How We Fell

[8]

K e i t h

Nang walang pasabi-sabi ay agad ko siyang hinila papaalis doon. She didn't have a choice but to follow my steps to wherever I wanted us to go. And I don't care. God, I don't care about anything else. I just really need to talk to her right now.

"Keith, ano ba?" iritado niyang sabi habang nagpupumiglas. I pretended not to hear her as I focused my gaze on the hallway we were crossing. "Keith! Ano ba naman! Ano na naman bang eksena 'to?! Baka may makakita sa'tin dito! Bitawan mo ak--"

"I told you to stay away from him," mariin at medyo malakas kong sabi kaya napatigil siya sa pagsasalita. "Damn it, Jamie, won't you listen to me? Pinagsabihan na kitang 'wag mo siyang lalapitan, tapos makikita ko pa kayong magkayakapan?!"

"Ano bang pakielam mo?! Best friend lang naman kita ah!" singhal niya sa akin.

My jaw dropped. "Ano'ng pakielam ko? For damn's sake, Jamie! Are you really asking me that?! Sa'yo! Sa'yo ako may pakielam! May pakielam ako para sa'yo kahit alam kong kahit konti, wala ka naman para sa'kin." I shook my head as I looked at her in disbelief.

Unti-unting umamo ang ekspresyon niya. "He was there to save me," she said, emphasizing every word.

Suminghap ako. "If there was the last person that Xavier would save... that would be you."

She shook her head as confusion started to trace on her face. But dammit. She looks like she doesn't want to believe me!

Huminga ako nang malalim at mataman siyang tiningnan. "Alam kong naguguluhan ka. Sa ngayon, naguguluhan ka pa. Pero Jamie..." Ibinaba ko ang kamay ko papunta sa kamay niya at saka iyon hinawakan. "Can't you just trust me?"

Pumikit siya nang mariin. "I trust you..." mahinahon niyang bulong at saka iminulat ang kanyang mga mata. "I do, but Keith... You have to trust me, too."

I gulped the lump formed in my throat. "I trust you. It's Xavier I don't."

"Ruther..."

My jaw clenched as I heard the voice I've always hated to hear.

X a v i e r

As Ruth turned to face me, I knew she didn't believe what Keith just said. And I silently thanked God for that. That guy can just leave us alone.

"Can we talk?" I added, my gaze only focused on her. Sana lang ay hindi mag-iba ang pagtingin at pagtrato niya sa'kin pagkatapos ng lahat ng sinabi ni Keith sa kanya.

I noticed how Keith held her hand tighter, as if refusing to let her go... but she still did.

"Bumalik na tayo sa classroom," aniya sa akin.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Hindi ka pa kumakain, ah?" Kahit nga ako, hindi pa rin kumakain. We still have ten minutes left for our recess break, anyway.

Umiling siya. "Hindi ako nagugutom... Tara na, bumalik na lang tayo dun."

Tumango na lang ako at sinarili na lang ang gutom. Kayang maghintay niyan... Pero 'yung kagustuhan yata niya na ma-solo ako, hindi na kayang maghintay.

I inwardly smiled. The things you are thinking about, Xavier!

We remained silent as we walked through the corridors. And just like a while ago, everyone were looking at us. I gave some of them a glare. I hope they get it. Hindi na talaga ako natutuwa sa mga tingin nila.

Nang makarating kami sa classroom at nang matapos na ang break ay wala pa ring pumasok na teacher. Nalaman naming absent pala si Mr. Bonzon ngayon kaya free time namin ang buong oras niya. One more thing, Keith still isn't back here. I could finally use this chance to talk to Ruther.