Almost, But Not Quite (COMPLETED)

Chapter 41

#ABNQ41 Chapter 41

I tried calling Psalm, but he wasn't answering. I tried calling the guys, too, but they weren't also answering. I guessed that they were already too hammered to care about anything kaya naman nagbasa na lang ako hanggang sa maka-tulog ako.

Kinabukasan, nagising ako nang maramdaman ko na nagva-vibrate iyong phone ko sa bedside table. I quickly grabbed it, and answered.

"Hello?" I answered with my raspy voice. My eyes were still closed because I was finally feeling all the stress that I got from the finals week. Pati habang mas lumalapit iyong NMAT, pakiramdam ko talaga nagsisikip iyong dibdib ko. That's how stressed I freaking was!

"Hey..." Psalm said. It was obvious that he just woke up, too. "Just saw your texts."

Kahit inaantok ako, pinilit ko na buksan iyong mga mata ko, at saka naupo ako sa kama. I needed to talk to him about this. I knew that Psalm would say okay, but deep inside, he'd feel threatened by Marcus. Alam ko na ganoon iyong mangyayari kasi ganoon si Psalm. He wouldn't tell me that he's having a hard time basta masunod lang iyong gusto ko.

"Ano'ng oras kayo nakauwi?" I asked, standing up, and getting myself a glass of water.

"3am? I can't remember," he said, then yawned. "I know I told you I'd reply, but Matt got our phones."

I rolled my eyes. For sure kaya niya kinuha kasi ayaw niya na nag-iinuman sila tapos si Steele ka-text si Andrea tapos si Psalm naman ay ka-text ako. Minsan iniisip ko nagseselos si Matt sa amin ni Andrea kasi 'inaagaw' namin iyong mga kalaro niya.

"Kinda figured it our nung walang nagrereply sa inyo," I said. "Uhm... about my text," I continued, then bit my lower lip. "Are you free later ng lunch?"

There was a pause from his end. Like he knew that there's something serious that I needed to say.

"I thought Wednesday?" he asked.

I bit my lower lip. "Yeah... May sasabihin ako, e," sagot ko.

"All right," sagot niya. "Just pick a place near you, so that you can go home right after."

God, I just wished that he wouldn't feel this threatened kay Marcus. I seriously believe that those two could hit it off kung hindi lang talaga nasimulan na ganito. Also, halos graduate na kami. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung makikita ko pa ba si Marcus pagkatapos ng graduation... so, sana maging maayos iyong usap namin mamaya ni Psalm.

I wanted to study again right after our call ended, but my mind kept on going back to Psalm. I really didn't want to hurt him or for him to feel betrayed...

So, instead, I practiced on how I'd tell Psalm na gusto kong magpaturo kay Marcus. I carefully chose the words that I would use para naman mapaliwanag ko nang mabuti iyong sarili ko.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo?" Jax said while holding a bowl of pasta in his hands. He caught me talking to myself, with matching hand gestures pa.

"Wala," I said. As much as possible, ayokong magsabi kay Jax ng tungkol kay Psalm kasi nawe-weirduhan si Jax kasi daw 'lalaki' siya.

"Kamusta review?" he asked.

"Okay lang," I replied. When Jax was reviewing for LAE, sobrang kalmado niya lang. As in wala lang sa kanya. Nung pumasa siya sa LAE pati sa entrance exam, kalmado pa rin siya. Nagkaroon lang naman ng feelings si Jax nung nagsimula na siyang mag-aral ng law, e—exactly right after lumabas iyong results ng midterms nila. Na gulat na gulat si Jax dahil muntik na siyang bumagsak kasi sabi niya akala niya okay naman iyong sagot niya. Apparently, sa law school, puro essay ang exams. Kaya dapat kapag may binigay na situation, alam mo kung ano'ng jurisprudence ang iaapply pati iyong mga elements na present.