Hold You Accountable (Published) | ✓

Kabanata 13

"Zafi, I'm not exerting effort on those...but since you're involve with this..." he put some strands of hair behind my ear and whispered to me.

"I might be all in for it. " He grinned at me.

I can feel my face heating up. Sobra rin akong pinagpapawisan at tanging ang tibok ng puso ko na lang ang naririnig ko.

"Well, let's see if being all in will make you win, STEM." I was able to give him a smile even if my knees are slowly getting weaker.

"Sure thing, ABM." He mocked my tone. Umalis na kami ni Melay bago pa man ako tuluyang mamatay sa kilig kay Sarathiel.

I had crushes before but my crushes never had this effect on me. Si Sarathiel lang. He's literally the one who can make my knees weak.

"London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down- wala ng pagasa si Clary," I heard Melay singing.

"Melay!" saway ko kahit pulang-pula na ako.

"Sa review ka lang pala madadaan, Zafirah! Jusko ka, review lang pala katapat ng damdamin mo!" tawang-tawa si Melay.

"I like smart guys, okay?" I muttered under my breath.

"Dami-dami sa room natin!"

Ngumiwi naman ako. "Yuck! Blockcest! At saka matalino nga pero may kaltok sa utak. Ikaw ba bet mo si Gio?"

"Pass!" Melanie grimaced.

Kawawang Gio.

Dumaan ako sa Chapel at nakitang nandoon si Ms. Intramurals, taimtim siyang nagdadasal.

I felt bad because I know people like stereotyping too much. I heard rumors about her such as she's wild and she's dirty. Pabaya raw sa pag-aaral. Pero hindi ako naniniwala roon hanggang hindi ko pa siya nakikilala.

Why do people like judging others when in fact they don't even know them at all? All they know are hearsays, not even an ounce of truth. Even if they do know the truth - who are they to say how a person should live their life?

Mukhang naramdaman niyang nakatingin ako sa kanya. She smiled at me. She's really beautiful. The type that you can't get your eyes off.

I smiled back.

Umalis na rin ako dahil ayoko naman isipin niyang tibo ako. I don't swing that way. I like men especially the man who owns the name of Sarathiel.

I texted Clary because I wanted to make myself clear. I can't always hold back my feelings because of her. Alam kong pwede naman ako magparaya - but not with Sarathiel. I'm not willing to give up that guy.

Clary:

G Hall. Usap tayo. :)

"Clary," I called her when I saw her seating on one of the benches.

Umangat ang tingin n'ya sa akin. Agad naman akong napalunok dahil hindi ko talaga inaasahan na hahantong pa kami sa ganito. Just for a guy? It was absurd.

"Do you like him?" seryosong tanong niya.

I sighed and looked at her sternly.

"I do."

Clary was petrified on her seat. Hindi siya makagalaw at nanatili siyang nakatingin sa akin.

"Why do you like him?" I asked her.

She gulped. Binawi ang tingin sa akin at nagsimulang magsalita nang utal-utal.

"He's g-goodlooking—"

"No, Clary. I don't wanna invalidate your feelings but..." I inhaled some air before continuing.

"Sarathiel's more than that. He's funny, he's considerate, he's smart and he's someone you can depend on. He's more than what the surface offers, Clary...I like him for that."

I saw how Clary clenched her fists.

"I wanted to get to know Sarathiel more, Zafi. I wanted the way he treated you. You don't even know how lucky you are." Malungkot niyang sabi.

"I'm sorry —"

"I'm the one who should apologized. I became selfish because I thought I had a chance too. Kung si Zafi nga tinatrato niyang ganun, bakit ako hindi?"

"You'll find someone and if you still insists on having a crush on him. Pwede naman tayong share ng crush-"

Bigla siyang tumawa.

"Gaga ka rin 'no? Sa tingin mo crush lang 'yan? I don't wanna risk my feelings anymore." There was sadness in her eyes.

"I'm sorry if you think I lied to you before. Pero ngayon lang talaga ako nagka-crush sa kanya, promise." I even raise a hand.

"Okay lang 'yun. He was just my top 1 crush, you know? Pero dahil gusto mo siya- talsik na siya sa listahan ko. I have 9 crushes left, so I think I'll survive." Nagkibit-balikat lang siya.

"I'm glad we've talked about this," para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib.

"Yeah. Sisters before misters." Niyakap ako nang mahigpit ni Clary.

Nagpaalam si Clary na kailangan niya na umalis dahil meron pa silang gagawin sa E-Tech. I nodded my head and hugged her before she went back to her blockmates.

Pabalik na ako nang may humarang sa daan ko.

"Crush pala, ha?"

Nanglalaki ang mga mata ko at hiniling ko na sana bumuka ang lupa at lamunin na lang ako nito.

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