THE BROKEN STRINGS (ON-GOING)

BROKEN STRINGS 04

I WOKE UP early the next day para maaga din akong makarating sa school. Gusto ko kasing libutin yun, bagay na di ko nagawa kahapon dahil sa pagkalutang ko.

It's only 6:25 am when I arrived at school. Kaya hindi na ako nagtaka pa kung bakit parang wala pang mga estudyante roon. At dahil sa wala pa namang gaanong tao ay malaya akong nakapaglibot. I also took a lot of pictures para maipakita iyon kila Kuya.

I was about to go back to our room when I take a glance at the rooftop. That's when I decided to go to the rooftop na walang hirap ko namang naakyat. Tatlong palapag lang naman yun.

And I happily embrace the fantastic scenery just right before my very eyes nung nakarating ako dun.

Kitang-kita ko mula roon ang kabuuan ng school pati na ang di pa masyadong masakit sa mata na sikat ng araw. And maybe that's the reason why rooftops been always my favourite place.

Pero sa kalagitnaan ng pag-aappreciate ko sa ganda ng lugar na yun ay may bigla na lang nagsalita mula sa likuran ko. "What are you doing here? "

Agad naman akong lumingon at  bahagya pang natigilan nang makita kung sino yun. It's him. He's standing right there at the door. Nakatingin siya sakin, gamit ang mga malalamig na namang mga mata niya.

'Maybe he doesn't recognize me? ' May parte sakin na nakaramdam ng disappointment dahil sa naisip ko. But I just shrugged it off.

'Ano naman sakin kung hindi niya ako maalala? Tss. '

"I said.. What are you doing here woman? " ulit niya sa tanong niya kanina nang di siya nakakuha ng sagot mula sakin.

I automatically take a step back as he walked closer to where I am. At nang makita niya ang paghakbang ko pabalik ay napatigil siya tsaka parang inis na kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi niya. Panay din ang pagbaling niya sa gilid na parang may iniisip na kung ano. Napaismid pa siya matapos niyang ginawa yun bago ako tiningnan ulit.

"You've heard those fucking rumours huh? " it was not a question. He said that as if he was there when Gee told me about him. As if he had evidence that I heard it. And he said it as if he already expected it.

I wanted to tell him that it's not about those rumours. That it's because of something else. Pero dahil sa sinabi niya ay hindi ko maiwasang itanong sa isipan ko kung bakit.

'Why do you look like you're used to situations like this? '

Hindi ko alam kung namamalikmata lang ba talaga ako, but I was sure that I saw pain flashed in his eyes. But it's gone as fast as he blinked. And then he turned to look at me.

"Then you better fucking stay away from me and this place because I'm that fucking dangerous as what you believe I am!"

Then he turned his back before I can even say something.

———

I FORCED myself to focus inside the class pero hindi pa rin talaga mawala-wala sa isipan ko ang sinabi nung taong yun kanina.

There's something in his eyes and voice that's telling me to atleast ask before believing in those rumours like everyone did.. But is it possible? Rumours are just rumours right?

Napalingon agad ako kay Gee nung narinig ko siyang nagsalita. Nawala sa isipan kong magkasama nga pala kami sa may bench after kumain ng lunch. "Alam mo Viann,  konting-konti na lang talaga maniniwala na kong nababaliw ka na. Dalawang araw pa lang tayong magkasama pero sa dalawang araw na yun lagi kang lutang. What's bothering you? "

Napakagat naman ako sa pang-ibabang labi ko.

'Is it okay na sya ang tanungin ko? She's his schoolmate right? She said it herself yesterday.'

I let out a heavy sigh then I turned to face her. Giving all my attention to her.  "You said that you both went to the same high school right? " bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya na para bang sinasabi sakin na hindi niya maintindihan ang kung sino ang tinutukoy ko. "I'm  talking about the guy yesterday. "

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya sakin. But not in a maldita way.  "You mean Ross? " tumango naman ako. "Yeah. Bakit mo natanong? "

"Totoo ba yun? " tanong ko sa kanya. Mariin niya pa muna akong tinitigan na para bang tinatantya ang nasa isip ko. But then she just shrugged.

"I don't know. Pero yun ang kumalat sa buong school nung nag-drop si Kaitlyn." saad niya. "Kaitlyn's his bestfriend." she then added. Nakita niya siguro sa mukha ko ang pagtatanong kung sino yun. "May nagsabi ring narinig nilang nag-away si Ross and Kaitlyn. Hindi sinabi kung ano talaga ang pinag-aawayan pero words like being pregnant are heard. Then kinabukasan Kaitlyn drop out of school. "

I didn't know that I'm not breathing while she's talking. I just noticed that when I'm suddenly gasping for air after she said that. I'm glad that she didn't notice it though.

Pero bakit parang ayoko pa ring maniwala sa sinabi niya? Bakit parang maniniwala lang ako pag yung lalaking yun na mismo ang nagsabi?

'Why am I like this after you said it yourself that you're dangerous?'

And as if someone heard my thoughts. Dahil sa mismong pagtaas ng paningin ko kung nasaan ang rooftop ay nakita ko siya. He's looking at us intently while he's leaning on the railing. At nung nakita niya akong nakatingin sa kanya ay saka siya umalis roon.

***

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