Run Away With Me

Chapter 10: Relief

Derrick's POV

"Seryoso?" Nakangiti na salita niya sakin, his eyebrows upwards as if surprised, "Nanonood ka ng Kimi Wa Hontoni Baka! ?"

F-ck, how did he even know?!

"HAHHAHAHA I didn't see you as the type to watch shoujos!" Masayang deklara niya as I tried to shut him up. My left hand covering his lips and the other gesturing for him to be quiet.

"You.. How did you even know?" I discreetly asked, still covering his lips. His eyes were half-closed... almost as if mocking me and I could feel the movement of his lips turn into a curve on my palm.

"Answer me."

At doon, he pointed his finger to my hand that was covering his mouth. Oh. Kaya tinanggal ko yung taklob ko sa labi niya as he displayed his grin at me. "I'm a good observer."

What. "Observer my ass."

"HAHAHA biro lang, napanood ko na rin kasi yon and you mentioned one of the characters." Ngiti niya, "And good anime, I know."

....For a second, I stared at him.

"You.. you really mean that?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. I felt surprised at his sudden statement. I.. never really found anyone who liked this anime. And if someone were to know that I did, it was obvious they'd think that I'm some weirdo or that I have low standards.

"Tinatanong pa ba yon? Pinapanood namen yon ng mga katropa ko HAHAHAHA." Tawa niya but I could only look at him. Really? For some reason, I wanna join his dumb ass group. It's as if, I'm okay with getting infected with his dumb virus. "..yeah.. It's a really good anime.. it's the first anime I watched actually." Sagot ko sa kaniya, feeling like I could actually tell this dunce everyth-- what?

"Weh? Nabasa mo na yung manga?"

"..." Am I getting carried away?

"Oy Derrick, oy."

"..." Feeling like I could tell him everything.. GETTING INFECTED WITH HIS DUMB VIRUS? that's..

"Okay ka lang tol?"

"Absurd."

I uttered, this is unbelievable. Just because he likes the anime I love doesn't mean we get to be buddies that fast.

"Ha?"

I mean, I never really liked this guy ever since grade 1. So why now? He's still as dumb as ever. I can't even imagine myself being friends with him in the past. But..

can I Now?

Snap! Nanlaki yung mga mata ko nang pumitik si Hare sa mukha ko. "Derrick, oi giseng."

"Ay," Tunog ko, looking at him. "Sorry I got distracted for a moment."

"Awit haha, tinatanong ko kung nabasa mo na yung manga." Ngiti niya sakin, huminga ako nang malamya and looked at him. "Yeah, it was about 50 chapters long."

"Ay, 68 chapters na yon eh."

What?

"Kakaupdate lang kahapon." Dagdag niya pa, my mouth dropping. WHAT?

"W-where are you reading?" Tanong ko sa kaniya as he chuckled at me. "Where? Binibili namen yung manga book tas idedeliver samin." Sagot niya sa tanong ko.

W H A T. "W-where.. do you buy then?" Tanong ko agad, in need of his immediate answer.

"Gusto mo ipaheram ko sayo?" Tanong niya pabalik and there,

My mind went blank. F-ck Absurdity! I thought. HE HAS A MANGA BOOK OF KIMI WA HONTONI BAKA!

"Yes."

"Yes.. yes I do." I replied firmly and repeatedly. At doon, tumingin si Hare sakin nang sandali bago, "HAHAHAHAHA ampo---." Malakas na halakhak niya nang,

"MR. HARE," Saway ng subject teacher namin sa kaniya. "Wag mong idamay si Arsuela sa kalokohan mo!" Dagdag pa nito and..

It's weird. Really.. weird. Because when I heard our teacher say that, the only thing that went up in my mind was..

"Gemini?" Tawag ko sa pangalan niya discreetly while looking at him.

Because most of the time, I'd feel relieved that it wasn't me who got called out. But now.. it's.. different.

"Sorry po sir." Paumanhin niya, his grin a while ago had disappeared. And for the first time in my life, I got nervous as hell other than getting my scores in a test.

..He's still looking at the teacher with that empty face. And I gotta say, it's scaring the hell outta me.

"Ilang beses na kitang nasasabihan Mr. Hare, kung ayaw mong irespeto tong subject ko, better get out!"

I gulped, my eyes focused on Gemini as well as the whole class. My mind chilled and I was scared. Gemini's empty expression remained, he was still while listening to our teacher scream at him infront of the class.

I.. can't read his expression.. Is he angry? "Gemini?" I quietly muttered again, hoping to reach out to him despite of it being inaudible.

"Sorry po.." ulit niya pa but with the same somber countenance. Is he sad?

"You better be! Next time na mag-ingay ka, I won't hesitate to give you a slip to the discipline coordinator, tandaan mo toh Mr.Hare." sabi ng subject teacher namin as Gemini nodded. Tumigil na rin yung teacher namin as Gemini used a book to cover his face. He was.. surprisingly cooperative but..

I was.. scared that.., wait, I'm scared?

Wait, Why? But before I could process the thought in my mind,

"Bat? Kanina mo pa ko tinatawag Hehe.." Lingon niya sakin with a goofy expression etched on his face, whispering words while the open book hid his goofy posture. His smile was back on his face and I felt relieved because he's not.. angry at me?

"May pafirst name basis ka pa ah haha, nagulat ako tinawag mo kong Gemini haha." Malamyang tawa niya sakin. And.. I'm.. beyond relieved. He's not angry at me.. at all. Because..

I was.. scared. Like.. s c a r e d like frightened that.. "Oy, tinatawag mo ko tas di mo ko papansinen." Tingin niya sakin, his voice in a demanding tone while looking at me. He's still in the same goofy position that he is that I might as well find myself cackling louder than he did a while ago.

He didn't get angry and he's still acting like the dunce he is.

And

I've never been more relieved my whole life.