The Countdown [COMPLETED]

Part Twelve

Matthew's POV

We're currently here at the gymnasium para tumambay. Nagkukwentuhan kaming tatlo nina Marcy at Ange tungkol dun sa foundation week last week. It was successful though. I took a glance on Jester who's busy playing with his phone.

"Asan nga pala si Staire?" Tanong ko.

"Ah susunod nalang daw siya. May meeting daw ang UNESCO Club e. Siya ang secretary." sagot ni Marcy.

"Ay nako, nagtext sakin si Tita Jean noong isang gabi. Hinahanap si Staire. Sabi, gumagawa ng project." Ange said.

"Ha? May project tayo?" takang tanong ni Marcy.

"Yun na nga e. We don't have any maliban dun sa Science. Pero nakapag-submit na siya. So asan si Staire nung time na yon?"

"As usual? Gumagala kahit san siguro." Hula ni Marcy habang ngumunguya ng cookies. Nginitian ko siya at kumuha ng isa.

"I know where she was." Jester interfered.

"Oh? Pano?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"With my eyes?" Walang emosyong sagot niya. We faked a laugh and just rolled our eyes.

"Psh para kang si Staire." Si Ange.

"You were with her?" Tanong ko.

"Yes." Sagot niya.

"San mo nakita?" asked Marcy.

"Bench, sa tapat ng condo." walang ganang sagot nito.

"Tinabihan mo?" Agad kong tanong. Tumingin naman siya nang may halong pagtataka.

"Uh yes?" What I expected was he'll just ignore her but ohhh.

"Confirmed. Kapag ganun kasi ang ginagawa ni Staire, ibig sabihin nun, ayaw niya pang umuwi." Sambit ni Ange nang may halong lungkot. Hindi ko maintindihan. Para naman atang medyo mababaw ang dahilan nila para malungkot dahil lang sa paggala ni Staire kasi ayaw niya pang umuwi. Or... is it just me?

"Why? Bakit ayaw pa niyang umuwi?" I asked the two girls.

"Her Lola Claire came back." Ange answered. So this is something personal.

"Dahil bumalik na si Lola Claire... The Staire you see everyday... Yung reyna na masayahin? She is much more different than the Staire na nasa bahay nila. Iba ang trato ni Lola Claire sa kanya e."

Outside, she's like that. You know what I mean. But inside, opposite. I didn't answer nalang. But then Jester caught my attention. Seryoso siyang nakikinig sa usapan namin. Now he's interested, eh? Jester Vandorpe has his own world. He's silent and doesn't care about his environment most of the time. Some peoople even think he's autistic.

"Ikaw Jes? Do you admire Staire?" I nonchalantly asked him. "Admiration lang naman e." I added. Hindi siya sumasagot. Humalumbaba kaming tatlo na tila iniintay ang sagot ni Jester. Base sa facial expression niya, nagtataka siya at tila naa-awkwardan.

"I-I admire her." He finally answered. He fucking rolled his eyes on me when I smiled.

"Seriously? Inidapan mo ba ko?" I asked while cackling.

"Tss. Shut up." He said. I can smell victory, people.

"GUYS!" Sabay-sabay na pumihit ang mga ulo namin sa paparating na si Staire. Napakatapang niya. She still smiles. No doubt that they admire Staire.

Oops. Don't get me wrong. I don't like her in a romantic way, aight? In fact, may gusto akong iba.

**