Caressing My Perplexed Stella [HS #3]

CHAPTER 13

I didn't know what to do, it was as if I was stucked in there.

"Ma'am Johannie, what's the matter?" I was woken up by our head's voice. I looked at her and I realize that all the whole faculty including the journalists are already staring at us.

"Ayos ka lang, Dale?" Tanong ni Ms. Radovan habang hinagaod ang aking likod. "Namumutla ka..." She added. Hindi ko siya nasagot, tila nanuyo ang aking lalamunan.

My knees are trembling and I felt coldness embracing me. I looked at Mama, she is now talking with the head but I can't hear them. It was only Papa who walked up to me, he smiled softly as he caress my back too.

"Sumama ka na sa amin pauwi, iyan din ang gusto ng Mama mo." Pangungumbinsi niya.

Everything felt heavy, that's the only thing I know. Everyone seems aware of one thing and I'm not, they seem to know something that I don't. With all these thoughts, I suddenly felt tired.

"Comet, you should tell them we will go home. My things are inside the bus, you know my bag." Utos ko kay Comet, gulat ang nakita ko sa kanyang mata at sandali pa kaming nagkatinginan. Mukha namang naiintindihan niya ako kaya marahan itong tumango.

I turned my gaze to Ms. Radovan, she's looking at me with her concern eyes.

"We will go home now, Ma'am. There must be an emergency, so we have to go back as soon as possible. I will see you again next week..." And there I found the seems to be the right words to escape. I covered that up for Mama.

"Ganoon ba? Biglaan. Ayos lang naman, Dale. Next week na ang pasok niyo, aasahan na lang kita sa Flag Ceremony." Tipid akong ngumiti sa kanya at tumango. They will acknowledge our milestone in front of the students so I have to be there.

"I'm sure they will ask you, Ma'am. I'm sorry, please let them know about what I said too."

As Ms. Radovan assured me that she will, I immediately turned my back at them. Hindi ko na nilingon ang kahit na sino sa kanila at lumakad na ako palabas, sa aking tabi ay nandoon din si Comet habang hawak na ang aking bag. I feel sorry for him, he must he so excited to see Sea and spend the whole day with her yet we have to go home because of... I don't know too.

Sa harap ng arena ay natanaw ko kaagad ang isang van, diretso ang tingin ni Comet doon kaya sigurado akong doon kami sasakay. He hopped in and I went inside too, sinalo ko ang aking ulo habang naramdaman ko ang pagtapik niya sa aking balikat.

"I'm sorry, Comet..." I blurted out. Inakbayan niya ako at marahang ipinatong ang ulo sa kanyang dibdib. "Sorry, I know you planned this carefully, to be with Sea. I ruined it..." Nangingilid na ang luha sa aking mata habang paulit-ulit niya lang na tinapik ang likod ko.

"Hush, Dale... We didn't see this coming. Tita Johannie and Tito Franco, too."

As Mama and Papa went inside, natahimik na ako. May sinabi pa si Papa sa driver at sandali pa silang nagtawanan, umandar na ang sasakyan habang ramdam pa rin sa loob ng sasakyan ang mabigat na aura.

Hindi matagal ang byahe, trenta minutos lang yata iyon hanggang sa makarating kami sa harap ng isang hotel. As we went out, Papa's already holding their things and so does Mama. Comet's holding too bags now, it was all prepared. Ang sasakyan, ang aming pag-uwi. I felt like Papa did all of these because Mama wants us to go back home.

We went inside with the same man who drive us here, kausap niya pa rin si Papa and based on what I heard, they are great friends that's why they chose to settle in here rather than in the city where the NSPC held.

Nanatiling tahimik si Mama, si Papa ay minsang sumusulyap kay Mama at sa akin. We went inside the elevator, probably we're going to the helipad.

"Dale, anong gusto mo? Ipapahanda ko kay Mommy..." Comet asked. I looked at him, ang isang bag ay nakasabit sa kanyang balikat habang ang isa naman ay hawak niya. Mabigat iyon, yet he still managed to put his other arm into my shoulder.