Meghan, My Chaos

Chapter 3

"The cops? Really?" tanong niya at tinawanan ako. Naglakad na ko papunta sa pinto at hindi niya naman ako pinigilan. I heard him lighting a cigarette as I walk away. "They might put me to jail, pero ikaw? Ibabalik ka sa dad mo. We both know you'd rather be here than go back home."

Hindi ko na siya pinansin at lumabas na ng condo niya. He's right. I would rather go through hell than see my family again.

I feel like crying. Ang dami kong mga pasa and I'm so tired—I'm fucking restless. My whole body's aching and I just wanna collapse and sleep right here, right now.

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglakad palayo hanggang sa makarating na ako sa elevator. I pressed the button for the lowest floor, and shut my eyes close in exhaustion.

The moment the elevator door opened, agad akong nagpatuloy sa paglalakad, and it felt as though all my bruises are screaming in pain as I continued walking. I received a few glances from the people around the lobby, and I just ignored them. I kept on walking towards the exit, hanggang sa tuluyan na akong makalabas at makapunta sa parking lot.

And as soon as I saw my car—without realizing it—I started scrolling on my contacts and found myself calling Jaden.

I know I acted like a bitch sa kaniya kahapon, but I can't think of anyone else to call right now. He's all I have. He's all I've ever had.

The moment I heard his voice, bumuhos 'yong mga luha ko at pinigilan kong humagulgol, because I don't want him to worry about me.

"Meghan? Thank God tumawag ka! You weren't answering my—"

"I-I'm on my way t-there," nauutal na sabi ko habang sumasakay na ng kotse.

"I'm in the middle of class right now," he said, making my heart drop. "Why are you crying? Nasaan ka? I can come pick you up," nagmamadaling sabi niya at halata ko sa boses niyang natataranta na siya.

Napatingin ako sa salamin ng kotse ko and realized how much of a mess I am. Jaden's life is perfect. Ako lang itong laging nanggugulo sa kaniya. I'm nothing but a nuisance to him.

"N-No, it's fine. May n-napanaginipan lang ako. Sorry sa abala." I tried to calm myself down para hindi na ako mautal.

"Palabas na ako ng room right now, please keep talking and tell me where you are," aniya at mas lalo akong naiyak. Agad kong tinakpan 'yong bibig ko at inilayo saglit iyong phone ko para hindi niya marinig 'yong pag-iyak ko.

The moment I calmed myself down, binalik ko agad 'yong phone sa tainga ko at huminga nang malalim.

"Don't skip your class," kalmado kong sabi. "It's not like you to skip classes. I'm fine," I added at in-end na 'yong call. I turned my phone off and tossed it in the backseat.

I started the car with only one thought in my head.

I want to get wasted and think of nothing, but having fun.

Adrien's POV

7:47 A.M.

"Are you sure about this?" paniniguradong tanong ni Katniss sa'kin nang palapit na nang palapit iyong school namin.

"Yes," I answered quickly. "Where are the painkillers?" tanong ko at inabot niya agad 'yon sa bag niya. I glanced at her for a while nang ibinigay niya ito sa akin.

"Here," she said.

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa habang nag-papark na ako sa harap ng school. May iilan akong nakitang mga kaklaseng mukhang naghihintay sa'kin. O kay Katniss. O sa aming dalawa. "I'm scared."

Napatingin ako sa kanya at hinawakan 'yong kamay niya—which is very warm, soft, and small. She glanced at me and I whispered, "It'll be fine."

Lumabas na ako ng kotse at naramdamang nagtinginan sila sa'kin. By now, napansin na siguro nilang nasa kotse rin si Katniss. Umikot ako at pinagbuksan siya ng pinto. "You can do this," I whispered to her habang tinutulungan siya lumabas ng kotse.

"Thank you," she muttered with a smile at napangiti rin ako.

I locked the car and held her hand as we walked towards the school. Ang daming nagbulungan sa paligid namin at naramdaman kong humigpit 'yong hawak niya sa kamay ko.

Our plan is... to pretend na matagal na kaming in a secret relationship, at ngayon na kumalat 'yong video, hinayaan nalang naming malaman ng lahat.

"Adrien, ano? Nakita mo na ba 'yong sinasabi ko sa'yo?! Gago ka kasi—" Napatigil si Ross sa pagsasalita nang makitang kasama ko si Katniss. "Wait. Adrien, Katniss... You two—"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Ross," sabi ko at mukhang gulat na gulat siya. Who wouldn't be?

"So last night..." Lumapit na rin sa'min 'yong ibang mga ka-batch namin, including Bryce with the varsity team and Mav—who's not wearing his glasses, dahil siguro ipinamigay niya ito sa party kagabi.

Some stared at us, as if studying and trying to figure out if we're being for real.

I cleared my throat and gathered the courage to speak up.

"It was... insensitive of you all to assume that Katniss is throwing herself to me," pagsimula ko at lahat sila'y nagtinginan sa'kin. "Katniss and I... We're in love, and we wanted to keep it between ourselves, but with what happened last night, we have decided to just tell everyone, " pagpapaliwanag ko at tiningnan si Katniss na naluluha na.

We all got distracted when the school bell started ringing, indicating the start of our first classes. Nagsimula nang umalis 'yong ibang mga tao to head to their class, at naiwan 'yong mga kaibigan namin na pinagpyestahan kaming dalawa.

"Katniss! You didn't tell us you were already dating Adrien! Sabi mo lang sa amin crush mo siya!" kinikilig na sabi ng kaibigan ni Katniss sa kaniya nang nakangiti.

"Well, I guess I'm telling you now," bulong ni Katniss at naghiyawan sila.

I was still laughing with them nang bigla akong hilain ni Mav at akbayan.

"Adrien came to my party last night, at ngayon naman may girlfriend na siya!!" sigaw ni Mav—so loud that I almost think he wants to announce it to the world—at nagtawanan sila. Sa itsura niya ngayon, mukhang lasing pa siya sa dami ng ininom niya kagabi.

"Binata ka na, man!" pang-aasar ni Ross.

"Congrats!" bati naman ni Summer—isa sa mga kaibigan ni Katniss.

"God, Katniss! I didn't know you were already with Adrien!" sabi naman ni Jamie—who's also her friend—kay Katniss.

"Stay strong, the two of you," mahinahong sabi ni Kiana—isa sa mga batch mate namin.

And just like that, we solved Katniss's problem. What I didn't realize is that solving hers would create future problems for me.