Chapter 5
Day 39: Sevelanio High (Present)
“Sorry about earlier.”
Hindi ko magawang salubungin ang titig niya. I’m so embarrassed by the fact that he got caught in between our fight. Wala akong ideya kung paano niya nahanap ang address ko pero nahihiya rin naman akong magtanong gayong sariwa pa sa alaala namin ang nangyari kanina.
Nakayuko lamang ako habang patuloy na dinadampian ng cold compress ang namumula niyang pisngi. I’m quite sure na mas malakas ang natanggap niyang sampal kumpara sa akin. Luckily, nakahiram kami ng susi ng clinic sa guard kaya nagkaroon kami ng access sa mga gamit doon.
“I should be the one saying that,” he replied. He snatched the icepack from my hand. His fingers suddenly glide from my jaw down to the bottom of my small chin. Iniangat niya ang mukha ko at marahang idinampi ang malamig na pad sa aking pisngi.
“Sorry for pushing you further,” he added. “Sorry for not asking about the situation you’re at.” I was stunned and was unable to speak. This feels like a dream. Did he just apologize?
“A-ano ulit?” He chuckled after hearing the hesitant tone of my voice. The discomfort I harbored started to crawl out of my chest.
“You heard it right in the first place.”
“Masyado bang napalakas ang sampal sayo ni Papa?” pabiro kong tanong na ikinangisi niya. He shrugged his shoulder and puckered his lips.
“Just consider it as your revenge on me for putting you in a tight spot.” Binawi na niya ang kanyang kamay bago siya tumayo at maglakad patungo sa kaninang kinalalagyan ng hiniram naming gamit. Ibinalik niya doon ang cold compress saka muling bumaling sa akin. “And what I said earlier about you…”
Naalala ko ang mga papuring natanggap ko mula sa kanya nang ipagtanggol niya ako sa papa ko. I never knew he could say such fluttering speeches. “I was only bluffing.” Agad na umasim ang mukha ko nang marinig ang sunod niyang sinabi.
So he just lied and got myself high for nothing? Wow, what a nice way to ruin the moment. Magpapasalamat na sana ako sa perfect timing ng pagsulpot niya kanina para isalba ako pero ngayong narito na naman kami sa loob ng school at nakikita kong bumabalik na ang kasamaan niya, gusto ko na lang siyang batukan ng ilang beses.
“Teka nga!” pigil ko sa kanya nang akmang lalabas na siya ng clinic. “Paano mo nalaman kung saan ako nakatira?” He slightly rotated his head and let out a confusing beam.
“Paano nga ba?” And with that, he walked out of the room as I was left dumbfounded. What does he mean by that? I need him to enlighten me. However, mukhang malabong mangyari ‘yun dahil matapos ang maikling drama na kinabilangan namin, bumalik na naman ang original version ng President Grey na kilala ko.
That infuriating son of a bi—I don’t want to curse him right now!
I didn’t wait long before also leaving the clinic. Naisipan kong sumunod na rin sa kanya dahil baka maligaw ako kung mag-iinarte pa ako at magpapaiwan. Hindi ko pa naman alam kung saang building or room gaganapin ang tinutukoy nilang workshop.
“Ang tahimik, no?” I tried to get him to talk but he just nodded his head as a response. “Saan kaya sila?” I sounded as if I was talking to the wind.
“Sumunod ka na lang, ang daldal mo.” Napanguso ako sa komento niya. Tulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa, nangingibabaw ang expertness niya sa pagsusungit.
