But It's Over Now

Chapter 2

Sa kung ano man ang sinabi niya ay wala akong maintindihan. Hindi magawang kumilos ng aking mga paa upang lumayo sapagkat ang aking katawan ay tila ba kusang nawalan ng kontrol. Hindi ko gusto ang maging tampulan pa ng mas tumitinding atensyon. Huminga ako ng malalim at hinugot ang aking lakas upang alisin ang kanyang kamay sa aking braso.

"I don't know you. Let me go." Mariin kong saad at tila naman nabasa niya sa mukha ko ang kaseryosohan.

"Pasensya na." Was all he said, not meeting my gaze. I turned my heel to leave as when our Professor entered the room. I am really puzzled because I don't really know him. How come that I will be his death where in the first place, hindi naman namin kilala ang isa't isa. What a moron, I said.

"To your seats, now!" Kalmado ngunit nakakaalarmang tugon ng isang di katandaang babae. She's in her late forties I guess, she's wearing her specs like Professor McGonagall.

I scanned for a vacant seat but to my disappointment, all are occupied excluding the chair I left earlier, a chair beside that psychopath. I inwardly groan.

"Why are you still not sitting? Is there any problem?" Tanong ng aking propesor mula sa kawalan at tila ba ay isa itong sirenang dumadagundong sa aking tenga. Agad akong tumalima.

"No, Ma'am. Everything's fine." Not at all, I said. I am not used to awkward moments because I am always alone and I don't really give myself time to mingle with people.

The first class was not that bad, we are all silent the whole time while our Professor is speaking because she's like the reincarnation of Miss Minchin. Well, but I learned things a lot from her so it doesn't matter at all, not at all.

I went to the cafeteria because my portal says that I still have 45 minutes vacant time before my next class. I'm glad that their cafeteria is offering pizzas and cheesecakes. I ordered a slice of blueberry cheesecake and a large-sized Coke. I am almost done when someone approached me. I slowly tilted my head to see who was that and I instantly recognized his face. Ang gwapo niya talaga. I almost choked the last bite of cheesecake I'm eating because of the crazy thought running in my head.

"Hi. I am sorry about earlier. I mean no harm. Akala ko kasi ikaw yung kakilala ko. I am really sorry. I am sorry if I brought commotion earlier in the classroom." I can trace the sincerity on what he said but a part of me is arguing. Niloloko ka lang nyan! Di yan sincere. Napakahangin!

"Okay." I muttered under my breath but loud enough for him to clearly hear.

He smiled widely and my heart twitched. What the hell? Naisip kong tumayo dahil alam kong wala nang patutunguhan ang usapan namin. I hate having conversations with people especially with strangers. My brain is too occupied and I don't want people to ruin my day just by talking non-sense. I gathered my things and about to leave when he suddenly spoke.

"I am Grayson Elijah Andrada. I am currently taking Financial Management that's why we're almost in the same class. I heard your taking - "

"Look. I am not interested." I coldly said to cut him off.

"I just want to make friends with you. I am an irregular student here." He's grinning and I nearly whacked his face with my phone. I breathed evenly to stop my demeanor from boiling.

"I don't need friends." Was all I can say. I don't want to argue. I don't want to waste my time with people I don't fully know. I am looking sideways and realized he's looking at my ID. His grin widened and I couldn't help but feel more irritated. Damn this guy.

"Madison Riley Rosales. BS in Accountancy." He looks so happy chanting what he just have read. I immediately flip it and walked pass through him. He followed me so I continued walking, this time, faster.

"Hey!" He shouted. Students are intently looking at us and I can feel the swelling up of tears. I hate being chased. I hate being followed. It makes me feel that someone is after me and I'll die in a minute.

I reached the school's mini forest and I sat at one of the benches. My knees weakened. I blinked the tears away. Ang sikip ng puso ko. Nakaramdam ako ng takot. Hindi ko maintindihan. Bumabalik ang isang mapaklang alaala. Ayoko na.

He bent down his knees and searched for my face. Walang lumabas na salita sa bibig ko kahit gusto ko syang murahin. Wala akong lakas upang sapakin siya sa inis. I became the old me - me who was so damsel in distress and easy to shatter, easy to break.

"I'm sorry." He wiped the tears flowing down my face. "I am really sorry." His face filled with worry and guilt, I guess. I just nodded. I don't want to blame him. Kasalanan ko 'to. Nagpadala na naman ako sa emosyon at takot na nararamdaman ko. Matagal kong pinag-aralan na maging kontrolado sa lahat ng bagay. Until this point..... Natakot na naman ako. Bumalik na naman lahat ng nararamdaman ko na akala ko'y matagal ko nang ibinaon sa limot.

"I am so sorry. Kasalanan ko." Kumuha siya ng panyo mula sa kanyang bulsa at ipinahid ito sa akin. Tinanggal ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa mukha ko. Pinilit kong ibangon ang lakas at patatagin ang nararamdaman ko. Huminga ako ng malalim atsaka ay nagpasyang tumayo.

"Don't ever follow me again." I know I've said it with authority.

"I just want us to be friends." Tiningnan ko siya ng matalim. Napayuko siya sa talim ng tingin na ibinigay ko sa kanya.

"I don't need friends."

"But I need you."

"Are you out of your mind? Ni hindi nga natin kilala ang isa't isa, my God!" I turned my heel to leave.

"I want to protect you. I thought I am your knight in shining armour?" He said with a cracked voice. He's not crying, right? Bakit naman siya iiyak? Nakakagago.

"I don't need a friend. And I don't need someone who'll protect me because I can protect myself. I can't even remember when did I agree na ikaw ang Knight In Shining Armour ko."

He was about to say something but I cut him off.

"Please. Don't ever follow me. Don't even dare." I said with conviction and leave him standing in the middle of the premise.