Hate List

No. 11: Flashlight

Hate List
No. 11: Flashlight

"Seb, please..." paki-usap ko sa kanya while strongly cling to him.

Kagagaling pa lang namin sa admin ng campus network. Binalikan kasi namin sina Ayi. Good news: may ginawa ang admins sa video and it was deleted from the system. I don't know how they did it but the bottomline is: they did. Bad news: sa kamalas-malasan pa ay nakasalubong namin pabalik sa oval ang adviser ni Seb. Now, we're sure he'll get a week's worth of suspension. He'll get more than that if he continues to aid me. Lalo na ngayon, faculty eyes are on him.

"I think you better take your sister's advice," komento ni Gab, who'd been eyeing Seb and me strangely ever since nagpakita sa amin kanina si Seb.

"Yeah, handsome, do what Sera says." dagdag ni Ayi habang ngata-ngata ang kulay red na lollipop and rubbing it occasionally on her lips like a lipstick. Napansin niyang tumitingin ako so she extends her lollipop in gesture of sharing.

Ugh, no, thanks. Natawa siya ng ngumiwi ako at umiling-iling ng todo.

"You don't even know what's happening." Seb acidly tells them.

"We may or may not know what's happening, but bro, she's our friend." sabi ni Herald sabay singit sa gitna at akbay sa aming dalawa ni Seb. Wait. So I'm their friend now? At kailan pa tumalino ng ganito si Herald? I remove Herald's arm from my shoulder. I'm thinking about removing his man parts in the process. Eww lang.

Seb's phone rang. He flipped the case open and answered the phone.

"Mama?" he mutters. Fudge. Nakalimutan ko nang kamustahin si Mama.

"Yes, Mama. Sera's in her dorm. She's okay. Just busy." Tumingin siya sa akin. Lie.

"'Ma, pwedeng mamaya na lang? I'm in the middle of something... Good God, 'Ma! May mga kausap lang ako tapos naka-buntis na kaagad yung nasa isip mo!" Lumaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig ko. I hear three sarcastic coughs on the background. I add mine. "Okay, I'll tell her. Bye." Ibinalik na ni Seb yung phone niya sa pocket. Tinitigan niya muna ako bago niya kuhain ang backpack niya.

"It's already 1:55. I've got a major class in 2. We'll talk about this later. Okay?" diin ni Seb habang pumapara ng jeep. Before he climbs unto it, nilingon niya muna ako at nginitian niya ng matamis. "Bye, Toby."

I watch the jeepney ride away.

"Akala ko ba suspended yun?" tanong ni Herald habang nagkakamot ng ulo. Ayi shoots him the "duh" look. Pati na rin ni Gab. Slow lang.

"Wala pa namang notice ah." sagot ko. I pick up lints from my maxi skirt. "Uwi na ako sa Acacia. I think I need a rest."

Hindi na ako nag-expect ng reaction pumara na kaagad ako ng jeep bago pa may maka-mukha sa akin.

***************************

I fling my shoulder bag towards my bed. Lumuhod agad ako sa sahig para hugutin ang maleta ko mula sa ilalim ng kama. A cloud of dust puffs away as I drag it. I sneeze. Hindi ko nga pala nawalisan ang ilalim nito. I'll save it for another time. Dali-dali kong hinanap ang mga dadalahin ko para sa mamaya. Lumubog ang araw at wala na akong ibang maisip kundi yung text na iyon.

Don't be late, Eurydice.

Hindi naman ako tanga para hindi ma-deduce na isa sa Outcasts ang nagpadala noon sa akin. A shiver crept up my spine, making me look around if someone is watching. I even peered out the window. Nothing suspicious enough. Alam kong it's a bit paranoid pero tinignan ko rin yung kisame at corners ng room. Every corner has a black orb implanted on it. I used to stare at it a lot. It was like huge black pearls. So pretty. But now, something's with the far bottom left corner, sa itaas ng pinto papuntang CR. I 'm sure it glinted slightly. Yung parang may ilaw sa loob. I run towards it. Kinuha ko ang monoblock chair ni Ayi at tumuntong dito.