Always Have Been, Always Will Be

14

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Chapter 14

Cupcakes

"Anong position gusto mo, Elize? I-n-nominate kita kahit na President pa 'yan!" Masiglang wika ni Euclid habang papalakad kami papuntang HUMSS building.

Humigpit ang pagkapit ng kamay ko sa strap ng aking bag. Hindi ako nakasagot kaagad at patuloy lang ang aking paglalakad habang nakatingin sa malayo. Nakita ko kung paano nagtaka si Euclid sa bandang sulok ng aking mga mata.

"Kahit ano lang," walang gana kong tugon.

"Huh? Pero sabi ni Thaianara gusto mo raw maging President?"

I heaved a sigh.

So I guess that was the reason why she pulled Euclid to talk earlier before leaving us to attend the first ever meeting of the YES-O Club. She probably just wanted to help, considering how she witnessed the way I was obliterated through the screen of my phone. Thaianara must have thought that maybe if I got the President position after all, mommy's anger towards me would lessen.

And I would usually think that too, but somehow, it didn't matter to me anymore. There were...more things my head was preoccupied of. I still continued what I would normally do such as reviewing and taking down notes, but this time, I lacked focus. It was like walking a path where you'd easily get distracted by every little things along the way. And those 'little things' were the constant thoughts that unsolicitedly flashed my mind every second.

After that day at the Festive Walk, I came back home with a clear mind. But the days following it, I was slowly getting pulled back into the murk of thoughts that continued to haunt me every single day I wake up.

Days flew by, but it felt like I was still seated on my chair after I just finished that call with mommy, wondering what just happened and why did mommy looked so panicked. I tried my best to not think anything of it, but the mind thinks what it wants to think—the same way the heart wants what it wants.

"Pierce, bilhan mo nga si Elize ng banana milk sa vending machine," si Euclid at naglahad ng isang daan kay Pierce na kasama namin. Agad niya naman itong kinuha.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at bahagyang nanlaki ang aking mga mata.

"Wait, I didn't ask for one," agap ko.

Binalingan ako ni Pierce. "Ayaw mo ng banana milk?"

I licked my lower lip and shook my head. "I'm good, Pierce. I wasn't really asking for it..."

Euclid hissed and nudged Pierce lightly. "Makinig ka sa 'kin. Bilhan mo na siya. Bilis. Gusto niya 'yan, nahihiya lang."

My forehead knotted.

"What? Wala naman akong sinab—"

"May narinig ka ba?" Putol sa akin ni Euclid at kinausap kunwari si Pierce, halatang ayaw akong patanggihin sa biglaan niyang alok.

"Euclid..." Tawag ko.

"Pierce, pakibilisan, please? Malapit na mag-start yung meeting, oh," usal ni Euclid na ngayo'y malambot na ang tono, sinasadya iyon para mapasunod niya si Pierce.