Kabanata 4: Calculator
I flipped the pages of my book. Kanina pa ako nagbabasa dito sa sala pero walang pumapasok sa utak ko. I keep on spacing out about what happened earlier.
"Napano 'to?" Nagulat ako nang hawakan ni Mama ang kamay ko. Tumingala ako.
"Ma!"
She let go of my hand and raised a brow at me. "Bakit may pasa 'yan? Nakipag-away ka ba?"
Umiling ako at nakaramdam ng kaba. "M-ma, ano kasi..."
Nakamaywang na siya ngayon sa harapan ko kaya mas lalo akong nawalan ng focus mag-isip ng rason.
I giggled to hide my nervousness. "Ma, n-nahulog ako doon sa bench. Tsaka ano... dumulas iyong takong ng sapatos ko nang tumayo ako roon."
My mother twisted her lips and raised a brow again at me.
"Sigurado ka ba?"
I grinned at her. "O-opo naman, Ma."
She looked at me with dismay and shook her head. "Hay nako, kung kailan ka nagdalaga tsaka ka naman nahulog."
My lips curved upward. "Ma naman..."
"Pinatingnan mo ba 'yan sa infirmary ninyo?"
Lumunok ako at lihim na pinisil-pisil ang mga daliri ng isa kong kamay.
Ilang beses ba akong magsisinungaling? Iniisip ko pa lang iyong isasagot parang 'di ko na kayang magsalita pa. Ewan ko, basta kapag nagsisinungaling ako, lagi akong nakakaramdam ng guilt.
I heard a click sound of tongue from my mother. I looked up to her avoiding her gaze.
"Hay nako, Polaris! Mag-excuse ka bukas at ipapacheck natin 'yan sa doctor."
"Ma, hindi na. Nagamot ko naman na kanina, e. Tsaka ayoko po mag-absent.''
She heaved a sigh. "Oh sige, ikonsulta mo 'yan sa ate mo para malaman mo kung anong gamot ang kailangan mo at kung anong appropriate management niyan. Dalaga ka na, dapat inaalagaan mo sarili mo."
Tumango na lang ako bilang sagot. Deep inside me, I felt guilty for not telling the truth. I just don't want them to worry about me and Ate will freak out if she learns this.
"Sorry talaga, Ma." I muttered under my breath.
Tinawagan ko si Ate Carmi matapos sabihin ni Mama iyon. Napagalitan na naman tuloy ako ng Ate. Hindi ko rin sinabi sa kanya ang totoo.
I cleared my throat when I get to realized what has happened. Eleana has been suspicious lately and just last last week, someone has been following me and that was Theo.
I already tucked myself to bed when my phone rang. It was Eleana but I did not bother to accept her calls because I don't want to talk about it over the phone. I know that she already knew what happened.
I rise up early than usual because Eleana has been calling and texting me last night that it almost drained my battery.
Nagsusuklay ako nang magring ang phone kong nakacharge. It was Eleana. I just let it ring for several times until I received a message from her.
From: Eleana
Can we talk at the benches? Hihintayin kita doon.
Medyo late akong pumasok ng school dahil ayoko pa rin makipag-usap kay Eleana. Nang umupo na ako, kumopya na rin ako kung anong nakasulat sa whiteboard.
"Mabuti at nag-cr lang si Ma'am. Swerte mo talaga kahit kailan," bulong ni Aiah.
Inilingan ko na lang siya at nagsulat na. Mabilis na natapos ang straight 3 hours naming klase. Nagliligpit pa lang ako ng gamit nang biglang sumulpot si Eleana sa harap ko.
