Strings of Regret

Chapter 11

The next following days became so hectic. Pinagkasya ang lahat na walong subjects sa whole morning session para rehearsals nalang ang mangyayari sa buong hapon. Instead of having fifty minutes discussion, we only had 30 minutes in order to fit all the subjects since the foundation day was days away. Nahirapan tuloy kaming mag-adjust kasi binibilisan nila ang pagdiscuss para mahabol ang time. Minsan may assignments or activities pang pinapagawa.

"Finish or not finished, pass your papers in the count of five. One!"

Parang hinahabol ako sa pagmamadali na tapusin ang sinusulat na difference between Intellect and Will. Values kasi ang subject namin ngayon and after this dismissal na. Worth twenty points pa naman ang essay na 'to.

"Two!" pag-pepressure na sigaw ng subject teacher namin.

"Wait lang ma'am! Malapit na!"

"Malapit na talaga ma'am. Conclusion na!"

"Five more minutes ma'am. Please!"

At nagkanya-kanyang sigaw kami kay ma'am. I can feel the sweat on my forehead, even my palms are sweating so bad. Kung pasmado ako parang mas lumala pa dahil sa tensyon. Sumasakit na ang kamay ko sa pagmamadali at halos hindi ko na makilala ang sariling penmanship!

"Three! Four!" walang awang sigaw ulit ni ma'am.

"Five! Time's up! Pass your papers on the front. Hindi ko na tatanggapin ang mahuhuli ha?"

I exhaled a breathe after I finished writing. Tamang tama ang timing. I passed my paper to my classmate who's seated infront of me before stretching my hands. Pinatunog ko ang aking mga daliri at minasahe iyon. I fixed my things and got ready to leave for lunch.

Kinalabit ko si Sabrina na ang sobrang bagal kumilos. Nang mainip ako ay tinulungan nalang siya sa pagliligpit.

"Cafeteria tayo ngayon?" she asked while closing her bag and faced me. Nagsimula na kaming maglakad pababa.

"As usual I guess," kibit-balikat ko.

She stopped walking when we were in the mid step of the stairs. I looked back at her in confusion. She stared at me for awhile, like contemplating whether she will voice out what's on her mind or not.

"I see your getting closer and more comfortable with each other." My confused faced turned into a blank one. I know what and who she is talking about. I want to act clueless but she's not gonna buy that. It will just add up to the list of whatever on her mind.

I shrugged like its not a big deal. "I think so.. That's a good thing right?"

Her stare made me nervous for a bit. Iba ang ipinapahiwatig ng titig niya. Para bang ayaw niyang sabihin ang nasa isip niya at ako nalang ang bahalang humula sa nais niyang sabihin.

She drew a long breathe and spoke, "You weigh things alright? Sawa na akong nakikita 'yang mukha mong malungkot."

Despite the seriousness of her words, I can't stop myself from smiling. Sabrina can be sweet and thoughtful on her own way and this is one of them. Her words might be harsh or cold to anyone who are not close to her but for me, its her way of saying 'I don't want to see you hurt.'

I pinched her cheeks and cooed like she's a baby. "Ang sweet naman. Pakiss nga." I pouted my lips to tease her more.

Her lips twisted of disgust and playfully pulled my hair.

"Nakakainis ka ha! Dyan ka na nga!"

Tinalikuran niya ako sa inis at nagpatiuna sa paglakad. Natawa naman ako. Ang dali talagang mainis nito kaya ang sarap asarin e.