Strings of Memory

Chapter 6

Did I do what she told me? Well... no. As I stood in front of the class, I could feel all eyes on me. My new classmates were whispering to each other, clearly trying to figure me out.

"Please introduce yourself," sabi ng adviser namin. Tumango ako sa kanya at muling ibinaling ang tingin sa mga kaklase ko.

"I'm Wynther." Tipid kong pakilala and I saw some expectations in their eyes. They are expecting me to add more or to give them a smile but I didn't. At mukhang naramdaman iyon ng adviser namin dahil kaagad siyang tumikhim.

"You may sit on the vacant seat behind." Sabi niya at itinuro ang nag-iisang upuan na bakante sa buong classroom. Tumango ako at naglakad papunta doon. Bawat hakbang ko ay ramdam na ramdam ko ang mga tingin ng mga kaklase ko sa akin pero hindi ko sila binigyang pansin. Sa una lang naman ito. Once na magtagal ako dito ay titigil din sila. It's uncomfortable but I can't do anything about this since I'm new here. I'm a new face and people would always be drawn to be interested in new things... or people.

Pagkaupo ko sa upuan, tinutok ko na lang ang mga mata ko sa harap nang marinig ko ang isang mahinang boses mula sa tabi ko.

"Hey."

Napatingin ako sa kanya at biglang kumunot ang noo ko.

Short curly hair. The necktie that felt oddly familiar. And the same headset she wore the day she knocked me on the face, though it was now lying on her desk.

I've been thinking about how the necktie feels familiar since I saw it yesterday. Of course, it will be since she's wearing her uniform on the day she hit me in the face, causing my phone to break.

Binigyan niya ako ng isang matamis na ngiti. "I'm Luna," pakilala niya sa sarili.

I felt a warm gust of wind blow when she smiled. If this were any other time-or if this was the first time we met-I know I would have been in awe of her smile. My heart would probably be racing nonstop right now. But it didn't. Although there was a strange warmth inside me, it was completely overshadowed by the irritation I felt as I remembered what happened.

Hindi man lang siya nagsorry sa akin ng tamaan ng tuhod niya ang mukha ko. Instead, she just got up as if nothing happened and ran off, leaving me there. She acted like it was no big deal, and that still annoys me. It also seems like she doesn't even recognize me-the guy she hit-which only adds to my annoyance.

Tinitigan ko lang siya sandali bago ibinalik ang tingin sa harapan. I don't feel like talking to her. She annoys me, and I hate annoying people.

"Sungit." Narinig kong bulong niya pero mukhang sinigurado niyang maririnig ko iyon. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niya at nagfocus na lang sa tinuturo ng adviser namin.

Pagkatapos ng klase ay kaagad na lumapit sa akin ang mga kaklase ko-especially the girls. They introduced themselves, but I didn't care. Tumayo ako mula sa kinauupuan ko at dumiretso palabas ng classroom. I don't want to deal with things like that.

Naglakad-lakad lang ako sa building habang hinahanap ang daan papunta sa rooftop. Nang makita iyon ay kaagad akong umakyat at napapikit nang salubungin ako ng hangin.

They were all being so annoying, and I needed this escape. I stayed there for a while until it was time to head back to class. And because of what I did earlier-walking out while they were still talking to me-parang nag-alangan na silang lumapit ulit. Napangiti ako sa sarili ko. Finally, some peace of mind.

Natapos ang araw na wala nang sumubok na kumausap sa akin. Even my deskmate didn't dare try to talk to me again, and honestly, I'm glad they didn't. I have no plans of making friends with them anyway.