.

"This is my favorite part of the campus," she said as she walked down the row of flowers.

"Does anyone know about this place?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. So far, I haven't noticed anyone coming here. They're scared of getting caught."

"What about you? Aren't you scared?"

"At first, of course. Pero nung tumagal, hindi na."

"Do you like plants and flowers?"

"Sakto lang." she shrugged.

She took out a piece of paper from her pocket and laid it out to sit on. She looked at me and patted the spot next to her. I had no choice but to sit down. Maganda ang panahon ngayon at hindi tirik ang araw, mahangin din.