XX
OUR eyes met after I called out my nickname for him. I was about to walk towards them and stop the guy— who fucking thinks he looks cool punching someone weaker than him— but Raena stopped me by holding my arm.
Tangina?
I glared at her. "What? Wala ka bang balak patigilin sila? Can't you see he's punching Kriho?"
Her brows creased because of frustration. "It's his choice, Shan! Kanina ko pa sana pinigilan 'yan kung hindi ko alam ang rason! Kriho made that choice himself. Siya ang may kagagawan kung ba't sinusuntok siya ngayon!"
"Anong—"
"What's happening here?!" I got interrupted by an authoritative familiar voice. "Lorenze! Anong ginagawa mo?! Bitawan mo si Kriho!"
The Lorenze guy did exactly what Sydney commanded. Malakas ang pwersa niyang binitawan si Kriho at rinig ang lagabog ng katawan nito sa sahig.
"Ortega, come with me to the Guidance Office!" She scanned the crowd and her eyes landed on me. "Miranda and Montero, kindly bring Herreria to the infirmary." Sinulyapan muli no'ng Lorenze si Kriho at ngumisi bago sumunod kay Sydney.
Dali-dali naman kaming tumakbo ni Raena papunta kay Kriho at inalalayan siya patayo.
Isinukbit ko 'yong isang kamay niya sa balikat ko, ganoon din ang ginawa ni Raena.
I scoffed. "One moment you were driving us to school, then the next you were getting punched." I coldly stated without looking at him.
Napatigil ako dahil nakapalibot pa rin 'yong mga estudyante kaya hindi kami makadaan.
"Stay out of the way!" Raena fiercely shouted and the sea of students divided themselves in half, leaving a gap in the middle.
Napairap ako. Kaninang 'di namin sinasabi at dadaan lang kami, kusa silang gumawa ng daan. Ngayong may akay kaming bugbog-sarado, kailangan pa silang utusan? Mga tao talaga minsan hindi mo maintindihan.
Habang dahan-dahan kaming naglalakad, nahagip ng tingin ko si Cheena na nakatayo sa gilid at... umiiyak? Basa ang pisngi niya at namumula ang mga mata.
She saw her childhood friend get beaten up, so she has a reason to cry.
Nginitian ko siya ng tipid para iparating na kami na ang bahala kay Kriho. Huminga siya ng malalim at dahan-dahang tumango.
Nakarating na kami sa infirmary at kaagad naman kaming sinalubong no'ng nurse nang makitang duguan ang mukhang ni Kriho. "Raena! What happened—" She stopped and looked at something on the side table. A calendar? "Oh, today's Tuesday." She mumbled but I managed to catch it.
Napakunot-noo 'ko. Biglang nawala ang katarantahan sa sistema niya dahil nalaman niyang Tuesday?
"Iupo niyo siya sa kama." Utos niya habang kumukuha ng mga kailangan para sa sugat ni Kriho. "Who's the lovely lady, Raena?"
Raena stood up straight to stretch her back, but I remained seated beside this geek. "She's Joshan. Joshan Miranda. My best friend and Kriho's... frienemy?" I snickered at that. "Transferee siya this year."
