Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 4

"Did you already apologize to your classmate you bullied yesterday, Carolina?"

Iyan ang binungad ni mommy nang makapasok ako sa aming bahay. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist. Kauuwi ko lang tapos ito kaagad ang ibubungad sa akin? And why do I have to apologize? I am not even sorry for what I did! Apologies are useless if they aren't sincere. Hindi ako magso-sorry dahil labag naman iyon sa loob ko!

"Ryder! There you are, hijo! Sabay ba kayo ni Carolina?"

Napairap ako nang biglang lumambing ang boses ni mommy nang dumapo ang kanyang mata sa taong nakasunod sa likod ko. I did not move because I didn't want to adjust myself to give him a way. He can have it on his own without me moving, and I wasn't really wrong. Dumaan siya sa gilid ko at nang tumingin ako sa gawi ni mommy ay nakita ko ang matalim niyang tingin sa akin. She knows what I am doing.

"Kumusta ang pasok?" my mother asked Ryder in a jolly tone.

She never asked me like that. Palaging iyang Ryder na lang 'yan ang iniisip nila. Ryder here, Ryder there, Ryder everywhere! Hindi ba sila nagsasawa sa nerd na iyan?

"Ayos naman po, tita," maiksing sagot niya kay mommy.

"Anyway." Mommy straightened on her seat. I cocked a brow. "I heard that you are subbing Mr. Baldo? He's one of Carolina's subject teachers! Bantayan mo nang maigi si Carolina, ah?"

"Mom!" Napigtas na talaga ang pasensya ko. "Anong bantayan na pinagsasabi ninyo riyan? Matanda na ako, mommy! Hindi ko na kailangan ng taga-bantay!" bulyaw ko.

Ryder just looked at me with his cold eyes. I glared at him before rolling my eyes. I wanted to remind him over and over again, through my actions, that I really don't like him. Tanging galit at pagkairita lang ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya.

"Just lower your voice, Carolina," saway ni mommy sa akin. "Anyway.. kung kailangan mo naman ng mabuting boyfriend.. nandito naman si Ryder," panunukso pa niya.

Ngumiwi ako. "Yuck, mommy, you're so ew! And, mommy, for your information, your scholar is cheap! Cheap na nga siya, cheap din ang girlfriend niya!"

"What?" Nagulat si mommy kaya biglang sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ko. "What do you mean? Si Ryder? May girlfriend na?"

She drifted her eyes to the guy, giving him a questioning look. Ryder just glanced at me before looking at my mother. Puwede bang putulin ang mata ng lalaking 'to? Kanina pa 'to tingin nang tingin, ah?

"Wala po, tita," he answered without taking his eyes off my mother. "If she was talking about Jasharee, Jash is just my classmate lang po, tita."

"Sinungaling!" I accused, which caught their attention. "She's your girlfriend!" I hissed. "Don't you ever deny your cheap girlfriend here!"

"I am not denying anyone here, Scarlet," kalmadong wika niya. "Why don't you ask Jasharee about us? I don't want to hear any rumors about me having a girlfriend. In fact, I am not into that. I like someone else, Scarlet." He puts an emphasis on my name.

Tumalim lalo ang tingin ko sa kanya. I like someone else? Fuck you! I know that he's referring to me. The way he acts, and the way he looks at me.. it was so disgusting! I don't want to assume, but I cannot help it! Bakit kasi iba ang pinapahiwatig ng titig niya sa akin? Kainis!

"Maybe the one you like doesn't like you?" I throw him an insulting question. "Aw, kawawa ka naman, ano?"

"Carolina," si mommy sa mahinang tinig.

"Yeah, she doesn't like me," he admitted, licking his lower lip. "But I can find ways to make her fall in love with me, Scarlet."

I gritted my teeth. "She will never like a man like you!"