Match Made in Hell

MMIH [2]

Chapter 2 

“What’s happening here?” I slumped back on the wall when I heard a very familiar voice. Ugh, bakit kailangan  pa nilang makitsismis dito?

Jeymi, Joy and Jam stopped on their tracks and ‘yung mga ‘gangsters’ ay nagpakita sa harapan namin. Kahit na masakit pa rin ang katawan ko, I forced my way to stand up. There’s no way I’m going to look weak in front of them.

“Heaven! Samahan kita sa clinic?” Biglang nagpunta sa tabi ko si Joy at inakay ako.

“I can manage myself and I don’t need any help,” sabi ko at lumayo sa kan’ya.

Napansin ko ang pagngisi ni Matthew. “Kahit na may masakit sa’yo, pride pa rin ang pinapairal mo? You’re just an ordinary brat, and you need help. ‘Wag ka ng mag-inarte,” sabi niya.

“I’m warning you, Matthew,” sabat ni Jeymi. “You don’t have any rights to talk to her like that.”

“I’m just saying what she needs to know. Para hindi nadadagdagan ang pagiging brat niya,” sabi nito.

I clenched my fists and glared at him. Ano bang problema niya? We don’t even know each other and kung tatanungin ako, siya dapat ang magbawas ng pagiging bitch niya!

“Tara na,” aya ni Joy.

Kumunot ang noo ko at naglakad palayo. “We’ll be late for our next class, I’m fine.” I grimaced when my hip suddenly ached but I continued walking.

I can’t believe this. Dahil lang hindi ako isa sa kanila, automatic na mahina na ako? I’m going to prove them wrong.

Naramdaman ko ang paghabol ni Jeymi at Jam sa akin. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been beat up by those girls. I mean, they’re gangsters, they’re stronger than ordinary. Okay ka lang ba talaga? No fracture or anything?” sunod-sunod na tanong ni Jam.

“I told you, I’m okay, Jam. I can handle myself,” sabi ko.

Sure enough, late na ako sa class ko. Dahil doon, I was forced to explain myself in front of the class. After no’n, doon ko lang naalala na magkaparehas ulit kami ng klase ni Gabriel. And the only unoccupied seat in the room is next to him.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko siyang makatabi, but I think I need to move on from my embarrassment first.

Wala naman ako nagawa, umupo ako sa tabi niya. Kaso nang sumandal ako sa upuan, sumakit ang rib cage ko. Napahawak ako dito nang wala sa oras as I gritted my teeth to endure the pain.

Shit, that was one hell of a punch. Ano ng gagawin ko? I have two choices, to let this pain be or to go to the Nurse’s office. Number two’s the most logical choice I have pero ‘pag nalaman ‘to ng Matthew guy na ‘yon, siguradong pagtatawanan niya ako.

Huminga ako ng malalim but that only made the pain worsen.

Naramdaman kong may humawak sa kamay kong mahigpit ang pagkakakapit sa ballpen at napatingin ako sa katabi ko.

Hindi siya nakatingin sa’kin but he was caressing my knuckles. “You’re hurt.”

“No shit, Captain Obvious,” sarkastiko kong sagot. Doon na siya napatingin sa’kin at kahit na naramdaman ko na naman ang pamumula ko ay hindi ko tinanggal ang tingin ko sa kan’ya.

“What happened?” tanong nito.

“Wala, nothing serious.”

“By the way you’re clutching your clothing and how tight your grip is, I can say that that’s something serious.” Before I could stop him, he stood up and because he was still holding my hand, I was forced to stand up with him.