Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 28

"Natagalan ka yata? May dinaanan ka pa?" Naningkit ang mga mata ni Miley sa akin nang makabalik ako.

Mabilis akong umiling. "W-Wala," pagsisinungaling ko. "Sa bathroom lang naman ako at nagkita kami ni Jasharee roon."

"Talaga?" Marilyn shifted on her seat. "Ano'ng nangyari? Inaway mo ba siya?" she asked.

"Hindi naman pero nagkasagutan kami," maiksi kong sagot at umupo na sa inupuan ko kanina.

"Ganoon lang?" Shovie looks unsatisfied. "Hindi mo siya sinabunutan o binuhusan man lang ng tubig?"

Bumuntonghininga ako, hindi na makatiis. I realized for the last few weeks that na huwag nang gumawa ng gulo. I had a lot of issues last year. Ayaw ko nang magkaganoon pa ulit iyon. When I reached senior high school, I decided not to do anything that could disappoint my parents. Nakukuha ko na ang loob nina mommy at daddy, ayaw kong sirain na naman ang tiwala nila sa akin.

"Kayo lang ba dalawa roon, Yuna?" tanong pa ni Miley. "Kung kayo lang naman dalawa roon, sana nilubos-lubos mo na. Tutal galit ka naman sa babaeng iyon, sana sinabunutan mo."

I realized something. My friends are pushing me to do bad things. Ayaw ko mang sabihin, pero iyon ang totoo. Bakit ngayon ko lang ito napansin?

What Ryder told me last year suddenly flashed through my mind. Naalala ko iyong sinabi niya na tino-tolerate raw ng mga kaibigan ko ang mga masamang gawain ko. At ngayon ko lang na-realize na tama nga siya. My friends are also pushing me to do things that could harm other people. I am really such a bully. I don't know why I suddenly felt guilty thinking about what I did when I was in junior high. My cousins also told me that they don't like my friends because they are such a bad influence on me. What if they're right?

Ayaw ko namang masira ang relasyon ko sa mga kaibigan ko. They are the only friends I ever had. Kapag wala sila, hindi ko alam kung saan ko pupulutin ang sarili ko. Some people may say that a person can live without a friend, but in my situation.. I am scared to lose them because they are not just my friends, they are also my family. Pinakinggan ko na naman ulit sila. They're talking badly about Ryder again. Gusto ko man silang sitahin, pero hindi ko magawa. All I ever did was shut my mouth and hear all of their insults about Ryder.

"Are you okay?"

I slipped out of my thoughts when I heard Ryder come out of nowhere. Natulala na pala ako. I smiled when I saw him. Luminga-linga ako at wala akong nakitang mga estudyante sa paligid. Gabi na kasi, ginabi kami ng mga kaibigan ko. Ganoon din siguro si Ryder dahil sa dami ng kanyang ginagawa. He moved closer to me and touched my forehead, checking if I had a cold.

"Hindi ka naman nilalagnat," he said. "Is there a problem?" he gently asked.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. "W-Wala, about schoolwork lang."

"I can help you with that," he offered genuinely. "Kung nahihirapan ka, nandito naman ako.. tutulungan kita."

Tumikhim ako. "Hindi na kailangan, natapos na rin naman iyon."

Tumango siya, kumbinsido naman. "Just tell me if you need some help, I am willing to help you."

Dumating na ang sundo namin kaya hindi na ako nakasagot. Sabay kaming lumapit sa kotse. Ryder opened the door for me, and I immediately got inside. Sumunod din naman siya at umupo sa tabi ko. I silently closed my eyes. I wanted to take a nap. I don't know why I am so tired, even though I did not do a lot of things today. Ano ba itong nangyayari sa akin? Bakit kaya ang tamlay ko ngayon?

"Ano po ang nangyari kay Ma'am Yuna, sir?" I heard manong's voice, questioning Ryder.

"Hindi ko rin alam, manong, pero sabi niya ay tungkol lang naman daw sa mga schoolwork niya. Let us just let her rest, she needs it. Mamaya ko na lang siya tanungin pagdating sa bahay o 'di kaya'y bukas na dahil wala rin naman pong pasok bukas."