Unexpected

chapter 5

Maloi's POV

It's Friday and walang masyadong ganap sa school. Hinatid ako ni Colet here sa classroom and good thing at hindi naman ako na late.

I'm waiting habang nakaupo sa upuan ko when I saw Mikha enters at balot na balot. She's wearing a black oversized hoodie, she's wearing a mask and a sunglasses.

Umupo sya sa katabi kong upuan without saying hello to me which is unusual kasi lagi nya akong binabati.

Before I could speak, lumapit na sa kanya si Maki. "Balot na balot Mikhs? Artista ka ba?" Pang-aasar nya. Natawa naman ako sa sinabi ni Maki.

"Hindi no. Dun ka nga, epal ka eh." Mataray na sagot ni Mikha pero tinawanan lang Maki. Dumating yung teacher namin kaya mamaya ko na lang sya tatanungin.

Hindi nagtagal at natapos na yung mga subject namin for today and it's time for lunch. Nagmamadaling lumabas si Mikha kaya binilisan ko pagkilos para harangan sya.

"Hep hep.. bakit ka nagmamadali Mikha Lim?" Napatigil naman sya sa paglalakad at humarap sakin.

"Uhmm.. wala, gutom na kasi ako eh. Bye!" Mabilis nyang sagot pero hinatak ko yung hood ng jacket nya na nakapatong sa ulo nya.

Nagtanggal naman yun and dun ko narealize na parang may tinatago sya. "Take off your glasses Mikha." I said with authority. She looks hesitant so ako na gumawa nun.

Pagkatanggal ko, nakita ko yung sugat sa may kilay nya. Tinanggal ko na din yung facemask nya and may pasa sya sa mukha and cut sa lips nya.

I'm about to say something when she interrupts me.

"Wait, bago ka magalit, let me explain. I have my reason bakit ako nakipag-away kagabi."

"So galing sa away yan?" Mataray kong sabi.

"Believe me na umiiwas na talaga ako sa gulo. Last na yung kahapon. I fought Gelo's group because they took my cousin." She defensively stated but I remain impassive.

"C'mon Maloi, wag ka naman ganyan nakatingin. Mas nakakatakot ka kesa sa mga kaaway ko kagabi eh. I'm really sorry talaga. Hindi na mauulit."

"Fine. But I'm still mad at you so wag mo muna ako kausapin." Sagot ko then naglakad na papuntang canteen. Narinig ko pang tinawag nya ako pero hindi ako lumingon.

Nakarating ako sa canteen and nakita ko na sila Colet sa may usual table namin kaya lumapit na ako sa kanila.

"What took you so long?" Tanong ni Colet.

"Nag-usap pa kami ni Mikha." Simpleng sagot ko sabay upo sa tabi nya.

"Since when did you two became close?" Tanong ni Aiah.

"Just recently, why?" Tipid kong sagot.

"Be careful around her. Mukha pa naman syang lapitin ng gulo." Sabi ni Colet. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya pero walang reaksyon yung mukha nya.

"Lapitin din ng babae. Parang si Pres lang. The only difference is, si Pres don't entertain her admirers but Mikha does." Sabi ni Gwen habang nagcecellphone.

"Tahimik mong tao pero mahilig ka sa tsismis no?" Sabi ni Aiah.

Bigla akong napatingin sa entrance when I saw Mikha and Stacey na magkasama. Stacey is our cheerleading team captain. Mukhang close sila kasi they look comfortable with each other.

Hindi ko alam pero I felt a tad bit disappointed nung malaman ko na hindi lang sya sakin kafriendly. Sinundan ko sila ng tingin hanggang makarating sila sa table nila.

"You good?" Tanong sakin ni Colet that made me stop looking at Mikha. I simply nod my head and continue to eat.

*********

"Maloi!" Uwian na namin and I'm walking papunta sa parking lot. Colet decided na sabay na kami umuwi. Lagi naman kami ever since. May times lang na hindi kapag busy sya sa pagiging president nya.

By the way, si Mikha pala yung tumawag sakin. I stop on my track and waited for her. Nakakuha ng attention mula sa mga students yung pagtawag nya sakin but it looks like na wala lang sa kanya yun.

"Good thing naabutan pa kita. May kasabay ka na ba umuwi? Hatid na kita if you want?"

"Sabay ako kay Colet eh, maybe next time." Sagot ko. Nakita ko na nagbago yung expression nya from excitement to disappointment pero hindi ko na lang sinabi.

"Ohh.. I see. Anyways, I know Saturday bukas pero may laro kami tomorrow and I'm hoping that you could watch my game? It's fine kapag hindi. I don't want to force you."

I smiled at her before answering her question. "Sure. I'll watch you play. I'm expecting na ililibre mo ako after the game ha."

Nakitang lumiwanag yung mukha nya and I can't help but to find her attractive. "No problem with me! Hintayin kita bukas ha! 10am yung game, dun sa gym." Sagot nya nang masaya.

Nagpaalam na ako sa kanya and dumeretso sa parking lot where I saw Colet waiting outside her car.

Sumakay na kaming dalawa and she start driving.

"Shall we go and meet tomorrow? Gala us." Sabi ni Colet.

"I can't. Manonood ako ng game ni Mikha bukas." Sagot ko. Tumahik sya ng saglit at nagfocus sa daan.

"What's your deal with Mikha? Napapansin ko madalas kayong mag-usap and magkasama?"

"She's my friend."

"You have to be careful around her. Lapitin sya ng gulo." Hindi na ako nagsalita after magsalita ni Colet. I can feel na if we continue our conversation about Mikha, we will have an argument.

Tahimik lang buong biyahe. When we arrived, lumabas agad ako ng kotse without saying good bye.

"Uyab wait!" Colet rushed towards me then grab my hand. I turn around to face her.

"Look, ayoko isipin mo na pinapakealaman ko masyado yung decision mo. I trust you, I really do. But I can't help na mag-worry sayo. Please don't be mad at me." I saw how sincere Colet is. She always shows her true intention and that's what I love about her.

"I know you're only looking out for me and I thank you for that. Wag kang mag-alala, hindi ako galit sayo. Ayaw ko lang mag-away tayo because of her."

Akmang aalis na ako pero hindi nya parin binibitiwan yung kamay ko. "Do you like her?" Tanong nya.

"What do you mean?" Takang tanong ko.

"Romantically. Do you like her romantically?"

"Wala pa kaming isang buwan magkakilala. I don't think na gusto ko na sya. Why'd you ask?" Hindi ko alam bakit nya tinatanong sakin yung mga ganitong bagay.

"You act differently around her. Kilala na kita simula bata pa lang tayo and you don't trust or get comfortable with new people that easily. Pero pagdating sa kanya, you look very comfortable. Ayaw mo dati ng outside activity pero nagpaturo ka mag roller skate sa kanya. Ok lang sayo na gamutin yung sugat nya kahit ayaw mong ginagawa yun kasi takot ka pag may nakikita kang dugo. You always pay attention sa mga ginagawa nya which is very odd kasi wala ka namang pake sa iba unless close friends mo."

I'm left speechless with every observation she mentioned. Hindi ko napapansin na ginagawa ko yung mga yun kasi it felt so natural kapag kasama ko si Mikha.

"Just do me one thing Maloi, if na-fall ka na sa kanya, let me know. Let me be the first person to know."

Humakbang ako palapit kay Colet and hug her. I don't why I did that pero it feels so right at the moment.

"I don't know why're you asking me this pero I promise, if may nagugustuhan na ako, kahit sino pa yan, you'll be the first person to know, uyab." I stated while hugging her.

We stayed like that for a moment then decided to pull from the hug and pumasok sa mga bahay namin.

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Author's Note:

I did not proofread this, sorry for any typos.