Played Without Rules

48. Man Enough

And if I chose you over them, you must be special.

-Denim

Dedicated to Casey_Cate

Thanks for the votes ;)

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Liam Ford Fortalejo

"Hindi dumating si Hemming kagabi. Saan naman kaya napunta ang gago na 'yon?" I told Denim who is seating next to me. May usapan kami kasi kagabi na sa pad niya ako matutulog. Pero ni anino niya ay hindi dumating.

"Did you try calling him?" balik tanong niya. Pero ang tingin niya ay nakatuon sa librong binabasa.

"Oo, babae ang sumagot," I replied frowning a bit. I could still remember what that woman said, medyo familiar pa nga ang boses niya sa'kin.

Now Denim was looking at me with a grin plastered on his face.

"Bakit?" I asked.

"You should be happy that he was with a woman. Not involving himself with trouble again," he replied still smiling. Oo nga naman, tama siya. "What did the woman said?"

"Pssh, stop calling, your friend is with me tonight stupid!"I said to him with a staid face. How rude was that lady to tell me those words. Natigil lang ako sa pag-iisip ng kung sino ba talaga ang babae na 'yon ng marinig ang mahinang pagtawa ni Denim.

"Anong nakakatawa?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Nothing. That woman must be really cool," he answered saka tinuon ulit ang paningin sa binabasa.

"Ano ba 'yang binabasa mo?" It wasn't a novel kasi malaki siya. Parang libro namin sa susunod na subject.

"Social Science module," he replied plainly.

"Graduate ka na sa mga novels mo? Wala ka nang mabasa?" I asked. He closed the book he was reading and gave me wondering look.

"Really Liam, we have a quiz 20 minutes from now in SocSci 4 and its finals," he said in a slow manner. As if, he wants me to digest everything he said.

Socsci? Quiz? Finals? Oh fvck!

"Ba't ngayon mo lang sinabi?" I told him while scanning my book on the bag. Agad akong nagsimulang magbasa, alanganin kaya ang grado ko rito. And when it comes to grades, hindi ibig sabihin na pagmamay-ari namin ang paaralan na 'to ay papasa na ako. It doesn't work like that, Lauriel plays fair when it comes to grade at siguradong papatayin ako ng Daddy ko kapag may bagsak ako.

But, I'm not the only one na naghahabol na mapasa ang subject ta 'to. Halos kalahati ng klase ay may tsansang bumagsak. Kagaya ni Xyriel, Chlarjille, Darren, Hemming at marami pa. Like what? He was fond of announcing students na nasa line of failing ang grades.

How come? He was so tricky, he make instructions so much complicated.

Noong prelim exam, madali lang siya. Almost every one got the perfect score. On midterm, I got zero on our quiz, why? Multiple choice lang siya pero hindi ko nabasa ang directions. Or most likely, 'di ko naintindihan and excited lang sumagot. Paanong 'di ka malilito, he wrote 'Encircle the correct answer'.

E ang binilogan ko lang ay letra 'yon pala dapat kasama ang word. Tsk, kaya lahat kami zero. Medyo nabawi ko ang midterm exam kaya umabot ako sa 50 percent pero bumagsak ulit sa prefinal quiz. Kung 'di ba naman nakakabwesit ang instruction niya, it says. 'Read all the questions clearly before answering'.