Fall Out

Chapter 7

Ride

Buong afternoon class, ganon pa din. Puro orientation lang ang ganap. Inaantay na namin ngayon ang last subject teacher na papasok. Bigla kong naalala ang nangyari kaninang lunch.

This is the second time na tahimik siya kapag may kasama ako, to be specific, kapag kasama ko si Noelle. Omg! May gusto ba siya kay Noelle? Iyon agad ang pumasok sa isip ko. Kapag kasi kaming dalawa lang, hindi naman siya suplado. Well, suplado din pero unlike sa pinapikita niya everytime na kasama ko si Noelle. Hmm.

Napatingin ako sa pinto nang may pumasok. Probably our teacher because of his uniform. Agad siyang humarap sa black board at nag sulat.

Mr. Kristan S. Salve (Sir Kris)

"I will be your teacher in Fundamentals of Accountancy, Business and Management 2. Yes, I am a new teacher here. Based on your facial expressions, alam kong nagtataka kayo kung bakit hindi niyo ako kilala." He is standing in front and then he placed his left foot on the chair. Tinungkod niya ang siko niya sa tuhod at nilagay ang baba sa palad.

Nagulat din ako sa ginawa niya, same reaction with my classmates. Ang cool niya. He's not the typical professor na matanda at stif lang. Maybe he's in his late 20's. Matangkad, moreno, medyo malaki din ang katawan niya, halatang nag g-gym at may itsura din, masasabing gwapo dahil may appeal.
What the hell?! Kailan pa 'ko nagka interes sa ganitong bagay at kailan pa 'ko pumuri ng lalaki? Sa teacher pa! Goodness!

"So, I am Kristan S. Salve, Sir Kris will do. You can kid around, just know your limitations. I can be your friend inside and outside your classroom but also your enemy, if I didn't like your actions, remember that." After his introduction, he'd proceed to orientation.

After the dismissal, I checked my phone and received 4 messages from Noelle.

From Maria Noelle:
Are you done?

Tagal mo. Nasa labas ako ng room niyo

Una na ko. He's already waiting outside the gate. Mwaps ingat pauwi see you tom

By the way, I saw one of your suitors waiting for you. Goodluck ;>

Kumunot ang noo ko sa huling nabasa. Just Ryker. I rolled my eyes with the thought.

Naglalakad na ko pababa ng hagdan nang makita ko si Wren na nakatayo sa dulo sa baba. Medyo bumagal ang lakad ko nang mapaangat siya ng tingin sa akin.

"What are doing here?" Tanong ko pagka lapit. I thought he's in college already. I guess, I was wrong since andito siya sa building ng seniro high school.

"Obviously waiting for you."

"What-why?" Is he the one Noelle talking about earlier? My suitor? Ugh

"Gusto ko lang." What an anwer! Ang tino.

"Grade 12?" I asked. His forehead creased.

"Busy ka nga pala kanina sa ka-text mo." He said sarcastically.

"Huh?"

"Tss. 1st year College. Taking Business. 'Yan ang pinag uusapan namin kanina ni Noelle habang ka-text mo yung nasa harapan ko." He said, seemed mad.

"Sorry. So, you do know about uh..." I can't find the right word to say.

"Yeah. Grade 12 Accoutancy, Business and Management. Same with Noelle. Section 1."

Sinabi ko bang sabihin niya? Yes or no lang naman.
Hindi ko narinig ang mga pinag usapan nila kanina, ah.

"Are you going home? Can you accompany me to buy uniform? Hindi ko kasi alam kung saan." Umiwas siya ng tingin.

Kalalaking tao hindi marunong maghanap mag isa?

"Okay."

Pumunta kami sa malapit sa canteen kung saan may counter na bilihan ng uniforms. Pagkatapos namin don ay nauuhaw daw siya kaya sa canteen naman kami pumunta.

Bumili siya ng dalawang water at isang fries. Bigla tuloy akong nagutom.

"Here" Napatigil ako sa planong pag bili nang iabot niya sakin ang fries at bottled water. So para sakin talaga yon?

"H-huh? Bibili na ako."

"Eto na nga, bibili ka pa? Sayo to" Inabot niya ulit sakin. Tinanggap ko na lang.

"Thanks."

"May sundo ka?" He asked after a long silence.

"Yeah. Probably he's already waiting at the parking lot."

"Okay, I'll walk you there."

Hindi na ako sumagot sa sinabi niya at nag lakad na papuntang parking.

My phone beeped.

From Kuya Carlo
Sorry maam pinatawag po ako ng mommy mo sa kompanya niyo. hindi ko po kayo masusundo

"Fuck" Unconsciously said it loudly.

"What's wrong?" Wren asked, heard my curse.

"My driver won't come. Emergency."

"Oh...I don't have my car also. Nakapag commute ka na ba?"

"Yeah?" One time, I guess?

"Cool. Come on sabay na tayo."

Nag aantay kami ng taxi sa waiting shed sa tapat ng school, pero ang tagal na naming nag hihintay wala pa ring dumadating. Sasabihin ko sanang mag grab na kami.

"Nakasakay ka na ba ng jeep?" He suddenly asked.

"Not yet. Why? Are we riding one? Let's grab na lang."

"Jeep na lang. Andyan na oh, tara na" Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hinila ang kamay ko. Umalis kami sa shed at tinulak ako ng mahina paakyat sa jeep. Magrereklamo pa sana ako pero nagmamadali siya. Hindi naman masyadong puno kaya okay na rin.

"Sorry nagmamadali na ako. Hatid na lang kita papasok sa loob ng village niyo."

"No, 'wag na. It's okay. Bababa ka pa, 'diba nagmamadali ka?"

"Ah! Oo nga" Napakamot siya sa noo niya.

Ang lakas ng hangin sa loob ng jeep, pero ang init pa rin. Nililipad pa ang buhok ko sa mukha ko. Aayusin ko na sana pero naunahan ako ni Wren. He fixed my hair away from my face and then hold it behind my head.

"Ako na" I protested. Unconsciously touching his hand.

"Let me. Just wipe your sweat."

That's what I did. I felt conscious the whole ride because some people were watching us. I didn't know what's their problem, though. I just busied myself with my phone, while Wren still holding my hair until we reached our village.