Dominika (Pale As Dead I) | COMPLETED

𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗

d e e
july 12, thursday, 7:15 a.m.

I walked alone down the main hallway papuntang Roku. Gwen and Helen were with me earlier, but the captain of Mangakas Guild had called them for a short assembly. But Helen still had her phone in hand, and she sent a reply to my earlier text.

     𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙨𝙠 𝙆𝙖𝙟𝙤 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘼𝙢𝙮.

I quickly typed my response.

𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙙. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙜 𝙨𝙮𝙖 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙗𝙘𝙤𝙨 𝙄 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.

The whole room was silenced when I entered. I jutted my chin out and walked to my seat. Pero sobrang nagmadali ako kasi they watched my every step. Kahapon pa ako tinitingnan ng mga babaeng classmate ko. Gusto nilang makipagpalit ng partners, and we had tried that. But then again, Mrs. Kajo said it wasn't possible. Kaya si Amy ang suggestion ni Helen, kasi baka raw pumayag na dahil friends sila Shishi and Amy. I might actually try that if push came to shove.

What surprised me was Shishi's presence inside. Usually kasi, late siyang pumasok. It was still so early for him to be here. Mamayang eight pa ang start ng class.

Nakatingin siya sa labas ng bintana mula pagpasok ko. Magka-stiffed neck sana siya kakatingin niya sa bintana. But, like him, sa labas ng bintana na lang din ako nag-focus because I had forgotten to bring a manga with me.

When the song playing from my headphones changed, I groaned inwardly.

Not this one.

It was Fall Back Into My Life by Amber Pacific. The first and only song that Zach had taught me to play on drums. This song carried so many memories with it. And its lyrics were just as stupid as those memories were, based on the context that concerned the two of us.

"Hoy!"

I flinched. Nakaharap na sa akin si Shishi, at sobrang lalim ng frown niya. Ngayon ko lang napansin na ang haba na ng buhok niya compared sa first time na nakita ko siya. Yung curls niya, nasa noo niya na.

So early in the morning to be hotheaded, kulot.

"Kanina pa kita tinatawag," he said.

Inilayo ko ang isang speaker ng headphones ko from one ear, but yung isa, nandoon pa rin para naririnig ko pa rin yung music. Inappropriate, I knew, but I wanted to listen to the song continuously.

"Bakit?" I asked.

"Tanggalin mo nga 'yang nasa ulo mo! Kinakausap kita, eh!" Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin. Tinanggal niya ang headphones ko and binagsak yun sa desk ko. Umupo ulit siya sa seat niya after that.

I clenched my fists. Like, how could he? Helen was right, salbahe siya. I glared, but I instantly felt myself backing down. I really hated how the look in his eyes reminded me of Dad's. Ayoko sa tingin na 'yon. Wala akong kalaban laban do'n. Huminga ako nang malalim, and I counted up to five. "What?"

"Yung project."

I had to admit I was surprised. I was also delighted, kasi finally, mukhang magkakaroon na rin ng cooperation between us. I tried for a smile, hoping na magkakabati na kami. "Oh? May idea ka na ba?"

"Wala pa."

My jaw dropped. Umaasa pa naman din ako na siya 'tong maraming ideas because he was a fucking musician!