Mr. Wrong (Mr. Series #1)

Chapter 9

Jhunel looked at me with his teasing smile, as if he had won the game without even struggling. I got up to leave him at the gym, but I was shocked when he grabbed my arm, causing me to face him.

"Sheen, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?"

My forehead furrowed. Pagon na ako sa mga bulok niyang istilo. Kailan ba siya titigil. Kapagp pinagpatuloy niya pa ito, mas lalong aabot sa langit ang pagkamuhi ko sa kaniya.

"When will you give me a chance to talk to you?"

"A chance?" I bluntly asked. "Niloloko mo ba ako?"

"Look, everything was a misunderstanding, Sheen. You don't know what happened that night." Hindi niya binitiwan ang kamay ko. Dahil sa ginagawa niya, hindi ko na alam ang salitang kalma. Even his shadow makes me vomit.

"Let's say everything was a misunderstanding, Jhunel, but I don't want to understand it anymore. I don't want to hear your lies or your explanations of what happened before... We're already done. I've been too stupid for you. I don't want to be fooled again." I tried to stay in my composure because I knew my limits. I know that at this moment, I might cry because of the pain coming back to my memory.

"Please, Sheen, listen to me. Just this once."

I laughed. "What is it about the word 'enough' that you don't understand? Don't make my world spin around again. I already know those lines. I'm fed up. Do you want me to remind you of everything you did? Why do I not want to fix everything?"

He remained silent. I removed his hand from my arm. "I don't know why you're here. I don't know what your purpose is, but please don't bother me anymore. Just this once, please, let me be happy."

"Sheen..."

"Jhunel, I'm begging you. Please leave me alone."

I completely turned my back on him.

Honestly, I'm still depressed because every time I remember everything, my self-esteem diminishes. What he did to me was very degrading.

Anne had warned me several times before, but I didn't listen. He was always busy; he never got time to listen to my stories, and whenever I told him that he lacked time for me, he assumed that I was just being immature and didn't understand his situation. Ako ang palaging nag-aadjust. I thought the problem was with me. I thought I was asking for too much, but I realized I was just asking the wrong person. If I were just with the right person, I wouldn't suffer like that.

I finally realized everything. I shouldn't have cried for him. Hindi ako ang dapat manghinayang. Hindi naman ako ang nagkulang. If he managed to fool me or cheated on me, there's nothing wrong with me; it's his choice.

*****

"Where do you think Jhon Rey is?" Anne Marie asked out of the blue. Kasalukuyan kaming kumakain sa cafeteria.

"Hindi ko alam," I simply said. A couple of days passed, and I no longer saw Jhon Rey's presence after the basketball game. Yes, I am worried, but things are way messier than I expected. I don't have any idea where to find him or where to find my rights.

"Someone told me you were the last person he was with."

I sighed. Maraming araw pa ang lumipas, at hindi pa rin nagpakita si Jhon Rey. His seat behind me is like an abandoned place. He does not attend class. Ang sabi nila, baka raw lumipat na uli ng school. Ayokong maniwala pero wala naman akong karapatang mag-assume dahil hindi ko naman siya ganoong kakilala kahit ang paraan niya ng pag-iisip ay hindi ko alam. Baka nga lumipat na siya.

I just tried to focus on the classes, even though I knew in the back of my mind that I was looking for him. I'm just wondering why he left me that day after Jhunel whispered something to him.

I sighed and decided to approach Jhunel when I saw him entering the room.

"Follow me," wika ko bago ako tumalikod sa kaniya. He seems confused, but still, do what I said. We went to the back of our building, where there were no students at all except us.

"Bakit tayo narito?" he asked, looking so confused.

My eyes squinted as I confronted him. "What did you say to him that time?"

I saw his eyebrows twitch. "Him?"

"Yes, what did you whisper to Jhon Rey that made him leave?"

Siya naman ang napasinghap tila ba hindi makapaniwala sa subject ng pag-uusapan namin kung bakit ko siya dinala rito. "Bakit gusto mong malaman? Are you concerned about his absence? Why? Are you falling for him now?"

"Stop asking like it's your business. Just answer my question."

"I won't tell you," he stated, which made me so annoyed with him. Ano bang gusto niya? I was just asking. He tried to walk away from me, but I grabbed his arm. Our eyes met.

"You'll tell me, and I'll do whatever you want."

He removed my hands. Nagkaroon ng liwanag niya. "Fine, I'll tell you what I exactly said on one condition."

"What is it?"

"You'll give me another chance."

I rolled my eyes. Of course, iyon ang sasabihin niya. If I could just punch him straight in the face, I would do it. But thinking that I am really worried about what he said that made Jhon Rey disappear is way more important than the chance he was asking for. I really want to know what the hell he told Jhon Rey. I'm dying to know.

"Fine, just tell me."

He smiled and moved closer. "I just told him that I knew his secrets."

"What secret?" My heart starts to race not because of excitement but because of nervousness that I might open a pandora's box.

"The reason why he needs to transfer to this school."

"And what is it?" tanong ko pa na may halong pagkayamot dahil nabibitin ako sa mga impormasyong ibinibigay niya sa akin.

"Slowly, Sheen. I'll tell you everything about it when we become close again, just like before. So, when are you free? Can we date?"

I sighed, admitting defeat, as he outsmarted me. I decided to leave him and go back to our classroom without answering his inquiries. Kung hindi niya sasabihin sa akin, hindi pwedeng ibigay ko kaagad sa kaniya ang gusto niya.

Umupo na ako sa upuan ko habang hinihintay ang susunod na professor. I wondered why the surroundings were quiet. The cold breeze blew. It was as if an angel had passed by.

I was right. An angel is passing by.

I was stunned to see that man enter our classroom. Napakalakas talaga ng dating niya. Kahit ang mga kaklase ko'y napapatahimik at napapatingin sa kaniya na para bang siyang ang sentro ng mga mundo nila. Kapwa may gulat sa mga mukha dahil hindi nila inaasahang papasok si Jhon Rey.

I chased him with my gaze, but not once did he turn to me. He just went straight to his seat behind me. Napalunok ako at sa sandaling iyon nakaramdam ako na para bang ang maliit naming distansya sa isa't isa ay lumaki na.

I sighed. I wanted to ask if he was okay or what happened but I was worried that he might not answer me.

"Dude, you're here now," Jhunel said nang makabalik siya sa classroom but Jhon Rey ignored him just what he did to me. Nanliit ako nang hindi niya sagutin si Jhon Rey. Pakiramdam ko ako iyong nabingi sa kanilang katahimikan.

Sinulyapan ko lang sandali si Jhunel at ganoon din ang ginawa niya sa akin. Mabuti naman at hindi niya na ako kinausap pa.

Gusto kong makaramdam ng kapayapaan kahit sandali. Kahit na ang katabi ko...ay ang lalaking minsang sumira sa buhay ko.