Mean to Be (Mean #2)

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen
Together

Bumalik din si Kade nang tumunog ang bell. Nakangisi siyang umupo sa tabi ko sabay sabi ng: "Mamaya na lang yung space, may quiz pala tayo. Pakopya ha!"

I ended up hitting him in the arm with my mighty fist. Pinagalitan ko pa siya and he apologized profusedly. He even kept on making cute faces, like it would have a damn effect on me. Ngumunguso at pumikipikit-pikit pa ang sira.

Pagkatapos ko siyang saktan ng paulit-ulit ay pinakopya ko rin siya. Wala rin naman akong choice dahil ayaw niya akong tigilan at kalabit pa siya ng kalabit sa akin, tinatanong ang mga sagot. I'm starting to suspect that Kade mind tricked me to be his friend. He's such a weirdo.

Rush was waiting for me outside of the room when my professor dismissed our class. Iyon ang pangalawang class ko at vacant time ko na. Hindi ko alam kung paano nalaman iyon ni Rush samantalang wala naman akong sinabi sa kanya. Wala rin ako naalalang napag-usapan namin ang schedule ko.

Then I realized how pointless it was for me to ponder hard about how Rush found out my schedule. He's Rush, after all. His name is a reason enough. He can find out everything there is to know, as long as he wants it.

"What are you doing here?" I wasn't really expecting him to be waiting for me outside. Habang hinihintay ko ang sagot niya ay ginamit ni Rush ang oras na iyon para kunin ang bag mula sa akin.

"I'm going to take you out for lunch." binigyan niya ako ng pilyong ngisi niya at hindi pa rin maipinta ang mukha ko dahil hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang dapat kong maging reaksyon sa sudden appearance niya.

"Maxie--" Kade's voice trailed and I felt him standing a few distance behind me. I was standing near the room's door and I was blocking the entrance. Something heavy inside my chest got lifted when I heard Kade's voice.

Hindi ko pa kayang harapin si Rush dahil hanggang ngayon ay naguguluhan pa rin ako sa lahat ng mga pangyayari. I really don't want to use Kade as an excuse and I know it's wrong to put him in the middle but I have no other choice.

"I already have plans with Kade." malamig na sabi ko kay Rush. Lumipat bigla ang maiinit na tingin ni Rush kay Kade at biglang lumamig ang mga titig niyang iyon. Nilingon ko rin si Kade at nakita ko naman na mukhang naasiwa siya.

"Uhh... It's okay. I can eat out with my other friends, Maxie." hahakbang na sana siya para lampasan ako pero mabilis kong hinawakan ang braso niya at hinigit siya sa tabi ko. Lumipat ang mga tingin ni Rush sa kamay kong nakahawak kay Kade at tumaas ang kilay nito. Parang sumikip ang dibdib ko sa naging reaksyon niyang iyon.

"No, Kade." I removed my eyes from Kade and transferred it to Rush who's now looking at me with high intensity. "As you can see-"

"Alright. Sasama na lang ako sa inyo." Rush grabbed the hand that was holding Kade's arm, interlacing his fingers and gripping on it as tight as possible. He harshly pulled me closer to him that I stumbled to his side with a soft shriek.

Kade's brow raised at Rush and my joint hands before looking directly in my eyes with an amused grin. "Really, Maxie. You can go eat lunch with Rush. My friends asked me if I was free, anyway."

"That's good to hear." Rush mocked and it was my instant reaction to elbow him in the side. He grunted and I turned to give him a warning look. I returned my eyes back to Kade who's seemed to be very entertained.

"You're going with us, Kade. Pinakopya kita, usapan natin ililibre mo ako diba?"

"Ah-" hindi pa nakakasagot si Kade ay pinutol na ito ng pagbuntong hininga ni Rush.