Chasing Elle

Trouble

"We'll see...."

"We'll see...."

"We'll see...."

I sighed in exasperation habang inuuntog ang ulo ko sa mesa. My friends and I were currently at the library for a last minute English Lit study (a.k.a cramming session) pero walang halos pumapasok sa kokote ko. Hindi ko maalis sa isip ko yung nangyari sa bahay nina Ate Jane.

"Hoy, ano 'yan? Nababaliw ka na ba at inuuntog mo na yang ulo mo sa mesa?" tanong ni Kathy. "Di ganyan ang pagbasag ng ulo, girl. Ihampas mo nang malakas."

It has been four days since our conversation pero hanggang ngayon bothered pa din ako sa mga sinabi ni King. Sa sobrang bothered ko, I spent the last four days trying to avoid him; magkaklase kami pero I made the effort not to go near him or have any sort of conversation with him. Nakipagpalit pa nga ako ng upuan sa isa kong kaklase para lang mas malayo pa ako sa kanya; not that he was his usual annoying self as well. I low key expected him to go about his usual behaviour around me pero he has sort of mellowed on the teasing over the past few days; which is intriguing as it is suspicious.

Actually, I'm bothered not because of what he said but because I don't know what to make of it. Sa kinikilos ni King ngayon, it seems like he didn't mean what he said pero knowing how bipolar (haha) he is, there's a huge part of me worried he might suddenly act on his words. Don't get me wrong; I still don't like the guy. It's just that his words and the way he looked at me bother me.

Choosing between being the bullied and being the challenge he wants to conquer? I'd pick being the bullied, any day.

I sighed deeply and decided to give up on cramming information into this too-crowded head of mine. I closed my notebook and stood up.

"Uy, sa'n ka pupunta?" Kathy asked nang makita niya akong tumayo. "Tapos ka na mag-aral?"

"Lockers," I answered. "Suko na ako, walang pumapasok sa utak ko."

"Okay ka lang?" Janna said. "You seem....distracted."

I nodded. "Okay lang," I said. "Wala lang ako masyadong tulog. I'll see you guys after class."

Nagkatinginan lang ang dalawa kong kaibigan. They're probably wondering why I'm acting weird but I couldn't bring myself to tell them what King had told me. I'm sure they'll freak out. Grabbing my bag from the table, I walked out of the library; my feet dragging as if I was a zombie, and started going towards the lockers located just across the hall.

The school corridors bustled with people who'd just finished their lunch so the overall atmosphere was noisy and rowdy. Screams of playing kids from the nearby elementary department building could be heard while some first-years were playing Frisbee. Seriosuly, who plays Frisbee in hallways? I thought as I neared my locker which was on the left side of the corridor. I nodded to a few batch mates and a few faces I knew from the swimming team.

I sighed at the thought of the swimming team. Waldorf is recognized for our high-level swimming team; we're a powerhouse school when it comes to swimming. I have been swimming for the school since my first year in high school but because of my shoulder injury, I was on an indefinite leave from the team. I have to admit though, di ko maiwasan na ma-miss ang swimming. I've been swimming competitively since I was seven; but because I sustained a shoulder injury during the last regionals, I had to stop and focus on therapy. I've been undergoing therapy for three months now pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring go signal from the doctor kung kalian ako pwedeng bumalik sa team. The idea frustrates the hell out of me.

I shook my head; clearing my head of any more thoughts that could add up to my frustrations. I was about to grab my locker key but before I could even do that, someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the empty 4th year classroom right next to the lockers.