Chasing Happiness (Chase Series #1)

Happiness 17

#chasinghappiness17

The next day, sinundo ako ni papa sa ospital because I was discharged and I can go home already. I was supposed to visit them but I didn't have the chance since papa wanted me to rest for atleast another day in our house. I'm already two days absent in school, and the news spread like wildfire dahil alam na ng mga estudyante ang tungkol sa nangyaring aksidente.

I locked myself on my room. I tried calling Rylle but she wouldn't answer. Maybe she's resting so I don't wanna meddle with her. In the end, I opened my Facebook and message our class group chat. Nanghingi ako ng notes sa lahat ng subjects para makapag-aral na agad ako sa mga nakaligtaan ko. They were kind enough to send me the notes. I saved the pictured sent to me and started studying.

- - -

"Okay ka na ba?"

"Si Rylle kamusta?"

"I'm fine. Thanks for the concern. Rylle's still on the hospital, I think."

"Masakit pa rin ba ang braso mo?" one of the boys asked, pointing at my shoulder na may bandage pero di naman sya kita.

I smiled at him. "Hindi naman. Bawal ko lang igalaw masyado sabi ng doctor."

Almost all of them formed a circle near me. They ask me a lot of questions about what happened the day I got into an accident. I also thanked them for sending me the notes yesterday and they were happy na nakatulong sila sa akin.

The class goes smoothly. Buti nalang at napag-aralan ko ang mga notes na ibinigay nila sakin kahapon. I catch up on the lessons faster than I expected.

When it was already five in the afternoon, umalis na agad ako. But when I left the building, I saw Zed and his friends talking and they're heading to the cafeteria.

"Zed!" I called him.

When he turned his way to me, he said something to his friends and they left leaving us two alone.

"Kamusta ka na?"

"I'm fine. I got discharged yesterday but my parents won't allow me to go to school."

When he was already near me, he pointed the nearest cafeteria so I nod at him and we walked our ways toward there.

"You weren't replying to my messages yesterday." he said. He put his hands on his pocket.

"Sorry. I was busy yesterday." I replied, giving him an apologetic smile. He was chatting me yesterday but I got no chance to reply to it since I was busy studying. It's always been acads before someone...before. I mean, it's different if it's Rylle and the others. I can socialize with him but I was just busy yesterday.

"What were you doing yesterday?"

"Studying. Kailangan ko kasing pag-aralan yung mga nakaligtaan kong lessons."

"Wow. As expected from you."

"Well, thank you." I smiled.

When we arrived at the cafeteria, we ordered some biscuits and drinks and sat on the vacant table.

"You know what? You've changed. A lot." he suddenly blurted out of nowhere. I looked at him and he's busy eating. When our eye contact met, he suddenly avoid my eyes and stop eating.

"In what aspect did I change?" I asked. I'm kinda curious about what change he was talking about.

"You know, ever since you met that group, you've slowly changed..." he trailed off and looked at me without averting his gaze now. "...like they were the only light that you've been waiting for."

My mouth went half open. How...how did he manage to come up with that deduction?

"Maybe. Maybe, they're my light. They taught me different things you know?"

He didn't replied.

Silence was between us. I actually don't know what to say to him. It suddenly feels awkward. I just continued eating and when I'm done, he was also done.

"Gusto mong samahan kita sa labas ng gate bago ka sunduin ng sundo mo?" aya niya sakin.

This guy...how did he know about this? It's not just been so long since I met him. And yet, he knows so much about me.

"Okay." I said and we both stand up. We were just silently walking. No one dared to talk.

I looked at the students in the hallway. They were laughing endlessly. Ang ganda nilang pagmasdan. Ang saya-saya nila, na parang wala silang problema.

But little do we know, hindi lahat ng taong nakangiti ay masaya. Some are just showing a smiley face in front of other people and they may be sad all along. That's just how life works.

"When are you gonna visit them?" he asked out of the blue.

"Later. If my parents will approve me." I answered.

Nang makarating na kami sa labas, wala pa rin yung sundo ko kaya pumunta kami sa isang store sa gilid ng school at umupo muna sa may upuan don.

I looked at him and he was just looking at his shoes.

Sinipa-sipa niya ang maliit na bato na malapit sa kanya. Nang lumayo na ang bato ay saka lang sya huminto at inilipat ang tingin sa akin.

He opened his mouth like he wants to say something but closed it afterwards. He averted his gaze on me and looked at his shoes again.

"Do you... like him?"

My heart skipped for a bit. I know who he's talking about. Since he's the only guy who's close to me aside from the twins, so I know that he's talking about Keith.

"No. He's just a friend." I replied.

After that, he was silent the whole time. Kahit na noong dumating na ang sundo ko, tumayo lang sya at nagpaalam na aalis na saka sya umalis.

He's weird.

Why do I keep on meeting weird guys?

Nang nasa bahay na ako, himala at nasa bahay na sila mama at papa. Nag mano muna ako sa kanila atsaka umakyat sa kwarto.

Bumaba lang ako noong hapunan na. Pagkatapos ng hapunan ay bumalik ulit ako sa kwarto at humiga sa kama.

Miss ko na sila.

Bumangon ako sa kama at lumabas sa kwarto. Tinahak ko ang daan papuntang study room ni mama at papa. Nang buksan ko ang pinto, nakita ko si papa na may binabasang papeles. Nang mapansin niya nang andito ako ay binaba niya yon at itinuon ang atensyon sa akin.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Can I... visit my friends now?"

He only looked at me. He seems to be thinking a lot of things na kitang-kita ko yun sa ekspresyon ng mga mata niya.

He let out a deep sigh.

"Okay. But not now. Just wait this Saturday."

"Saturday? Hindi ba pwedeng ngayon Pa?"

"Hindi. Sa Saturday na Keila." he said and continued reading the papers on the table.

"And one more thing..."

I looked at him who's now intently looking at me.

Bakit parang... bakit parang may mali?

Bakit parang may itinatago sila sa akin?

"I'll be with you when you visit your friends."