Forbidden Relationship (Forbidden Love #3)(On-Going)

Chapter 15

After cooking, we promptly eat. They never seem to run out of things to talk about. While we were eating, they repeatedly mentioned that I was unaware of something. Are they relapsing?

Nang dahil pa sa sinigang, nag-relapse pa nga.

"Huling subo. Kailan kaya ulit kami magtatagpo?" nakatulalang tanong ni Janser.

"Huling kagat. Kailan kaya ako magiging sapat?" si Daniel naman.

"Huling tikim. Hindi ka na ba talaga mapapasa akin?" si Yhael. "Huling higop ng sabaw. Kailan kaya kita mapapantayan?" dugtong niya pa.

"Huling kain—ayy gago, mali," sinabi ni Janser. "Para naman akong mamamatay no'n kung huling kain ko na."

"Iba naman. Ikaw naman, Sovie," sinabi ni Yhael.

Bumuntong hininga si Sovie. "Huling sandok ng kanin. Bakit hindi mo 'ko nagawang hintayin?" tanong nito. Nakatingin sa kaniyang sinasandok na kanin.

"Ikaw naman, Aphle," sinabi ni Daniel.

"H-Ha? Wala akong alam sa ganiyan," inosente kong sinabi para hindi ako mapasali.

Sa totoo lang may naiisip ako kaso ayokong sumali sa kanila.

"Dali na. 'Yung makaka-relate ka lang," sinabi naman ni Janser. "Dali, Aphle."

I sighed. I scooped up some rice porridge and put it on my rice before speaking. "Huling sandok ng sabaw. Kailan kaya ako mamamatay?" tanong ko.

They all fell silent. Even I was taken aback by what I had said. I didn't intend to say that. It just slipped out without engaging my brain. It's what my heart wanted to express.

***

During the final exam week, options were provided for sports enthusiasts who wished to join Invictus. I had no intention of joining, but Mommy and Daddy called me, urging me to participate.

I even tried to excuse myself by explaining that I was more focused on studying at the moment, but they dismissed my explanation. They insisted that I could both prepare for exams and practice volleyball concurrently.

Dagdag din kasi iyon sa grades kaya pinilit ako nina Mommy. Wala naman akong ibang alam na sports kun'di ang volleyball. Marunong ako sa badminton pero hindi sobrang galing.

"Anong sport niyo?" tanong ng isa kong kaklase sa amin.

"Basketball. Ang position ko ay rebound," sagot ng isa.

"Rebounder, ibang usapan na kapag rebound," sinabi ng isa ko pang kaklase.

"Pake mo ba? E rebound naman talaga ako."

Ipinasa ko kay Sir Xade ang form na aking sinagutan. Ngumiti ako kay Sir Xade bago aalis na sana nang bigla siyang magsalita. "Sport and academically good," aniya. Nang dahil sa pressure, Sir.

Pagkatapos naming mag fill up ng form ay nag-uwian na kami. Hindi na sumasabay si Sovie kina Steffi at Flint dahil madalas na niya akong samahan. Hindi pa sinasabi ni Sovie na magkaibigan kami pero halata naman.

We always dine together at the canteen. We frequently visit both the Stem and TVL canteens. Yhael and I are inseparable, so perhaps no one from the TVL strand is bullying me anymore.

Gradually, my daily school life is returning to normal. There are no more bullies. No one looks at me with disdain anymore, as if my mistake is the worst of all. However, I still haven't made any friends. I'm unsure if they are hesitant to approach me because they think I am always accompanied by bullies.

As time went by, I began to ponder my feelings for Yhael. I'm uncertain why I feel differently when he's around. Among all the men who have approached me, he's the only one who makes me uneasy. When he's beside me, I feel secure, but there are times when I don't. Sometimes, I experience a pang in my chest.