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Chapter twenty

COURAGE

Took them long before they even got tired of wasting their salivas and energies on me. Who knows how long I've been here on the lobby, sitting on the floor questioning what course did my life take when all I did was try and win our Physical Education. Was I bound to fail? Or there could be something else that attracts me from unfortunate matters?

May narinig akong paa na papalapit sa akin. I did not bother looking up but I saw them holding an unopened water bottle. Bubuhusan siguro ako nito. Should I let it be? Naalala ko bigla sinabi sa akin ng papa ko. 'Sometimes life really gets you in your weakest point, but that should be your motivation to prove you're not weak. Prove them wrong.' As I reminisced the past, I looked up to stop them from spilling water on me, but turns out it was our dear President.

Knitted brows and a bitten lower-lip, if I were to base her facial expressions to an anime character, she seems anxiously worried. I do not want to assume therefore I just let her be. But in reality, kating-kati akong magtanong kung ano ba 'yong problema. O baka ako 'yong problema?

Up until now ay nakatingala ako sa kaniya, nangangalay na nga 'yong batok ko sa totoo lang kaya binalik ko na sa pagkayuko ito. What's her deal anyway? Why is she here? Kanina hindi naman siya lumapit, maybe she wants me all by herself para sakalin? Wait, that sounds terribly wrong—

"Hey, can we talk?" I noticed tremble in her voice. What, is she scared of me or something?

"Sure, what are we going to talk about?" I tried to keep a smile as I raise my head for the second time.

What the hell? Why did she shed a tear? Mukha ba akong nakakaawa? Well, sanay na ako sa gano'n. Ilang beses na akong naguyog ng mga magulang ng mga batang naka-away ko dati sa mga dati kong napasukan na eskuwelahan. It's such an hilarious moment, but all I know is that I am not allowed to find it funny because they'll feel insulted and invalidated. However, the death threats are new to me. It felt weird of some sort. My mother received those, I never knew what it felt like that's why I couldn't symphatize with her that day. Maybe I should've hugged her longer. Maybe I should've stayed by her side longer. Then...

"Privately. Just the two of us."

Tumayo na ako, she did not even bother swiping her tears. I even heard her sniff. What is she trying to show? "Lead the way."

Tumalikod naman siya at dahan-dahang naglalakad. Is this it? My last breath. My last sight. My last moment as a mortal human being. A moment where I am still able to think properly. A moment of being alive.

"Alam ko, baka iniisip mo na papatayin kita ngayon kasi gusto ko tayong dalawa lang mag-usap habang dinadala kita sa lugar na hindi mo alam kung saan," she chuckled as if she heard what's going on my mind. "I assure you not. I am not capable of doing that, Courage. I just really wanted to talk."

The moment she mentioned my name is when we were already at a private place. The stairs. People rarely go in here, and there are not visible CCTV Cameras here. Yep, she assured that nothing bad will happen but I am definitely not gullible and feeling not okay!

"Here, drink it first." Inabot niya sa akin ang water bottle na akala ko'y ibubuhos niya sa akin kanina. I raised one eyebrow, while she responded with a smile.

Reminds me of the first case. "Will there be poison here, too?" I jokingly said as I open the water bottle that's obviously haven't been opened yet. Uminom ako nang kaunti.