Back To The Night We Met

Chapter 17 : Cold Shoulder

Rafael

Pretty sure that Auri and I have the same class which is starting in 10 minutes, but I haven't seen her yet, kahit anino niya, wala pa.

It's not usual for her to be this 'late', because she arrives strictly on time. Takot 'yan ma-late.

Hindi naman nagpasabi na aabsent siya kaya I'm sure na papasok 'yon.

Haist! Hindi rin tuloy ako makapasok sa room dahil hinihintay ko pa siya rito sa labas. Napapraning tuloy ako dahil sa mga pangyayari kagabi.

"You want to go inside? Mahamog na dito sa labas," payo ko dahil kanina pa kami nakatayo dito sa labas ng gate nila.

Hinayaan ko lang siyang umiyak nang umiyak kahit na hindi ko alam kung anong dahilan. Ayokong manghimasok, hahayaan ko na lang na siya ang magkwento.

"Dito na lang tayo. Makita pa ako ni Yaya na umiiyak," hikbi niya habang pinupunasan ang luha niya gamit ang palad.

Wala akong dalang panyo dahil hindi naman ako pala-panyo kaya tinaas ko na lang ang braso ko na natatakpan ng long sleeves at inilapit ko sa mukha niya.

"What's that?" she cluelessly asked.

"Use it. Pamunas mo."

It probably sounded like a joke to her so she just laughed it off. "Okay na ako, you can go home na," she said, rejecting my offer.

She looks so sad. If only I could take that sadness away so she can smile wholeheartedly again.

Hinawi ko ang buhok niya at pinunasan ko ang natitirang luha sa mata niya. "Are you sure you'll be okay? I'm worried."

She nodded her head, trying to force a smile but even she can't hide whatever she's truly feeling, so she ended up crying again. This time, I gently pulled her against me for a hug. Her hurt sobs just make me want to punch whoever did this to her.

"Paano kita maiiwanan niyan dito? Mag-aalala lang ako sa'yo buong gabi."

"I'm sorry," she said in between tears.

"Oh? Why are you saying 'sorry'? Wala ka namang ginagawa. It's okay. Kahit abutin tayo ng madaling araw dito sa labas, hindi kita iiwanan," I said, to try and lift her spirits up.

It took her a while, but once she got a hold of herself, she advised that I should go home already dahil gabi na. I wanted to stay, but she kept on telling me to go.

See? Paanong hindi ako mag-aalala, eh ang huling interaction namin, umiiyak siya, ni ayaw magsabi kung anong problema.

"Oh? Bakit nandito ka sa labas?" It was Amelie. Kadarating lang niya.

"Wala pa si Auri eh. Nag-aalala na nga ako."

Sumilip siya sa pinto ng classroom para siguro i-confirm ang sinabi ko. "Hala? Bakit? Hindi mo pa siya nakikita mula pa kanina?"

Umiling ako. "Hindi pa. Hindi pa siya pumapasok."

Sa kalagitnaan ng pag-uusap namin, bigla na lang dumating si Auri. Doon siya nanggaling sa opposite side ng hallway mula sa kung nasaan kami nakatayo ni Amelie.

Nakayuko siya at mabilis na naglalakad, parang may sariling mundo.

"Auri--" "Huy--"

Amelie and I's effort to talk to her were wasted when she just walked past us, straight into the classroom.

We were both taken aback by her strange behaviour, confusion etched on our faces.

"Nakita naman niya tayo, 'di ba?" tanong ko.