He Broke Me First

Chapter 7

"You can now leave, Ms. Dela Vega."

Nagmamakaawa akong tumingin sa prof ko. I failed an exam, no, hindi ako nakakuha ng exam dahil hindi ako nakapasok sa class niya.

Kanina ko pa siya hinahabol, nagluluha na ang mga mata ko. I was late for almost 10 minutes that's why he didn't allow me to go in his class. May iba rin namang late pero bakit ako lang ang ayaw niyang pakuhanin ng exam?

"Sir, please let me have the exam," I pleaded.

He just acted like he couldn't see me. Nag-ayos lang siya roon ng mga folder na parang walang naririnig. Hindi ko alam kung may galit siya sa' kin.

Madiin kong hinawakan ang laylayan ng suot kong uniform para pigilan ang muling pag-iyak ko. It would be a big loss in my grades if I wouldn't be able to take the exam. His subject was one of my major subjects.

"Sir, plea-" I didn't have the opportunity to finish my sentence when the door suddenly slammed on my face. Naiyak na lang ako sa halo-halong nararamdaman ko—inis, panghihinayang, kaba at pagsisisi. I sighed heavily before wiping my tears. May magagawa pa ba ako?

Tumayo ako at lumabas na sa apat na sulok ng kwarto kung saan dapat ang klase ko ngayon. Uuwi na lang ako, tutal half day lang naman at hindi ko rin napilit si Sir na bigyan ako ng exam.

Pagkalabas ko, nagulat ako nang makita ko si Joaquin na nakasandal sa gilid ng pintuan. I looked around to see if he was waiting for someone na nasa same building pero wala naman ng ibang tao rito bukod sa' min.

I wiped my cheek. "What?" Hindi naman dito ang building niya.

He handed me his handkerchief. "H'wag ka nang umiyak."

"I'm not crying." I sobbed.

He sighed before grabbing my bag. I covered my eyes with his handkerchief while he was holding the back of my waist as we walked down the stairs of my building.

Patingin-tingin siya sa' kin habang naglalakad kami. Namumula na ang ilong at pisngi ko dahil sa pag-iyak kaya bumuntong hininga ako para pakalmahin ang sarili ko.

"Do you still have class?" Joaquin asked.

"Wala na," sagot ko. "Ikaw?"

He licked his lip a little before shaking his head. I only nodded. I wanted to go in the library but it was closed since half day ata lahat ngayon. I scratched my nose a bit and looked at Joaquin.

Huminto ako sa paglalakad. "Is it obvious that I cried?"

Binuksan niya ang bag niya at may kinuha roon. "Oo. Uminom ka muna." He opened his tumbler for me.

I gazed at him first before grabbing it from his hand. "Don't tell anyone that I cried."

He tssed. "Oo na. Inumin mo na 'yan."

"Fine."

Iinom na sana ako pero na-conscious ako dahil nakatingin siya sa' kin kaya tumalikod ako. I heard him scoff so I looked back after drinking half of his water. Binalik ko ulit sa kanya 'yon pero nagulat ako nang uminom din siya.

Sinara na niya 'yong tumbler pagkatapos bago ako binigyan nang nagtatakang tingin. "Bakit?"

"Bakit ka uminom?" Mahina pa ang boses ko.

Agad niya akong inirapan. "Bawal ako uminom sa tumbler ko?"

"Hindi. What I mean is that it's an indirect ki—" You two already kissed twice, Kiela!

"Ano?" paghahamon niya nang hindi ko na tinuloy ang sasabihin ko.

I cleared my throat. "No. Nevermind."