Rogue Wars Online

Chapter Fifty-Four: For Some Friendships Don't Last

Hindi lang sila ang tinatanong niya. June also became more interested in my own gameplay. Minsan ay hindi na siya naglalaro ng kaniya at nagpapaturo sa'kin kung paano ko ginagawa ang mga techniques. I didn't think so much about it since it wasn't really a secret.

June's family was out of the country so she had no bruises for a month. Siguro ay dahil lang rin sa na-experience niya kaya madalas din siyang magbuhat ng kamay. Whenever she gets slightly irritated, she would resort to physical violence.

We were eleven when she first pushed me to the ground. Nasa playground kami no'n at nasa may swing sina Gavin. June keeps on insisting me to go towards them pero ayoko dahil maingay. He's surrounded by girls and boys alike, asking him things.

"Dali na kasi, Finn. Pumunta tayo doon at kausapin mo si Gavin." pagpupumilit niya.

Umiling ako. "Go. I'll wait." sabay turo ko sa isang bench.

"Ayoko nga. Sumama ka kasi tapos kausapin mo si Gavin!"

Kumunot ang noo ko do'n. Wala naman akong sasabihing importante sa kaniya at ayoko sa mga crowds. Muli akong umiling kay June.

"You can go."

"Eh sinabing samahan mo ako!" sigaw niya at itinulak ako paupo.

Sa sobrang gulat ko ay hindi agad ako naka-react. I only felt a pair of arms guide me up and Renée was already beside me, glaring at June whose eyes were wide.

"Why did you push her?" Ree sounded pissed.

"Siguro may ginawang masama si Finn para itulak ni June, Renée." ani Tasha na tinaasan ako ng kilay. "Maybe Finn wanted to go to Gavin pero ayaw ni June kasi nahihiya tapos pinipilit nitong kaibigan mo. She's a weird-"

"Shut up, Tasha." Ree cut her off. "Hindi naman ikaw tinatanong ko."

"What! It's true! Finley is very weird! Lagi na lang nakatutok sa cellphone tapos nagp-play ng strange games at 'di pa siya nagsasalita! Like, pipi ka ba? Napakaweird niya't mukhang poor kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit palagi kayong sumasama ni Gavin sa kaniya!" Tasha shouted, getting most of the attention in the playground. "Parehas sila ni Sebastian na laging nakatutok sa libro. A weirdo and- and a nerd!"

"Don't talk about my friends like that! Finley and Sebastian are better than all of you. They're not weird! If you think they're weird, then think of me as weird too!"

Renée turned around dragging me with him. Ang isang Sebastian na nakatayo lang pala't nakatingin sa gilid ay sumama. Gavin, who was watching from the swing, also got up and excused himself from his friends, jogging to catch up with us. Sa gitna ng paglalakad namin sa sea wall, natigilan kaming tatlo nang humikbi si Renée.

"Bakit ba ang bad nila mag-isip?" naiiyak niyang tugon. "That girl even pushed you. I told you to stay away from her because her family only means trouble!"

Ibinaba ko ang tingin. "'m sorry."

Renée faced me. "Huwag ka magsorry kasi wala ka namang ginawang kasalanan! I'm sorry... for shouting at you and what they said. You're not weird, Finn! You're the most interesting person in the earth!"

Ngumiti ako at pinunasan ang luha ni Renée. "Mm. Stop crying. Please."

Naiiyak na din kasi si Sebastian sa tabi. Gavin chuckled, taking a hold of my arm and smiling widely.