Be the First

28 : Fall Out

DANI's POV

I THINK I'm about to fade away. Ramdam ko na ang bigat ng ulo ko nang mag-bell for dismissal. Good job, Dani. You made it through today.

Na-survive ko ang Monday Madness ng walang nakakahalatang sobrang nilalagnat ako. I didn't even bother to tell anyone because I don't want to skip anything today. Sayang ang araw. Sayang ang scores.

And I really didn't want to be anyone's burden.

Mukhang nahawaan ako ni Winona noong Friday na binisita ko siya. Saturday night ko pa talaga ito nararamdaman, pero pinipigilan ko lang. Ayoko kasing um-absent. Once my parents found out I wasn't feeling well, automatic absent na talaga ako.

Nilingon ko si Winona na nakikipag-asaran kay Matias. That was my cue to leave. Mabuti na lang at mage-edit lang ako ng articles sa Journ kaya binilisan ko na ang kilos ko at nauna nang lumabas.

Everyone was so busy and I'm glad no one took notice of me struggling to carry my things on my way to the Journalism office.

"Dani, you're early." Ate Gelyn greeted me. "Well, petiks muna tayo today. Proofreading time." Pabiro niyang sabi bago siya bumalik sa ginagawa niya.

I opened my laptop and started editing. Ramdam ko ang lamig sa office dahil naka-high ang aircon. It was a good thing that I brought a jacket.

But the jacket isn't warm enough.

Wala si Miss Mendez kaya naman hindi gaano busy ngayong araw. Ate Gelyn was chatting with the other members when I decided to take a nap.

A nap that felt like a lifetime when someone tapped me on the shoulders. Si Izrajel. "Are you hungry?"

Tinignan ko nang matagal ang pagkain na nilapag niya sa desk ko. Mango shake. Chill ran up my spine. Parang lalo akong nilamig.

I looked inside the bag and saw a nice piece of burger. Kinuha ko 'yon at kinain. "Thank you, but why?"

Hinila ni Izrajel ang upuan niya at nilapit niya iyon sa desk ko. He sat on his chair backwards. "Kumain kami kanina nila Matty and Winona sa cafeteria. I thought mango was your favorite."

"Y-yeah." Sabi ko sabay kuha ng shake. Kahit nilalamig ako, kong uminom. No one has to know. Mamaya, iinom na lang ako ng gamot para hindi lumala. "Salamat ulit."

"Ubusin mo 'yan. No leftovers." Sabi niya bago siya bumalik sa pwesto niya at mag-umpisang magtrabaho.

Naubos ko 'yung burger, pero lamig na lamig ko sa shake kaya paunti-unti ang inom ko. Darn it, why am I punishing myself like this?

Hindi ako makapag-focus sa gawain dahil hinihila na naman ako ng antok. At sa pangalawang pagkakataon, nagising ako sa kalabit ni Izrajel.

"Are you done editing?" He asked as he looked over my untouched laptop. "Patingin--" naunahan ko ang kamay niya bago pa niya kunin ang laptop ko. "Dani."

"Yes, I know. Hindi pa 'to tapos dahil naidlip ako. Sorry. I will finish this soon."

"Dani. You're too warm." Kinuha niya ang shake na hawak ko at hinawakan niya ang magkabilang kamay ko. Oh no. "Can I touch you?"

Nag-init ang pisngi ko sa tanong niya. "Why are you--" my words were cut off when his hand touched my neck. Pagkatapos ay hinawakan niya pati ang noo ko.