Run Away With Me

Chapter 4: Club

Derrick's POV

"Oy san ka pupunta?" Hawak ni Gemini sa kuwelyo ng uniform ko causing me to stop at my tracks.

'I should've left as fast as I could..'

The thing is, I'm not giving up from giving up. If that makes sense? Basta, kailangan kong idistansya yung sarili ko muna sa kaniya para mapigil ko na tong.. nararamdaman ko. "Iiwan mo ba ako? Akala ko ba sabay tayo?" Tanong niya, I could instantly feel my heart clench at his statement.

Does this guy even know what he's asking for right now?

I know I shouldn't misunderstand but I can't help it. Napahinga ako nang malalim and turned my head to look at him. His expression bereft of awareness of what he's stated. "Hays yan ka nanaman, di ka nagsasalita." He pouted yet at the same time, pulled me with him, his hand grabbing onto my arm.

Is it my fault that the only thing that can stop me from expressing my love for you is my silence? ..

Tahimik lang akong naglalakad habang hinihila ako ni Gemini papunta sa math club room. This is ridiculous. Tingin ko sa likod ni Gemini while we walk. Who am I kidding? I'll never get away from this unrequited love if I never have the strength to push him away.

Nor the strength to confess to him.

And you know what's even more pathetic? I could feel my heart thump loudly by just being pulled by him. I'm too conscious of him that him being close to me could instantly fluster me.

..f-ck. I've really done it.

There's no climbing up anymore, just down. Down, I fall. And down, I go.

Down into an endless pit I've thrown myself into.

"Dun tayo sa likod umupo." Hila parin sakin ni Gemini papunta sa pinakalikod na puwesto sa clubroom sabay upo namin sa sahig.

There were all sorts of noises, the voice of the students, the teacher, the officers appointed, and my beating heart. The skin of my arm where Gemini's hand's on feels hot and it's the sensation my brain felt most conscious of. I can't.. focus at all.

All I can think about is Gemini's hand on my arm and not the voice of the teacher sitting at the front, dictating the club activities or whatever. I don't really care. I gulped slowly, sweat slipping past my forehead while I try to understand the teacher which unfortunately never happened.

"Bat pala math nagustuhan mo?" Tanong sakin ni Gemini, his hand still holding onto my arm kaya di ko naiwasang magulat. I flinched hearing his voice like the damsel I was. "Nagulat ka? Hahaha." Mahinang tawa niya sakin.

Why wouldn't I be?

"Impulse." Maikling sagot ko, letting out a lie from my lips. I don't have any interest in math, I chose it randomly in hopes of getting away from Gemini which was.. futile in the end..

"Akala ko minahal mo na best subject mo hahaha." Mahina na tawa niya ulit as I smiled in reply. His laugh was enough reason for this curve on my lips to appear.

"Oy pili daw, trio."

"Sakin si Ezequiel."

"Luh hahaha."

"Sino wala pang kagroup?"

"Ayun oh."

Suddenly, biglang may lumapit sa aming dalawa ni Gemini. A girl I'm not familiar with. "Gemini!! Okay lang kung makigroup sa inyo?" Ngiti niya sa amin taking me by confusion. A couple of questions whirring in my head. May activity sa first meeting ng club? Akala ko orientation lang? And who is this girl? Why haven't I not heard of her from Gemini?

"Haha sige lang Stella." Sagot ni Gemini sa kaniya, his hand letting go of my arm, as she displayed an expression of relief. "Nice!" I sighed, missing the warmth of his palm against my arm.

Stella maintained a close distance with us, forming a triangle. "Narinig niyo ba yung instructions?" Tanong niya.

I kept my mouth shut, I had no clue at all. "Oo," sagot naman ni Gemini as I leaned in closer to get filled in about the activity. "Paunahan ng sagot."

Ha? That didn't make anything clear at all. Anong paunahan ng sagot? Tungkol saan? What? Instead of asking about it, I sealed my lips tight in silence. I didn't want to look like a buffoon although I already am.

"Eto si Erick, magaling." Akbay sakin ni Gemini, catching me off guard. Saan? "Ha?" Naguguluhan na tunog ko, the both of them looking at me. Hope evident in their eyes as if they already relied everything on me.

"Oh, Erick?" Tingin sakin ni Stella with a grin, calling me by my nickname.

"Derrick." I stated firmly, "Call me Derrick." I felt uncomfortable, I'm not close with her at all anyways.

"A-ah, okay, sorry, ano, Derrick." Kinakabahan na salita ni Stella, she looked anxious, guilt poking at me. "It's fine." Sagot ko, a smile on my lips. A fake one.

"..."

Tensed air surrounded us but before it could engulf the group, "Kaya mo na yan Derrick!" Ngiti ni Gemini sabay tingin kay Stella. "Wag ka mag-alala, mamaw si Derrick pagdating diyan."

Huh?

I took a quick look at Gemini, he has a grin on his lips but w h y? I was awfully bothered by how he called me Derrick, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Was I wrong for pointing out that I feel uncomfortable being called Erick by someone else?

Due to that, I found myself reaching out to Stella to avoid getting on Gemini's bad side. "Stella," tawag ko sa pangalan niya as she looked at me in reply, she seemed nervous despite of the curve on her lips. "You can rely on me." Ngiti ko sa kaniya and there, colors went back to her face instantly.

"Weh? Totoo yan ha!" She grinned, her face almost red?.. The expression on her face was something I was familiar with.

Eyes barely open, cheeks with the shade of red, evident dimples on both sides..  and that nostalgic stare.

What.. was it again?

Oh that's right,

That's the same expression I have when Gemini reaches out to me.

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A/N: Don't forget to vote! 🥳🥳