See My Side (3FOL Series #2) - UNDER MAJOR REVISION

Chapter 13 - Build Bridges

Chapter theme: Afterglow - Taylor Swift

"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies."

***

Second day ng third periodic test namin. Akala ko magiging mag-isa na naman ako nung break time pero laking pasasalamat ko nang muli akong sinamahan nila Rena at Chianna. Siguro naaawa na silang dalawa sa akin kaya nila ginagawa 'to. Ang pathetic ko na ata sa paningin nilang lahat.

Rena even bought me a strawberry milkshake, much to my surprise. I was hesitant to accept it at first, but she insisted. And for the first time, I saw her eyes flicked with so much care.

"T-Thanks," I mumbled awkwardly.

I thought she would just ignore me just like yesterday, but I was caught off guard when she strike a conversation with me. "How's your exam? Siguro sisiw lang sa'yo kasi matalino ka naman."

Hindi ako makasagot agad dahil ayaw mag-function ng utak ko. Hindi ko alam kung totoo ba ito o isa lamang itong magandang panaginip o baka nagha-hallucinate lang ako?

Pasimple kong kinurot ang mga hita ko para makumpirma kung ano ba talagang nangyayari. Napangiwi na lang ako nang makaramdam ako ng sakit. I'm not dreaming. They're real.

I instantly shifted my gaze at Chianna and smiled fondly at her when our eyes met, but she only looked away. Hindi ko makuhang magtampo dahil napansin ko ang paglambot ng ekspresyon sa mukha niya nang sandaling magtama ang mga mata namin.

I heard her cleared her throat as she turned to Rena, watching her in silence. Pinagmasdan niya lang ito na labis rin ang pagkalito sa asal nito. Maybe just like me, hindi rin niya inaasahan ang mga ginagawa nito.

Si Rena pa ba? Kakausapin ako? Eh, muhing-muhi sa akin ang isang 'to.

"Uso sumagot, alam mo 'yon?" sambit ni Rena upang pabalikin ako sa wisyo ko.

I just stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Okay ka lang?" she asked. Her voice sounds so soothing, making my heart feels warm.

"Sorry for spacing out. Nagulat lang ako," I admitted, still lost at her gentle gesture.

She frowned. "Nagulat saan?"

"Ito. Kinakausap mo ko."

"Why? You don't like it? You hate me now, right?"

I shook my head wildly. "No! It's not like that! Gusto ko 'to...yung ganito na may nakakausap. Iyong may pumapansin na sa akin. Finally, hindi na ako invisible," biro ko.

I'm tired of being alone. Thank you for saving me from this misery.

"Eh, bakit ka umiiyak diyan? Isipin nila inaaway kita. Kinakausap lang kita ha, wala akong ginagawa sa'yo," she said defensively.

Agad akong napahawak sa magkabilang pisngi ko. Hindi ko na namalayan ang pagluha ko at kung kailan sila nagsimulang pumatak. Siguro dahil sa sobrang bottled up na ng emotions ko nitong nakaraan kaya heto, unti-unti silang kumakawala.

"Sorry. Nakakahiya," I mumbled, wiping away my tears.

"It's okay." Inabutan niya ako ng tissue at malugod ko namang tinanggap 'yon. "I understand where you're coming from."