Paper Planes

Kabanata 14

KABANATA 14

The following week, I was finally able to convince Gene that I was well enough to go to school. Paos pa kasi ako ng konti kaya medyo nag-aalangan siyang payagan akong pumasok.

Pagkapasok ko pa lang sa gate, puna ko ang kakaibang kinikilos ng mga tao sa aking paligid. They were glancing over me while whispering to their peers. They weren't even shy about being discovered staring at my direction. When I tried asking one student, he jumped from his seat and bolted away before I could even utter a word.

Ganoon din ang kalagayan sa loob ng aming silid-aralan. Iyong mga lalaki ay panay ng tingin sa akin habang may binubulong sa isa't isa. Iyong grupo naman ni Melissa, iyong kumuha sa akin sa harapan ng Clinic at nagdala roon sa isa pang grupo, ay hindi makatingin sa akin. Tanging si Desiree lang walang pagbabago ang turing sa akin, tila walang alam sa naganap noong nakaraang linggo.

It was our last subject in the morning when someone from the Dean's office came to our room.

"Is Miss Moritake here?" She asked and I hesitantly raised my hand, "You are called by the Dean. Please come with me," she said and the room was quickly filled with whispering from my classmates.

Tahimik akong tumayo at sumunod sa babae. Mabilis namang nagsitayuan ang magkapatid na Yazaki. I could easily see the concern etched on their faces.

"Aya-chan..." Narinig ko pang tawag ni Kou.

Saglit ko silang nilingon at nginitian, ensuring them that I will be alright, bago ko sinundan sa labas iyong babae. I didn't know what to expect being called to the highest officer in our department so I was a bit nervous when we got to the door with a metal plate glued on the wall beside it which read 'DEAN'S OFFICE'.

The woman with me told me to wait for a while before disappearing behind the door. I was pacing back and forth thinking of things the Dean would need from me.

Should I call Mimi? No, that would be embarrassing. I was having a small debate inside my head when the door slightly opened and another woman came out from it.

"They're ready to receive you, Miss Moritake," marahang sabi nito bago muling nawala sa likod ng pintuan.

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang namamasang kamay sa gilid ng aking saya bago ko pinihit ang knob ng pinto. Pagkabukas ko, sumalubong ang ingay ng mga taong sabay-sabay na nagsasalita. When I finally saw them, I quickly recognized the boy with a sling on his right arm.

Kaagad silang natahimik nang nakita ako. Bahagyang namilog ang mga mata noong lalaki bago nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Good morning," I greeted in a small voice as I approached them. I could clearly see the anger from the adults who were standing behind the boy.

"Good morning, Miss Moritake. Please have a seat," said an old man sitting behind a large desk. I presumed he was the Dean.

Tumango ako at tsaka umupo sa kaharap na upuan noong lalaki. Kita ko kung papaano nito kinuyom ang kanyang nakabendaheng kamay. Nakataas ang kilay kong tiningnan ang kanyang nakaiwas na mukha.

"I have heard that you were admitted to a hospital due to a high fever?" Tanong ng Dean na pinagsalikop ang mga daliri sa kanyang harapan.