The Wander Diaries

Chapter 15: "Notting Hill"

Chapter 15:         “Notting Hill”

At dahil nacurious ako kay Storm, nag-online agad ako.

Storm Elizalde Villaraza

I searched him on facebook pero wala. Tiningnan ko din ang instagram at twitter pero wala din. Kahit malabo, pati sa Tumblr at Blogspot, chineck ko na rin. Who knows? A rebel might be on for blogging. But who am I kidding? I found nothing. I realized that not all people are engrossed with social networking sites. But why?

Every time I came to know something about Storm, it is always followed by why. Why is he bullying? Why is he always cold and passive? Why is he older? Why is he helping me? (I like to believe he is helping me.) Every information leads to why.

Sumandal ako sa upuan while looking at the screen that shows 0 results.

Is it a bad thing if I want to know Storm more?

Dati naman wala akong pakialam. Nakikita ko siyang nambubully at nagbubulakbol pero hanggan doon na lang yon. I wrote things about him but that’s it. I don’t plan on digging deeper about his life. It’s not my business anymore.

So what started this curiosity? This interest? Maybe it was when he saved me from all those rapist wanna bes. Maybe it was when he helped me with Robi. Maybe it was when he helped me with my assignment. Maybe it was when he reprimanded me the time I went out of the house that night.

Maybe it’s the look in his passive, brown eyes. There is something I can’t figure out yet. There is something more behind Storm’s cold facade.

Ugh! This is not good. Why is Storm suddenly on my mind? I need distraction!

Buti na lang at nagyaya si Darren. Photowalk daw. First time kong makakasama sa ganun!

Kaso ang excitement ko nahaharangan ng coldness. Nasa cafeteria while waiting for Darren. It so happened na andito rin yung grupo nila Storm. Nauna sila dito kaya I can’t accuse him of following me. Masyado naman atang assuming yun.

Nasa pinaka-isolated part sila ng cafeteria. Para silang may nakakahawang sakit kasi nilalayuan sila ng estudyante. Ilan pa ang bakanteng upuan sa gilid nila. Hindi ko naman kasi masisisi ang mga estudyante na layuan sila. Syempre, takot na mapagtripan.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin at nakinig na lang sa mga usapan ng kaklase ko. Kasama ko nga pala sila. Pinilit kong makinig pero hindi ako mapakali. Pakiramdam ko may nakatingin sa akin. Who would that be? Kinilabutan ako.

I glance at Storm. Hindi naman siya nakatingin sa akin. Ni hindi siya nakikipagkwentuhan sa kasamahan niya. Nakayuko lang siya at nakahalukipkip. Sleeping? Inside the cafeteria?

“Hi Darren,” bati ng mga kaklase ko sa tao sa likod ko.

Nilingon ko siya at nakitang nakangiti siya sa akin. Ang gwapo! Very boy-next-door ang dating niya.

“Let’s go?” yaya niya sa akin.

Bago pa kami makalabas ng cafeteria ay nagkaron na nang commotion. Nauna na pala sa paglabas ang grupo nila Storm. I noticed Darren’s eyes narrowed looking at the group. Nagkabit-balikat na lang ako at nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad.

Hindi pa kami nakakalayo sa cafeteria ay ilan na ang bumabati sa kanya. Lahat naman ay pinapansin niya.

“Kilala mo silang lahat?” tanong ko.

“Hindi,” natatawa niyang sinagot.

Ilan ding estudyante, mostly freshies ang lumalapit sa kanya at nagpapaturo ng kung ano. Hindi naman niya tinatanggihan. He gave me his apologetic look everytime na na-iinterrupt ang paglalakad namin. Sinenyasan ko naman siya na okay lang. Mr. Friendly, eh?