Unbind the Strings

Twenty Nine

"Huy ano ba. Sira ulo ka talaga bakit mo sinabi 'yun?" I said while we're going upstairs.

"Eh inunahan ko na kaysa mag-gawa ng storya." He proudly said. 

"Dapat hinayaan mo nalang, ayoko ng masyadong maraming attention." I said when we reached the room. I put my bag down and he stayed in front of me. 

"I know, pero hindi ko hahayang maging masama tingin nila sa'yo. Uunahan ko na bago ka pa masaktan. And don't worry, hindi ka nila bibigyan ng attention kasi ako lang gagawa no'n sa'yo. Chill, Cal." he smirked at me and went to his seat. 

I was just browsing some books when I overheard Liam and his teammates talking outside the room. Medyo malapit ang table ko sa window kaya naririnig ko sila. I didn't want to eavesdrop pero kasi rinig ko naman talaga saka ayoko na lumipat pa ng upuan para lang hindi sila marinig no.

"Makakapag laro ka ba 'tol?" One of his friends said. Shit, oo nga pala. Hindi pa gano'n kagaling 'yung paa niya and the sports day is already the day after tomorrow. 

"Oo naman, magaling mag-alaga nurse ko eh." He laughed a bit and I smiled at that thought. Teka, sinong nurse ba tinutukoy niya? Ako o 'yung nagkakagusto sakanya sa clinic? Pucha.

"Huwag mo pilitin pre kung hindi mo kaya." I heard one of his friends said. 

"Hindi pwede pre, pupunta sila Mama. For sure, kukuha pa 'yon ng video at ipopost sa FB na sasabihin magaling anak nila. Ayoko naman masayang punta nila. Saka kailangan kong magpakitang gilas, kailangan tumupad sa usapan." his friends agreed to what he said and they went to the canteen without Liam. He then entered the room and grabbed a chair to sit in front of me.

"What are you doing po?" he said habang nakalagay ang parehong kamay sa pisngi at nakangiti. 

"Advance reading lang sa ibang subjects, kailangan maging ready ang hirap mag-habol ng mga activities. Ang hirap ng buhay, ang hirap maging president. Hay." I said and let out a deep sigh.

"Kung nahihirapan ka ng maging ikaw, baka gusto mo maging tayo nalang para mas madali?" he smirked.

"Sira ulo ka talaga, seryoso kasi." I said.

"Don't stress yourself too much, Cali, ha? You need a break and rest din. If you need any help, just let me know, okay?" he said and tapped my head. I nodded and he just stared at me. 

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked him seriously.

"Hmm, wala naman. Ang sarap lang titigan ng dahilan ng happiness ko." I rolled my eyes at him. 

"Aral ka nalang, Liam." 

"I'm already studying Cali, studying you." he said in not so usual tone. 

"You're weird." I said.

"You're cute." He said back.

"Okay I have a joke." he said, looking straight at me. Mukhang seryoso 'to ah.

"Ano?" I said, raising my eyebrow.