If This Is How It Ends [FIN]

05

#ITIHIEnds05

I was taken aback. I don't know what he meant by his statement but it bothered me so much. Ayokong magtanong sa kanya because my pride and seemingly timid persona don't allow me. This is not good because it affects my concentration. I tried to shrug it off, believe me I do, countless of times, but it repeats itself inside my head.

I was nervous entering the class because first, I had my outburst last week and almost half of the class were present and they were surprised, another is, I can easily tell if Joachin's throwing me looks because of this unexplainable feeling I always feel when he does. I willed myself not to look at anyone and beg my mind to focus on what the professors in front were saying. And true enough, my mind wandered off to a common usual territory.

But to my disappoint, sandali lang pala ito because Joachin's standing in front of me.

"Dela Merced." He called me by my last name. I looked everywhere except him. Again, kami na naman ang pinagtitinginan.

"What?" I answered and diverted my gaze on the open book in front of me.

"Can I talk to you?"

"You're already talking diba?" Sagot ko naman. Tumawa siya and because tahimik sa classroom, rinig na rinig ang tawa niya.

"Sungit mo naman." I glared at him at hindi na sumagot pa. Di naman kasi yun tanong para sumagot pa ako. "I'll buy coffee, you want one?" He asked.

"No, thank you." I politely declined. He smiled at me then went outside. What's his business? For as long as I remember di naman kami close. And also, two hours together won't make two strangers friends. So what's his deal?

-
Maagang natapos ang klase ko for the day. My cousins texted me na tapos na rin sila sa mga respective classes nila kaya nagkayayaan magdinner sa labas. Pinagpaalam na nila agad ako kay Mommy kaya wala na rin naman akong magagawa kundi sumama sakanila.

We all decided to go Italian today. Tahimik lang ako habang nakikinig sa mga kwento nila. Cadence lead the group well with his stories that were both funny and annoying. Ang animated niya masyado magkwento. Kuya Creed was attentively listening to him.

Kuya Creed was the eldest among us. He's the eldest brother of Cadence and Charl. He's taking up medicine and already on his third year. Kuya Creed is very responsible. I haven't seen a man who's like that. He practically raised Cadence and Charl kahit nagmemed school siya. Tita, their mother, passed away 10 years ago and since then, tito, their father worked harder than ever to raise all of them and of course, to fight the loneliness he's feeling ever since tita died. After all,tito only loved tita.

Cadence was the middle child. And being the middle child as he was, ang attention seeker niya. Wala akong masasabing iba sa kanya kundi ang annoying niya masyado. But he was the closest to me among all of my cousins. He always have my back. Charl was the youngest pero di naman siya kasama ngayon. He's still in high school and kanina pa yun umuwi.

"Someone in their class likes Anka." I scowled at Cadence when suddenly he shifted the story to me. Kuya Creed only raised his eyebrow in response.

"If looks could kill, matagal na akong patay." Dagdag pa niya and laughed.

"Will you shut up? Stop making up stories." Inis na inis akong kumain ng pizza. May idadagdag pa sana siya kaso pinakita ko sa kanyang kaya kong ibato yung hawak kong slice ng pizza sa mukha niya.

"I don't think Cadence is making up stories. Dalawin kaya kita sa classroom mo para makilala ko kung sino yon?" I rolled my eyes because seriously, these two likes ganging up on me.