Just The Benefits (PUBLISHED)

Kabanata 45

#JustTheBenefits

Kabanata 45 

Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising dahil simula na ng finals namin. I was determined to do my best. At least kahit dito man lang maging maayos ako. I can't even begin to think kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin kung ibabagsak ko 'to. It will just make my already complicated life more complex.

Paglabas ko ng pintuan, agad kong nakita si Shiloah. It was like one of the normal days when he would smile and me and greet me. He did the same today—except that it felt different. Hindi ko matukoy kung ano mismo pero mayroong nag-iba, alam ko.

We ate our breakfast and rode the same car—our normal routine.

I knew that the logical thing to do was to strike a conversation with him but I didn't know where I would start. Naririnig ko pa rin sa isip ko iyong sinabi sa akin ni Quinn. He said I shouldn't use anyone in order to be happy. He said that in the end, I would eventually hurt Shiloah.

So in the end, nanahimik na lang ako. Bahala na kung ano ang mangyayari.

Pagdating namin sa classroom, naabutan namin na nagtatalo sina Carl at Candy. They were shouting. Kulang na lang yata ay magbatuhan sila ng gamit dito. I have always seen Carl mad but this was another level. Namumula talaga siya. Kung ano man ang pinag-aawayan nila ni Candy, it must have been some serious shit.

Both of us were glued in our spot. Gustuhin man naming pumasok sa classroom, hindi kami makapasok. Pareho kaming nakatingin sa nagsisigawan na sina Carl at Candy. Mukhang iiyak na si Candy.

"I'm sorry na nga, 'di ba?! Bakit ayaw mong makinig?!" sigaw ni Candy. All of us were listening intently. Para bang kasama kami sa kung ano man ang nangyayari.

"Aanuhin ko 'yang sorry mo? Bullshit!" shouted Carl. Hinablot niya iyong bag niya at saka naglakad palabas. Mabilis siyang naglakad at sinundan naman siya ni Candy. Ni hindi nga yata napansin ni Candy na nakatayo si Shiloah—iyong dapat boyfriend niya sa may pintuan. She followed Carl in suit.

Matapos ang drama na 'yun, pumasok na kami sa loob sa wakas. All of our classmates resumed to what they were originally doing na para bang walang nangyari.

This was the reason why I don't think people should air their dirty laundry in public. Some people will look like they care when in fact, they do not. Gusto lang nilang malaman na may mga taong mas miserable sa kanila.

Papaupo na sana ako nung mapansin ko na nakatingin pa rin si Shiloah sa labas.

"Go," I said to him. Tumingin siya sa akin. I smiled. "You can talk to her."

Hindi na siya sumagot. Nagsimula siyang maglakad para sundan iyong girlfriend niya. I watched him disappear from my line of vision. Kailangan siya ng girlfriend niya.

Pagkaalis niya, I sat on my place. Nandun na si Tobi na mukhang masungit pa rin. He was playing with his pen. Mayroon ding nakalagay na earphone sa tenga niya.

"You really hate meddling with other people's business, noh?" I said as I sat down. Tumingin ako sa relo ko na bigay ni Shiloah together with all the branded clothes he bought me. 10 minutes pa bago officially magsimula iyong finals.

He curled his forehead. Tinanggal niya iyong earphones niya.

"What?"

"Naglagay ka pa ng earphones kasi nag-away sila Carl," I mentioned. Ano kaya ang pinag-awayan nila?

He rolled his eyes. "I hear them fight everyday. Kabisado ko na lahat ng sasabihin nila," he said as a matter of fact. Sobrang weird talaga ng dynamics ng mga kaibigan ni Candy. Iba-iba sila. Hindi ko alam kung papaano sila nagkakasundo.