Every Bad Thing

Chapter Nine

"Anong sabi mo?" tanong ko rito.

Huminga siya nang malalim at matapos ay umiling. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kanya at hinihintay na sagutin niya ang tanong ko pero hindi niya iyon ginawa.

"What are you doing here? You have a... Project?" he asked, changing the subject.

Alam kong hindi ko siya mapipilit na ulitin ang huli niyang sinabi kaya sumuko na lang agad ako. I'm stubborn as hell, but there are times when my stubbornness is no match to Silas' strong will.

"Project exam. Research paper sa History." tipid na sagot ko. Itatanong ko sana kung may ganitong project sila, pero magkaiba nga pala kami ng subject teacher.

"When is it due?" he glanced at the books before soberly looking at me again.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Shit. Why do I feel so guilty and embarrassed? I'm scared that he'll think that I'm slacking. Ayaw kong sagutin pero hindi ko naman kayang magsinungaling sa kanya.

Kinagat ko ang labi. "Tomorrow."

"And you're only doing it now?" he quietly asked. He seemed calm but I can hear the underlying accusation in his voice.

"Nakalimutan ko lang! Don't judge!" I exclaimed in an overly defensive tone. Silas continued staring at me. My face reddened. "Wag mo nga ako tingnan ng ganyan! I was preoccupied with other things kaya nakalimutan ko. Baka iniisip mo ang wala kong kwentang studyante."

"I'm not thinking anything." he innocently said.

"Not thinking anything my ass." I made a face at him. I think my choice of words triggered him to frown. Umirap ako. "Umalis ka na nga lang at magsisimula na ako."

Inangat niya ang isang braso at tumingin sa mamahaling wrist watch niya roon. Pati ako ay napatingin. Their library period is nearly over.

"I'll help you with your paper." umangat ang ulo niya at seryosong tumingin sa akin.

"Wag na." tanggi ko rito sabay iling.

"You can't finish a ten pages research alone, Laurene." kalmadong sabi niya. Hindi na ako nagtaka kung paano niya nalaman ang impormasyon na iyon. It's written on the paper that he was reading earlier.

True. But who said I'll be doing it alone? Magpapatulong ako kay kambal. O kaya kay Kuya Xavi or Ate Lavie. I can't ask my parents dahil paniguradong papagalitan lang nila ako.

"Hadeon will help me."

Silas shook his head. "He's busy with our own school works, it's due tomorrow, too."

"Ikaw? Hindi ka busy?" nag-angat ako ng kilay.

Tinitigan lang ako ni Silas. Hindi ako sinagot kahit tango o iling man lang. It was a stupid question anyway. Of course he's done with his own school works. He's the type who does his works the same day it was given. Edi wow.

"Silas." may tumawag sa kanya. Naputol ang pagtititigan naming dalawa at sabay na napatingin sa may-ari ng boses. It was a girl. Si Francheska to be specific. Her eyes were only on him as she smiled. "Time na."

Suminangot ako at iritadong tumingin sa babae. I waited for her to look at my way, just so I could let her see my annoyance but she never looked away from Silas.