EASE | unique salonga

SEVEN

...

In his deafening silence,
was everything he
wanted to say
...

Direct Messages > with Salonga, Unique T.

< Sorry, hindi kita dapat pinagsalitaan ng ganun.

> Ayos lang, hindi mo kailangang mag sorry. Okay ka lang ba?

< Oo.

> Nasa hospital ka ba?

Tinitigan ko ang phone screen at hinintay ang reply ni Unique. Limang minuto na ang lumipas, pero wala padin akong natanggap. Paano kung wala naman talaga siyang balak na kausapin ako? Did I cross a line again?

             "Liit?" Alex said out of nowhere, making me jump slightly from my seat. I ignored her, not taking my eyes off my phone and constantly refreshing Twitter. All of a sudden my phone was snatched from my hands by Alex and I lunged at her, trying to get it.

             "What the hell?"

She held up the phone above her head. "Ano bang nangyayari sayo?"

I glared at her. "Akin na ang phone ko."
I've had enough. I don't have the energy and patience to deal with her or any of them.

She shakes her head, refusing. And we started bickering back and fourth, not noticing that Mr. Dunn, our English teacher already entered the classroom.

             "The two of you. Go back to your seats and give me that phone." He said, his eyes squinted in annoyance.

I mentally throw Alex out of a fifty story building for getting my phone confiscated when Unique and I were finally speaking.

Alex hands Mr. Dunn my phone with a huff. "I'll return this when classes qre over."

I sighed, slumping back into my chair. I look at the clock. 2 hours left.

~

I started sheep counting before the bell finally rang, which made me more anxious.

Mr. Dunn placed my phone on my desk, he gave me one last stern look and then he left. After that, everyone began to file out of the room and I anxiously grabbed my things and scurried towards the door.

Thankfully, my friends knew how to respect my boundaries. They were wise to leave me alone because they knew I was upset. They didn't follow or stop me. I waited for a bus. My hands were shaking as I rummaged my bag for my phone.

Notifications spring up before I even unlocked my phone, ignoring them, I immediately opened Twitter. I received a dozen messages. From Unique. He flooded me? I look at the time he sent the messages and immediately felt guilty, seeing that it was sent 2 hours ago.

Direct Messages > with Salonga, Unique T. 2 hrs ago

< Kanina.

< Nabalitaan mo naman na ata.

< Huy?

< Bakit hindi mo ako pinapansin?

< Magreply ka naman oh.

< Isla?

< Sorry kung nakakainis ako.

< Tama ka, kailangan ko nga ng taong makakausap.

< They trampled me

< And for what? Bragging rights?

< Ginagawa pa ng iba na kakatawanan.. And I have to laugh along and act like it doesn't matter.

< Hindi nila ako naiintindihan.

< Nakalimutan ba nila na may feelings din ako kagaya nila?

< Isla?

< Paano ba mag delete ng messages?

< Ayaw kong mabasa mo 'to. I'm sorry.