Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 41

Parang bumagal ang panahon. I couldn't get over what happened. I wasn't in my mind when I got home. Hinintay ko si Ryder buong araw at hanggang sumapit ang gabi ay hindi siya nagpakita sa akin. Mom and dad are even asking me where he is, but I couldn't answer them because I have no idea where he is. Buong araw ay nasa aking silid lamang ako nagmukmok. Ryder didn't go home. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to explain everything to him.

Mom and dad are wondering what happened because, after that activity in school, I became quiet and was absent for days. Ang dinahilan ko lang ay masama ang pakiramdam ko. Days have passed, but there's no presence of Ryder. Hindi na siya umuuwi, wala rin akong naririnig mula sa kina mommy at daddy tungkol sa kanila. I am too scared to ask them about him because I know that they might ask me back. Baka itanong nila sa akin kung ano'ng dahilan kung bakit hindi na umuuwi si Ryder.

"You look pale, hija," si mommy, noong sumapit ang Sabado at sabay kaming magtanghalian. "France," she called daddy. "Let's call a doctor. Hindi na maganda ito, France. Ipa-check up na natin si Carolina."

"Hija, what's really wrong? Ilang araw ka nang ganito," si daddy, bakas ang pag-alala sa boses.

I couldn't answer their questions because my mind is still preoccupied with what happened last time. Hindi na talaga nagpakita pa si Ryder sa akin matapos iyon. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya. Pumapasok kaya siya sa school? Ilang araw na akong hindi pumapasok sa school, kaya hindi ko alam. I just told my parents that I am not feeling well, so they just passed an excuse letter for me saying that I wouldn't be able to attend the classes for days.

Dad called a doctor to check me up, and it ended up that the doctor checked my blood pressure. He even suggested for me to do a CBC so that we can check my hemoglobin, white and red blood cells, etc., if it's normal, dahil sabi niya ay masyado raw mababa ang dugo ko. I have anemia. Maybe it's because of a lack of sleep and rest. Ilang oras lang kasi ang tulog ko sa mga nagdaang araw.

It was another tiring day for me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit wala naman akong ginagawa ay nakakaramdam pa rin ako ng pagod, nanghihina pa rin ako. I was just in my room all the time. I lay down on my bed, just staring at the ceiling. Ryder and I haven't seen each other for days. Did he miss me?

Naiiyak ako sa tuwing pumapasok siya sa isipan ko. Gusto ko siyang yakapin at ipaliwanag sa kanya ang totoo. Kasalanan ko rin naman, kasalanan ko kung bakit umabot sa ganito ang lahat, at hindi ko rin siya masisisi kung mas pipiliin niyang malayo sa akin.

Monday has come, and I prepared myself for school. I told my parents that I was getting better and that I could go to school now. Mom and dad looked hesitant, but they couldn't do anything because I insisted. Nagpahatid ako kay manong sa school katulad ng kadalasang ginawa niya ay sa may parking area niya lang ako pinapababa. Manong looks like he has a lot of questions for me, but he just stopped himself. Nagpaalam ako sa kanya at bumaba na ng sasakyan.

As I walked down the hallway, all the people were looking at me like I had done something terrible. Napalunok ako at diretso lang ang lakad. The way the people look at me, it seems like they're blaming me for something. Ano kaya ang nangyari rito sa ilang araw na wala ako?

"Sigurado ako.. siya ang dahilan kung bakit umalis si Ryder."

My body froze when I heard Ryder's name. Umalis? Si Ryder ay umalis? I looked around and noticed that every eye of the people was on me. Nanlamig ang katawan ko at nanghina ako. Kung ganoon.. sa mga nagdaang araw ay wala rin si Ryder? Hindi siya pumapasok? Alam kaya iyon nina mommy at daddy? Ibig sabihin ay noong hindi ako pumapasok ay wala rin si Ryder? Nasaan siya kung ganoon?

My feet carried me towards the dean's office. Bahala na, I wanted to know where he was. I wanted to know his whereabouts. Ano na kaya ang nangyari sa kanya? Is he okay? Pagkapasok ko sa dean's office ay nagulat ang dean nang makita ako. He shifted on his seat and wore his glasses.