Loving You

Kabanata 4

PARTNER

          THE end of the school year is coming that was why we have lots to do. We need to submit 10 projects within a month's time. It wasn't hard to do them since some are grouped researches only while the others are life threatening—okay, kidding.

It's almost time to leave the house but my mommy was busy briefing Peter about some stuff she didn't want me to know. Is he gonna be my bodyguard now?

I made my way out, entered the car, and waited for them to finish. Hindi ko maiwasang isipin kung bakit sa dinami-rami ng pwedeng mag-apply bilang temporary driver sa amin ay siya pa? Hindi ba mukhang weird na sabay kaming papasok at uuwi? Ano na naman kaya ang masasabi sa akin ng mga fan ni Hex?

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay lumabas na rin siya at agad-agad na pinaandar ang sasakyan. It was awkward. No one dared to speak. There was a dead silence between us. His eyes were fixed on the road, which was a good thing, but I couldn't bear the dead space so I decided to call Vivian.

She answered it on the fifth ring, yes that habit of her answering calls that long annoys me every time. But she's a great friend that's why I've been putting up with it for years. "Hey, Carm! Napatawag ka?"

Hindi ko naman p'wedeng sabihin sa kaniya ang totoong dahilan baka akalain nitong si Peter ay pinariringgan ko siya. "I was just wondering, is Hex there?" I lied, too late to take back what I said. AND WHY DID I MENTION HEX?!

"OMG, Carm?? Did I hear you right? Tinatanong mo kung andito na si Hex?" Oh no. "OMG, Carm!!! Have you fallen for him? Grabe, Carm. Inabot ka ng one year para mareali—" I ended the call. It was wrong of me to ask that, but at that time, I didn't know what to do. Peter wasn't speaking to me or even loo—

I suddenly remembered what happened last time. The bedroom scene. THAT scene! Kaya naman pala hindi niya ako kinakausap, tinitignan, at pinapansin ay dahil doon! How could I forget something embarrassing like that? He might even misunderstand it due to me...well, storming out of the room.

I glanced at the mirror in front and caught him looking...and you know what I did? I hurriedly look at my left side and hid my face using my hands. That moment, I wished the land would open up and eat me.

We arrived at school in no time. Mabilis siyang magpatakbo, but he was careful. Yes, I observed him dahil 'yon lang ang ginawa ko matapos na mataranta dahil nahuli ko siyang nakatingin sakin. Hindi ko alam bakit ako ang nataranta at hindi siya!

Buong araw sa school ay nakayuko lamang ako. Ngayon ding lunch time. Nakakahiya! Hindi ko alam bakit hindi mawala-wala sa'kin ang hiya. I need a distraction.

In a blink of an eye, a distraction came. Pero hindi iyon ang distraction na hinihingi ko. I'm not asking for him!

"Carmen," banggit niya sa pangalan ko sabay akbay sa'kin. "Remember what I said last time? Babantayan kita lagi." His statement sounded creepy to me lalo na noong ngumiti siya pagkatapos niya sabihin iyon.

"Stop being like that, Hex!" suway ko sa kaniya habang dahan-dahang tinatanggal kaniyang pag-akbay sa aking balikat. Mukhang epektibo ang pagdating ni hex dahil ang hiyang nararamdaman ko kanina'y nawala at napalitan na ng inis.

"Stop being like what, babe?" he asked with a smirk on his lips. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay kapag ibang babae ang nasa harap ni Hex ngayon ay hinimatay na iyon sa kilig. Hex is popular among the girls lalo na nga't gwapo ito at well...gwapo.