The Pain Of Daffodils

Chapter 9

"Have I said goodbye yet?"

Nanlalaki ang mga mata, mabilis akong lumayo sa kanya. Inalis naman niya ang pagkakahawak sa akin.

Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib at dinama ang malakas na kabog nito. Ikaw ba naman muntik nang maaksidente dahil sa katangahan, 'di kakabahan? Pero kailangan ba talaga 'yong gano'ng linyahan? Nakaka-ano.. Namumula akong nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya. He, on the other hand, was looking at me with his annoying smirk. I badly want to wipe that off his face.

Trying not to be rude, I faced him. Pilit akong ngumiti saka sinabing, "T-thanks." Kung hindi naman sa kanya, baka na-injure pa 'ko. He just nodded and put his both hands on his pants.

"Okay," We looked at the officer who clapped his hands. Kuya Mike is stuffing his smile as he gave us an applause together with the club. Ate Kath is also grinning behind him. Ang isa namang member na ka-year lang din namin ay nanukso pa. "May pa-gano'n?" She laughed.

The club laughed. Hindi na sila nanukso pa dahil sinaway na ni Ate Kath. She stepped forward, "Guys! That's enough.." Lumapit siya samin ni Mason at hinawakan kami sa aming balikat. "Do your best bukas, we know you guys can do it!"

I smiled a bit, still calming myself from the incident ago.

Moments after, nagpaalam na ang bawat isa upang umuwi. Nagbilin lang ng ilang mga bagay si Ate Kath at ilang encouragement, humayo na kami.

Bitbit ang bag, sumabay ako sa kanilang paglalakad. Nang nasa parking lot na, nagpaalam na ako sa kanila. I waved my hand until they're out of my sight. Ibinaba ko ang kanang kamay at kinuha ang cellphone mula sa bag. I dialed our driver's number and told him that I'm waiting at the parking. He said that he'll be here in a jiffy so I thanked him and hanged up.

Itinago ko ang cellphone ko at nagtungo sa may waiting shed. Pinagpag ko muna ito bago naupo.
Ang parking space ng school ay nasa pagitan ng Admin's Building at gate. Sapat lang ito upang mag-accommodate ng lima hanggang sampung kotse. Minsan, ginagamit ang bakanteng espasyo na malapit sa field kapag may bisita. May waiting shed din dito kung saan pwedeng maghintay ang mga estudyante. Malapit lang ito sa guard house kaya guaranteed safe.

I looked at my wrist watch. Alas siyete na pala. Maliwanag sa banda ko kaya hindi din ako natatakot. 'Bat naman ako matatakot?

I swayed my both feet as I sat there. Habang nakatingin sa kawalan, naramdaman kong may naupo sa tabi ko. I looked at who it was and saw Jameson. 'Ni hindi niya ako sinulyapan. Sumandal siya sa kinauupuan saka pumikit. Saglit ko siyang tiningnan bago tumingin nalang sa mga sasakyang nasa harap.
May dapat ba 'kong sabihin? Ang akward kasi.. Parang 'di naman kami magkakilala?

There was a moment of silence between us until I decided to ask a question.

"Hey." I called him. Hindi siya kumibo pero ramdam ko namang narinig niya ko kaya nagpatuloy ako. "Bakit nga pala madami kang clubs na sinalihan?" Bida-bida ka? "Curious lang.." mabilis kong sabi dahil baka akalain niyang nangingialam ako.
He opened his eyes and looked at me sideways. Medyo nailang ako kasi ang tagal niyang sumagot kaya binawi ko nalang ito. "Nevermind, 'wag mo nang sagutin."

"I.." I glanced at his way when he speak. He sighed. "It's not that I want it, anyway. I.. just have to."
Bumaling ako sa kanya sa pagaakalang ipapaliwanag pa niya ang sinabi pero wala na siyang dinagdag pa. He returned to the way he was sitting and closed his eyes. From where I was sitting, I can see those dark circles under his eyes. He looked so restless. Natutulog pa ba 'to?

I was about to shut up but a question suddenly popped. "Sa cafe ka ba ulit matutulog?" Nagsisi ako sa tanong nang naalalang hindi nga pala niya alam na nakita ko siya roon. I quickly covered my mouth with my hands. "W-wala pala 'yon! Hehe.."