Tale as Old as Time (La Fortuna Series #1)

Kabanata 19

Kabanata 19

Love Bite

"That's all for today, class. By the way, may I request the class beadle to go to the faculty room after this? Ibibigay ko ang modules niyo." Sinipat ako ni Architect Fernandez. "I think it's you, Miss Aledo?"

"Yes, Architect," tango ko.

"Medyo marami 'yung modules kaya baka hindi mo makayang dalhin lahat. Please bring a friend."

After getting his things, he left the room. Napabuntong-hininga ako. Why did my classmates even nominate me as the class beadle? Para pahirapan ako? Well, that actually sounded reasonable. Lalo na't 'di ko alam na required palang may kaibigan ka sa posisyong 'to. 

It's been a week since I had one.

Tumayo na ako. I left the room without looking at anyone. Magta-tatlong linggo palang ako sa unibersidad na 'to pero parang isang taon na ang bigat ng mga pinagdaanan ko. After Montgomery's betrayal, hindi na ulit kami nag-usap. Good for him and good for me. 

Nasasaktan pa rin naman ako, even up until now. He's my first friend in this school. I actually thought that we had things in common. Akala ko, maiintindihan namin ang isa't-isa, but shame on me... shame on me.

"Where's your friend, Miss Aledo?" Architect Fernandez asked after giving me the pile of modules.

I gave him a small smile before shaking my head lightly. "It's fine, Architect, kaya ko naman."

"Sigurado ka ba? Sa payat mo na 'yan, Miss Aledo."

"Kaya po, Architect."

Architect chitchatted with me for a while. Simula yata no'ng na-compliment niya ako sa out of the box stairs ko'y siya na ang naging paborito kong guro. It might sound cocky, but I thought he liked me the best among all of us in our block. 

Kalaunan ay lumabas na rin ako sa Faculty Room. Hanggang dibdib ko ang mga bitbit na modules. Medyo mahirap nga 'yon dalhin ngunit wala naman akong mapagpipilian. Dahan-dahan akong umakyat sa hagdan upang mai-balanse ng maayos ang sarili ko. I was about to take a step up when someone took half of the modules. Looking up, my eyes locked with Monty's. Napalunok siya at tipid na umismid.

"I'll help—"

Hindi ko siya pinatapos at mabilis na nagmartsa paakyat. I heard him sigh behind me. Kapagkuwa'y ang mga yapak niya naman ang narinig ko. He followed me. No one talked between the us. Ngayon lang ulit kami nagkaroon ng interaksyon matapos ng nangyari noong isang linggo. The post was taken down from LFU's official website, but it's still posted on our Facebook Page. Wala kasing guro na naroroon at kung meron man, wala namang pakealam.

The bullying was still going on up until now. 'Yun nga lang ay hindi na gaanong vocal ang iba, marahil ay naubusan na ng laway kakatalak sa 'kin noong nagdaang mga araw. I was well aware though, that I was still the subject of all my schoolmates' secret conversations. Nasa corridor na kami nang nilakihan ni Monty ang  mga hakbang niya upang harapin ako. 

I halted on my place and arched a brow. "Ano?" 

"Can we talk?"

"Ano pang pag-uusapan natin? Alam ko na lahat, Monty. You probably followed me to the parking lot that afternoon, kahit na ang sabi mo'y si Yuki ang pupuntahan mo. At nang makita mo akong kayakap si Chamuel, you just had to film it."

I tried looking for answers as to why he would do it. Pero sa huli'y napagtanto ko na mahirap mang tanggapin, maraming tao ang handang manira at manakit ng kapwa kahit na wala silang katanggap-tanggap na rason.