The Letters of Paris

Chapter 04

I was staring at the absence, pinipilit ituon ang atensyon sa iba, but it was cut short nang mapadaing ako sa sakit dahil napahigpit ang pagtali sa sugat ko. Manang looked at me nang hinila ko ang kamay ko sa pagkakahawak niya.

"Tiisin mo kung ayaw mo mawalan ka ng kamay." mahinang saway niya saakin at muling hinigit ang kamay ko.

"Hindi na po 'ko bata." reklamo ko.

Napansin kong saglit na napahinto ito pero hindi sumagot at muling nagpatuloy. If I didn't stop the scissor with my bare hand, Mom could've stabbed— she could've killed me.

Tagal-tagal pa ay tumayo na si Manang at umalis sa kwarto ko, sumulyap ako sa kamay ko at nagbuntong-hininga. I can't write anything for the time being kaya hihingi na lang muna ako sa mga kaklase ko ng notes.

I grabbed my bag and walked towards the door. I was surprised when I saw Thein, nakatayo ito sa gilid ng kwarto ko at hindi maguhit ang mukha niya. When he noticed me, guilt instantly swallowed me.

"I told you to quit," I gazed at his bruised cheek. "...I'm sorry." I swallowed hard as he watched me.

I was tempted to ask if it still hurt pero tumalikod na ako at naunang bumaba. Hanggang makarating kami sa labas ng bahay, tahimik pa niya akong pinagbuksan ng pinto ng kotse.

He didn't even throw a single glimpse at pinaandar ang sasakyan paalis. The whole ride, we were silent, but for some reason the silence was comfortable hanggang sa makarating kami sa university, mabuti na rin dahil wala akong masasabi.

Thein parked the car nearby the main gate. Nang makalabas ako ng sasakyan, I noticed people were scattered everywhere. Banners with different colors and signs were tied to every wall, and there was a big colorful banner hanging at the entrance.

Intramurals.

I forgot. Senior high school intramurals are right after exams. In my peripheral view, I saw Maeve running toward me.

"Paris!"

I winced in pain when she threw herself at my body, muntikan pa akong mawalan ng balance sa ginawa niya. Thankfully, Thein's hand abruptly supported my back which made me catch myself from falling. I glimpsed at him and mouthed my thanks, he didn't answer, but his hand still supporting my back. It's not obvious, but he's a gentleman.

"Kamusta ka? Ayos ka lang?" Maeve swfitly asked after she pulled away. When she saw my hand, ngumiwi ako dahil maluha-luhang sinalubong niya ang mata ko.

"Ang tanga mo." Suminghot ito. "Nadapa ka ba?"

I looked at her confused. "Huh?"

"What happened to your hand, nadapa ka na naman ba?" umiiyak na tanong niya at muling yumakap.

I patted her back to calm her down while avoiding people's gaze dahil pinagtitinginan na kami. I glanced at Thein again, silently asking for help pero halos mapanganga ako sa pinuna nito.

"Mas mabuting humiwalay ka na muna kay Paris, Miss."

I gave him a murderous glare, habang siya naman isang malamig na titig ang sinukli. After I complimented him?! Nireregla na naman ba siya?

He was about to touch me, to pull me to god knows where again pero tinabig ko ang kamay niya.

"Leave." I firmly said. I understood that Mom commanded him to prevent Maeve from seeing me, but can't he read between the lines?

"Teka nga..." Umunahan si Maeve para harapin si Thein. "It's you!"

Kumunot ang noo ni Thein at umatras dahil sa kanilang natitirang pagitan. Naninikit ang mata ni Maeve habang sinusuri si Thein. My brows almost meet nang mag-ayos ito at ngumiti ng matamis sa kaniya. She didn't even bother to glimpse at me when she extended her hand to him.