Loving Persephone

Chapter 23: Stop

I love the sound of silence when I am alone. The tranquility in it makes me see things more clearly without disruptions. I love the sound of silence until the sound of pain blends with it. The same as how I love solitude until a familiar person appeared before me and made me realize the need of someone else.

Mario.

He barged inside my classroom before my first morning class started. I had no idea how he figured where to find me. Perhaps he applied for another sideline job in stalking since lockpicking was no longer in demand or he accidentally passed by, saw me and decided to say hello. But his serious face told me he meant more than just hello.

"Hi," he chirped, flashing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Hi," I replied as I watched him settle next to me.

"I'm here to talk about yesterday." Kinagat niya ang ibabang labi at nag-isip muna nang ilang sandali bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. "I didn't intend to ruin everything that's going on between you and Covenant but seeing how troubled my friend is now, I want to fix what I had done."

Umiling ako. Hindi naman niya kasalanan kung nabuking ko ang panloloko ni Covenant. "It's fine, Mario."

"Seriously, Percy." He sighed, wagging his head. "Covenant is worried and I seriously don't even get why this is such a big deal to the both of you. I told you about it because I want to give you an idea on how much Cove likes you. Whatever he's done, it's just his way of reaching out to you. What's wrong with that? Hindi ko talaga maintindihan." He was looking at me with his eyebrows furrowed as if he didn't really understand the whole thing.

"If a person you trust lied to you. Will you just let it off, Mario?" I asked.

Saglit na napaawang ang bibig niya't kalaunan ay napabuga siya ng hangin. "If he didn't mean any harm and did me good in the end, then I would let it off, Percy."

The thing is hindi lang naman iyon ang dahilan. If it's only about what he did during the enrolment, I would have let if off. I have lied a couple of times to my mother, nainis ako kahapon but of course I could forgive him for that but it's not just the case now. He tricked me to win a bet! That's an insult in my part.

"I am not sure about how you feel for Covenant but my friend truly likes you, Percy. I'm doing this because I don't want to stain his sincerity." I felt a pang of pain in my heart as my mind retorted: No. If he knows about the bet, he won't be saying this to me now.

"If you let this simple matter end everything, it's gonna be up to you."

He swiveled his head towards the door and when he saw several students coming in, he stood up and said, "I have to go, Percy. See you around."

Tulala akong napatitig sa board pagkaalis ni Mario. I thought I'd get through this day without having any reminder of my heartache but I was wrong.

"Who was that? Manliligaw na naman?" I heard Julie queried as she sat on the chair Mario vacated. Walang imik akong umiling at kumuha ng libro mula sa aking shoulder bag. Natigilan ako nang pagkabuklat ko sa unang pahina'y ang liham ni Covenant ang bumungad sa'kin.

"Love letter?" patuloy na pang-uusisa ni Julie. Umiling ako pero halatang hindi naman siya naniniwala. When she finally stopped prying, that's when I decided to read the letter but just when I was about to open it, our teacher marched in and called me to lead the prayer. Isinilid ko ulit sa bag ang liham at nagpokus na lang sa pagdarasal.