Ci and Rei (ON-GOING)

V

"ANG YABANG-yabang. Inapakan na nga ng maduming sapatos ang papel, hindi pa ako tinulungan, nagbanta pa. Akala mo naman ay kung sino siyang kakatakutan ko."

I couldn't help but rant about everything that happened earlier. Halos hindi ko na magalaw ang delish dish sa harap ko dahil sa inis. Nasa Bistro na kami ngayon to eat lunch dahil may home-activity lang na pinadala sa'min si Ms. Eda.

"Mon ami... calm down." ani Florice. "The president..." panimula niya. Nangunot naman ang noo ko nang maalala ang lalaking iyon. "Gosh I still couldn't believe that you did that, Reina!"

Napailing nalang si Eli, "It's not something to celebrate for, Flor. We know him..." napasapo siya sa noo, "Kung hindi pa dumating si Sir Amy ay baka ano na'ng nangyari kanina! Huwag na huwag mo nang gagawin ulit 'yon understood?!" talagang hinawakan niya pa ang baba ko para tumingin ako sa kaniya.

I can't promise. Basta ayusin din niya ang buhay niya.

I just couldn't shrug it off after seeing my friend cry. Tsk.

"Psh, I know that look! She won't listen I told you!" Laurie exclaimed, predicted my facial expression.

"Mon ami... makinig ka sa'min." sambit ni Florice. Worried. "I admired you but fighting him won't make things better, I tell you."

I sighed in defeat, "Bakit ba takot na takot kayo sa lalaking 'yon?" I spat. "Fine, I get it. He does it for discipline but did you see how he acted and talked to her earlier? How can I be nice to him if he shows how undeserving he was for it?"

Maybe I did a mistake for fighting back but... I just couldn't let that pass. I got so caught up that I didn't know what I was  saying to him.

"Ayo, ladies! How are you?"

Smiling, Lestheo sat down to join us. Sinubo ko nalang ang cheesy pasta dahil naramdaman ko na ang pagkalam ng sikmura ko. Naging tahimik ang table namin at parang naramdaman ata ni Lestheo ang mabigat na atmosphere.

"What's wrong?" bulong niya sa kapatid niya. "Wait. Don't tell me..." He trailed off. "Kayo ba 'yong usap-usapan sa campus? The girl who was captured and the étudiante that disrespected the president?"

My brows furrowed, "Étudiante that what?" Disrespected huh. "Sino ang nagkalat?"

Natahimik naman sandali si Theo at napalunok, "Was it you?"

"Sino. ang. nagkalat." mariin kong sambit, nilapit na ang mukha sa kaniya.

"I don't know! May nakarinig lang daw ng pagtatalo nyo sa dean's office!" He mumbled, a bit pressured. Huminga ako ng malalim at kumalma ng kaunti. But I couldn't stand my mind from the racing thoughts.

I can't believe I was labeled of that after my years of obedience and modesty.

"She didn't disrespect him. She just defended your sister from him." pagtatama ni Eli.

His mouth hanged open and looked at his sister when he realized, "You were captured?" hindi makapaniwalang aniya.

She looked at him questioningly, "Yes?"

He scoffed, "Darn, why?"

Nangunot ang noo ko nang makitang parang ikinatutuwa niya pa iyon. Hinampas naman siya sa braso ni Laurie. Naaasar na.

"Natatawa ka?"

He forced to plaster a straight face but his eyes were still narrowed, "I'm not? Anyways, how did it happened?"

She just rolled her eyes and sighed, "Hindi ko naman alam na may nangyayaring ganoon dito... honestly. Nagliwaliw kasi ako sa garden malapit sa..."

He was trying so hard to suppress his laugh kahit naririnig na namin ang bungisngis niya. Napangisi nalang ako nang piningot ni Laurie ang tainga niya, asar na. Uma-aray pa ito kahit natatawa pa rin. Hindi na tuloy maipinta ang mukha niya.