A Cruel Summer With Him

Chapter 13

TW: mention of rape

Chapter 13

Xian:

Saan ka?

Dito na ako sa labas ng gate niyo.

All I could do was think of a reply. I feel guilty doing this to him, but it's for the better. With him not around, I wouldn't be distracted anymore.

Kayleigh:

Nasa jeep ako.

Xian:

What do you mean you're in a jeep? Hindi ba sabay na tayo lagi?

Kayleigh:

Sorry. Gusto ko kasi maaga makapunta sa school.

I lied. It wasn't true that I wanted to go to school early. I was avoiding him.

Xian:

You could've told me. Kaya ko naman gumising nang mas maaga para masundo ka.

I stared at his message. He can wake up early... for me? Why? I wanted to ask but I was scared on what he'll reply to that. Mas mabuting huwag ko nalang alamin dahil simula ngayon—babalik na ulit kami sa dati.

Xian:

Is 7:30 AM good for you? I can always adjust my body clock. Just tell me what time you have in mind, Kay.

He will what? Adjust his body clock for me? Me? Why? Ito ang nakakainis sakanya! Hindi ko malaman kung may mga kahulugan ba itong mga sinasabi niya sa 'kin!

Kayleigh:

Hindi na ako sasabay.

Xian:

Ha? What do you mean?

I left him on read. I got off the jeep and went to our classroom. Konti pa lang ang mga kaklase kong nandito. Sobranv aga ko talaga para lang maiwasan ko ang lalaki.

Paano naman kaya ang gagawin ko kung makita niya ako mamaya? I'll just avoid him. Tama.

Nang pumasok si Xian ay nginitian ako nito pero hindi ko siya pinansin. He's probably confused sa kinikilos ko. Nang matapos ang first period class namin ay nilapitan ako nito pero sinuot ko lang 'yung earphones ko. Gano'n ang naging gawi ko the next few days. Hindi ko siya pinansin.

"Are you okay?" Maxie asked when we finished class. I took a quick look at her.

"Of course, I'm fine!" I made my voice sound happy.

"You're not. Why are you avoiding him?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Girl? Ilang araw mo nang hindi pinapansin 'yong tao. Parang noong mga nakaraan ay okay lang naman kayo. May nangyari ba?"

Since the day my Father yelled at me. I started avoiding Xian the next day. He was nothing more than a threat to me, to my acads, so why befriend him at all?

Lahat ng uri ng pag tawag sa 'kin ni Xian ay hindi ko pinapansin. Maski pag-aya niya kumain at pauwi. Hindi ko siya pinansin.

"Kayleigh..." His voice sounded so sad and tired. We were both going to the music club.

Hindi ko pa rin siya pinapansin.

"Why are you avoiding me? Wala naman akong nagawa 'di ba?" he was now walking beside me, trying to get at least one bit of my attention. But I never looked at him.