"Then why are you treating me this way?" Daphne was almost whispering with gritted teeth. I saw her in my peripheral vision. I yanked my book from my arm chair and pretended I was reading.
"I used to treat you this way. What is wrong with you?" Drei answered impatiently.
"After what happened? That's it? Drei, come on!" She insisted.
"You initiated. What do you expect? I am a guy." Said Drei with a cold tone.
"B-but-"
"I'm getting sick and tired of this Daphne!" He started irritably "I never want to be committed. I thought you understand. I don't do things that rub out the thin line between truth and fiction. I'd rather crawl on broken glass while firewalking or pose as a piñata for adolescent boys than to be committed and I know you're not stupid to not understand that." He finished and boom! She was thrown off guard.
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ng hambog. Kung ako si Daphne nasampal ko na talaga s'ya at sinipa ko pa ang itlog n'ya. Hindi uubra sa akin ang kayabangan nito. Kung ganito ang usapan, walang hiyaan na. Pakiramdam ko, ako ang nasasaktan sa mga sinasabi n'ya kay Daphne. Parang salamin na nabasag ang itsura ni Daphne, gusto ko tuloy s'ya i-defend kay Dreigan.
"H-how could you.." She almost whispered. She covered her mouth using her palm and started crying. Nagtinginan sa amin ang mga classmates namin kaya minabuti ko lalo na mag-focus sa kuwaring pagbabasa ko. Napakagat si Daphne sa labi n'ya at tumulo ng walang tigil ang luha. She walked away and sink down on her chair while crying noiselessly.
"Stupid.." Dreigan blurted out, almost whispering. I heard that and it wasn't for Daphne. It is intentionally for me! But I need to maintain the façade that I made. "I know you're listening." Napatingin ako sa kanya na kinakabit na ang earphones ulit. Inirapan ko s'ya at pinatuloy kong basahin ang libro ko. Kahit yata naka-focus ako sa libro, kitang kita kong tumaas ang sulok ng labi n'ya at napailing iling. Parang walang nangyari, grabe ubod pala talaga ng yabang ang isang 'to. Sarap gawing punching bag.
Finally, the next professor arrived. I could completely breathe! It wasn't a pleasant feeling to be stuck in the middle of that argument. I really feel bad for Daphne and I wish I could do more for her. I could punch Drei's face or I better kick his balls for Daphne.
The newly arrived professor's gesture and strong appearance gave us all a hint that he's strict that's why I focused my attention on him. He turned his back and started writing something on the white board; first was his fullname and below that is a very long equation.
Umayos din ng upo si Dreigan, pati na din ang iba naming classmates.
"Whoever can solve the problem written on the board, will be exempted from the preliminary examination." He said while still writing the equation. Hanep naman 'to, first day pa lang naman kung makapressure. Hinagis n'ya ang marker sa gilid at nilagay ang kamay sa likod ng baiwang n'ya. Pina-ikot ikot n'ya ang mga mata n'ya sa paligid na parang namimili ng ipapahiya sa klase. Lahat ng classmates ko ay yumuko para hindi sila matawag.
Napatingin ako sa gilid nang itaas ni Dreigan ang isang kamay n'ya; he's volunteering. Nilagpasan lang s'ya ng tingin ng professor.
"Mr. Herrera, put it down. Bigyan mo ng chance 'yung iba." Preskong sabi nung professor namin. Nagvibrate ang phone ko sa bulsa at muntik na akong mapamura ng malakas.
Natataranta ko'ng kinukuha mula sa bulsa ang phone habang alam ko namang lahat ay nakatingin na sa akin, including the terror professor. Nakita ko ang pangalan ni Abby na tumatawag. I turned it to silent mode but it's too late. Nanlilisik na ang mata ni sir na nakatingin sa akin, hindi lang s'ya pati ang buong klase. Oh my God, I'm dead.
Chapter III
Start from the beginning
