Warning: 🔞
"Sana tayo na lang ang nagpartner." my shoulder slumped when I heard the same complaint again from Clara. I looked at her frowning face through the mirror as I put lip balm on my lips. Wow. It's been a long time since I felt this on my lips.
"You could've told Mr. Lara then." she stomped her feet looking at me being unbothered at the thought of having someone else as my partner in a worksheet and not her.
"Kung pwede, edi, sana sinabi ko na!" umirap ako dahil mukha na siyang iiyak. "Kaya nga. Wala na tayong magagawa kahit ilang beses ka pang magreklamo diyan." she scratched her head as she looked at me before throwing herself into the bed.
Silence took over us, which is why we both shrieked when someone knocked on the door. I turned to see who it was when Clara opened the door.
"Akala ko kung sino!" Clara was still holding her chest, breathing heavily like she just had a marathon. I tilted my head to see better because the person was behind the slightly opened door.
"Si Rain?" Oh. I didn't need to see the person to know who it was. By just hearing his voice, I know that it's him.
"He's here. Why?" I watched Clara through the mirror as she raised her brow at Red.
"Uh... ihahatid ko siya." Red replied, a bit hesitating.
"Huh?" I bit my lower lip when Clara turned to me and looked at me like she couldn't believe what she just heard. "Pumayag ka?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. Tumayo ako nang hindi siya sinasagot at lumapit sa pinto.
Sinalubong ako ng alanganing ngiti ni Red. "Good morning." sumimangot ako sa kanya. He already greeted me earlier at breakfast.
"Bati na kayo?!" I nodded my head and opened the door widely and gestured Red to enter the room. "Sandali lang." bumalik ako sa harapan ng salamin upang ayusin ang buhok. I brushed it backward with my fingers to expose my forehead.
"Kayo na ulit?" natigilan ako dahil sa tanong ni Clara. "Edi, hindi na ako pwedeng matulog sa unit mo kasi nandiyan na si Red?" patuloy niya. Uminit ang pisngi ko dahil doon.
"No!" umirap ako at humarap sa kanila. I got conscious when I caught Red staring at me like I'm the only person he could see right now. "Hindi pa kami ulit." I said, sounded like I was also convincing myself.
We really are not back together yet. "Edi, ano kayo?" Clara said maliciously.
"Friends." I replied flatly. I side eyed Red to see his reaction, but he was just looking at me. "We are friends. Right, Red?"
The mention of his name seemed to be a wake up call because he blinked his eyes a few times like he just woke up from daze. "Uh—yeah. We are friends."
"Bakit friends lang?" Clara exclaimed, but instead of answering her, I took my bag and MacBook.
"I'm courting him again." I felt the heat on my face because of what Red said, which is why I turned my back on them, pretending that I was busy with something.
"Oh. Right! Sige, manligaw ka ulit. Rain, pahirapan mo siya." her statement was followed by her laughs. I turned my lips into a grim line to stop myself from laughing with her. Natatawa ako sa tunog ng tawa niya. Para siyang may naagrabyadong tao. "I'll see you later!" sinundan ko siya ng tingin nang lumabas siya ng silid.
There was silence when Clara left, which suddenly made me feel awkward. "Let's go." I said nonchalantly, and was about to pass by him, but he remained standing while staring at me.
"Why?" he swallowed hard before speaking.
"Sinong kikitain mo?" nag-aalangang tanong niya. He licked his lower lip and looked away like he was embarrassed by his question.
