How We Fell

[17]

K e i t h

And where in the world could that girl be again? The bell's almost about to ring and yet, wala pa rin siya dito sa classroom. Hindi na sana ako masyadong magtataka kung wala rin si Xavier, e. But he's here. Jamie's the only one who isn't present.

"Babe, you okay?" tanong sa akin ni Andy nang makitang palinga-linga ako sa paligid.

Ngumiti ako at tumango. "Yup, babe."

Damn yuck. I can't believe I still have to call her that. But for the sake of this 'game', I'm all in.

"Alright. I'm just here..." Sumandal siya sa balikat ko at halos mapangiwi ako dahil doon. Konting tiis lang, Keith! Konting tiis pa. Don't worry. So far, I think you're winning, anyway...

"I love you," malambing niyang sinabi.

Napalunok ako. "Mas love kita," sabi ko na para bang galing sa ilong ang mga salita. I feel so sick inside. Lalo na nang pinaulanan niya ako ng mga halik sa pisngi. Ginapangan ako ng hiya dahil pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao. The hell?

I heard Xavier's loud cough at the back. That finally stopped her.

"What a killjoy..." bulong ni Andy at umayos ng upo. Kinuha niya ang compact face powder sa loob ng purse niya para matingnan ang sarili sa maliit na salamin. Nilingon ko siya at nakitang medyo nawala na ang lipstick sa mga labi niya. I inwardly groaned. It's all probably on my cheek now.

I heaved a breath as I arranged the way I was sitting. Kinuha ko rin ang panyo ko sa bulsa at saka iyon kinuskos sa pisngi ko. If only it wouldn't offend Andy right now, I would gladly spray some alcohol on it to kill the 99.9% of germs. And... ipagdadasal ko na lang gabi-gabi ang natirang 0.1%.

I felt something cold touch my cheek. Napalingon ako kay Andy na tinatanggal ang kiss marks niya gamit ang facial wipes. She giggled.

"You look like you have blush on, babe. It's cute."

Where the hell is the 'cute' in that?

I forced a smile at her and didn't talk anymore. Naisip ko na naman si Jamie. Why isn't she here yet? I really hope she's okay. Wala talaga akong kahit kaunting ideya kung nasaan siya ngayon at kung maayos ba ang kalagayan niya...

In the middle of drowning in my thoughts, the bell rang. Nagmamadali akong tumayo at lumabas nang marealize kong may girlfriend nga pala akong nakalimutan sa loob.

X a v i e r

Good thing that girl obeyed what I said. I was the one who suggested her not to come to school today. Kung hindi ba naman kasi siya nagpaulan kahapon, 'di ba? Reason why she looked ill and felt sick when I brought her home. Inuubo-ubo na siya at sinisipon. And when I messaged her last night, she told me she had fever. It was kinda obvious, though, because of her typos. Sobrang dami kasi.

I don't even know what got in her head when I saw her in that situation. Can you even imagine it, a girl standing near a waiting shed which can protect her from the rain, but moves out to feel it instead? And she was smiling, too!

Wala sa sarili kong napangiti. How can someone go through all this and can still be so strong? How can she stay tough even when everything's trying to bring her down? How can she still be herself?

That's the best thing about Ruther. That's the best thing about her, that I wish I had, too.

Because ever since that happened... I'm not the same anymore.

J a m i e

Way to go for my temporary happiness.

Kahapon, 'yung panandaliang saya na inakala ko, ang magbubunga pala ng kasalukuyang sakit na nararamdaman ko ngayon. How realistic it is to think about, ain't it?

That every single thing in the world has the ability to hurt us. Na kahit minsan pa tayong napasaya ng bagay na 'yun, may kapangyarihan pa rin ito na saktan tayo at pahirapan.

How stupid, Jamie. Look at you! Edi sana hindi ka nakabalot sa kumot at may bimpo sa noo ngayon.

I can't let the thought of Xavier escape my mind. Crazy that it just won't. I mean, how could I, right?! He just freaking planted a kiss on the side of my forehead! My god. Baka nga iyon pa ang dahilan kung bakit nilalagnat ako ngayon.

My eyes were closed when I heard my phone vibrate on the bedside table. I quickly took it.

Xavi:
Hi miss. :>

Napakunot ako ng noo habang mabilis na nagtipa ng maisasagot.

Me:
Hi miss mo mukha mo.

Xavi:
Ouch. Aren't you even touched that I'm texting you during class?

Me:
Nope.

Xavi:
Double ouch. How cold. :3

Me:
Yuck! Ang jeje. Go away.

Xavi:
:3 :3 :3

Hindi ko ba alam kung bakit natatawa ako na naiiling sa reply niya.

Me:
Eww.

Xavi:
:(

Me:
What are you doing right now?

Tinitigan ko ang screen habang hinihintay siyang mag-reply. He normally replies within seconds, but this time, not a text came. Siguro tinago na niya 'yung phone niya?

I heaved a sigh as I sat up. Sumandal ako sa headboard ng kama at saka tumitig sa sky blue na pader ng kwarto ko. I don't even know why I'm looking at it. It just makes me want to overthink...

Kamusta na kaya si Keith? I mean, he looks happy but I wonder if he really is?

I closed my eyes shut and tried to get rid of the thought. Stupid, Jamie. Of course he is! Can you even see how he looks at her? He seems so in love. Kung tutuusin, mas sweet pa nga sila ngayon kaysa noon. I mean, he even had the guts to kiss her... in front... of me.

Marahan kong inuntog-untog ang ulo ko sa pader na sinasandalan ko. Bakit ko pa ba iniisip 'to? Hindi na kailangan. I don't need to think about it anymore. We're all graduating, anyway. After this year, we're all off to college. Lilipas rin ang lahat ng 'to.

Bumalik ako sa pagkakahiga at binalot ulit ang sarili sa makapal na kumot. I scrolled through my boring timeline in Facebook.

Until a notification popped up. Agad akong napangiti at nagmadaling binuksan iyon. Nag-reply na siya!

Xavi:
Nothing, really. Just missing you.

Sabay sa paglaglag ng panga ko ang paglaglag ng phone ko sa mukha ko.