Tumungo na ako sa restroom ng girls at pumasok sa isang cubicle. After finishing up, I stepped out and went straight to the large mirror, washing my hands while staring at my reflection.
"Shala mo Loi. Baka makalimutan mo na kami nyan ha" Stacey teased as she walked into the restroom, a smirk playing on her lips.
Nagulat pa ako ng makita siya. "Pinagsasabi mo dyan?" nakataas na kilay na tanong ko.
"Eh nalaman mo lang na apo ng school owner yang si Lim, binakuran mo na agad ha" she said sa mapaglarong tono, arms crossed over her chest.
I turned to face her fully, my expression serious. "Ang issue mo jusko! We're just friends, okay? Friends lang" I clarified, my voice firm but calm, hoping to put an end to her teasing.
"Sure, friends lang" she replied with an exaggerated eye roll. "Pero kanina pa namin kayo tinitingnan ni Jho, parang ang close close niyo ha, may pabulong bulong pa" Pang aasar pa nya and she wiggled her eyebrows.
Tumaas naman ang kilay ko ng may marealize sa sinabi niya. "Teka nga, akala koba nasa mall kayo?"
"Long, long, long story" she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Tsaka ko na ikukwento, pero sa ngayon, bumalik ka na don sa friend mo" she added, kumindat pa siya bago pumasok sa isang cubicle.
I mentally rolled my eyes.
Binibigyan niya ba ng malisya kung bakit kami magkasama ni Mikhs?
Before I could walk away, Stacey's voice echoed from the cubicle, "Pero seryoso, Loi. Dapat lang na wala kang itinatago samin ha. We're your besties, remember?"
I let out a sigh, leaning against the sink. "Wala nga, Stacey. Why would I keep secrets from you guys?"
"Eh kasi naman, laging bukambibig ni Ate Aiah yang si Lim" she pointed out, her tone carrying a mix of teasing and genuine concern.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly, shaking my head. "Tigilan mo 'yang pagiging delulu mo ha, lahat na lang ginagawa mong big-deal"
Tumawa pa siya. "Oo na, go na. Baka hanapin ka na ni Lim."
As soon as I stepped out of the restroom, my eyes scanned the table for Jho, who was seated at the far end na pang dalawang taong table. She's busy in her phone kaya hindi niya ako napansin.
I made my way back to our table and bumulong ako kay Mikha na mauuna na ako dahil may next class pa ako.
"Ihahatid na kita" pagmamapilit niya pa at tumayo na rin.
"Wag na, magcocommute na lang ako" I replied, trying to sound convincing.
But she shook her head, firm in her decision. "I insist, ihahatid kita"
"Okay lang talaga, nakakahiya sa teammates mo, iiwan mo sila dito" I whispered, not wanting to cause a scene.
"Babalik din ako dito agad after kita ihatid" she reassured me with a determined look in her eyes. "It's not nice na dinala kita dito tapos hindi kita ihahatid pabalik."
I sighed, realizing I wouldn't win this one. "Okay, you win."
"Ihahatid ko lang si Loi, guys. I'll be back," she called out to her teammates.
Nagpaalam din ako sa kanila bilang respeto.
I gave them a small wave.
"Ingat kayo" Krishna called out, her voice echoing with warmth.
Narinig ko pa ang pang tease nilang tawa bago tuluyan kaming lumabas ni Mikhs sa restaurant.
"Bayad na ako sa utang ko ha" Mikha said with a grin as she opened the passenger seat door for me.
"Parang ako pa nga ang may utang sayo eh" natatawang sabi ko ng makapasok na siya sa driver seat.
She chuckled, glancing at me as she started the car. "Kulang pa nga yun dahil iniwan kita at hindi na natulungan. I should have been there."
"May tumulong naman sakin" I replied.
I turned my attention to the window habang inalala ulit ang nangyari kung paano niya ako tulungan at samahan hanggang masecure ang box.
Small gesture pero naramdaman ko ang pagliliparan ng mga paru-paro sa loob ng tiyan ko.
Ilang araw akong pumapasok ng maagap nagbabakasakaling maabutan siya sa parking or sa hallway pero wala.
Never ko siyang nakita or nasilayan kahit sa malayo man lang.
It was disappointing, and honestly, a little sad. I missed hearing her cold voice that always had a way of making me feel at ease.
"Loi?" Mikha's voice snapped me back to the present, na nagpalingon sakin sa pwesto niya.
"Ha?"
"So, you didn't hear me nga," she said, laughing softly. "I was sharing a kwento, pero you weren't listening pala."
"Sorry, I just remembered something" I explained, feeling a little embarrassed. "Pwede mo bang ulitin yung sinabi mo?"
She shook her head with a playful smile. "Can't, ang haba non. Tsaka nandito na tayo."
She didn't bother parking the car since it would be a hassle for her to loop back around. I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt, ganun rin siya na ikinapagtaka ko. Before I could react, nagmadali siyang lumabas at pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto.
I couldn't help but smile at her small gesture. It was sweet, and despite everything, it made me feel a little special. Though, a part of me felt a bit shy, especially knowing she was the granddaughter of the school's owner.
"Thanks, Mikhs" I said as I stepped out of the car.
"No biggie, Loi" she smiled at me tsaka umalis na rin siya.
Nakatingin lang ako sa papalayong kotse ni Mikhs ng maramdaman ko ang mga pares ng matang nakatingin sakin.
Sa hindi kalayuan ay nakita ko siya.
Her face was unreadable, a mix of emotions I couldn't quite place, but seeing her again brought a strange sense of relief.
I smiled at her, raising a hand to wave, but before I could take a step towards where she stood, she turned away at sumakay na siya sa car na katapat niya lang.
Just like earlier, I found myself staring at the back of her car na palayo hanggang sa nawala na sa paningin ko.
Umiiwas ba siya?
Iniiwasan niya ba ako?
YOU ARE READING
GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet
FanfictionHAVEN'S ZQUAD SERIES #1 on-going When a happy-go-lucky stranger meets Ms. Anger on a bar balcony. What starts as a casual conversation quickly turns into an unexpected connection. As they talk, she's determined to break down her walls and get to kn...
