Misfit

XII

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag matapos ang midterms namin. I've been pretty busy these past few weeks. Naayos naman na ang mga Xiannons and so far wala ng problema sa kanila.

Gwyn has been visiting me too frequently sa library. I think nauna ang tapos ng exams nila kaysa sa'min that's why she has a lot of time. A and I are busy sa pagrereview.

"O! OMG! Atlast natapos na ang midterms! Malapit na sembreak!" She excitingly said. I just nodded.

"So what's the plan?" Naglalakad kami papunta ng parkinng lot and we'll meet her driver there. Umiling lang ako sa tanong niya.

"But tapos na 'yong exams and it's almost sembreak!" she pouted. I just sighed.

"A, you know that I don't have vacations. May inaayos din ako na ibang bagay besides school." Her facial expression didn't change.

"O, minsan na lang. Aalis kami ng mga pinsan ko for sembreak. Last year din 'di ka suumama." Pangongonsensya niya.

"No is a no—" Alam niyang sobrang hirap ko pilitin. Wala ako sa mood gumawa ng kahit ano.

"Ray told me you came to Lovelocks for two consecutive days!" Bigla niyang sabi. Si Ray, 'di talaga mapipigilan ang pagiging madaldal. Para talagang babae.

"That was two weeks ago." I said.

"But you don't go to bars unless you have a race. That's very unusual of you." Sabi niya nang may paniningkit na mata na para bang kinikilatis ako.

I just sighed.

"Kung gusto mo sa Lovelocks nalang tayo. If you're confortable in there." Fuck, no!

"I don't—" Hindi niya na pinatapos ang sasabihin ko.

"Lovelocks, bukas. 10pm. Ininvite ko ang buong section. I also reserved Lovelocks na sabi ko na kay Ray." She said with finality.

"But—"

"Bye, O! See you tomorrow. Kung 'di ka pupunta, I'll drag you literally from your house to that bar. Love you!" Sabay pasok sa kotse nila.

Hindi naman halata na pinagplanuhan niya ito. Napailing nalang ako.

"Ate Odium!"

Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa'kin.

"Yes?" I asked Gwyn.

"Ano, ate..." Kumunot ang noo ko sa kan'ya.

"May part-time job ka bang alam?" Nahihiyang tanong nito.

"Hmm. Bakit?"

"Kasi I need to earn money po for college." She smiled.

"Hindi ba masyado kang busy sa school? Can you handle it with a part-time job?" I asked worryingly.

"I'm okay naman po sa school. I still excell. Kailangan ko lang talaga mag-ipon for college since medyo mahal ang balak kong course." This kid.

"I'll see what I can do. Email mo nalang sa'kin ang resume mo. I'll ask some of the managers I know." I said and smiled. That made her hug me.

"Thank you po!" I just smiled at her.

"Pauwi ka na ba? Hatid na kita." I said habang naglalakad papunta sa kotse ko. Nakita kong namuti ang mukha niya. She nervously laughed.

"Okay lang, Ate. Dadaanan ko 'yong bahay ng group mate ko malapit dito para sa project namin. Hehe." Hindi nalang ako diniretso na takot sa pagd-drive ko.

"Okay then. I'd be going." I said and started the engine. Kinawayan niya lang ako at umalis na do'n.

My phone was connected to my car's speaker when someone called. I answered them using the button at my steering wheel.