Wants And Needs ✔︎ [unedited]

Chapter 14

BREAKS EASILY

I was heading to my next class which is dance class. Makikita ko na naman ulit si Adrian. Wala na talaga akong magagawa dahil araw-araw ko siyang makikita sa ayaw ko man o sa gusto.

When I walking at the corridor, agad kong nakita si Adrian na naglalakad kaya naisip ko na lapitan siya.

"Adrian!" I cheerfully called for his name. Hindi niya ako nilingon.

Hindi naman siya ganoon kalayo sa akin para hindi niya ako marinig. "Adrian!" I called him again. Hindi niya pa rin ako nilingon.

Imposible namang hindi niya ako naririnig eh malapit na ako sa kaniya. Hinabol ko ang natitirang distansya sa pagitan namin at naglakad ako kasabay niya.

"Darwin?" muling tawag ko. Pero this time, I called him by his second name. Iʼm putting my hopes up that it caught his attention.

And finally, he looked at me like nothing happened. Is he okay? He seemed to be spaced out.

"You donʼt seem to be okay. What happened?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

Sa sobrang pagmamadali sa paglalakad hindi ko namalayang may makakasalubong pala ako sa daan. "Calia? You called me by my second name. Have I misheard it or Iʼm just hallucinating?"

"Neither both—I called you Darwin to get your attention. You look so bothered. Tell me what happened." she said. She was worried so much, and I hate it.

"Itʼs nothing, letʼs just head to our room." I denied.

She raised her brows and glared at me. "You dare to call—having tears stuck in those eyes—as nothing?"

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "Huwag mo nang isipin. This is a personal problem."

"Hmm..." tanging nagawa niya ay hindi na umimik. I think and I feel she donʼt believe me.

"Papunta ka na ba sa dance studio?" I asked him.

"Ah oo, ikaw din siguro." aniya. Tumango ako at nagsabay na kami sa paglalakad.

Pagdating sa studio. Biglang napunta ang atensyon ng lahat sa amin. Kung ʼdi ako nagkakamali, dahil ito sa nangyari kahapon. Marami sigurong kumalat na fake news dahil sa ginawa ko. Iʼll handle this myself.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at umastang may tatawagan. Nagsitinginan naman ang lahat sa akin.

"Hey Mom. Are you busy?" tanong ko sa cellphone. Napansin kong nag-usap-usap na ang mga tao sa paligid ko. "Can you kick my classmates out of SDA? They are spreading rumors about me—Youʼre really gonna do that?—but only my classmates in dance class—they are talking behind your back right now—hmm, okay thatʼs all, I want them out today—Yes, thank you, Mom."

I ended the call and acted like I didnʼt knew that everyone has their eyes on me.

"Good bye everyone, see you around the city." I said, giving all of them a smirk. I may look arrogant but I really hate it when someone is talking behind otherʼs back.

Halos manlumo ang lahat at nadidinig ko ang pagsisisihan nila sa isaʼt isa. I think I just made this day Dʼs day—Darwinʼs Day.

"Well, before you leave the school today, I just wanted you all to know..." I spoke. Hinila ko ang kamay ni Calia sa tabi ko. "Iʼm in love with this bossy chic named Calia Montenegro. Keep your mouth shut when it comes to talking about us. When you do, I will make you pay triple your fees. Do you get me?" tanong ko sa lahat. This might sound like a threat but itʼs really a promise.

— IAHT —

Pagkatapos ng klase namin na ʼyon. Napuno na naman ʼyung isip ko ng maraming bagay.