The One Who Stares Behind

Kabanata 3

I immediately went back to the cafeteria after leaving the boys' dormitory. There, I found them with their sullen faces. Was I really gone that long?

"God! Inugat na ang mga pagkain!" Alam ko na ang tinutukoy ni Lynne.
Natagalan nga yata ako sa pagbalik.

"Dapat kasi nilagay mo muna sa freezer?" I replied.

In an instant, Lynne threw a bread knife in my direction. I smirked. Well, I'm ready. But then,

"Zafhryna!"

It's Xandrev. He caught the knife between his two fingers in a snap. Everyone except me was still in shock at the situation. He's good at it. Always ruining the best moment of mine.

"That knife was meant for me Drev!" Naiiling kong reklamo dito ko ngunit hindi naman ako nito pinansin. Sa halip ay bumaling ito kay Lynne.

"Lynne! What are you doing?!" He's mad.

Sa ngayon ay sinisigawan na nito si Lynne. He's now scaring my friend! Nakikita ko iyon kay Lynne ngayon.

"I-I just threw the bread knife at her, and I knew she could catch it..." Lynne explained hiding her fear.

"What if she did not?! Maatim mo bang paglamayan siya kinabukasan?!"

Teka. Anong sinabi niya? Parang sobra naman yata yun. Lumapit na ako sa kapatid ko upang pakalmahin ito.

"Xandrev, Stop. You're scaring my friend. Don't take it seriously okay? I'm not a kid anymore. Lynne is my friend, she can't kill me. I can kill her instead."

Napatingin naman sakin si Lynne at sinamaan ako ng tingin. "Definitely kidding," napangisi ako.

"Don't you ever play with death Zafh. I'm warning you."

"I'm sorry, Xandrev," paghingi ng paumanhin ni Lynne.

"Okay. Enough for this. It's nothing serious. By the way, Anne Haselton, our new roommate—Bahagya kong hinila si Anne para lumapit—My brother Xandrev and our cousin Isaac." pagpapakilala ko.

Nakipagkamay naman ito sa kanila. She's quite kind. But still, a mysterious kind. Bahagya lamang itong ngumiti sa kanila.

"Pleasure to meet you Anne,"

Lumalandi na naman tong pinsan ko. Jan Isaac Schutz Valdez. A certified slut of his time. I should be proud of that, right. Nakita ko naman mula sa gilid ko ang bahagyang pagtaas ng kilay ni Debbie.

Someone's jealous..

. . .

Bigla akong nawala sa wisyo. Paulit ulit kong pinaglaruan ang mga daliri ko ngunit hindi parin dumating ang hinihintay ko. I am waiting for the riot. Nilibot ko ang aking tingin at natagpuan naman nito ang kanyang hinahanap.

Eli with Maureen.

I tried not to stare to keep me out from this awkward feeling but I can't help it. Nahihipnotismo nila ako na tingnan silang magkasama.

Michaelson has been the person I admired the most since our sophomore year, and that admiration continues to this day. But fate is too playful to leave things as they are.

Nilagay niya ako malapit sa taong alam ko sa bandang huli ay ilalayo niya rin. Pero sapat na sa akin yung makita siya kahit sa malayo. Kahit iba pa ang kasama niya as long as he's happy. Kung sana nga ay ganun lamang ito kadali.

. . .

6:00 pm.

This is the best thing that's happened in my life. I've waited so long to become a senior so I could be part of the riots. I'm tired of hiding by the door and secretly watching the chaos unfold. And the craziest thing? Anne is with us.