Ready For It?

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Quinn Austin Buenafuente

Wednesday, 9:47 PM

I don't feel like going to school tomorrow.

He sent that message yesterday night at kanina ko lang natanggap ito, when I was on the way to the school. I unblocked him yesterday afternoon and after blocking him for two and a half weeks, this is the first message that I've accepted from him. What does he mean?

I chose not to bother. Baka gusto niya lang sabihin na wala siyang ganang pumasok. Well, ako rin naman. Pero kababago ko lang hindi pumasok at hindi nanaman ako papasok next week. I need to catch up the lessons dahil hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay excused ako.

Gaya ko, it seems like he has no choice. He's on my side, inside the classroom, wearing his school uniform.

"Is something going on with the two of you?" Tanong ni Emelyn sa amin ni Quinn. We shook our heads together.

"Matagal ko na kayong nahahalata, eh. Alam kong may kakaiba. So what's your label? What's the real score between the two of you?" She scoffed

I don't know. Iyon ang gusto kong isagot. Hindi ko alam kung may namamagitan ba sa amin. Kung mayroon man, hindi ko alam kung ano.

"Friends." Sabi ko pa. Umirap siya at umiling-iling bago kami iniwan. Para bang sinasabi na pinagsinungalingan namin siya.

Katatapos lang naming kumain ng lunch at iginugugol namin ang mga natitirang minuto para magkuwentuhan at magpahinga. Hindi na namin inalala ang ginawa at sinabi ni Emelyn kanina. Instead, pinag-usapan ang mga taong tinulungan namin noon. Such as Kyra, Nella and Celestine.

"Nang dahil sa nangyari kay Kyra, nalaman kong mapagsamantala ang mga lalaki. Dahil kay Nella, nalaman kong manhid ang mga lalaki. Dahil kay Celestine, nalaman kong hindi marunong makuntento at maghintay ang mga lalaki. Plus, makakapal ang mga mukha nila." I gave emphasis to the last sentence.

"Kung makapagsabi ka niyan, akala mo babae o bakla ang kausap mo." Asik ni Quinn.

"Hindi naman, patapusin mo muna kasi ako!" Angal ko pa.

"So what do you mean?"

"You know my dad, right?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. Probably, he doesn't get my point kung bakit ko sinasali ang papa ko sa usapang ito. But he answered anyway.

"Yeah."

"You know what? He's my light of hope. Kahit na may kilala akong tatlong bilyong lalaki na manloloko, I know that there's always a man who stays faithful. Just like my dad."

Napatango naman siya dahil sa sinabi ko. It seems like he got my point, which is a nice thing. Hindi na niya ako aawayin dahil sinisira ko sa sarili kong paningin ang reputasyon ng mga lalaki.

"As long as he lives, I believe that there are still faithful men in world." I gave him a genuine smile. He smiled back, pero mapait na ngiti ang ibinigay niya sa akin.

"Woah." He uttered.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"None. It's just, we're so different, noh? I mean, when it comes to dads."

Mapait akong ngumiti. Bata pa lang siya nang inawan siya ng ama niya. Naninirahan sila ngayon sa bahay ng step father niya na matagal nang residente sa lugar na ito. Siya ang dahilan kung bakit sila umalis ng siyudad at dito na nanirahan. May iba nang pamilya ang biological father niya.

"Sadly, yeah. But it's up to you kung gagayahin mo ba siya o hindi."

"No way! I witnessed what happened. I love my dad but I'm not going to be like him." I can sense the hurt in his voice. It happened a long time ago but I know that he's still in pain.