Querencia (Midnight #1)

Chapter 31

Thirty-one
ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈✧༺♥

"Can you please let go of my bag now?"

Bumuntong hininga ako. He's been holding my bag for a while now. Nakakainis. Hindi porque na sinabihan siya ng mga Kuya ko na bantayan at matahan ako ay aaligid na siya sa lahat ng pupuntahan ko. It's annoying. . . and for some reason, I like it as well.

Gosh, Harmony.

"What? Hindi ko hawak ang bag mo." Maxeus said. Kahit na nakatalikod ako sa kanya ay nakikita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya.

Ang lakas ng loob magsinungaling ng lalaking 'to. Akala niya ba assuming ako? Damn him.

Lumingon ako sa kanya. I saw the distance between us, we are around five meters away from each-other. Tiningnan ko ang bag kong inakala kong hawak niya, I saw how my bag was stuck at the end of the seat next to me.

I glanced at Maxeus and I saw how his lips rose up after seeing my reaction.

"I told you, I wasn't holding your bag." Anito habang may nakalolokong ngisi.

Ang hiyang nararamdaman ko ay tinago ko gamit ang pag-irap sa kanya. I didn't bother to answer and walked straight. Mapapahiya lang ako kung sakalaing papansinin ko pa siya.

Why would've thought he was holding my bag though?

Fool you, Harmony. Ayusin mo naman.

Nakakahiya talaga!

Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod ng binata sa aking likod. I stopped walking and faced him. "Sinusundan mo ba ako, ha?" Tanong ko.

Nagsalubong ang dalawa niyang makakapal na kilay. "What do you mean I'm following you? Papunta rin d'yan ang room ko." Aniya.

Binalot muli ng hiya ang buong sistema ko nang marinig ang sinabi niya. When will I stop embarrassing myself today? I've embarrassed myself too much today. P'wede bang awat muna. Nakakainis. Why would I think that he was following me?

The nerve, Harmony.

Bumuntong hininga ako at iniwan siya roon. Hindi ko na kayang ipahiya pa ang sarili ko kaya hindi na lang ako magsasalita. Nakakainis naman kasi. Ilang beses akong nag-assume pero lahat ng in-assume ko mali-mali rin naman.

I entered our room and it greeted me with different kinds of topics—ang iba'y pinag-uusapan ang papalapit naming intrams, kung anu-ano ang mga sports na kanilang sasalihan nila, ang iba naman ay pinag-uusapan ang research namin. Actually, I already planned joining a sport this school year.

Hindi ko nga lang alam kung ano dahil hindi pa ako siguro sa kung anong gusto ko.

I wasn't able to join our intrams last school year because I chose to stay at home. Healing. Pero ngayon mukha namang kaya ko na at ayokong mapag-iiwanan na naman ako dahil lang hindi ko kayang harapin ang mga fears ko.

I wouldn't let that happen again. I learned from my past mistakes, it would've been such a waste of time if I'd continued this attitude of mine—scared of facing its fears.

"Hi!" Bati ni Seni. "Sorry for interrupting but our adviser assigned me to list the students who want to join any sports or board games on our upcoming intramural. What sport are you planning to join? Are you interested?" Paliwanag niya habang may ngiting matamis sa labi.

Staring at her, there was only one person who reminds me of her—Tori, hindi ko na nabalitaan ang gaga na 'yon simula ng matapos mag-recognition. She even deactivated her social media accounts after the ceremony. I was waiting for her 'til now.