Ghosting Madness

Chapter 10

10: He Who Is Desperate
"His words of desperation—
sorry, tell me you are,
and don't leave.
It totally kept me on chains."

"He looks so hot talaga, Josh! I can't help screaming na!"

I quickly lowered my face when Nella rushed over me, giggling and clutching on my arms. She couldn't hide the excitement and joy in her face when she saw Madness waving goodbye at me.

Siya pa yata ang mas kinikilig sa'ming dalawa.

"See you, soonest," he said before leaving the hall— the reason why Nella looked at me, flabbergasted. However, my face turned red upon hearing myself. I want to slap my mouth for its ignorance. And my head, too.

Hindi ako kinikilig, hindi!

I am... m-more of agitated.

And losing patience as hell.

I was standing still, my mind blanked for a minute, when Nella asked me, grinning. "That was three times in a week! Hatid-sunod ka na niya talaga? For real?"

Simula ng araw na 'yon, palagi na niya akong hatid-sundo mula sa bahay ko hanggang sa classroom. At hindi ako makatanggi.

Una, dahil nale-late ako nang gising kakapuyat magbasa at mag-type ng 'di matapos-tapos na essays at reaction paper.

Pangalawa, siya ang palaging nakikita ko sa tuwing magbubukas ako ng pinto sa umaga. Agad ko iyong naisasara para 'di siya makapasok pero palagi niyang pinapaalala ang rules ng deal namin.

He even told me that he'll tell Daela the reason why he started to ghost her on screen if I didn't get a lift with him. He's literally blackmailing me just to get what he wants!

"Tulala ka, Josh! You're thinking of that handsome and hot-looking future engineer, right? Right?!"

Minsan, nakakainis na rin pagiging tsismosa ng conyong 'to. Lumalawak na impluwensiya niya sa'kin, kung anu-ano tuloy pumapasok sa isip ko.

"Hindi."

I was still lost in thoughts when she gently pulled me towards the seat beside her.

"Come, come." She tapped the table of the arm chair. "It's chika time!"

My eyes widened a little, until the other she replied.

"Maupo ka na, gaga."

And there she was: Pamela, the annoyed.

Dali-dali naman akong napaupo dahil sa kaba. Pinakiramdaman ko siya tulad ng palagi kong ginagawa. Medyo hindi naman siya badtrip, pero 'di naman nakangiti.

Normal days, I guess?

"G-Good morning," I greeted her.

"Hala, good morning pala, Josh! Naku, I was so overwhelmed kasi kay Sir mo, gandang bungad kaya sa tigang kong morning!"

"O-Okay lang," I answered Nella, hesitantly.

"Nels, ambastos ng bibig mo!" pagsaway ni Pamela.

But Nella insisted, "We're not PP girls for nothing, 'no! We're glorious!"