Crying Shoulder (SBHseries#1)

Kabanata 3

One week had passed since her last encounter with Walter. Hindi pa naman niya ito nakita sa school at hindi na rin niya ito gustong makita sa kadahilanang ayaw na niyang umiyak kinagabihan. Yes, she did cry that night. Sanay na siyang makarinig ng mga masasakit na salita mula sa iba habang nakatalikod siya pero masakit pala kapag may nagsabi na nito nang harap-harapan. She doesn't want that. Mas gusto pa niyang plastikin siya ng mga tao kaysa i-realtalk siya. Well, her friends are the only exception.

"Don't you have any plan to attend our first class, ineng?" It was Gaylel who pulled her out of her reverie. Nakataas ang isang kilay nito na halatang iritable na. Tinaasan niya rin ito ng kilay at nagsimula nang maglakad patungo sa kanilang silid. Binilisan na rin nito na ang paglalakad upang makasabay sa kaniya, but how she wished Gaylel didn't walk that fast to avoid bumping into someone, someone whose figure is very familiar to her.

"Gaylel naman kasi! Be careful next time. Wag tatanga-tanga! Kaya ka nasasaktan eh!" It was her who spoke first. Nakakunot ang kanyang noo at hindi pinansin ang taong nabangga nito.

"You can remind her in a nice way, Hadiya," she closed her eyes to calm herself.  His voice was very irritating that she wanted to beat the shit out of him. Hindi niya pa rin makalimutan ang ginawa nito sa kanya. Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya nang mapagtantong gulo ang resulta kapag pinansin niya pa ang lalaking nasa harapan niya. It was August, the brother of the guy who insulted him and of course! She wouldn't forget him trying to bed her.

"Let's go, Gaylel!" Nauna ulit siya at mas mabilis pa ang kanyang paglalakad kaysa kanina. When they arrived inside their room, she could hear her heartbeat. She wasn't sure if it was because of how irritated she was or was it because of her pace.

"Mabuti naman at umabot pa kayo. Akala ko malalate ulit kayo," she looked at the direction where the voice was coming from. It was Elle. She's the youngest yet she act like a mother sometimes. She could now replaced Novah's place. Napangiti siya sa naisip at nawaglit na rin sa kanyang isipan si August. 

-

At exactly 12:40 pm, her friends went out from their respective classrooms. Hindi siya nakasabay sa kanila dahil sa sobrang dami ng nakalatag na gamit niya sa mesa. Natagalan siya sa pag-aayos ng kanyang mga gamit sa bag. Makaripas ang ilang sandali ay natapos din siya. Nagmamadali siyang lumabas sa room niya at hindi niya inaasahang mabungaran sa labas ng room ang mukha ni August.

"What do you want?" she asked him. Her voice was calm yet it was void of emotions. She really tried to keep herself composed because the last thing she wants is to get herself into trouble. Medyo gutom na rin kasi siya at paniguradong gutom na rin ang kanyang mga kaibigan na naghihintay sa kanya sa cafeteria.

"I want us to talk, Hadiya," August said in a demanding voice that it irked every fiber of her being. The guy's face was really thick, thicker than their Philosophy book and she really wanted to throw her bag at him.

"There's nothing to talk about, August. We are already done the moment you forced me to do something disgusting," she turned her back at him after uttering those words. Nagmamadali siyang naglakad dahil baka sumunod ito sa kanya at hindi niya na talaga kayang pigilan ang sarili at masuntok niya ang mukha nito. Pupuruhan niya talaga ang mukha nito upang hindi na makapambiktima ng ibang babae. "What a fuck boy!" Napailing nalang siya sa naisip.

-

"Hadiyaaaa! Over hereeee!" Ang kanyang iritableng ekspresyon na nakapaskil sa kanyang mukha kanina lamang ay napalitan ng isang tipid na ngiti. Naglakad siya papunta sa gitna ng cafeteria dahil doon pumwesto ang kanyang mga kaibigan. 

"Ang tagal mo naman!" reklamo ni Anthonette sa kanya. Nakasimangot ito at nakapangalumbaba sa mesa. Hindi niya tuloy mapigilang matawa pati na rin ang kanyang mga kasama.

"Pangit mo! Don't me!" Kumuha siya ng ilang table napkin at binato dito at napalakas ang tawa ng iba pa niyang kasama na naging sanhi upang makuha nila ang atensyon ng halos lahat ng estudyante na nasa cafeteria rin. She immediately regretted what she did nang makitang pati ang mga nakaupo sa  kabilang mesa ay nakatingin din sa kanila. It was August's group and Walter was there. Kumalat ang kulay pula sa kanyang mukha. Hiyang-hiya siya!

"May lagnat ka ba, Hadiya?" tanong ni Rose nang makita ang pamumula ng kanyang mukha. Umiling lamang siya dito at nagsimulang kumain ngunit hindi siya makapagfocus sa pagkain. She could feel someone's eyes scrutinizing her. Napabuntong hininga tuloy siya kahit na kumakain siya. Kahit anong gawing pagfocus niya sa pagkain ay hindi niya na magawa so she decided to  tilt her head towards August's group and there, she met those eyes again. It was Walter's. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga bilugang mata. Hindi niya maitatangging nagulat siya. Sapat na ang pagkahulog ng kanyang kutsara para patunayan na siya nga ay nagulat.

"Why so careless, Hadiya?" Rose spoke again. Playfulness was evident in her eyes. She bet she saw her stealing a glance from August's group. 

"I am not being careless, Rose. I was just shocked," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. Muli siyang tumingin sa gawi ng lalaki and at that moment she wanted to pick the spoon under the table and hide there until the bell rings. Hiyang-hiya na talaga siya at mas lalong pumula ang kanyang mukha.

"Are you really okay, Hads?" nagsalita na rin si Gaylel. She could say Gaylel was really concerned based on her voice. 

"I t-think I need to go to the Comfort Room. I don't feel okay," finally, she said it. Makakaalis na rin siya sa lugar na ito. She was suffocated because of his presence and she wanted to breath! Nanag tumayo siya ay siya ring pagtayo ni Walter mula sa mesa nito. Napatingin siya uli dito at nagtagpo muli ang kanilang mga mata.

"Follow me," he mouthed at her. Nalaglag ang kanyang panga sa sinabi nito.

"What the hell!"