She Crossed That Bridge

25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

You won't be . . .

I forced my way to the crowded hallways of Kyll High.

It's my first day of senior year and I can't wait to make the best out of it. Matagal kong hinintay 'tong school year na 'to, and finally, nandito na ako.

No Helix. No Zeke. No Andrew. No Gerald. No Nico. No P5.

Everywhere I looked around the corner, there were couples kissing—almost making out, students laughing, gossiping, and talking about how good their summer break was. Palagi namang gan'yan ang ganap sa paligid tuwing first day of school. Siyempre kanya-kanyang bida ng mga kuwento.

Napakibit-balikat na lang ako nang mapagtanto kong mas okay na 'to, kaysa naman sa makita ko 'yong kuya ko kasama ang mga kaibigan niya na walang ibang ginawa kundi buwisitin lang din ako.

I entered my English class and sat beside Kath.

"How's your summer vacation in Korea?" she asked, giving me a quick hug.

Agad ko siyang inirapan.

"Seriously, Kath? Iyan na lang talaga lagi una mong tanong sa 'kin tuwing first day of school," reklamo ko.

"And everytime I asked you that, gano'n pa rin lagi 'yong sagot mo, 'di na nagbago," she frowned, crossing her legs. "Holy crap," she blurted. Surprise suddenly crossed her face.

Napa'no naman siya bigla?

"Are you alright, Kath?"

"I am. But you won't be," makahulugang sabi niya kaya agad akong nagtaka.

What was she talking about?

Confused, I turn my head to see whatever she's looking at right now and I froze the moment I saw him.

He grew his hair, and he's wearing a mustard turtle neck long sleeve top that stretched over his broad shoulders, white skinny jeans, with his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder.

He quietly entered the room and his blue eyes finally met mine.

Hindi ko akalaing makikita ko ulit siya.

At mas lalong hindi ko inaasahang dito ko pa talaga siya ulit makikita.

It's been eight months since the last time I saw him. May nagbago rin sa kanya. He looked healthier now.

"He's hotter than ever," bulong sa 'kin ni Kath kaya agad ko siyang siniko at kinurot sa tagiliran. Kahit kailan talaga 'tong si Kath.

I didn't even realize that I was staring at him for so long until he avoided my eyes and sat near the wall.

"Ouch. That was rude." Kath chuckled. "I can't blame him, though. You're the one who broke up with him last year. Serves you right," she said, laughing like a devil.

I shot her a glare. What a very nice friend I have right here.

Oo na, halata namang hindi ako pinapansin ni Helix. Ang layo rin kasi sa 'kin n'ong inupuan niya. Masyadong obvious na ayaw niya akong pansinin o kausapin.

Helix was supposed to graduate in high school last academic year with his friends, but he dropped out of school because of chemo and radiation. Now he's obviously back to school. I guess he's doing fine now.

Hindi na siya namumutla tulad ng dati, at mukhang okay naman na ang kundisyon niya.

After two subjects, I went to the cafeteria for lunch without Kath because she's too busy exchanging text messages with her boyfriend, Zeke.

After I got my food, I sat in my usual place.

Everyone's staring at Helix who's peacefully eating lunch at his table a few meters away from me. He just smiles at them whenever he got the chance. Why couldn't he smile at me like that? He's so nice to everyone. Why did he hate me so much? It was him who pushed me away all the time, and all I did was give him what he wanted. Tapos ngayon, parang kasalanan ko pa lahat?

"Quit staring, little Ger. Go talk to him."

I almost jumped off my seat with the sudden presence of Dest. He put his tray on my table and sat across me.

"Jesus, Dest. You're giving me a heart attack," I complained. Bakit ba ugali niyang bigla-bigla na lang lumilitaw sa harapan ko? Ano ba'ng akala niya sa 'kin? 'Di marunong magulat? Grabe.

"Oh. Sorry. Want me to fix your heart?"

I rolled my eyes. "Gross."

He let out a small laugh and everyone's attention shifted to him. Great. I'm eating lunch with Dest and that's not a pleasant sight for his fans. Ayaw ko ng atensyon ng maraming tao, pero dahil nakaupo siya ngayon sa harapan ko at walang tigil ang pagkausap niya sa 'kin, lahat tuloy ng mga mata ng estudyante sa paligid ay masama ang tingin sa 'kin.

"Why are you here, Dest?" I asked, raising a brow at him.

He shrugged nonchalantly and flashed me a mischievous smile. "Why not? I'm enrolled here."

What the hell?

He's . . . what?

He's enrolled here?! Again?!

"I was sitting behind you the whole time, little Ger. Sa dami n'ong natapos na subject kanina, 'di mo man lang napansin. You know why? It's because you've been too busy staring at my brother. So, just go. Talk to him. Trust me, he's just waiting for you to approach him."

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