The Revenge of a Nerd

CHAPTER 22: Dinner

CHRIS' POV

Tahimik akong sumunod kay Peter hanggang sa locker room. Mukhang seryoso ang pag-uusapan namin kaya pumayag akong sumunod sa kaniya sa halip na ihatid sina Mary at Sheena sa classroom nila.

"What's the matter?" walang kabuhay-buhay kong tanong.

Rinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga niya bago siya magsalita.

"I heard what you did for Mary," seryosong wika niya.

"So?" tamad kong sagot.

I know I'm being too harsh on him. But I can't accept the fact that he's against the idea of making Mary fall for me. I know that she's his friend but can't he just trust me?

"I'm grateful for what you did. I want to thank you for saving my friend but still..."

"Still what?" medyo inis na tanong ko dahil sa ginawa niyang pambibitin.

"But I don't still trust you when it comes to her. That's why I want you to do me a favor," diretsahang sagot niya.

Awtomatikong kumunot ang noo ko at nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil sa huling sinabi niya.

"I want you to stay away from her," pagpapatuloy niya na siyang nagpatigil ng mundo ko.

Pakiramdam ko ay biglang nanikip ang dibdib ko. I'm now gasping for air. But why? Why am I having this kind of feeling? What's wrong with me? Why the h*ll am I acting this way when he asked me to stay away from her?

"Please, Chris. I'm begging you. Stay away from her. You'll only make her life miserable," nagsusumamong pakiusap ni Peter.

Napayuko ako dahil sa biglang paggulo ng utak ko sa dami ng tanong na naglalaro dito.

"I can't let her go," mahinang tugon ko.

"But why?" inis na tanong ni Peter.

Bakit nga ba? Why can't I let her go? Why can't I bare it? Even just the idea of keeping myself away from her is killing me.

"Why?" I whispered to myself.

"Did you already fall for her?" Peter asked in a low voice.

Bigla akong natigilan sa tanong ni Peter. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig na bumuhay ng katawang lupa ko.

Am I in love with her? But how? She's not my ideal girl and what's worst is she's the opposite of it.

'But why do you care for her?' a voice within me asked.

That's also the thing that has been bothering me since yesterday. I was even angered by those assh*les who almost raped her and I feel so delighted and grateful when I'd been able to save her before anything could happen. But what bothers me the most was the feeling I felt when she embraced me. I was so elated during that moment and I can't deny the fact that I had wished for us to stay in that state forever.

But was that enough for my feelings to be considered love? What if I'm only seeing her as a friend or a sister?

"I don't know," naguguluhang sagot ko.

Nanatili akong nakayuko dahil hindi ko kayang salubungin ang tingin ni Peter. Nanliliit ako sa paraan ng pagtitig niya. Pinaparamdam niya kasi sa akin na para bang wala akong gagawing matino at pasakit lang ang dala ko sa buhay ni Mary.

"What do you mean you don't know? You should know it!" he shouted in so much frustration.

Gulat akong napaangat ng tingin dahil sa ginawa niyang pagsigaw. Hindi ko naman maiwasang magsalubong ang kilay ko dahil sa paraan ng pagtitig niya sa 'kin. Kung tingnan niya ako ay para bang may nasabi akong bagay na hindi katanggap-tanggap.