I Could Fall

Chapter Eight

I eventually relaxed. It was easy after continuously telling myself that I shouldn't be guilty about what happened. Tinawag ko lang naman ang pangalan niya at hindi sinasadya na magulat siya. It wasn't my fault that he fell on the pool.

Naging effective ito lalo na nang magsimula na ang lesson sa bawat subject ay nabaling na sa iba ang atensyon ko. It's been a habit to take down notes during discussion, so I was solely focused on the discussion.

Hindi naman naging mahirap na katabi si Atticus. Tahimik lang ito. Hindi ko sigurado kung nakikinig din pero abala nga ako sa pagsusulat kaya hindi ko na rin napansin.

At the end of the subject, we were asked to submit the 1/4 index card. I brought out a pack of it. Bumili ako nang marami dahil alam kong required ang ganito.

"Hyon, pahingi naman!" sabi ni Trevor na nakaupo sa harapan ko.

Tumango ako at nagbigay ng isa para sa kanya. May apat pang nanghingi. Gavin, Vincent, Emman, and even Dashiel made an effort to come to my seat just to ask for paper. I'm not even surprised. Nanghihingi ang mga ito sa akin palagi. Minsan ay nanghihiram ng ballpen at kung ano pa. Ayos lang naman sa akin. I'm not selfish when it comes to giving what I have.

Habang nagsusulat ay napasulyap ako sa lalaking nakaupo sa tabi ko. Hindi siya nagsusulat at wala pang papel na nakalagay sa armchair niya.

I bit my lip and thought for a second if I'm gonna offer him my index card or not. Wala naman masama. Kung ibang tao ay ganoon din ang gagawin ko. I practiced my line first before finally speaking out.

"Gusto mo ba ng index card?" I smoothly said. I didn't stammer for the first time!

"Oh? Buti may natira pa?" he sarcastically said and chuckled as if something was funny.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. I don't get it. I just bought my things for school. Bagong bukas kaya syempre ay marami pang natira.

"Ang dami kasing lalaki na nanghingi," he supplied. May kakaiba sa tono niya. It sounded sarcastic, like he was still trying to point something out.

"Bago kasi 'to kaya marami pa naman," sagot ko.

"Hm," it sounded like he was mocking me.

"Gusto mo ba?" Inabot ko sa kanya ang isang piraso.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay kong nakalahad. He pursed his lips a little before accepting it from me.

"Thanks," he murmured and busied himself with writing down on the index card.

"You're welcome," I happily replied and minded my own business.

Pinapasa muna ang mga papel sa harap bago nag-dismiss ng klase para sa recess. Inayos ko ang mga gamit sa bag at kinuha ang wallet. Parang gusto ko ng smoothie at quesadilla ngayon. Just think about it makes my mouth water.

"Let's go, Hyon," I heard Dashiel's voice before I saw him.

He looked very grumpy now. Siguro ay gutom na. Sanay na ako. He turns into a monster when he's hungry. Only food can appease him. Suplado na pero mas suplado pa kapag gutom.

Agad akong tumayo. I don't wanna piss him off. Nakakatakot pa naman si Dashiel kapag galit.

Umikot pa ako para hindi dumaan sa harapan ni Atticus. I stopped when I remembered that he's new here and he probably doesn't have any friends to hang out with.

"Atticus," tawag ko. Nilingon naman ako agad nito. Hindi nagsalita pero kunot ang noo. "Gusto mong sumabay sa amin mag-recess?"

"Hyon!" tawag ni Dashiel kaya napalingon ako at nakita na nasa labas na siya.