Little Miss Loser

Chapter 08

Chapter 08

I feel suffocated. I am not claustrophobic or whatsoever but with this little space between Aaron and me, I felt like there's an invisible pair of hand trying to choke me. Pinagtri-tripan ba ako ng pagkakataon? Kanina lang hinihiling ko na makarating agad sa ground floor at makalayo na lalaking 'to pero kabaligtaran pa ang nangyari. Of all the people I'd get stranded with, siya pa. E bakit ako itong naiilang sa kanya?

We're standing inches apart from each other. Walang kumikilos, walang nagsasalita. It's so silent all I could hear was the sound of my breath.

I pulled my phone from my shoulder bag to divert my attention. I-te-text ko na lang sana si Jen o Brent pero wala namang signal kaya dismayadong ibinalik ko na lang ang phone sa bag ko at naglakas-loob na lang akong tanungin si Aaron kahit pakiramdam ko ay hindi naman ako makakakuha ng sagot.

"Do you have any idea until when we'll be stranded here?"

To my surprise, he did answer me. "Probably 10 to 15 minutes. Kung mamalasin mga 30 minutes siguro." he answered as if he was so sure about it.

"What?" Saka ko lang napansin 'yung paraan ng pag-sagot niya. Hindi ko na tuloy napigil ang sarili ko sa pagtatanong uli. "Wait, paano mo nalaman?"

"I just assumed. Nangyari na rin sa'kin ang ganitong insidente noon sa ibang building." sagot niya, hindi man lang tumitingin sa'kin.

Ibang building, huh. Bakit pakiramdam ko ay hindi siya nagsasabi ng totoo? But then again, Gabbi, what do you care if that's really the case?

I looked at him and unconsciously studied his face. He's just wearing this stoic expression on his face. Parang wala man lang mapipigang emosyon sa pagkatao niya. I remember when I first saw him, hindi naman siya ganito. Nakikipag-biruan pa nga siya kay Brent at Rasper.

"What?" bigla siyang nagsalita at hindi agad ako nakaiwas nang siya naman ang tumingin sa'kin. Napatagal ata ang pagtitig ko sa kanya at napansin na niya.

"What?" balik tanong ko rin sa kanya.

"If you want to say something just spit it out instead of staring at me with that accusing eyes." I think I heard a slight annoyance in his voice. "Akala mo ba hindi ko alam ang iniisip mo?"

"Woah, really? Magaling ka ngang mag-assume. Sana na-assume mo na rin kung anong mangyayari when Rasper finds out what you two are doing behind his back." bigla ko tuloy nasabi.

I saw his jaw clenched. "You don't know anything."

"Yeah, right. Well, Rasper don't know anything either. Hindi niya alam na tinatraydor na siya ng kaibigan niya."

His gaze became more intensified, like it's piercing through my soul. Nasagad ko ata ng sobra ang pasensya niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit napaatras na lang ako ng kusa hanggang sa lumapat na ang likod ko sa malamig na metal wall ng elevator. Parang nanghina at nanlambot ang tuhod ko sa titig niyang 'yun. Hindi naman ako madaling masindak ng masamang tingin but damn why do I feel like this?

Inilapit pa niya ng bahagya ang mukha niya, sinusubukan ata ako ng lokong 'to. "Don't act as if you know everything, Gabbi. If I were you I would just mind my own business and stop nosing around other people."

Instead of cowering, I raised my chin and met his gaze. "Excuse me, I am not nosing around. Bakit ko naman aaksayahin ang panahon ko sa inyo? Just so you know, iba ang ipinunta ko dito. Kung ako nga lang ang nasunod, dapat ay natutulog pa ako ngayon sa kama ko instead of being stuck in this damned elevator. Why am I even explaining myself to you?"