Unbind the Strings

Three

Dumaan ang ilang linggo at mas napalapit ako sa tropa nila Gab. I don't feel too comfortable with my classmates.

"Calimba, samahan mo ako sa canteen!" Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi sumama.

"Bakit saakin ka pa nag pasama, andyan naman sila Kai ah?" I asked him while going down the stairs.

"Eh gusto kita kasama e, bakit ba ha? Bumalik ka na doon kung ayaw mo." Nauna na siyang maglakad at iniwan ako roon.

"Attitude ka girl?" Binilisan ko ang lakad ko para mahabol siya.

Nilibre niya ako dahil sinamahan ko raw siya. Pag balik namin sa room, inasar na naman kami ng mga kaklase namin kasi lagi raw kami magkasama.

"Hindi na yata kayo mapaghiwalay ah!!" Sigaw ng iba kong kaklase.

"Tropa lang kami, 'wag kayong ano dyan." He clarified before sitting down on his chair.

I ignored their interaction and just studied for our upcoming exam. I have to in the Principal's List this quarter. I can't just chill and forget about my grades while having fun. Priorities.

"Cali saang club ka sumali?" Amielle asked.

"Sa music club ako, ikaw ba?"

"I feel like I don't belong in any of those clubs." She pouted and rolled her eyes.

"Hahahaha! Sa literal na club ka nalang pumunta." I suggested while laughing at her reaction.

"What? You think I'm a party girl? Cali, I don't drink! I only drink vegetable and fruit juices! Those are carbs kaya!" She exclaimed.

"Mag tanong tanong ka nalang dyan. Mahahanap mo rin 'yung club na para sa'yo."

I went inside the Music Room and met my club mates inside. Some of them are really talented and can play a lot of musical instruments. Hindi ko rin alam ba't ako nandito. I can sing, medj lang.

The instructor went inside and I was so amazed to see that it was Jay's Mom. Sobrang talented naman. Buong angkan ata nila musically inclined.

"Good afternoon, guys! I'm just waiting fo-" She was interrupted when someone opened the door.

"Mom, I'm sorry I'm late." Napaawang ang bibig niya at para bang napahiya. "I mean, ma'am. I'm sorry I'm late Ma'am." Napalunok siya at umupo na sa kanyang pwesto.

"Okay so we will be doing an orchestra for the Christmas Concert and I want each and everyone of you to participate. Are we clear?" His mom sounded strict but her voice is still soft and sweet.

We practiced our first song for the concert and it went well. The instructor dislikes mistakes and carelessness so we have to repeat it from the top if something goes wrong.

Dahil pareho kami ng club na sinalihan ni Jay, mas naging usap-usapin kami sa loob ng classroom. They would sometimes wait for us outside and see what we're doing. It's not like I'll harass him or something.

"Jay!" Tinawag siya nung mga babaeng kanina pa nag aantay sakanya sa labas.

He looked at me like he was asking for permission. I nodded and said, "Mauuna na ako. Antayin nalang kita sa classroom."

"No wait! Stay there." He talked to the girls and walked faster to catch my pace.

"Bakit hindi ka nag stay? May sasabihin pa ata sila sayo?" I asked him. He looked at me and just shook his head.

"I don't like leaving you behind. Tara na." Hinigit niya na ako pataas ng hagdan.

When we entered the room our classmates are making a fuss about the cancellation of classes. Magkakaroon daw ng bagyo. I lowkey want to have suspension of classes kaya lang ang hirap habulin.

"Dude ang lakas daw ng bagyo!" Neil said while tapping Jay's shoulder.

"Panis 'yang bagyo pre sa lakas ng putok mo!" Jay smirked.

I sniggered and acted like I didn't hear anything. Almost all of my classmates laughed at what he said. Gago talaga 'to kahit kailan. He tried to hug Neil for apology but Neil acted like he doesn't want.

I overheard Gab and Jay talking while I was about to get some water.

"Ano ba real score niyo haaa?" Tanong ni Gab na mukhang excited.

"Wala, baliw. Ba't niyo ba binibigyan ng malisya e tropa lang naman 'yon. Wala akong gusto don hahahahaha!"

Yeah, right. Lahat naman 'yun wala lang.

"E bakit parang trip mo? May pa hug hug ka pa dyan!" Inasar siya ulit ni Gab.

"Wala nga 'yon. Ganoon naman ako sa lahat ah. Hindi ko 'yun gusto hahahahaha!" Ulit pa? Hindi pa satisfied? Leche kelangan ulitin?

I didn't bother to listen more. Baka masaktan lang ako. Classes are done and I was fixing my locker when Seah and her alipores approached me.

"Alam mo kasi Cali, you have to distance yourself from Jay kase ganyan lang talaga siya sa lahat. He may show you some affection but that's it. No strings attached." They surrounded me and started playing with my hair.

This is the main reason why I don't want to talk to him in the first place. Kahit kailan hindi ko siya maabot. He's too famous at saka tama naman sila, wala lang sakanya 'yun.

"Kaya kung ako sayo, layo layo ka na. Wala ka namang mapapala sa paglapit mo sakanya." The girl named Freya said.

"Ano bang pakealam niyo, ha?" I stared at their ugly faces.

"Sumasagot ka pa?"

"Nag tanong ako, hindi sagot 'yon." I saw her clenched her teeth while raising her brows.

"Sinusubukan mo talaga ako e 'no?!" She tried to pulled my hair when someone shouted.

"SEAH!!!" Inalis kaagad nila ang pagkakahawak sa buhok ko at napatungo.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo ha? Can you please stay away from me and Cali?" He's so mad and I can see that he's trying to control it.

"Leave. Baka kung ano pa magawa ko." He said in a serious and scary tone. The girls started running away.

"Okay ka lang?" He asked while getting my bag on the floor.

"Okay lang. Hayaan mo na 'yun. Una na ako." I grabbed my bag from him and took a step forward.

"Take care, Cali. Sabihin mo saakin kapag ginulo ka nila ulit, ha?" Ayan na naman siya. Ang gulo mo, inaka.

I sighed before turning my back to face him. "Thank you. Sa susunod hindi mo na kailangan gawin 'yun. Kaya kong ipagtanggol sarili ko. Hindi kita kailangan."

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