PULLED AT HIS STRINGS | Darren Espanto #3 (Spin-off)

Chapter Four

Chapter 4

Birthday

Time passed in a blur. Hindi ko namalayan na tatlong buwan na pala ang nakalipas. Sa tatlong buwan na iyon, I learned to get acquainted with my classmates. I'm already a member of some clubs and I'm doing good in school. I'm even the first honor for the first quarter.

Napansin ko na lang na nakalipas na ang tatlong buwan dahil sa exam na namin next week.

It is the second week of August. Katatapos ko lang mag-lunch sa bahay at dumiretso na ako sa labas ng Accounting office para makakuha ng test permit.

Inilagay ko na ito sa wallet ko. Mas maganda na makakuha na ako ngayon para wala na akong poproblemahin next week—which is our exam week.

I checked my wristwatch. It's only one in the afternoon. Our teacher announced that she won't be around today that's why I will use that time to explore the library.

Bukod sa mga libro na kailangan ko para makapag-aral, I also like reading novels. Name it, any genre would do. But for today, I'll read the Science book that I need for my reaction paper for Earth Science.

"Ang tagal mo, ah." Si Jace.

"Missed me?" tanong ko and he immediately made that face he shows everytime he's so disgusted.

Natawa na lamang ako at ibinaba na ang mga gamit sa mesa. I immediately opened the laptop. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit umuwi ako. Nakalimutan ko kasi na dalhin ito. Naadali na akong umalis kaninang umaga dahil late na ako. No one wants that tardy thingy on their cards, right?

"How's your reaction paper so far?" I asked him as I started to type the title.

"Mahaba na."

Ako naman ang napangiwi sa sagot niya. He laughed so hard that the students from the higher year shushed him. Blanko pa kasi talaga ang document niya.

Instead of arguing with him, I stood and went to the section where I found that certain book.

Nang napansin ko na ang makapal na libro, agad ko na itong kinuha. Dahan-dahan ko itong hinila para hindi magsitumbahan ang ibang mga libro. Dumaan ako sa pinakadulo para marating ang kabilang parte ng shelf nang mapansin ko ang isang babae.

"Do you need help?"

"Ha?" She looked at me. "Hindi na. I can handle this one."

Pilit niyang inabot ang isa na nasa mataas na bahagi ng shelf. She's tall but she can't reach for that one. Masyado rin naman kasi na mataas.

Lumapit na lamang ako sa kanya at inabot ito. Bahagya naman siyang lumayo dahil sa paglapit ko.

"Here," I gave her the book.

"U-Umm." She gulped. "Thank you, Darren."

I smiled.

"You're welcome, Sky. You know, you can ask for some help because you can't do everything on your own," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Alam ko, pasensya ka na. Nahihiya lang ako." She chuckled at her answer na pati ako ay mahinang napatawa. "Salamat uli."

Kinuha niya ang iba pang libro at kulang nalang ay matawa ako sa kanya. Based on the covers, they're all Science books. She was holding five books in all. Two are thin and the rest are thick ones.

"Katulad nito," I pointed the way she was holding her books. Sa dami nito at sa naidagdag pa na isa, mukha siyang hirap sa pagbubuhat.

Kinuha ko ang tatlong libro sa kanya. I made sure that I'll be the one to carry the thick ones.