Mr. Wrong (Mr. Series #1)

Chapter 6

"Anne Marie! Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ko nang mapansin ko ang best friend kong mabilis na nag-aayos ng gamit at mukhang paalis na.

"I'll go first. Bye!" She waved at me and left me in the classroom. Kasalukuyan akong nagbabalik palang ng mga libro sa bag ko pero ayun ang best friend ko at kumakaripas na ng takbo palayo sa building namin. Bakit parang palagi siyang nagmamadaling umuwi? May mas mahalaga pa kaysa sa best friend niya? Iniiwan niya ako palagi!

"You want me to take you home?" I gritted my teeth when I heard his voice trying to flirt with me. I can't believe he's still here, nonstop.

"Your hopes are high, Jhunel." I rolled my eyes and turned my back to him. Hindi ko mapigilang mahiya kapag sinusubukan niya pa rin akong kausapin. Napakayabang! Mukha bang kailangan ko siya? Kaya kong mag-isa! Kaya kong umuwing mag-isa kahit wala siya! Duh. And considering our past, hindi naman siya iyong taong ihahatid lang ako dahil palagi niyang gustong may gawin. At napakatanga ko para paniwalaan siya noon. Hindi ko na uulitin. Hindi na ako magtitiwala.

"Bakit naman ayaw mo? I'm only offering you a ride. Unless you're thinking more than that," he said while staring at me with those playful smiles. Napasinghap ako. "Look, I just don't want you to be alone."

"Then you should've stayed and not left me before," I emphasized.

He laughs. "You see, I'm just worried."

"Wala ka nang karapatang mag-alala para sa akin. Let me clarify everything, Jhunel. Everything about us was all in the past. If you want someone to be with you, take your girlfriend instead!" Inirapan ko siya tsaka ko siya tinalikuran, but there he is, still following me.

"I told you it was a misunderstanding. She's not my girlfriend!"

"Oh God, shut up!"

See? How can I move on if he's still here, lingering around? Messing with me. Every time I get to see his damn face, all I can remember are the times I was stupid for being so happy with him. If I knew that he'd cheat, I should've told myself to stop falling for him.

Pero nawala ang galit ko nang makita ko ang isang lalaking nakatingin sa amin. Hindi lang siya basta lalaki dahil siya si Jhon Rey. Ang palaging tumutulong sa akin kapag binibuwisit ako ng ex ko. He's standing there. Para bang narinig niya ang mga pinagtatalunan namin.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Paano pa ako makakatingin sa kaniya? Kung ngayon ay nakukunsensya ako. Wala namang kami ni Jhon Rey, pero parang na-aattach na agad ako sa kaniya. Nagi-guilty na baka napagseselos ko siya. Ewan! Ang bobo ko talaga pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay.

Muli ko na namang naalala ang sinabi sa akin ni Anne kanina. Tama si Anne. I should stop fantasizing about Jhon Rey's good deeds. It must be his nature; to help someone in need. I should stop telling myself that he's my Mr. Right, dahil baka tuluyan akong mahulog.

I heaved a sigh and walked away. I can hear my heart racing, but I don't know why. Sadness is slowly taking over my heart, but this is the best thing I can do before I become more miserable. I have to ignore both of them as much as possible and only focus on my studies.

May pangarap ako...ayokong masira ang mga ito dahil lang sa lalaki.

The next day, nakiusap ako kay Anne na magpalit kami ng upuan. She asked me why, but she immediately hinted and agreed. I felt relieved for a moment, but not when someone called my name.

"Sheen, why are you here?" Jhunel asked as if he didn't remember what happened yesterday. "Are you trying to ignore me?"

What the hell? "Of course not!" I completely disagree. Why do I feel like I will never escape from my past? And why do I keep losing whenever we argue?

"Huwag mo sabihing iniiwasan mo ako dahil may nararamdaman ka pa rin sa akin? Sabihin mo lang ang totoo, makikipagbalikan ako sa 'yo." I scowled. I can't reach his formidable confidence. Tiningnan klo ang mga kaklase ko para i-check kung narining ba nila ang sinabi ng walang hiya kong ex; thankfully, they are in their world. Gosh, if I only have enough reason to slap him, I will do it. Swear.

Malaki na talaga ng ipinagbago niya. Hindi na siya ang Jhunel na nakilala ko.

Inismidan ko na lang siya at sinubukang magfocus sa sasabihin ng bagong dating naming professor.

"Okay class, listen. I'm giving you this last project for this semester. I want you to write a letter to someone who hurt you the most, and what you'll submit to me is their answer or their reply. I'm hoping na lahat kayo ay maka-graduate this year. "

Napanganga ako. Kahit ang mga kaklase ko ay may kani-kaniyang violent reactions at complain sa nabanggit na project. They simply don't want to do it. Even I, deep inside, am bearing huge chaos. Lalo na't naiisip ko ang taong susulatan ko, the person who hurt me the most. Why, of all the projects our professor can think of, would he end up with this one?

"I hope you all will be able to forgive even if he or she did something unforgivable. I don't want the pain to still linger in your heart because of that person. I believe that forgiving is a step to moving forward."

***

"Are you okay?" I checked to see if I was the one he was talking to. Little did I know, Jhon Rey was the one who was asking me.

"Y-yeah." I simply answered and tiptoed to reach the book from the shelf. I'm here at the library to search for books where I can find some reviews of literature for my research.

"You seem to be in deep thought," he commented. He moves closer and helps me reach the book, pero dahil nakaramdam ako ng pagkailang, kinuha ko nalang iyong librong katabi. Muntikan na akong mawalan ng hininga nang maglapit ang mga katawan namin sa isa't isa. Para akong naiiyak na ewan. I am sincerely guilty for whatever feelings are growing inside me.

I winced and sat where I left my bag. "I hope he doesn't sit here," I murmured, but I realized that not everything I wanted would happen. Umupo si Jhon Rey sa harap ko. Hawak niya ang librong sana'y kukunin ko kanina. He is looking at me intently. No, staring at me. I can feel his intense gaze pulling my eyes to look at him even once.

But I chose to focus on what I was doing. I open the book and take out the notebook from my bag before I start writing anything. I wasn't expecting what he did. He held my chin using his delicate fingers and caught my eyes. I can no longer escape his gaze. His eyes even narrowed as if he were thinking something and barely examining my face.

Napalunok ako dahil sa tensyong idinudulot niya sa akin. Iniwas ko ang mga mat ako. Hindi ako makatitig sa kaniya nang matagal. Nahihiya ako sa ginagawa ko, acting like I am somewhat important to deal with.

"Did you just avoid my eyes?" he asked querulously.

"N-no." I looked at him and saw his forehead wrinkled. The looks of confusion make him more attractive that any woman cannot resist.

"Are you ignoring me?" he questioned. I gasped. "H-hindi. Bakit naman kita iiwasan?"

"That's what I am thinking about; why would you exchange seats with your friend? Certainly, it wasn't because of your boyfriend since both of you are still having a romantic conversation." He elaborated, acting like a detective trying to deduce me.

"He's not my boyfriend anymore. I just exchanged seats. There's no particular reason, and can you let my—" I removed his hand from my chin. "Why are you showing so much concern for me?"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang bibig ko sa pagtanong. Ngayon, mas lalo akong nahiya. Bakit ko ba siya tinanong nang ganoon?

I heard him sigh with a hint of confusion. And then, without a word, he left me. I looked at his seat. He left me the book that I had been reaching for a while ago.

Did I make him mad?