It was already mid-November. Mina had finally recovered from the tragic loss of her dad, and had started coming to school again. She admitted to us that she had her mom bribe the school for making up for her long absence. In order to not raise suspicions from anyone, she would regularly fabricate mock essays and papers, and have them submitted in their respective subjects. Nonetheless, I agreed to teaching her chemistry and physics so she could authentically catch up, while Amaya would tutor her on math.
This time, Naomi was the one skipping classes. She contracted dengue fever in her province, but she promised us that she wouldn't be too long gone. I thought I had to take care of her vacant chair. No one knew who would do it, but for some reason, some people would stick chewed up gum underneath desks.
Mom became a tad less moody. Maybe it's because of something at work, but she wasn't the type to tell a lot. Or perhaps it's because my dad wasn't around anymore. I still didn't know what happen to him though.
Izagani and I were in the same old playground again, resting on the stationary swings. It had already been thrice this month since we first did this. I've always met him at the 7-11 store nearby, right after stopping by the Ligaya Bridge to ponder on the past few months. It was a longer route to home, but I didn't mind at all.
"Wait. So you liked this guy?" Izagani supposed as he pointed at me.
"No." I frowned. He wasn't really paying attention at all. "I told you, he's just... I've been thinking about that one and only encounter I had with him since he disappeared. I was shocked. I didn't know that that would be the last time I'd see him..."
"Alive?"
I nodded.
Izagani sighed, his eyes idling on the empty sandbox before us. "I've heard some stories about the guy... from the upperclassmen. His parents gave huge donations to the school every year since he became a student. He used to misbehave a lot, especially during freshman year. One time, he got reported for accidentally hitting a classmate on the head with a pick mattock when they were gardening."
"Isamu?" I had to clarify that. We may be talking about a different person there.
Izagani nodded. "Kids probably just got tired of him fooling around. So, everyone completely kept their distance from him. Maybe he was trying to get attention when he kept making a mess in the cafeteria every day. Maybe you're the only one who actually talked to him."
Me, the only one? "Maybe he's got... friends?"
"I don't think friends are people who wouldn't want to get involved with each other."
So he doesn't have any? I sighed. "I feel so bad for him. I don't know why. Till now, I just am."
Izagani smiled at me. "Don't be. You don't have to carry the guilt of something you didn't cause."
"But why would he do it? Why did he suddenly do it when somebody actually talked to him?"
He thought for a while, but ended up with a shrug. "I guess some things can only be understood in other people's perspectives." As if concluding already, Izagani got on his knees and lent me his hand. "I think we should go now."
I stared at his hand. But I took it anyway and pulled myself up.
On the way to the pedestrian crossing where we would part, a sudden thought crossed me. "Izagani?"
"Hm?" He only glanced at me, keeping his pace with mine as we walked side-by-side.
"You... never ask me about Amaya," I said, awkwardly. "She's doing fine these days. Have you two started talking again?"
