Her Forgotten Memory // VSOO

[Chapter Three] Two-time Savior?

zana • three. two-time savior?

Hindi na 'ko nakapag-isip nang matino at agaran ko siyang nasampal sa mukha.

Nagulat siya sa ginawa ko. Ganoon na rin ang mga kaklase ko at si Ma'am. Kahit ako nga, gulat na gulat ako sa ginawa ko.

"Is this how you treat your crushes? Huh, that's weird." Pero mas nagulat ako sa ibinulong niya. Sarkastiko na may halong inis ang pagkabulong niya rito habang hawak-hawak ang parte na nasampal ko.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?! BAKIT MO SINAMPAL SI ANDRÉ, HARLEQUIN?!" Galit na sigaw ni Ma'am. Okay, I might have dragged myself into trouble.

"Ah-"

"A mosquito was feeding on my face. She just killed it for me." Magsasalita na sana ako pero bigla siyang sumingit. Is this legit? Is he actually saving me? Pero bakit?

"Oh, is that so." 'Yan lang ang mga salitang nasabi ni ma'am sa eksplanasiyon nitong si-ano nga 'yong pangalan niya? A-andrew? Oo, 'yan ata 'yon. Halos malaglag nga ang panga ng mga kaklase ko, e.

Nabulabog ang lahat nang mag-ring ang bell, hudyat ng break. "Good-" Hindi pa nga nakakapagpaalam si Ma'am ay nauna na sa paglabas ang iba kong mga kaklase. Medyo nairita si Ma'am pero wala na siyang nagawa kung 'di ang lumabas nalang din.

"What was that? It's only been an hour and you already found a love interest?" Tanong sa 'kin ni Enzo. Wala sa oras ko naman siyang nabatukan.

"Hindi, a! Anong love interest? Bugbugin kita diyan, e." Napadaing naman siya sa sakit. Magsasalita pa sana siya pero dali-dali ko siyang inirapan.

I looked to the place of my thick-faced seatmate pero he wasn't there anymore.

"Can we go, Zana? Gutom na 'ko." Enzo asked. He was checking something on his phone.

"Do you know that guy from earlier?"

"Oh, André? Yeah, I know him. He's a friend of mine." Ano? Magkaibigan sila? And he tolerates his friend's behavior towards me?

"Ba't hindi mo 'ko ipinagtanggol kanina? You saw how conceited that guy is!"

"Every handsome guy here in Eligere is. Don't worry, he was just joking." He assured me. "Well, his joke isn't funny."

"Aw, cheer up, Zana. Titigilan ka na ni André."

"Just make sure your friend won't pull me into his shenanigans again." He nodded as a reply.

I looked around and realized na kami nalang pala ang natira sa room. Since kumukulo na rin ang sikmura ko, nagpunta kami sa cafeteria for some snacks.

"Hindi ko in-expect na kakambal niya si baby. They definitely don't look alike." Dinig ko sa isang babae sa cafeteria. Ka-table niya ang dalawang babae.

"Pero you've got to admit it. She's pretty. All the boys are checking her out." Ano raw? Ako ba ang tinutukoy nila?

"They're talking about you, Zana. No doubt." Sabi sa 'kin ni Enzo. He's eavesdropping to their conversation as well. Nabasa niya ata ang ekspresiyon ko.

"But I'm still prettier, right?" Nagkatinginan ang dalawang ka-table niya na para bang hindi nila alam kung ano ang isasagot nila.

"Ganiyan kalaki ang mga ulo nila." Enzo added. Well, akala ko si Enzo lang ang assuming dito, halos lahat pala sila.

"How about you find us a table? I'll buy the food." He offered. I just agreed to what he said and started to search for a vacant table.

After a few minutes, nakahanap na rin ako ng mesang makakainan. I occupied the table and waited for Enzo.

"I'm so hungry." Sambit ng isang lalaking-tokneneng! Siya na naman?!

"Excuse me, this table is occupied."

Liningon niya 'ko. "Oh, I am aware that this is already occupied but since I'm your crush, you won't mind sharing it with me, will you, Harliking?" I thought he was only joking? Why is he still putting this up?

"I don't like you, mister. And it's Harlequin." Seryoso kong sabi sa kanya. He just chuckled to what I said. Nagawa niya pa talagang tumawa?!

"I don't care. And will you just please shut up? You owe me back in first period. I literally saved your ass . . . though I think you don't even have one." Now he's insulting me? Unbelievable. This guy really has the guts.

"You should thank me for saving you back there, siguro nasa guidance office ka na ngayon if it wasn't for me." Dagdag niya pa. Gets ko naman na iniligtas niya 'ko. Hindi na niya kailangang ipamukha pa sa 'kin.

"Whatever." I just stood up and exited the cafeteria. I was getting impatient with our conversation. Baka kasi masuntok ko pa 'yong lalaking 'yon, e.

As I walked, hindi ako mapakali. Feeling ko may nakalimutan ako sa loob ng cafeteria.

Wait-I forgot about Enzo!

Gusto ko sanang bumalik pero 'tong pride ko, ayaw na akong pabalikin, e.

Since ang hirap nang ibalik do'n pagkatapos kong mag-walk-out, I decided to head back to our classroom which is in the 2nd floor of the main building.

I was climbing the stairs when a group of men blocked my way.

"Hi, Miss! Harlequin, right?" Tanong ng isang lalaking medyo barumbadong tingnan. At manyak rin.

Shoot.

I reverted my direction. I was planning to go back to the cafeteria but a blonde man blocked me again. Kinabahan na 'ko. Halos lahat kasi ng mga estudyante ay nasa ibaba at kakaunti lang ang natira sa building.

Hinawakan ng lalaking blonde ang magkabilang braso ko at dahan-dahan niyang inilapit ang mukha niya sa leeg ko. Tears escaped my eyes and I was in the verge of collapsing. Kahit anong gawin 'ko, hindi naman ako makahugot ng lakas para makapagpumiglas. They'd still win over me.

'BOOOOOGSH!'

Nagulat ako nang matumba ang lalaking blonde.

And I saw Andrew behind him. Natakot ang kasamahan ng lalaki kaya nagsitakbuhan na sila.

I finally broke down into tears and sobbed loudly.

Napaupo nalang ako sa sahig at doon na 'ko umiyak nang todo.

I was so excited for this day but what happened awhile ago disappointed me. I wasn't expecting this to happen.

I was jolted when I felt someone embracing me.

I can't see him clearly because of my blurry vision but he looks like . . . A-Andrew?

Why is he doing this? Why is he saving a girl who humiliated him in class?

Why is he saving someone who slapped him in front of many people?

My questions were killing me mentally. I just can't seem to connect the dots.

Matagal-tagal din niya akong niyakap. At matagal rin akong natulala sa ginawa niya. I wasn't able to move with what he did.

After a few minutes, he lets go of the hug.

He leveled his face to mine and wiped my tears with his hands.

"P-Please don't cry. It hurts me . . . a lot."