The Gap Between Us

Chapter 4

- f o u r -

DAHLIA

"Fuck! Late nanaman ako!"

I was running after I scanned my ID at the entrance. Paano ba naman kasi hindi ako nagising sa alarm ko. Nang makarating na ako sa classroom ay nalagpasan na yung pangalan ko sa attendance. Which means I'm already late.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Aira, hinihingal pa rin. I drank water from my bottle before taking out my notebook and homework para ipasa sa harapan. Our prof took another class attendance and when she mentioned my name ay agad akong nagtaas ng kamay. But still I was marked as Late.

"Isang late mo na lang, may isa ka nang cut," sabi ni Aira habang nagsusulat ng notes sa kanyang journal.

"Oo nga e, di ko pala na-set yung alarm ko kagabi." At dahil mainit pa rin kahit naka-aircon. I tied my hair into a messy bun. Kung titignan nila ako kapag nakasuot ng uniform ay sobrang layo naman sa mga sinusuot ko kapag civilian. Para akong stressed na stressed sa life!

Pansin ko ang tamlay ni Aira, wala siyang make up ngayon pero sobrang putla niya para siyang may sakit. Nagulat siya nang bigla ko na lang kinapa ang leeg niya to see if she has a fever. At medyo mainit nga siya.

"You're hot, baka may sinat ka. Mag-clinic ka kaya?" I was so concerned kasi di naman siya sakitin. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita na ganyan.

She moved my hand away and shook her head, "I'm fine, kaya ko pa naman," she said and turned her head infront. She looks sick. Her eyes were a bit red and her lips were so pale. I couldn't help but worry.

When our class ended, it was our vacant period. Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na ayain mag-clinic si Aira.

"Wag na! I'm fine!" She raised her voice habang nasa CR kami.

"Aira naman! Don't be stubborn. Magpahinga ka muna kaya sa Condo? You're sick talaga!" I touched her neck with my hand and it felt hot na talaga.

"We have class pa later. Iinom na lang ako ng gamot," she reasoned out and washed her face with water.

I took her pantali and tied her hair into a ponytail para naman maayos siyang tignan. "Hihingi ako ng gamot sa clinic," I said. Tumango naman siya at sumandal lang sa may salamin.

When I got back from the clinic with her medicine, I saw her massaging her head as if she's having an headache. Agad ko siyang tinulungan makatayo. "Uwi muna tayo sa condo." I said with finality. At dahil hinang hina na siya wala siyang ibang ginawa kungdi sumunod na lang.

"Did you bring your car?" I asked her. She shook her head and started cough. I sighed and grabbed my jacket from my bag. Pinatong ko iyon sa kanya and since it's raining, mahihirapan kami magcommute. Hindi rin naman ako marunong magdrive.

We went out sa Lanai and sat on the bench near the vending machine. Tinignan ko kung may tricycle sa may parking pero wala.

Looks like we're going to have to wait for the rain to stop. Just when I was about to sit down, biglang nagvibrate yung phone ko. I immediately took it out and saw that Sebastian texted me. Hindi ko na inisip kung bakit siya nagtext sa akin, ang mahalaga ngayon ay kaibigan ko.

An idea suddenly popped in my mind. Napakagat ako ng labi dahil nahihiya akong humingi ng favor pero kailangan ko lang talagang tulungan kaibigan ko.