Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 34

I wanted to cry so hard in front of my friends after hearing their insults about Ryder. Tahimik lang ako at pilit na inaabala ang sarili ko sa kinakain. I don't want to join their conversation because they're going too far. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sumisikip ang dibdib ko sa mga naririnig galing sa mga kaibigan ko.

"I bet no girl will ever marry a man like him," si Marilyn at humalakhak. "Who would marry a man like him, right? He's poor! Yuna's dad just got him from an orphanage, he doesn't have parents, and he's a nerd. Ang mga babaeng baliw na baliw sa kanya riyan? Baka ginayuma lang niya iyan!"

"Kaya nga, eh, madali ring lokohin. Kita mo na, naloko nga siya ni Yuna, eh," natatawang sabi ni Kairi.

I was silent for the whole moment while they were all busy talking about Ryder. Nakikinig lamang ako sa kanila, pinapakinggan ang pang-iinsulto nila kay Ryder. Tawang-tawa sina Shovie at Miley, naghahampasan pa sa braso. Nakangisi naman ang iba pa, pero bakas sa kanilang mukha ang tuwa. Nasisiyahan sila sa ganito? Am I like this before?

If I were like this before, I couldn't blame the people who are thinking bad things about me. Kairi and Coth are both laughing so hard. Tuwang-tuwa sila sa kanilang usapan. Hindi ko naman sila magawang sabayan, kaya mas pinili kong manahimik na lang at makinig sa mga masasakit na mga salita nila.

"Sa tingin mo maliit ang tite niya?" natatawang tanong ni Shovie kay Marilyn.

My eyes widened because they were really going too far! Sobrang likot na ng isipan nila! Pati pa ganoon ay pag-uusapan din nila?

"I think so. I can judge him based on his looks.. I think.. oo?" si Marilyn at humagalpak ng tawa. "He's nowhere to those guys I had fuck. Kadiri siya, feeling ko ang liit-liit ng tite niya."

"You imagined him fucking you?" natatawang saad ni Shovie. "Nakakadiri ka!" She playfully slapped Marilyn's arm.

"Gaga! Kadiri! Hindi, 'no! Of course, I just thought that he's not as big as other guys. Baka nga hindi umabot sa pusod iyang sa kanya, eh. O baka kahit ipinasok pa niya iyan ay hindi ka makaramdam ng sakit dahil sa sobrang liit!" paninira ni Marilyn. "Parang ganito siguro iyon kaliit!" Itinaas niya pa ang pinky finger niya at pinakita iyon sa amin.

Sabay-sabay na naghalagpakan ng tawa ang mga kaibigan ko. I couldn't join their laughter because I think it wasn't funny. Bumuntonghininga ako at kumuha ng nachos. Kinain ko ito at inabala na lang ang sarili rito. Ayaw ko namang sumali sa usapan nila dahil naririndi ako. They're too much.. for real.

"Why are you so silent there, Yuna?" pansin ni Miley sa akin na naniningkit ang kanyang mga mata. "Oh, gosh! Don't tell us that you already fell in love with the nerd?!"

I slowly shook my head. "W-Wala," I denied. I don't want them to know what's really between me and Ryder because I know what they would say about us. "Hindi ako in love, Mile, wala lang talaga ako sa mood."

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko natakasan ang usapang iyon. Umalis kaagad ako sa lamesa ng mga barkada ko nang mag-ring na ang bell, hudyat na next subject na. It's a good thing that I successfully removed myself from their table because they're making me uncomfortable. Are they really my friends? Bakit parang iba na ang nararamdaman ko sa kanila?

"Miss Euxine Carolina Scarlet Zeigler..."

I stood up from my seat when I heard my professor call my name. My classmates are all looking at me like there's something wrong. I ignored their stares and just focused my eyes on my professor, who's busy reading something in her book.

"Okay, here is the question for you," she said.

"Excuse me?" I pardoned. Question for me? May oral recitation? Fuck!