Be the First

45 : Team Up

DANI's POV

"Ow!" Nilayo ni Airen ang mukha niya papalayo sa bulak na hawak ko. He hissed in pain as I dab more betadine on his puffed upper lip, red and wounded from the fight. "Ang sakit naman niyan."

I tried again, but he keeps on moving away.

"Hey. I told you to keep still." Bulong ko habang hinahabol ko ang umiiwas niyang ulo. "Geez, it's just Betadine!" Sigaw ko sa kanya. We've been like this for twenty long minutes at hindi pa rin kami tapos hanggang ngayon.

Pagkatapos silang pagalitan ni Coach Steve, akala ko dederetso na sila sa Principal's office. Akala ko magkaka-record na naman si Airen, dahil kakabalik niya pa lang nasangkot na kaagad siya sa gulo.

Instead, their coach decided to resolve this under the table. Pinalampas niya ang gulo at pinag-ayos ang dalawa. Dahil raw ayaw niyang ma-suspend ang isa sa kanila. After all, the Interschool Competition is in two months. Kailangan nila ng matinding practice ngayon pa lang para manalo.

"Dapat kasi pumunta tayo sa infirmary. Aside from your busted lip, I don't know what to do with your bleeding nose!" I huffed in frustration. Humiram lang ako ng first aid kit sa office ni Sir Steve dahil ayaw magpatinag ni Airen na pumunta sa clinic. We're still here at the gym in the men's changing room. Pinauwi na nila ang lahat, but Airen decided to stay.

"You know I can't have records again, Dani." Bulong niya habang nakahawak sa kamay kong may bulak. "Hindi ako pwedeng ma-expel."

"Yes, I know. Your team needs you." Sabi ko.

"No, I need to be here to protect you." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. He maintained his gaze as I try to back away for some space. Biglang nanahimik. The air is so thick, and the room was filled with silence as I recalled the reason why there was a fight in the first place.

"I'm sorry kung hindi ko sinabi sa'yo." I muttered, praying my voice can be loud enough for him to hear. "Ayaw kitang madamay. Pero mas napasama pa pala nung hindi ko sinabi sa'yo. I just didn't want to burden you with anything. Syempre may iniintindi ka rin."

Airen's hand reached mine and guided it to his lips. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagdampi ng betadine sa sugat niya. "Kahit sabihin mo o hindi, nalaman ko rin naman." He said dryly. "Sabihin mo o hindi, susuntukin ko pa rin siya. He did hurt you, Dani. He lied to you. He manipulated you." Pansin kong bumabalik na naman ang galit sa mata niya. "Nangako ako sa parents mo at kay Mom na iingatan kita. I failed to do that and now look at what happened. I won't just sit idly by, knowing you got played. Sinaktan ka niya, kailangan kong gumanti."

But it was all my fault, gusto ko sanang sabihin. I feel like a thank you does not even feel right. A part of me wanted to tell him about Izrajel's motive. But I couldn't find the words. "I appreciate that you stood up for me, but..."

"But you don't want to hurt him back, I know." He cut in, nodding. "You don't have the heart to do it. Alam ko. Kaya nga nandito ako, diba? Let me be the one to do that for you. What Stella and Izrajel did wasn't right. We need to do something. We will fight back. You're the brains, I'm the brawl. Remember?"

Napangiti ako sa huling sinabi niya, pero unti-unti akong umiling. "If we cause more trouble at we get caught, pareho tayong maki-kick out sa school na 'to. I can't afford that."