Niji Academy [Completed]

CHAPTER 30

“Sairi isn’t here yet.”

Nahinto ako sa pagkain nang sabihin iyon ni Mizu. It was seven in the evening and I was at the dorm that time when Angie called me and told me to join them for dinner at the cafeteria. Heto nga’t narito kami at si Sairi na lang ang hinihintay.

“I’ve been calling him but he isn’t answering. Maybe he doesn’t want to be disturbed again,” Raiton said and sighed. “He’s kinda weird today.”

“What do you mean weird?” Kaze asked. “He’s been like that, you know. He’s just back to his usual self, I guess.”

Kaze glanced at me and I narrowed my eyes at him. “What?”

He just smiled at me and shook his head.

“Bad trip ‘yon ngayon.” Si Mizu naman ang nagsalita.

“Lagi naman,” sabat ni Angie at nauna nang kumain. “Ikain n’yo na lang ‘yan. I’m sure Sairi will go here if he’s hungry. Baka nga nauna na ‘yon sa atin.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako’t kumain na rin. After that scene with him at the rooftop, hindi ko na siya nakita. I’m sure right now, he’s aware of my feelings that’s why he acted that way. And he’s confused. Hindi ko rin alam kung ano’ng sasabihin ko kung magkikita kami ngayon. It would be awkward.

“Sairi...”

I stopped eating as I heard Raiton’s voice calling his name and smelled his perfume near me. Hindi ako lumingon ngunit dinig ko naman ang pag-upo niya sa kanan ko at ang paglapag niya ng tray sa mesa.

Ngayon, nararamdaman ko na talaga ang pagkailang. I couldn’t even eat my food properly knowing he’s near. And it was getting more awkward ‘cause LEs weren’t talking. They’re usually loud but tonight, they’re too quite and I couldn’t decipher what’s going on on their minds. Ayaw ko rin namang basahin.

Sa huli ay pinagpatuloy ko na lang din ang pagkain nang marinig muli ang kulitan ng LEs. Hindi yata sila nakatiis sa katahimikan.

“Ba’t ang takaw ni Sairi, ngayon?” nagtatakang tanong ni Raiton dahilan para mapabaling ako sa plato ni Sairi. I was careful I could not see his face.

“Di kasi siya gutom. Kaya ’yan ang takaw niya,” Michi answered in a sarcastic way.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti. Heto na nama’t nag-aasaran na sila.

“Nabara ka, pare! Payag ka niyan?” natatawang wika ni Angie, inaasar si Raiton.

“Ano’ng barado? Kanal ba ako at basura siya na itinapon sa akin  kaya barado?” pabalang nitong sagot. “Pero mukha nga siyang basura.”

Natawa na naman kami at hindi naman maipinta ang mukha ni Michi. She glared at him and even pointed her spoon at him. “Ikaw rin, mukhang kanal!”

“Kanal at basura? Seriously?” ani Kaze at humagalpak ulit sa tawa.

Ngayon, si Michi na naman at Raiton ang nag-aasaran. Usually, si Mizu at Angie talaga ang nagbabarahan sa isa’t isa pero magkasundo yata sila ngayon.

Natatawang pinakinggan ko lang ang bangayan nila nang mabaling ang tingin kay Sairi. He’s smiling at them but it disappeared as he noticed me staring at him and looked at me. I looked away and bit my lower lip as I played with my food on the plate. Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwang nang hindi ko na naramdaman ang titig niya.

“Firoah...” Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Mizu nang marinig ang madamdaming boses niyang iyon. He gave me a sorrowful look as he glanced at my plate then back at me. “Grabe na ba ang galit mo sa pagkain kaya hindi mo mapigilang tusok-tusukin?”