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Closure.
II
I was running like a cheetah in the hallway. Limang minuto na akong late. I couldn’t believe it. I was so tired yesterday that I fell asleep without even eating dinner or taking a shower. And now? I was late for the first time in my entire life. Nakakainis! I don’t know what happened to me. Hay nako, Caleb, anong nangyayari sayo?
"Okay ka lang?" Nicholas asked, his eyebrows raised as I stumbled into the classroom, gasping for breath.
"Oo, may tubig ka?" I asked desperately. Nicholas rummaged through his bag but came up empty-handed.
"Hala! Nakalimutan ko sa bahay!" he said, looking genuinely apologetic. Jusko naman!
"O siya, sige na, okay lang," I muttered. "Bibili na lang ako ng tubig sa canteen, tapos siguro pagkain na rin. Walang laman tiyan ko eh."
"Okay lang—" I started to say, but was cut off when someone placed a tumbler in front of me.
"Here, drink. Mukhang kailangan mo," Clyden said casually, flashing a brief smile. "Walang gamot 'yan, promise," then walked away.
Nicholas caught my eye and started grinning. "Ano? Bat ka tumatawa?" I asked.
"Ah, wala," he said, but the smirk stayed on his face. Ano ba yan?
After drinking the water, I scanned the room. Walang teacher. "Bat wala si ma’am?" I asked, closing the tumbler.
"Di mo ba nabasa? Nag-announce si ma’am kagabi sa group chat na malalate siya," Nicholas replied, trying not to laugh. My jaw dropped. So, I ran like crazy, skipped breakfast, and stressed out… for nothing? Nakakainis! Ayoko na!
Lunch rolled around, but I didn’t bother going to the cafeteria. Word of my morning mishap had already spread across the school, and ayoko munang makita ang mga tao. Hindi dahil guilty ako, but because I was too embarrassed. Malay mo, baka next time, mag-viral ako dahil dito.
I sat alone on the rooftop, chewing absentmindedly on the sandwich I’d bought earlier. Lunch time na, pero wala akong ganang kumain. Tinititigan ko lang ang langit, watching birds fly overhead and airplanes streak through the clouds.
"Lolo, kamusta ka diyan?" I whispered to the sky, my voice soft. "Okay ka lang ba? Dito kasi, ang daming problema. Hindi mo siguro kakayanin."
Miss na miss ko si Lolo. He was the only one who defended me whenever Mama or Lola scolded me. Siya lang ang nagsasabi na kahit ano pa man ang resulta ng exams ko, proud na siya sa akin kasi daw ginawa ko ang best ko. If he were still here, would I be happier? Siguro nga.
Then suddenly, the door to the rooftop creaked open, and I saw someone approaching. Si Clyden. I turned my gaze back to the sky, pretending not to notice him.
"Hey, eat this. I saw kanina na sandwich lang binili mo," he said, handing me a lunchbox.
"Busog pa ako, thank you na lang," I replied, eyes still fixed on the sky.
"No, eat this," he insisted. "I know you didn’t eat breakfast. Nagmamadali ka kaninang umaga, 'di ba?" Makulit ka, ah. Sige na nga. I took the lunchbox and started eating.
I thought he’d leave after that, but no, he sat down beside me. Ano bang trip nito? I thought, trying not to look at him. Hinintay kong umalis siya, but he didn’t.
"Pst, bakit ang bait mo sakin, ha?" I asked, still chewing on the food.
"Wala lang. As class president, responsibilities ko kayo," he said nonchalantly.
YOU ARE READING
Hello! My Class President
Romansa[bxb] Would a class president and a class transferee make a perfect match? Caleb, a consistent honor student from the highest section of the most renowned school in the country, was the teachers' favorite due to his intelligence and attitude. He had...
