Platonic Hearts (Compass Series #1)

Chapter Twenty-seven

Confrontations

Dumating ang lunes at hindi na ako makapaghintay na pumasok ulit. I felt like it's been a long since I took school seriously--eventhough I also have before. Hindi ko rin maiwasang kabahan. Nag-expect na kasi akong walang mabuting salubong mangyayari sa akin doon... lalo na mula sa mga profs ko. Inaasahan ko na rin na ku-kwestyunin nila ako sa mga bagay-bagay. And I understand.

I missed the org too. I don't expect to feel welcome there anymore. Dahil sa pagkakataong ito, alam kong pinalitan na ako sa posisyon ko. They won't be so happy once they see me I'm sure. Madi-disappoint lang sila dahil marami akong iniwan na gawain. I was supposed to most of the work, but then I just disappeared. At hindi ko man lang sila sinabihan o sinubukang i-contact.

"Sigurado ka na ba talaga dito? Hindi na ba talaga nakukumbinsi na huwag munang pumasok? Wala ng urungan, Aria?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Rhysand sa driver's seat.

Niyakap ko ang backpack na ibinili niya para sa akin atsaka tumango. I still don't get it why he doesn't want me to go. "Oo naman. I still value my education, Rhy. Hindi ko nalang basta-bastang talikuran ito dahil lang sa ayaw na sa akin ng pamilya ko." I flashed him a smile for assurance.

Mas lalo lang nag-aalala lang ang tingin niya sa akin bago napabuntong-hininga nalang at inumpisahan na ang pagmamaneho. He keep on glancing at me with doubts all over his face while he's driving. Parang hindi talaga siya kumpurme at komportable sa ideya kong ito simula pa kaninang umaga.

"This is going to be a fucked up day if your classmates and teachers start to question you about stupid issues. At hindi tayo palaging magkakasama doon. Pero pwedeng-pwede mo pa itong iwasan," he suggested.

"No, Rhysand. This is something I need to face on my own. I need to confront this alone. Kaya huwag mo na akong alalahanin pa..." Huminga ako ng malalim at ngumiti sa kanya. "I just need to r-reason out..."

"Yeah? And what exactly would you tell them as a reason? Mababawi ba ng rason mong 'yan ang lahat ng exams na na-miss mo? Do you think your profs will understand and just let you pass?" He blurted out.

Pakiramdam ko nanghina ako bigla sa mga tanong niya. He was being straightforward with me and I guess I needed that now. And if I would be honest... "No."

Umiling ako. "But... I would still like to try."

"Balak mo bang sabihin sa kanila ang nangyari sayo, Aria?"

It took me a while before I could shake my head. "H-Hindi... Mapapahiya ang pamilya namin kapag ginawa ko 'yun. They will have a bad impression there. A-At maraming kilala ang mga magulang ko roon na mga investors nila... Our company can't loose them."

He leaned against the wheel. Ramdam ko ang bahagyang pagbagal ng takbo ng sasakyan. He stopped when the red light was on ahead before glancing at me. "Does that even fucking matter right now?"

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Diretsong tumingin nalang ako sa harapan. I can see the gate of our school from here. Tons of students on our uniforms were already rushing their ways there. Mas lalo pa akong kinabahan. Parang doon nalang nagsink-in sakin ang mga tanong niya. Would anyone even believe me? Mababawi ba nun lahat ng mga grades ko? Nakukumbinsi ko ba ang lahat?

No.

"Rhysand..."

"Can you for once listen to me? I'm telling you this won't go well, Aria. Ako nalang kaya ang kakausap sa--"

"I can handle this." I told him. But that was more of for me. "At kung nagbago man ang tingin nila sa akin, hindi na 'yun mahalaga pa. Besides, I'm just waiting for me to graduate... Then I can start somewhere again. Kaunting tiis nalang ito."