Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 31

"Okay, class is dismissed."

I yawned as I gathered my things, ready to leave the room. Today's Monday, and I was really bored with the whole class. Last Saturday at Sunday ay wala kaming ginawa ni Ryder kundi gumala lang nang gumala. Napagod naman ako dahil kung saan na kami napadpad. Ang dalawang araw na iyon ay pakiramdam ko ibang tao ako. Nag-bowling kami at siya palagi ang panalo dahil strike siya palagi samantalang ako naman ay puro gutter. Ni isang beses ay hindi nakapag-strike or nakapag-spare man lang.

"Si Ryder mismo ang nagsabi?"

Bumaling ako sa aking kaklaseng si Rosy nang marinig ang pangalan ni Ryder mula sa kanya. She immediately covered her mouth and looked away, as if she did not say anything. Wait.. I almost forgot. No one knows here about me and Ryder; my classmates and even my schoolmates thought that I still hated him. Nagtaas-noo ako. I should go with the flow. Ayaw ko rin na malaman nila na may namamagitan sa amin ni Ryder at baka kumalat pa iyon at umabot pa sa mga kaibigan ko.

"What did he say, Ros?" I asked her and tilted my head.

Pinilig niya rin ang ulo niya at hilaw na ngumiti. "A-Ah, wala naman, Yuna."

"I heard the school president's name," I said. "What did he say?"

"Ah, kasi..." Kumamot-batok siya at tumingin sa mga kaibigan niyang kausap niya kanina. "May kumakalat kasi.."

"Kumakalat na ano? Virus? Gossips? Ano?" I mimicked. "Come on, can you tell me directly? Binibitin mo 'ko, eh."

Nanginig ang mga labi niya. My eyes suddenly dropped on her hand, and I saw it shaking. Is she scared of me? Ah, oo nga pala. Some students here are scared of me and too scared to face me because I bullied numerous people here. I sighed, and I cannot blame her if she's scared of me. It's better that way, though.

Mariin siyang napapikit at huminga nang malalim na parang kumukuha siya ng lakas ng loob. "Ano kasi, Yuna..."

"Ano nga?" I questioned irritatedly because she's wasting my time. "Rossy, ano?"

"May kumakalat kasi na.. usapan tungkol sa 'yo.. ang ibig kong sabihin.. tungkol sa pagkagusto sa iyo ni president. Alam mo naman iyon, matagal na 'yon na kumakalat pero bumalik na naman kasi may narinig kaming usapan na.. sa kanya raw galing mismo na ikaw raw ang gusto niya."

I bit what's inside my cheek, trying to stop myself from smiling. Really? Ryder did that, huh? Umiling na lang ako at nagkunwari na wala lang iyong narinig ko. I turned my back to my classmate, Rossy, and walked away. Kung dati, pandidirihan ko pa iyong narinig ko pero ngayon.. parang ang sarap sa pakiramdam.. parang mas natuwa pa ako. I really just can't believe that Ryder would do that.

I was spacing out while I was walking in the corridor. I can feel the stares of some people, but I chose to ignore them. I know the reason why they are staring at me like that. Siguro, aakalain ng iba na magagalit ako at susugurin ko si Ryder, pero hindi iyon ang mangyayari. I want to kiss him. I want to hug him so tight. I feel like he assured me that I was the only one he liked. Gosh, I cannot handle this feeling anymore. This is completely different from what I feel towards the other guys.

"Talaga? Si president mismo ang nagsabi n'yon? Hindi pa 'ko naniniwala noon tungkol diyan, eh, pero sa kanya mismo narinig iyon.. gosh." I heard from someone.

"I couldn't believe it, too! Ang dami kayang babaeng nagkakarandapa sa kanya pero riyan pa siya kay.. Yuna," nag-aalinlangan na sabi ng isa.

"But in fairness, I haven't heard any issues about Euxine Carolina Scarlet when she reached her senior high," pansin ng isa. "Sa tingin ko grounded siya for the whole school year, 'no? I don't know kung may iba pang nakaalam nito, but I heard from her friends last time that her parents cut her cards and confiscated those.. iyon kaya ang dahilan ng pagkatahimik niya?"