That One Lie

12th Lie - Simon

Simon

It is almost the end of the week and in a couple more days, the first term of the school trimester is ending. I heard from Archer that Anya agreed to go with him to the fireworks festival. Alam ko dahil buong araw na sya lang ang topic namin. Inaya nya din kasi akong sumama. I only agreed just to shut him up.

There's not much of a development with my past-time so far which is observing Anya. Ayun pa rin naman yung pretentious smile nya kapag nandyan si Archer o kapag kausap nya yung iba naming kaklase na babae. Tinatawag nya pa rin akong sweet kapag kaming dalawa lang. It seems that she's still the same but I have this weird feeling whenever I caught her looking outside the window.

"What's wrong with you?" Hindi ko na napigilang itanong kahapon pero ngumiti lang sya sakin ng nakakaloko at pinatong ang baba nya sa kamay nya.

"Are you bothered? Wag mong sabihing na-fall ka na ng tuluyan sakin kaya ka nag-aalala?"

"You still haven't been letting go of your creepy fantasies, Anya. I have high standards. At least I like girls without these stange-looking bangs of yours." I said then lightly flick her bangs.

"Hahaha. Says the boy who wears thick, caterpillar eyebrows."

Because of that conversation, I gave up thinking that there is something wrong with her. I'm not easily annoyed but when it comes to her, I always lose in that area. Kapag kasi nang-aasar tayo ng tao, nakakakuha tayo ng satisfaction sa reaction na binibigay nya. But with Anya, I never get that kind of satisfaction.

But ever since I met Anya in that train platform, or when she introduced herself in front of the class, or even when I said something bad about her personality when I took her to my apartment after she passed out, I never imagine Anya to have this kind of expression she's sporting right now.

I saw her came out of the faculty. I don't feel her pretentious, cheerful vibe when she headed out. Nasa school pa rin naman kami. As far as I remember, she's in her pretensious self inside the school, walang palya yun. But right now, her expression was blank, unreadable and for the first time, I hate to admit but I didn't feel curious but worried. Something must have happened.

"Simon, tara na. Patapos na ang lunch break, pasok na tayo."

Binalik ko ang tingin sa kanya pero wala na pala sya. Napilitan akong tumango kay Archer at sumabay sa kanya pabalik ng room.

"Wala ka bang napansing kakaiba kay Anya kanina?" I can't help but ask Archer as we walk down the hallway.

"Nakasalubong ba natin si Anya? Hindi ko sya nakita eh. Sabi nya mag-ccr lang daw sya nung tumunog yung bell for lunch break diba?"

"I saw her leave the faculty room. Para kasing may kakaiba sa itsura nya nung lumabas sya. Hindi kaya napagalitan yun?"

"I don't see any reason for her to get called. Hindi naman bumaba ang class standing nya simula ng pumasok sya. No tardiness nor absences since the start of the trimester. Imposible naman na misconduct haha. Baka naman hindi si Anya yung nakita mo at naghahallucinate ka lang kakaisip sa mangyayari sa fireworks festival--aray naman! Wagas kang makabatok ah."

"You and your perverted ideas. Hindi mo ba nakikitang seryoso ko?"

"Nakita ko pare. I'm just trying to lighten up the situation. Ang mabuti pa tanungin na lang natin mamaya pagbalik nya."

I glanced at the empty seat beside me. Hindi sya umattend ng klase. I found out later that she was in the infirmary. Inaya ako ni Archer na puntahan sya dun after class dahil nag-aalala sya kay Anya dahil hindi naman lumiliban sa klase yun.