Stumble

Chapter 12

Sean's POV

It feels unusual to see myself spending break time at the canteen.

I was with the two dorks, Patricia and Iggy, eating my cheese bread peacefully and savoring it in every bite. It became my comfort food since then. Clary was the one who recommended it to me. She knows that I love sweets and pastries.

Pero kanina pa ako hindi komportable dahil pakiramdam ko may mga matang nagmamasid sa akin.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita si Iggy na kanina pa tingin nang tingin sa akin na akala mo may ginagawa akong kakaiba. Nakaupo siya sa tapat ko. Kumakain lang naman ako rito nang tahimik.

"What?" I arched an eyebrow.

"Masarap?" he asked with a mouth full of fries.

"Oo," kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit, may nilagay ka ba rito?"

I put my bread down on the table and gave him a suspicious look. Ano'ng kalokohan na naman ang ginawa ng lalaking 'to?

"Gago, ano'ng akala mo, lalasunin kita?" he leaned back, his lips curling into a frown. "Tinatanong ko lang naman. Akala ko kasi egg pie lang ang pinupunta mo rito."

Iggy was too defensive. I looked away and stifled an amused smile. Narinig ko rin ang pagpipigil ng tawa ni Pat.

"Hoy, healthy ba 'yan para sa 'yo, ha? Hindi ba maalat 'yan?" Pat asked, her mouth full of chewed burger.

"Hindi. Huwag kang mag-alala. Tinapay lang 'to."

It's just a literal bread. Why would they have so much concern over a piece of bread?

"Nasaan na ba 'yong mga girlfriend niyo? Bakit hindi natin kasama kumain?" she even bantered.

Both me and Iggy pulled up a distasteful look, disagreeing in unison. I gave Patricia a side-eye. That was so random. The last time I checked, I was still single.

Of course, Clary did not take it seriously when I asked that while we were finishing the mural. "Joker ka rin pala, Sean," then she laughed it off and went back to painting.

"Ha?" Iggy said sarcastically and acted like he was shocked.

"Hambog ka," nginisian siya ni Pat. "Ayaw niyo pa kasing umamin."

I scoffed at the irony. Kung saan-saan napupulot ni Pat ang mga pinagsasabi niya. Tumayo naman si Iggy kaya napatingala kami sa kanya.

"Teka, hahanapin ko muna... Hahanapin ko 'yung pake ko," he said stoically. "Joke. Bibili lang ako ng tubig."

"Ibili mo ako," utos ni Patricia. Naiwan kaming dalawa sa table nang umalis na si Iggy para bumili.

Natahimik ako. Sandali kaming hindi nag-usap ni Pat. It was awkward. At the back of my mind, I was already cursing myself. She got me overthinking.

We sat there for five minutes or so, but none of us dared to talk. Pat needed to break the ice herself.

"May gusto ka ba kay Clary, Sean?" she asked after a while, her voice lowered.

Hindi niya talaga ako pinatahimik. Hinintay niya talaga ang pagkakataon kung kailan kaming dalawa lang ang makakapag-usap tungkol sa ganitong bagay.

I did not mentally prepare myself for the straightforward question. It took me a long time before I could answer.

It was something I couldn't grasp even until now. The idea of liking someone doesn't feel right to exist inside me. I only see it in my classmates, in shows, in movies, or in books. I never had a thought of feeling that way and telling someone how I feel.