Feb-Ibig Project: Oh, To Fall For Him [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

FORGOT how many days have passed — again — but I'm still alive — sadly. Unfortunately, fortunately, I heard that someone actually pushed me away from getting hit by the motorcycle. Plus, kusang umiwas din daw yung driver ng motor kaya, technically, walang nabangga. Thank goodness for that.

I lost consciousness when I realized that I was about to get hit by a motorcycle, and when I woke up, I was already on my bed and Jackie was beside me, holding my hand, and crying her eyes out.

"Sinong namatay?" I asked her. The grogginess in my voice was hard to miss.

Agad namang inangat ni Jackie ang tingin niya sa akin saka mas lalong naiyak bago ako niyakap nang mahigpit. Dama kong anytime soon mamamatay na ako for real dahil sa suffocation pero bumitaw din naman siya kaagad. "I'm so sorry. I should've listened to you. K-Kung sinamahan lang kitang umuwi, edi sana... edi sana..." Mas lalong humagulgol si Jackie.

Napabuga naman ako ng hangin bago dahan-dahang inalalayan ang sarili kong makaupo. At some point kasi ay dama ko ang medyo pagsakit ng katawan ko. "Anong nangyari?" tanong ko sa kaniya pero hagulgol lang ang sinasagot niya.

Noong araw na iyon ay wala akong nakuhang matinong sagot o kwento mula kay Jackie. Masyado raw kasi siyang kinakain ng guilt niya kaya naman panay lang ang iyak niya kada ipapaalala ko ang gabing iyon.

I thought I would end up buried six feet underground without knowing what actually happened but finally, Jackie had the nerve to speak about it. And my hero almost made me drop my jaw.

"But it is the truth. Nexus was the one who saved you that night. Ang galing-galing ko talagang pumili ng crush. He's like Superman. OMG." Paulit-ulit na naririnig ko ang mga salitang iyon mula kay Jackie. And I swear, I just can't believe it.

I mean seriously, masyado ba talagang mabait si President para isakripisyo ang buhay niya para sa kagaya ko? I was even rude to him even when it was his birthday. I didn't even give him a gift or greet him at least. I was... I was mean that day and yet... Napabuga na lamang ako ng hangin.

I shouldn't overthink it and just be grateful. Maybe think of a simple gift — a birthday gift and a thank you gift fused into one. Can I actually do that? What gift could I possibly give? May pwede bang ibigay sa kan'ya na wala pa siya? Ano bang magugustuhan niya? I seriously have to think a lot about this because I really have to thank him. If it wasn't for him, something bad would've really happened to me and I would've hurt my family. I let out another sigh before I heard the teacher ending the class, I quickly looked in her direction and frowned. She was indeed packing her stuff and leaving the room. Ayan, Had! Kung ano-anong pumapasok sa utak mo, hindi ka tuloy nakapakinig sa klase.

Mabilis na lumipad ang tingin ko sa upuan ni Jackie na two seats away from me pero wala na siya roon, which is not normal. She would always wait for me kapag lunch break na. Mabilis akong tumayo saka kinuha ang phone at wallet ko. Napatingin pa ako kay President na siyang kausap ang kaibigan niya. I wanted to say thank you, but I have no idea how to do so without pissing Jackie off. Napabuntonghininga na lang ulit ako bago nagmamadaling lumabas ng classroom at hanapin si Jackie.

Fortunately, I was able to see her just leaving the comfort room. I went to her and squinted my eyes. "Ihing-ihi ka na ba at hindi mo talaga nasabi sa aking magc-CR ka?" Weird, but it is what's normal between us. We don't leave the room without letting the other one know where we would be.

I somehow felt uncomfortable under her serious gaze. I had no idea why she was looking at me like that, but it was the first time she ever looked at me as if she was contemplating whether or not she should be okay with me. Just as I was about to ask her, she smiled at me — the kind of smile that I never liked on her. "I did make paalam kay Miss that I would go out. I even glanced at you, pero mukhang tulalang-tulala ka at wala sa wisyo, hindi mo nakikita kung sino ang nakatingin sa 'yo."

Napakurap naman ako. I felt guilty all of a sudden since I was occupied with the thoughts of Nexus — something that Jackie would never ever like at all. "I'm sorry. Iniisip ko lang yung paparating na anniversary nila Mom," I lied, and I could clearly see how Jackie did not believe it but chose to say nothing about it.

"You know how much I love you as my best friend and sister, right, Hadlee?" I nodded as I felt my body somehow tremble at the way she stared at me. "And you do know how much I value what's mine — What's mine is mine, right?"

Shittake mushrooms. Does she know about my feelings for Nexus? I started to panic but I did my best to calm down. This is Jackie that we're talking about, Had. If she knew about my feelings for Nexus, she would tell me and would end our friendship. With that in mind, I calmed myself and nodded. "Of course, Jackie." I couldn't have my tone be a little more delighted and joyful. "What's yours is yours." But just thinking about Jackie having Nexus all to herself... somehow hurts so bad.

Jackie grinned at my response. She's acting as if she did not just test our friendship — my loyalty. As if she did not just low-key threaten me. "Goody good." She clung her arm around mine and pulled me towards the cafeteria. "Let's go grab our lunch na. I'm like hungry na eh." The cheerful Jackie got back but I couldn't seem to lift up my spirits after that intense conversation.

I honestly don't know what to do with Jackie's sudden questions and stares. I feel like she knows something but doesn't. Yung parang aware siyang may feelings ako pero hindi siya sigurado. Or baka pinaghihinalaan niya ako nang dahil sa same kami ng color palette ni President nung birthday niya plus yung pagiging Superman niya.

Hindi ko na alam, pero nagsisimula na akong kabahan. It's not like I'm planning to ruin our friendship, but maybe, just maybe, if I have the strength to tell her how I feel towards Nexus, she'll understand. Hopefully, she'll understand. Because I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't.

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