SNIPPET OF A FAIRYTALE

Purpose

That day, the usually crowded, and full of banters and loud laughs, table is surrounded with defeaning silence and wretched hearts.

"Chino won't get out of his room." Andeng said on a very low voice.

There's no reply  because they didn't know what is the right thing to say.

The four of them ate their meals in silence. Without saying a word, without even glancing at each other.

Kahit yung mga tables na katabi nila, mukhang ramdam rin ang atmosphere. Tahimik  halos lahat ng nasa canteen. Mahina lang ang kwentuhan halos bulungan lang. Though they know na palihim silang inoobserve ng mga kapwa nila estudyante. This isn't their normal school day. And they don't know if everything would still go back to how it was before.

Lahat sila napatunghay pati na yung mga nasa katabi nilang table nung biglang tumayo si Andeng sa kinauupuan.

"Tangina. Di ko kaya to." She said, her voice full of pain.

Everybody watched as she walked out of the canteen.

Nagkatinginan na lang si Sean, Roxanne, at Nathan.

"I must-" Roxanne

"Ako na Rox." Nathan was on his feet already.

He went out to follow Andeng.

Mabilis na nawala si Andeng, hinanap sya ni Nathan sa classroom pero wala dun. Wala rin naman sa office nito sa gazette. Pinagtanong-tanong nya sa mga schoolmates nila pero wala syang makuhang sagot. Hanggang naisip jya kung san pwede magtago si Andeng.

Sa likod ng school, sa ruins ng dating mga classrooms.

"I knew you'd be here." He walked closely to where she is sitting. Sa may bench malapit sa isang puno.

"Hindi mo ko kailangan sundan." She said without looking at him.

"Who knows what you'd do to yourself." Nathan crossed his arms.

Andeng gave him a side-eye.

"Hindi ako suicidal." She said in a rather defensive tone.

Nathan walked one step closer.

"I don't mean it that way. Kaya lang-" Nathan was cut off.

"-I'm fine Nathan. Si Pibi ang asikasuhin mo wag ako." Andeng's voice quivered.

"she's fine." Nathan replied.

A cold breeze embraced the place and they both fell silent.

Then her eyes landed on the vandals at the bench.

Tandang-tanda nya nung araw na pinagsusulat nila ang pangalan nila dito. She even asked Zoey to write her name kase wala syang tiwala sa sulat nya at si Zoey kahit lalaki maganda magsulat.

She couldn't hold it anymore. Her tears started to fall.

"Pakshet lang no. Ang saya-saya natin nun eh! Akalain mong... may pine-prepare pala ang putanginang tadhana na yan." She said in between sobs.

Hindi alam ni Nathan ang dapat sabihin o gawin sa pagkakataon na yon. He was never good in dealing with emotions. Kung organic chemistry to, surely he would know what to do. But this is comforting a person, which he has no idea.