Changed

Thirteen

-THIRTEEN-

As the days pass by, more and more people are not talking to me. They are giving me weird looks and pitiful gazes. As far as I'm concerned wala naman akong ginagawang masama sa kanila. I just ignored it and went straight to my class.

Pagkatapak ko palang sa flooring ng classroom namin may biglang nakatama sakin ng bola. Hard. Sa mukha ko tumama, buti nalang sa pisngi. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya ba niya yun dahil walang reaksyon yung mukha niya. I let that passed and sat on my chair while every eyes were on me.

"What happened to your bloody cheek?" Asked Talia when we were at the powder room, looking at the bruise on my left cheek.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Hey, alam mo ba?"

"Ang ano?"

"The news going around in the campus?" I shook my head no. "Oh goodness, I thought so. They said that...you...have a infectious disease. Wala naman right?"

"Who told you?" Me? Infectious disease? What the heck.

"I heard rumors. Kaya ayaw ka nilang kausapin. Who would have spread that out?"

"I dont know." Lumabas ako ng powder room and bumped into someone.

"You'd been warned. Let us begin, shall we?" He said grinning at me like an innocent puppy.

"You're disgusting," I spat and turned my back at him with Talia was trying to keep pace with me. I was half-running. I wanted badly to get out of here.

I shouldn't be surprised to hear it from him. Of course he'll make my life a living hell until he gets what he wanted from me. But heck, I'm not crazy to follow him. He's not even a part of my family for Pete's sake! And we're not close enough for him to go running around giving me stupid piece of advices.

"Damn it! Can he just fade a---" I stopped dead on my tracks. Everything's to late now.

"Amilyte! Look out!"

Third Person's POV

"Oh my God!" Talia uttered loudly and covered her mouth with her hand. Gulat na gulat siya habang kitang kita ang mga pangyayari.

"Amilyte!" She shouted again. Everybody was looking at them now. Pinuntahan niya ang kaibigang nakahandusay sa sahig. Nakahinto ang isang kotseng pula dito. Walang malay ang dalaga at may dugo sa kanang braso nito pati na din sa gilid ng ulo.

"Oh, Amilyte." Tears swelled in her eyes and she quickly lower down to hear her heart beating.

"Damn it! Call the medics! Dont just stand there!" She shouted frantically at the people swarming around them. Bumaba na din yung taong nasa kotse at pagbaba palang niya, nakatikim na agad siya ng isang malakas na suntok galing kay Sage.

"Damn it! I'll kill you if she dies!" Kitang kita sa mukha niya ang pagaalala at galit. Dumating na din ang mga ambulansya at sinakay siya dito kasama si Talia.

"Why are you crying? She's not dead you know. Just cry at her burial," he teased and sat beside Talia who glared at her.

"You're so mean! I can't believe your my cousin! I loathe you Sage!" Talia said in a not-so-steady-high-voice. She's still crying. Her cousin just patted her back and hugged her.

"I already called her parents. Papunta na sila," Sage said comfortably and cooly like they're not in the hospital waiting if a girl would say hello and ask who the heck they are.

"It's your freaking fault!" She hissed once more just when Amilyte's parents came rushing towards them looking so worried and all.

"What happened to my sweetie?" Said Cort, father of Amilyte.

"She's all right, tito. A stupid jerk came rushing over the road. Based on his statements, he didn't saw Amilyte crossing the road. Well, when he saw her, it's already too late to stop his car," he said miserably and gaze them with a pained expression twisted in his face.

"I was thankful that everybody is safe," chimed Cort, "...and alive I might add."

"This is no time for joking Cort!" Sage almost choked as he fight back giggles. Amilyte's Mom didn't show this side to Ami. Palagi siyang i-strict sa anak.

"You're looking oddly nervous. I was just adding some color. Smile now, Star. She'll fight this." His father hugged his wife to his side, whispering comforting things to her. Pati siya natatawa na din.

"Ms. Amilyte will be transferred in her room in a moment," the doctor said.

Kinausap na din ng mga magulang ni Amilyte yung doctor, ang sabi naman niya ay 'no big damages were done.'

Pumasok ang dalawang mag-pinsan sa kwarto ng dalaga. "No big damages were done, look," said Sage comfortingly to Talia while gesturing Amilyte. Naka-akbay siya ngayon kay Talia.

"She'll freak out when she woke up," she muttered to herself sadly then turned to his cousin. "And no damages done? Are you blind or shallow? She has a freaking bandage and a sling right over her left arm! And look at her head..." She pointed and eyed it, wanting to cry even more. "She hit her head!" Talia hissed angrily at him not wanting to wake up Amilyte. Sure, her head's got bandages 'round it.

Sage was staring straight through Amilyte's sleeping face. She was surely lovely. How he loved staring at her when she's sleeping.

He could picture himself in the bed. His memories had gotten so far, it brought him to the times he had a coma for almost a month and wondered why this girl never blamed for anything. Sage thought it was unfair that guys always blame for everything though it's not their fault.

It sucks that way, he thought.

"Are you even listening?" Snapped Talia who was furiously looking at him again.

"Nope." She was about to rant again when the door opened and the two couples came in.

"Sweet dears, let's come and eat? After that I'll give you a ride home para makapag-rest na kayo," said Star.

"Tita, okay lang po. Don't worry about us," Sage said putting an arm around her.

"But I insist. Cort will stay and look after her."

"Sige na. You both look so tired." They embraced and murmured their thanks and byes. In the end, hindi na sila kumain to Sage's request. Sinabi niya na babalik nalang sila mamaya pag nakapagpahinga na sila.

Back in the hospital Amilyte was panicking inside. She didn't like the sight of the dextrose on her hand. Especially the needle itself. She hates needles as much as she hate seeing blood.

Her father told her what happened and when she asked to rate how badly her condition is, he rated her 8 out of 10. She was kinda happy 'bout that. At least she doesn't see any blood. But still, curse this needle.