Barely Breathing

Chapter 6

"Mukhang hindi mo na sinusundan si Frost ah. Tinakot ka ba niya?"

Tricia once asked me. I shook my head. I just want to cool off. A day that I won't be pestering him wouldn't hurt. Ayoko lang na mas lalo siya ngayon magalit sa akin. Besides, I was kind of embarrassed. After what had happened last week doon sa debate? I don't think I can still face him without feeling uncomfortable.

"Oh, e bakit?"

"I just don't feel like following him today. Palagi naman niya akong pinagtatabuyan."

"O edi natauhan ka din."

Our professor for this day adjourned our class early and so our classmates went out but here I am, not moving an inch. I don't feel like going. I just want to stare at nothing. I was leaning on my table while looking at anywhere. I sighed.

"What are you doing here alone?"

I was startled when I heard someone behind me. My eyes widened upon realizing that it was actually Frost.

Nag-angat ako nang tingin at nagtama ang mga mata namin. Okay, what is he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be celebrating that I am not following him today? I didn't answer him. Instead, I was just staring at him. His forehead knotted at he gazed down at me.

"Masama ang nalilipasan ng gutom."

He uttered not looking at me. He was not even doing anything. In fact, he was just standing behind my table while staring at me curiously. Napalunok ako nang mapagtantong baka napakasama ng itsura ko. May dumi ba ako sa mukha kung kaya't nakatitig siya sa akin?

"Hindi ako nagugutom."

I told him instead of getting preoccupied once again by the thoughts of him - thinking I got dirt on my face. I'm pretty sure I don't have one. So, why the stare Frost?

"Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako na hindi mo na ako sinusundan o maiinis dahil hindi mo na ako pinapansin."

Eh? Ano bang pinagsasabi niya? Hindi ko siya maintindihan. Does this mean, he was kind of missing my presence, or was I just imagining and making conclusions out of his actions and words? Akala ko ba ayaw niyang sinusundan ko siya? Eh bakit parang badtrip pa siya na hindi ko na siya sinusundan na parang aso ngayon?

I smiled at him sweetly.

"I know, oftentimes I act impulsively but I'm not that stupid to not notice that you're doing everything to refrain me from getting to know you more. Kaya naisip ko, maybe.. You don't really want to befriend by me - and so I'll probably just give up."

Wala namang masama kung sabihin ko sa kaniya ang totoo. Tumaas ang kilay niya sa aking sinabi. He smirked.

"I didn't know you're this boring. Sayang, na-impress mo na sana ako but hearing you giving up being a dog for me makes me think the other way around. I'll leave you for now."

And then he stood up and stormed out of the room - leaving me down founded. I sighed when I realized what I have just said. Hindi ko naman ugali na mag-give up easily. Ang problema lang talaga ay wala na akong mukhang maihaharap pa sa kaniya. Pakiramdam ko, hindi nababagay ang isang kagaya ko na makipagkaibigan sa isang katulad niya.

After a minute of just looking at the black board thinking of giving up, may naisip ako suddenly. There I stood up from my seat and looked for Frost.

No, I am not Astra for nothing.

Alam ko naman kung saan ang punta ni Frost. Those days that I have been following him, I have already memorized some of his routines especially the places he'd often go. Hindi siya madalas na pumupunta sa cafeteria. In fact, sa rooftop ang punta niya tuwing lunch. Hindi rin siya pumupunta sa library para magbasa. Pumupunta lang siya doon sa mini-forest para panoorin iyong babae at iyong si Nicco.