A Love To Remember

23.

Audrey's Pov

As I was walking and making my way inside the school, someone caught my attention. My eyes landed on her and she was already staring at me.

Bakit ba kasi nalate ako?! Sa dinami raming students na pwede kong makasabay bakit siya pa?

“Pakisulat name niyo.” sabi ng guard saamin.

“Po?” mahinang tanong ko kaya napakunot noo ito at itinuro yung notebook na nasa harapan namin.

“Ilista niyo name niyo kasi ipapatawag kayo after class.” sagot ni manong guard.

“Ako na maglilista.” biglang pumunta sa unahan ko si Bada at inilista mga pangalan namin.

“Iniba na rules?” mahinang bulong ko habang nakatingin kay manong guard.

“Oo para madala kayo.” sagot ni manong at pinapasok na kaming dalawa.

While we're walking, I can feel the awkwardness between us and also the students have their eyes on us. I chose to ignore them and walked a bit fast, leaving her behind.

“Bakit hinihingal ka?” salubong ni Hanna saakin at agad akong pumunta sa upuan ko. Later on, sumunod namang pumasok si Bada.

“Malamang late na ako.” sagot ko sakanya.

“Ang sabihin mo kayong dalawa ni Bada.”

“Alam ko.”

“Bakit kaba kasi nagpalate? Don't tell me you stayed up all night wondering—” I cut her off.

“No! I was just tired.”

“Sus lagi namang ganyan sagot mo pero ang totoo, nagmumukmok ka.”

“Shh! Bumalik kana nga sa upuan mo.” taboy ko sakanya at tinawanan niya lang ako.

Our class went well and as usual pinag-uusapan na yung prom namin. Mamaya na yung deadline ng form at halos lahat ata sila nakapagpasa na except me. Yes, hindi pa rin ako makapagdecide if I'd go or not.

*Basta date kita ah!” nakikinig lang ako sa mga kaklase ko at yung ibang boys, inaaya na yung mga girls para maging kadate nila.

“Aba wala man lang proposal? Ang corny mo talaga eh!” nagtawanan kaming lahat.

“Ayokong gumastos para sa promposal kasi mas pinaghahandaan ko proposal ko sayo—”

“Hoy hindi kita papakasalan!”

Lahat sila nagtatawanan at ramdam mo talagang excited sila. I took a deep breath and scanned our room. My eyes laid on Bada, who was busy minding her own business and not even responding with our classmates.

She's so quiet and not even interacting with most of us, she's been so distant. Well, ako rin naman. We're on the same page para matahimik na lahat.

“Bada, sinong kadate mo?” one of my classmates asked Bada and caught everyone's attention.

“Huh?” Bada bore her eyes in front and I, on the other hand, was waiting for her response.

“Sinong aayain mo para makadate mo sa prom?” my classmate repeatedly asked her.

“Si Iris.” matipid na sagot ni Bada sabay iwas ng tingin niya.

“Yung taga Class A? Bada, totoo bang sa iisang bahay lang kayo nakatira? May nakakita raw sainyo na magkasama eh.” marami na nakisali sa usapan nila at nagsimulang tanungin si Bada.

“Oo, we're living together.”

“Bakit?”

“Long story and it's too personal kaya I can't answer you”" Bada responded and smiled a bit.

Habang sinasagot ni Bada yung mga tanong nila para akong sinasampal ng katotohanan. Si Laine naman panay ang lingon saakin at halatang concerned na concerned siya ganun din yung dalawa.

“Ilang years na relasyon niyo?”

“She was my childhood friend and first love. We've been together for a long time.” sagot ni Bada kaya this time yung iba kong mga kaklase napatingin na sa direksyon ko.

So ano ako? Isiningit niya lang habang wala si Iris? Ano yun? She has a girlfriend pero she's been giving me mixed signals and for what? Tangina ano yun pang playtime and bored time lang ako?

“Hoy! Tama na nga 'yan.” Jewel shouted and interrupted their conversation.

“Nagtatanong lang eh.”

“Tumigil kana. Hindi naman kami interesadong malaman 'yan.” Hanna butted in and signaled them to stop.

Wow all this time she just played with my feelings. She knew I would give in to her so she continued and confused me until I felt something and dumped me when her girl came back.

I was being played and betrayed-what a fucking losers.

I couldn't stand it anymore and stood up as I stormed outside of our room, not minding them.

“Bakit ako pa?” bulong ko sa sarili ko at nagmamadaling tumakbo kung saan.

Ano bang kasalanang ginawa ko sa past life ko para paglaruan ng ganito? Habang tumatagal, mas lalong sumasakit mga nalalaman ko eh. Pwede bang isang bagsakan na lang para isang sakit na lang at makamove on na ako agad?

Ang unfair naman. Bada, ang unfair unfair mo.

—

After class, pinagtawag kaming dalawa ni Bada and since we were late, inassign saamin yung library para linisin.

“Iiwanan ko muna kayo ha? Hindi pa kasi ako naglulunch.” sabi ng librarian saamin.

“Okay po.” sagot naman ni Bada.

Once she left, we started cleaning up and the silence was unbearable. I couldn't even stand near her so I did try my best to avoid her as if she wasn't in a same room with me.

Inuna kong linisin yung bookshelves habang siya naman, nasa tables. Next time hindi na talaga ako magpapalate kung ganito magiging parusa. I mean bakit siya pa? Ganito ba talaga ako kamalas?

“Audrey...” Bada suddenly called my name.

“Hmm?”

“You need help?” Bada asked me and I immediately shook my head, refusing her.

“Gusto mong ako na maglinis dyan? Ikaw na lang dito sa mga tables para hindi kana mahirapan.” She added, walking towards me.

In game ba ulit siya? Nakakatangina naman talaga ni Bada haha alam niya kung paano ako kunin eh! Alam na alam niya.

“No, I can do this.” sagot ko sakanya at never siyang tinignan.

“Hindi mo nga maabot yung taas eh.”

“Pwede bang tumigil kana? Please lang tapusin na natin 'to kasi gusto ko na makaalis dito.” walang gana kong sagot sakanya at lumipat ng pwesto.

After nun hindi na niya ako kinulit at parehas kaming naging busy sa paglilinis. Ilang oras lang natapos din kami pero hindi pa rin bumabalik yung librarian namin kaya we have to wait for her para pirmahan yung paper namin.

“Water?” Bada asked me, handing me a water.

“No.” I said, avoiding her eyes.

Bada is sitting in front of me and we're resting. Instead of talking to her or let the silence kill me, I took out my phone but only to realize it was running out of battery.

“Bakit ngayon pa?” I whispered, shutting my eyes and calmed myself down.

“Audrey—”

“I need to go.” I cut off her words and got up, gathering all my things.

“Wala pa yung librarian.” pagpigil niya saakin habang sinusundan ako ng tingin.

“Ikaw na lang maghintay. You have my paper and all she needs to do is sign it. I need to leave....shit?” my words trailed off as I held the doorknob and tried to open it up.

“Bakit?” Bada worriedly asked as I looked into her direction.

“Nakalock yung pinto.”