There, Somewhere

Chapter VIII

"Have you figured it out already?" Adhara asked me again when I arrived at school the next morning. Ibinaba ko ang bag ko sa upuan ko at umupo na rin doon.

"Hindi pa siya nagre-reply." I only answered and fixed my art project to be passed today. We are currently at the campus library at nagpapalamig lang. Katatapos lang ang third period namin and we're informed na wala raw ang teacher namin for the last period kaya dito namin napagpasyahan ni Adhara na manatili muna habang hinihintay ang lunch break.

"Chinat mo pala?"

"Oo. Bakit?" Tanong ko naman.

"Wala naman. Akala ko kasi in person mo siya tatanungin. Samahan sana kita." She said. I saw her struggle to stifle her smile.

"If you really want to see him. You can do so without any excuses." I stated pertaining to her crush at umupo na sa upuan ko pagkatapos kong inayos yung gamit ko. Adhara did the same pero sa table siya umupo. Bawal iyon pero hinayaan ko siya.

"Weird kaya nu'n." She reasoned out which made me scoff.

"Torpe." I mumbled not trying to pick up an argument but then she slapped my forearm and rolled her eyes.

"Ang hirap kaya umamin."

"Whatever." sabi ko nalang dahil ilang beses ko na rin narinig iyon sa kanya.

"Bakit ikaw kaya mo? Sa tingin mo kaya mo?" panghahamon niya sa akin.

"Yes." mabilis kong sagot.

"Wow! Nasubukan mo na?"

"Nope."

"Oh naman pala. Iba pa rin kapag nandyan na 'no." She reasoned again. Pinakinggan ko iyon pero pinalabas din sa kabilang tenga.

I doubt it. I am no expert nor experienced to speak of the matter but I still believe that it is better when your feelings are known by someone who waters it and grows it. You'll be the one to plant it but the person you're admiring is the one that is truly helping it to thrive and grow. And I think that person is deserving enough to know that he is growing something within someone.

"Kapag ikaw talaga na-inlove." Pagbabanta niya but I merely shrugged to end the conversation.

"Ah muntik ko na makalimutan, nagsend pala sa'kin ng excuse letter ang Mommy ni Jake. May trangkaso raw siya simula pa nung linggo." Sambit niya ilang sandali pa ang nakalipas. Inabot niya sa akin ang letter. Kinuha ko iyon at tiningnan lang at hindi na binasa pa.

"Okay." I mumbled and gave the letter back to her. That answers then why he hasn't replied to my emails yet. At kung bakit din siya absent simula pa nung lunes. But I was fine with it. Gumawa na ako ng possible title namin. I am only waiting for his approval kung gusto niya rin ba iyong napili ko bago ko ipapasa for critiques.

"Hindi mo man lang binasa." Adhara complained bago niya inipit ulit iyon sa clipboard niya.

"I understood what you said." Was my reply but she merely rolled her eyes bago isinubsob ang mukha sa kamay niyang nakapatong sa mesa.

"Inaantok ako. Gisingin mo'ko mamaya 'pag lunch time na."

"Okay" I merely said as I watched her sleep. The dark circles are still there, getting darker and darker each day. I already asked her about it pero ang sabi niya lang dahil sa school works. She even pointed out I also have mines.

I attempted asking her about the examination once but then she just brushed the question off, obviously avoiding it so I did not dare talk about it again. But I sometimes still try to open it up just in case she was ready to talk about it. Pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin namin nagpag-uusapan.