You're Blooming the Wrong Way

Chapter Twenty-Five

"I stayed up all night to review for this subject!" Haru complained as he shoved the test paper to my face. "I did everything in my power to ace this exam, Lucy! How come I only got 35 out of 50? This is so depressing!" His eyes brimmed with tears. I couldn't come up of a decent reply, so I simply patted him on the shoulder.

It was currently lunch break, and we were seated on the farthest side of the cafeteria. Haru was in low spirits due to the results of his exam in our Filipino subject. I knew that he's smart, but it never crossed my mind that he's grade-conscious to a mad extent.

"There's no point in crying over spilt milk." I stated in the nicest way possible. "It's nearly impossible to master a foreign subject in just one summer. In fact, the score itself is already impressive. You did great." I offered those words to comfort him.

He nodded in agreement. "You're right! I did great!"

"Yes, Haru. You did great." pag-uulit ko.

"I did great!" My boyfriend repeated as if he's trying to convince himself. Maya-maya, muli siyang nalugmok. "No, it's not enough. What's so great about having 15 mistakes? My father spanked me once for scoring 28 out of 30. I wasn't allowed to eat dinner that day, too." I gaped at his words. Seriously? That's sick!

"Shiota-san doesn't seem like the type of father who would spank his children, though." I commented. When I stayed at their house in Japan, I rarely talked to him but he was nice to me the whole time.

He shuddered. "I love him and he's the best, but my father was very strict when it came to our studies. All of my brothers graduated with flying colors during middle school, so I was pressured to study hard as well." I took a sip from my coffee as I quietly listened to Haru. "The punishment for failing exams was severe. Ah, look. I'm having goosebumps just by remembering it again." Pinakita niya sa akin ang mga nanindig niyang balahibo.

Sumubsob si Haru sa mesa at malungkot niyang tinitigan ang papel na hawak niya. "It's been so long since I got a score like this. I don't intend to boast, but exams were always a piece of cake for me. I was taught that what you reap is what you sow; If I study hard, I could perfect any test."

I guess smart people also have it rough. Akala ko madali lang ang buhay nila dahil mautak naman sila. Looks like I'm wrong about that; they actually have more issues on their plates, especially the ones with strict parents. They need to maintain good grades at all times. Sounds like a drag.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko mapapagaan ang loob ni Haru, kaya lumipat na lang ako ng upuan at tinabihan ko siya. Sumandal naman siya sa balikat ko. I silently brushed my hands through his hair while he took my hand then played with it.

"Tell me something funny to cheer me up, Lucy."

Napaisip naman ako. "When I was in kindergarten, I was suspended for smacking my classmate's face with a pencil case." I shared in a casual tone. His eyes widened in bewilderment.

"That's horrible! How is that even funny?!"

I chuckled. "It's because he kissed me on the lips."

"Wha-- That kid! Smacking his face wasn't enough!"

Napakamot ako sa ulo. Hindi ko na masyadong maalala ang nangyari pero iyon ang kauna-unahang kalokohan ko sa eskwelahan. To be honest, I felt guilty when my suspension was lifted. He was badly injured, after all. I feel like I went too far by smacking him in the head just because of a childish kiss.

"Anyway, I had a long history of being violent. As a kid, I remember having a few sessions in a mental healthcare facility." kwento ko.

Bigla akong kinabahan sa iisipin ni Haru sa akin. I suddenly felt conscious because he kept quiet and he just stared at me, his eyes narrowed into slits. Tila ba malalim ang iniisip niya at nasa mukha ko ang kasagutan.