The Cure of Yesterday

12

The venue was already crowded when we arrived. Students from different medical schools filled the lobby wearing blazers, org jackets, and IDs habang kanya-kanyang bitbit ng reviewers at yellow pads. Some were rehearsing quietly with their teammates. Others looked suspiciously calm.

Nakaka-offend.

Paano nila nakakayang hindi kabahan?

While i was one inconvenience away from collapsing.

"Relax," sabi ni Paulo habang naglalakad kami papunta sa registration table. "Mukha kang hihimatayin."

"I might," sagot ko agad, mahigpit ang hawak sa cue cards ko.

Napatawa si Cha habang inaayos ang ID lace niya. "Too late para umatras, Noelle."

Easy for them to say.

Hindi naman sila yung assigned for rebuttals.

I hated rebuttals.

Well... not exactly hated.

I loved the adrenaline of it. The thrill of dismantling arguments in real time. The satisfaction of cornering the opposing side until they start contradicting themselves. Pero rebuttals also meant there was no room for hesitation. One wrong response and the entire room would remember it.

"Maria Noelle."

Napalingon agad ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Leander sa tabi ko. He's the only one who likes calling me by my full name, kulang nalang ay pati apelyido ko.

Hindi ko man lang napansin na nakatabi na pala siya sakin. One hand held his folder while the other carried a bottled water.

"Drink," sabi niya habang inaabot iyon sakin.

I blinked once before automatically accepting it.

"Thank you."

"You haven't stopped fixing your blazer for the last ten minutes," dagdag niya calmly.

Agad akong napatingin sa manggas ko.

"Have not."

"You adjusted it three times habang kausap ka ni Cha."

Napataas ang kilay ko.

Leander's lips twitched slightly, halatang pinipigilan yung ngiti. Then before I could complain, he suddenly reached toward me.

My breath caught immediately.

His fingers lightly brushed against the collar of my blazer habang inaayos niya yung bahagyang nakatuping parte malapit sa balikat ko. Magaan lang ang movements niya. As if hindi niya alam ang epekto noon sa heartbeat ko.

"There," sabi niya pagkatapos maayos iyon. "Mukha ka nang tao."

Napatitig lang ako sa kanya.

God.

Bakit ba kasi kailangan niyang gawin iyon nang parang normal lang?

"Uy—"

"Shut up, paulo," singhal ko ng hindi lumingon sa kanya.

Narinig kong humalakhak si Cha.

Leander only shook his head slightly before stepping away.

"Don't overthink too much later," sabi niya habang inaayos ulit yung hawak niyang papers. "Masiyado ka nang magaling para sa mga kalaban natin."

And for some stupid reason, mas lalo yata akong kinabahan dahil doon. Hindi ba dapat nakakakalma kapag ini-encourage ka? Bakit parang gusto ko nalang himatayin?