Star-Crossed Melodies (Echoes #1)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Reject

"Austin! We heard the news..." Yael greeted me and walked towards me. The two were behind him. I couldn't tell if it was concern or anger in their eyes.

Nag iwas ako ng tingin.

"Paano n'yo nalaman na narito ako?" tanong ko, taking a seat on the chair outside the room where we were before.

"Tinawagan kami," simpleng sagot niya.

I nodded without any intention to speak. Could I even speak after what happened? Aside from losing my car, I might also have a mark on my face!

"Sinong nag bangga sa 'yo?" Zede asked seriously, and when I looked at him, his eyes flared.

Umiling ako.

"Ako ang nakabangga. Ako ang nang-bangga."

"Ano?!" Reon exclaimed, approaching me to shake my shoulders. "Baliw ka ba? Nasaan ang nabunggo mo? Buhay o patay?"

I gritted my teeth and removed his hand from me, swallowing hard as I recalled that the man was almost at death's door. There was a large gash on his forehead and another on his elbow.

"He's alive. Just wounded on the forehead and elbow," I replied coldly.

"Nasaan?" Yael asked, scanning the surroundings, expecting the man to still be around.

"Umalis na. Ano bang gagawin niya dito pagkatapos naming magbanggaan?" sabi ko ng may pagngangalit.

"Ayos ba siya?" Zede inquired.

"He's fine! Will none of you ask if I'm okay?" I almost shouted at them, ready to throw a punch at each one.

They burst into laughter while Yael just grinned at me. Truly useless friends! When it's them... so unfair!

"Mukhang ayos ka naman," they chimed in.

"I may look fine, but I'm not! Can't you see this wound? It was bleeding profusely earlier!" I said, pointing to the large bandage on my forehead.

"OA mo! Ikaw na nga ang may kasalanan tapos gan'yan ka mag react? Mabuti at hindi ka inaresto—" I cut off Reon.

"Ikaw ang may kasalanan! Kung hindi ka tumawag, e 'di sana hindi ako nabangga!"

"Tanga, ikaw ang nag mamaneho,"

"Hindi ka pinakulong? Mabait naman yata? Kung ako 'yon, ipapakulong na kita at hindi puwedeng piyansahan!" si Zede sa aking tapat.

"He's not kind. He's making me fix the motor that's all battered up. Is that what you call kindness?" I retorted.

"He's kind because you should be in jail right now—"

"He's not kind, okay? If you were here, you'd find his gaze annoying! It's like he's telling me to obey him because I've wronged him!"

"That's what you should really do."

I shook my head at him, tired of arguing. My forehead wound only intensified the pain.

"Kilala mo ba? Baka dahil kilala ka kaya hindi nag sama ng kaso?" taas kilay na tanong ni Yael.

I immediately furrowed my brows. Why would he not press charges just because he knows me? What kind of reason is that? I just sighed.

"He's Rila's practice teacher. He teaches at my sister's school."

The three of them widened their eyes at what I said. What's so surprising about that? It's not a small world!

"Babae?"