Chasing Captivated Dreams (Part Time Series #1) | (On - going)

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

Napalunok ako habang naglalakad papasok ng campus, ramdam ko ang malakas na kabog ng puso ko sa bawat hakbang.

Habang nililingon ko ang paligid, maraming mata ang nakatutok sa akin. Ang tingin nila—mula ulo hanggang paa— It felt like they were scanning every inch of me. Nakakailang sa pakiramdam, as if I were the center of attention, the apple of everyone's eye.

Jiro and Kean had assured me that every video of what happened between me and Jeon outside campus had been permanently erased. Considering their high profiles, I knew they could make that happen. But the damage had already been done. Hindi na mababago ang tingin ng mga tao sa akin dahil halos lahat ng students ay nakita na ang video.

Even Sian came across it, and his reaction was as if he were ready to fight a dinosaur. He was furious, especially at his friends who had sent the video to him. Sinabi ko naman sa kanya na ayos na ako, lalo na at nandiyan si Liander noon. especially since Liander had been there for me at that time. Hearing that, his mood instantly shifted from furious to relieved.

And on the bright side, hindi nakita ni Dad...

I could feel the weight of the stares and hear the faint whispers that surrounded me.

"Siya 'yan, diba?"

"Kawawa naman siya."

"Grabe, people pleaser siguro siya kaya ganyan,"

"Mali ang ginawa ng tatlo sa kanya, napagtulungan lang siya,"

"Pero ang ganda niya,"

"Skandalosa nga lang."

"Hey," napatingin ako sa aking tabi at nakita ang isang matangkad na morenong lalaki na tumabi sa akin. Pagkakita ko sa kanyang kulot na buhok, agad kong nakilala kung sino siya.

"Jiro," I called him. What a coincidence—or maybe not, considering he's also studying at USL.

He glanced at the group of people staring and whispering about me. I noticed a slight frown on his face.

"Hello," Jiro stepped closer to them. "It's really disappointing to see and hear you all gossiping about someone else's personal problems. Kaya kung ako sa inyo, pumunta na lang kayo sa klase."

Napatikom ang lahat ng bibig. May ilan na tumili para kay Jiro dahil sa kanyang sinabi, but others looked genuinely scared, intimidated by his commanding aura. Well, him being the lead vocalist of the famous local band zeroBase had already built his image—not just one full of intimidation, but an aura that screamed danger. Sa unang tingin pa lang, mukha siyang nakakatakot. Pero ngayong nakilala ko siya nang mas mabuti, doon lang siya naging mas nauunawaan, na mukha siyang tanga.

People are so quick to misunderstand others.

Hindi lahat ng mukhang mabait ay mabait, at hindi rin lahat ng mukhang masama ay masama.

"Thanks, I owe you," I said to Jiro, grateful for his help.

Ngumiti lamang si Jiro tsaka tumango. "Bilang kapalit, ilapit mo 'ko sa crush ko." He grinned.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "Yang crush mo na 'yan—kung magiging kayo man, hindi ko alam kung ikatutuwa ka ba niya o isa ka sa mga pinakamalaking pagsisisi niya sa buong buhay niya."

"Malay mo, wala sa mga choices ang gusto niya, kasi baka ang choice niya ay ako nalang ang mahalin." Tumawa siya habang lalo akong napasimangot. Kalandian nga naman.
"Hatid na muna kita sa klase mo, boss," dagdag niya na may pilyong ngiti.

"No need, Jiro," saad ko.

Baka isipin na naman nila Jeon at ng iba na nilalandi ko si Jiro dahil hinahatid niya ako sa klase. Ang totoo, kaibigan ko siya mula noong Junior High School. Kung bibigyan pa ako nila Jeon ng issue sa amin ng sikat na lead singer ng ZeroBase, talagang hindi ko na alam kung paano ko ilulugar ang sarili ko sa kanila.