Vanished

Chapter 5

After the class Hollow, Gabi, and Topi went their way going home. Ven just needs to drop Gabi because he and Topi still have something to do with the orientation.

"Gabi, take a bath and eat ka when you get home," Ven said to him.

"Bye Sanchez! See you!" Topi waves at him genuinely and in smiles.

Gabi went inside and took a bath. After taking a bath, he went to prepare the food that was prepared by his mother earlier in the morning.

His mother didn't know that their Tuesday night would be canceled so she prepared the same portion that Ven and Gabi used to eat.

He turns the tv on and starts to watch the Ang BABAE sa septic tank. But for some reason, his heart feels stuffy. Although the movie was funny but he couldn't even enjoy it.

He can't even laugh at the jokes thrown by the actress. The food also added to his stuffy feeling.

"Ang kulang, ikaw yung kulang dito Ven. Diko mauubos to, di ako maka tawa nang wala ka dito." Gabi muttered in whispered tone.

After cleaning up the plates and brushing his teeth. He went to check his socials. He saw a story of Ven.

They were watching the new Avengers movie.

And even Topi was mentioned in the story.

Gabi's heart started to sink even further. The jealousy is eating him up.

The tears that he was holding back earlier started to pour.

"Ang daya mo naman Ven, I thought movie night natin ngayon?" Gabi asks himself in the saddest tone.

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"Ma, labas na po ako!" Gabi bids farewell to his mother.

"Nandyan na ba si Hollow, anak?" His mom asks trying to know.

"Yes, ma. Naghihintay sa labas." Gabi replies to her.

"Ah-h ganon ba, bakit hindi sya pumasok dito?" His mom asks rhetorically.

But their conversation stops when Topi suddenly shows up in front of them.

"Morning Sanchez! Morning po, Miss Sanchez!" Topi politely greets them.

"O-oy, sino to? Bago nyong kaibigan anak?" His mom inquires curiously.

"Yup, mom, a new classmate, and new best friend ko! I mean, namin si Topi." Gabi enthusiastically introduces him to his mom.

"A-ah cute na bata. Oh sya, lumarga na kayo baka pagalitan kayo ni Hollow sa kakasalita nyo." His mom urges them to leave.

Gabi decides to open the passenger seat while Topi is taken aback by his action.

"Dito kana sa front seat Sanchez." Topi suggests it to him.

"Ay okay nako dito Topi." Gabi replies genuinely.

He was indeed jealous of the both of them yesterday but he didn't harbor any negative feelings towards Topi or Ven. They are both good to him especially Ven so it would be quite difficult if he prioritized his feelings first.

"Morning Ven." Gabi greets him warmly. Acting as if he did not cry yesterday for what he felt.

"Yeah, morning Gabi." Ven timidly replies and starts the engine.

On the way to school, all the talk was about the movie they saw yesterday. He wanted to curse Ven for being so insensitive.

For hurting his feelings times two right now.

For rubbing his wound with a grain of salt.

"Ang ganda talaga ng animation no, akalain mo Wanda almost defeated Thanos." Ven opens the topic of their movie night.

"Exactly but I salute Dr.Strange for sacrificing. It must have taken a toll on him knowing he went back time for countless years to see the future." Topi added his perspective.

Gabi in the backseat wanted to plug his airpods and listen to music but for some reason, he wanted to feel the pain.

"Ikaw Sanchez. Nanood kaba ng movies?" Topi asks him trying to include him in the conversation.

"Weird ang mga taste yan." Ven blurts out as if trying to make fun of him.

"Anong weird? ano bang movie yan? Human centipede?" Topi trying to guess what kind of movie Gabi is interested in based on what Ven said.

"I mean, sinong matinong tao manonood ng Ang BABAENG nasa septic tank. Diba ang weird. HAHAHA." Ven laughing as if he did not just hurt Gabi's feelings by the way he's saying.

"Weird nga. Sorry ha, di kase ako makasabay sa marvel movies eh." Gabi retreated with his heart broken and defeated.

He wanted to get out of the car at that moment and shout.

He wanted to tell Ven how jerky he was being right now.

"Okay lang naman panoorin yan. I guess comfort movie mo yan Sanchez." Topi tried to lighten up the mood but I guess it did not work.

Gabi could only nod and hum in response while the reason why his mood dropped stayed silent.

When they arrive in the parking lot. Gabi did not even wait for Ven to finish unpacking his things. He immediately went on his own way.

"Una na ako sa inyo, I have to do something." Gabi says in a hurry.

After leaving the two, the strides became a heavy one. The car was suffocating.

"Sanchez!" Ken calls him out.

"Oy hi Ken," Gabi replies in a neutral tone.

"Nag-iisa ka yata ngayon? Asan pala yung hambog mong best-friend?" Ken asks teasingly. He wanted to make fun of Hollow at least now that he is not with Gabi.

"Ken, wag mo naman tawaging hambog si Ven. Parating na din yun, nauna lang ako because I need to pee." Gabi lies his way.

He cannot simply tell the truth that he is suffocating when he sees Topi and Ven together closely.

Because he feels like he is gradually losing his place from Topi.

"Ah ganon ba, then I wouldn't take your time anymore. Baka naiihi kana. Pee well, Sanchez!" Ken said teasingly while smirking.

"Gago, baliw ka talaga Ken Saavedra." Gabi replies while chuckling and leaves him.

He walks inside the classroom and every one of his classmates including the trio gets shocked.

"Bakit ikaw lang? Asan si pres?" Vince asks curiously.

"Ah-h parating narin." Gabi replies and organizes his things.

"Sure ka? Bakit kaman nya iiwan? You know how he is when you're alone. Sure ka bang hindi kayo nag-away ng BNT?" Kite tries to pry what happened.

"Kulit mo naman Kite, hahah. Wala nga." Gabi faked a smile and continued to get his notes before Professor Dan arrived.

Just a second from his reply to Kite, Ven, and Topi arrived at the same time. Every student in the classroom was taken aback by the scene in front of them.

They were always used to seeing Gabi and Ven walking together inside the classroom.

Topi being dense doesn't realize what happened and the looks they are getting it.

It is Vince who breaks the gazes of students.

"Nandito na pala si pres! Poging-pogi ah!" Vince voices his banter.

"Of course, kailan naman ako naging pangit ha!" Ven retorts back.

"Bro, can I talk to you?" Tine immediately confronts him.

Hollow nodded and they went outside.

"Bakit nauna pumasok si Gabi sa inyo? May nangyari ba?" Tine asks trying to construe what happened.

"Ah-h si Gabi? I don't know, bigla nyang sabi na mauna na daw sya kaya I let him be?" Ven answers nonchalantly.

"Ganon ba," Tine responded in a disappointed manner.

"Yup, besides di naman pwedeng kami nalang lagi magkasama. You know, I also have life to live." Ven pats his back after saying it and leaves.

Tine couldn't help but be confused. Something has changed with Hollow and it's not sitting him well.

Because the Hollow that he knew wouldn't even try to say that kind of stuff. It was always Gabi against the world.

When they came back from their confrontation. Every student tries to study because they know there will be a quiz about electromagnetic waves.

While the quiz was administered, Gabi stumbled a block. He wanted to find the formula of wavelength. It was to find the wavelength of a radio station with an FM frequency.

"Ven, ano nga yung formula ng wavelength?" Gabi whispers trying not to get caught up.

"Wait muna, turuan ko muna si Topi sa amplitude and energy esssay." Ven replies to him.

"A-ah sige. Sabihan mo lang ako ha kapag tapos kanang magturo kay Topi." Gabi said while trying to recall what the formula was.

But Ven was really invested in teaching Topi about the essay and he was also occupied with his own so he forgot about Gabi.

Gabi kept on glancing at them. They kept on sharing signals and hand cues on what the answers were.

His heart feels like hundreds of nails are pressing down on how heavy he feels right now.

"Paano na ito. Wala akong formula at wala akong 35 points for number 2." Gabi mutters in a disappointed tone.

He knows he cannot blame Ven or even Topi for this. This is all on him for not being able to recall the formula.

"Psst. psst." A whisper is trying to make its way into his ears.

Gabi turned around and saw Kill mouthing something.

"Formula of wavelength is lambda= velocity/frequency." Kill mouthed carefully and slowly so that Gabi could read his lips.

Gabi immediately understands what is it and thanks him.

"Thank you Kill!" Gabi mouthed in return.

After the checking of the test. Professor Dan gave back the papers with the corresponding scores.

Kite got 67/90, Tine got 79/90, Vince got 74/90 Topi got 85/90 and Ven got 90/90. They are all happy except Kite who got 67 but he made sure it would not affect him.

"Sanchez, ilan sayo?" Tine asks without any intention to look down.

"79 lang hahaha." Gabi tries to laugh it off.

"Okay lang yan, same tayo ng score!" Tine tries to cheer him up.

"Korek, malaki na rin ang 79! Pero salamat talaga Ven ha. Kung hindi sayo eh 60 lang talaga ako for sure." Topi thanked expressing his gratefulness.

"You're welcome!" Ven smiles at him.

Gabi could only hide the sadness in his eyes.

He could remember how Ven just forgot to teach him the formula until Kill stepped up to teach him.

It was not like he got angry that Ven did not teach him. It's this feeling.

The feeling of jealousy.

"Congrats Ven! Highest ka naman!" Gabi proudly congratulated him.

"Yeah, thanks, Gabi!" Ven timidly replies.

And Ven did not even congratulate him for getting 79 or talk about how he forgot to teach him the formula.