Chasing Flare (GirlxGirl) (ProfessorxStudent)

Kabanata 42

Flare

She abruptly pulled her hands away from mine and averted her eyes somewhere else.

Mapait akong ngumiti. Akala ko hindi na ako masasaktan nang ganito. Hinanda ko naman na ang sarili ko dati pa dahil alam kong ikakasal din talaga ito lalo pa at may fiancee naman ito noon. Pero masakit parin pala talaga na makita mismo nang harap-harapan ang taong minahal mo at malamang kasal na nga talaga ito.

I tried to hide the pain and smiled at her. "So, is it Miss Zarah? K-kelan lang po kayo nagpakasal, Miss Three?"

Sinalubong nito ang mga mata ko at bumuntong-hininga. She bit her lip and said.

"Yes. A month after......after you left." umupo ito sa swivel chair nito na hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin.

Parang may kumurot sa puso ko sa pagkompirma nitong si Miss Zarah nga ang pinakasalan nito. Charity was right. She still haven't moved on. She still loved her through the years. Pero bakit agad-agad? One month after ko umalis?

Pilit akong ngumiti at nagdadasal na sana hindi nya makitang nasasaktan ako ngayon. "Congratulations to the both of you, Miss Three. I'm happy for you." I also congratulate myself when I didn't stutter. I waited for her response yet she didn't.

I bit my cheek inside when she didn't respond pero umawang ang bibig nito at muli lang ding itinikom.

"Kasama nyo po ba sya dito?" she shook her head no and she tapped her desk with her fingertips.

"No. She live alone in her house." napakunot-noo ako sa sinabi nya. Bakit sila hindi magkasama kung kasal na sila? Alone in her house? Why?

"Hindi po kayo....magkasama? Bakit po?" I mentally slapped my head dahil nagiging marites na ako masyado.

"I have to take care of my cousin's school while she's away. At ayokong sumama pa sya dito. And also.....I have an unfinished business to take care of....that I wish I should have done before."

"Which is?" gaga ka talaga, Flare. Sige, mag marites ka pa at gusto mo talaga yatang masaktan pa. Pero kasi naman nakucurious ako sa mga sinabi nya.

She just smiled at me. "You can go now, Professor."

I sigh, feeling a bit of disappointment when she doesn't answer my question. Tumango ako dito at nagsimula nang humakbang paalis nang tawagin nya ako.

"Peyton." she heavily breathe and shook her head like she stopped herself from saying anything.

"I'm sorry if my niece tried to put you in trouble. I'll take care of her." I just nod again at lumabas na ng office nito.

-

Saturday morning came. Nag ayos ako ng sarili dahil ngayong araw ko mami-meet ang mga softball players under my supervision. And this day may orientation din ako sa kanila kung ano ang magiging set-up namin.

I opened my walk-in closet at kinuha ang mga susuotin ko ngayon. Inayos ko ang mga black inner cycling longsleeve shirt ko partnered with black cycling pants, black knee socks at white nike softball cleats ko na binili ko kahapon para magamit for today.

I already met their team captain, Ryleigh and told her to tell her teammates not to wear a metal cleats to avoid accidents in field.

Suot ko na lahat ng mga damit ko for softball at pinatungan ko na lang ito ng white T-shirt. Tinali ko ang buhok ko into a messy bun at sinuot ang dark blue baseball cap ko. I smiled in front of my mirror nang mabistahan ko ang aking sarili. Adrenaline rushed over me at hindi ko mapigilang maexcite. Gosh! Para akong bumalik sa pagka teenager ko. I miss those days na natutulog ako with my teammates sa iisang quarter at gigising ng maaga para sa practice namin. Tapos kapag nagkamali sa mga catching and throwing ay pagagalitan ng aming coach at may parusa pang 10 push-ups per error. A life of an athlete.