All that Matters (Absinthe Series 3)

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

All That Matters

The side of my stomach began to hurt as I struggled on my legs. I was practically running late to class due to some late night activities. Hindi sa sinisisi ko ang paggawa ng iilang gawain sa SSG pero talagang gusto ko ngang sisihin iyon. My summative test akong kailangang habulin at talagang hindi ko alam kung paano pa mas bibilisan ang paglalakad ko.

“Excuse me!” I breathed as I fit my body on this tight hallway filled with students chitchatting in the middle.

Some of them acknowledged my presence and automatically cleared the way for me. Kaunti akong nagpasalamat bago binilisan ang paglalakad makaabot lamang sa second floor. Sa mga oras na ito, nagsisisi ako kung bakit nasisiyahan akong nandoon sa second floor an gaming classroom.

I huffed. I held my chest as I gripped on the handle and walked ahead of the stairs. May iilang pamilyar na mukha ang nandoon at hindi na ako nagulat na nakita kong nakatayo doon si Trance kasama ang iilang kaklase.

Some of them turned their heads on me. Hinahapong umayos ako ng tayo nang mapansing napalingon din sa akin si Trance at natigil sa pakikipagkuwentuhan. As if on instance, I grew some shyness on my body. Naging ilang ako sa aking kilos at tipid na ngumiti sa mga tumatambay doon. I mean he was looking good this morning and I probably looked like a chicken drenched from sweat and probably smells.

Wala ba silang klase? Tanong ko sa sarili.

Trance gave me a sideway glance before he went back talking to his friends. Sobrag lapit lang niya pero parang ang layo pa rin. I stared at him in awe and all he did was just talked to his friends like he doesn’t give a flying fuck that their SSG President is here.
My heart sank and I began to realize that it was a waste of seconds. Binalewala ko ang kalungkutang nadama at dinaanan lamang sina Trance. I don’t know if it was just me but I felt someone staring at me. Pero imposible namang titigan ako ni Trance habang nakatalikod! He barely even acknowledged my presence! Kakaiba ang aking naramdaman sa titig na iyon ngunit binalewala ko na lamang iyon at inilang hakbang ang aming classroom.

Lucky me cause I got inside the classroom a minute before the class starts. Nagtatawag pa lang ng attendance si Ma’am Atienza at saktong natawag ang pangalan ko. She just gave me a deadpanned look before proceeding on calling out names.

Aru snickered when I took my seat in between her and Muriel. Umirap na lamang ako at inilabas ang aking ballpen at papel.

“ Why were you late? That’s unusual.” Bulong ni Aru sa akin.

“ Got jammed with paperwork last night. I even edited some parts on the RRL.” Bulong ko pabalik bago kinuha ang test paper na inaabot ng kaklase naming mula sa harap.

“ Not my fault that you did not ask for our help last night.” Bulong ni Aru pabalik. I gritted my teeth and ignored her.

I did try calling for help from them last night. Pero si Muriel ay sinabing babalikan ako pagkatapos niyang kumain ng hapunan pero naghintay ako sa wala while Aru did not answer all my calls last night. I had no choice but to do it on my own rather than being marked zero.

Sinagutan ko nang maayos ang aking papel. I ignored the calls of my two friends asking for answer and practically keep my answers to myself. Nauna akong nagpasa ng papel sa kanila at nauna ring lumabas ng classroom para hindi na rin makaistorbo sa iba. I even saw Arunika glaring at me from the outside while Muriel struggled on answering her own paper.

I am quite disappointed and upset. Sa dalawang kaibigan at kay Trance. I’ve been dying to be noticed by Trance and all I get was the usual glance and nothing more. Alam kong may girlfriend yung tao pero hindi ko pa rin talaga mapigilan. I know that I am much better than Camila pero ano bang nakikita ni Trance sa kaniya? Her bitchiness? Her bloody red lips and ultimate fashion? Surely, I can do all that.