Napaatras ako patalikod nung makitang bumulagta si Aaron sa sahig ng covered court. I covered my mouth in shock when I saw his lips bleed from the punch of Gellian. Aaron forced himself to stand up, but Gellian kicked him away.
"Sinabi ko naman sa 'yong layuan mo si Zein, 'di ba? Bakit ba ang hirap mong umintindi? Hindi pa ba sapat sa 'yo yung mga babae mo?!" Nanghahamon na tanong ni Gellian habang kuyom ang kamao dahil sa galit.
Aaron chuckled playfully while pursing his bleeding lips. "Ano bang pakealam mo? Kung maka-asta ka, daig mo pa ang asawa, eh!"
Akmang susugurin siya ulit ni Gellian nung tumunog ang malakas na pito ni Coach Austin. "Mr. Zamora, stop! Is that how a role student should act?"
Nagpakawala nang malalim na hininga si Gellian bago binaling ang tingin kay Coach Austin. "Pero coach, nakita mo naman kung paano bastusin ng lintek na 'yan yung... k-kaibigan ko,"
"Mr. Delgado is just guiding him! I can't see anything wrong with that, Mr. Zamora. You're being overprotective of your friend." Coach Austin replied with a mocking tone.
Lumapit ako kay Gellian at hinaplos ang kanyang balikat. "C-Coach, I'm sorry. My mom asked Gellian to look out for me; that's why he's worried. Let me bring Aaron to the clinic to treat him." I suggested
Gellian looked at my eyes, trying to send me signals. "Zein, please wag ka ng sumama sa kanya—"
I cut him off. "Kaya ko ang sarili ko, Gellian."
Alam kong pino-protektahan lang ako ni Gellian kaya niya 'yon nagawa. Since it all happened because of me, I feel obligated to help Aaron. My friends offered some help, but I declined. I don't want them to get involved in this mess.
"Ugh! Zein, masakit..." Aaron growled while I was treating his bruised lip.
"Bakit kasi ayaw mo magpagamot sa nurse?! Alam mo namang 'di ako marunong," I sulked, pouting my lips.
I noticed he was looking at my lips, which made me roll my eyes. "Did someone say that you're beautiful already?" Aaron whispered.
Ibinaba ko ang aking kamay na nakadampi sa kanyang sugat na labi. "Meron. Si Mommy, si Daddy, si Kyle, si Ezra, si Levi at si... Gellian." I uttered while counting them with my fingers.
He held my face, making me focus on him. "I like you, Z-zein." I could feel the hesitation in his voice.
Tumawa ako nang sobrang lakas habang hawak ang aking tiyan. "I also like myself, Aaron."
He pinched the bridge of his nose, looking frustrated. "Sorry, Zein. J-just forget about what I said. You are too young for this."
"No, I'm not!" I stood up from my seat to show him my height. "Why are you all saying I'm young and still a baby? Look, I'm much taller than the other girls in our class."
Tumayo rin si Aaron mula sa patient bed at lumakad palapit sa akin. "Look, I'm much bigger and taller than you. I bet you can't even surpass my height even if you grow older, Zein."
Halos umusok na ang ilong ko sa galit.
I gave him a bitter smile while my hands were clenched. Aaron raised his brow, making me bite my lower lip in annoyance. He moved his face closer to my ear, and I felt my chest tighten.
"Gusto mo... ibili kita ng ice cream, baby?" Aaron teased.
I used all of the anger inside me when I stepped on his shoe, making him growl in pain. "Mag-ice cream ka mag-isa, I hate you!" I howled, then walked out of the clinic, leaving him dumbfounded.
It was already the end of class when I saw Gellian with Krisha, our campus girl crush. She's a cheerleader and one of Gellian's classmates. I guess they are pretty close since I often saw her following him. I waved at them when they noticed my presence.
"Hi Zein, come here!" Krisha smiled as she called my name.
Kaagad naman akong lumapit sa kanila nung mapansing wala pa si Mang Noel. Matagal ko ng kilala si Krisha pero hanggang ngayon ay namamangha pa rin ako sa kanyang angking kagandahan. Her face was perfect from all angles. She had a pair of divine eyes, a narrow-shaped nose, and berry-colored lips, which made everyone love her.
I was shocked when she pulled the arm of Gellian to get him close to her. "Do you think we... look good together, Zein?"
Gellian centered his gaze on me, waiting for my reply. He just let Krisha caress his arm, and I could feel that he was now pissed off when he heard my answer to Krisha's question.
"Yeah, you guys look good together." I genuinely uttered.
Padabog na inalis ni Gellian ang kamay ni Krisha na naka-angkla sa kanyang braso. A curse went out from his lips before he left the scene. I blinked twice, trying to catch up with what had just happened. Krisha, on the other hand, ran towards Gellian. My hands were clasped while looking at them fading away from my sight.
It's already 3 pm and I'm still waiting for Mang Noel to pick me up. I did try to give him a call, but he did not answer it. Kyle, Ezra, and Levi had already left after I declined their offer to drive me home. I felt a pang in my chest because of the loneliness that I'm feeling. I buried my face in my hands and cried silently. I guess Aaron was right; I'm really still a baby.
"Zein," A familiar voice of a guy called me.
Kaagad akong tumingala at kinagat ang aking ibabang labi nung makita si Gellian. "Here, take this. Please don't cry. I will stay here with you until your driver picks you up." He handed me a strawberry ice cream.
That's it.
That's almost the same promise that he made when we were kids and we met for the first time. Gellian bent his knee so he could reach me before he wiped my tears away with his thumb. He's still my savior whenever I get lost. He's still my company whenever I feel alone and have no one by my side.
"A-akala ko, umalis ka na. A-akala ko, sumama ka na kay Krisha. Akala ko... iniwan mo na 'ko." I whimpered, almost stuttering with every word.
He cupped my jaw. "Paano ko magagawang iwan yung taong pinakamahalaga sa 'kin?"
I closed my fist before I raised my pinky finger. "P-promise? Hindi mo ako iiwan?"
He nodded his head as he locked my pinky finger with his. "I promise, Zein. I will never leave you."
I instantly wrapped my arms around his nape to give him a warm embrace. I heard his deep sigh before he held my waist to deepen the hug. I don't care about the students who are questionably looking in our direction. This time, I just want someone to hold onto to make me feel calm. And I'm glad that I'm with Gellian more than anyone else.
"Simon, what should we do? How could we tell Zein about this?" Mom sounds stressed while talking to Dad on her phone.
I cleared my throat to make her notice my presence. "M-mommy, I'm here."
Mabilis niyang binaba ang tawag bago sumilip sa kanyang relo. "Oh, God! I'm sorry, baby. Hindi kita nasundo. How did you get here?"
I pouted my lips as I let out a heavy sigh. "Hinatid ako, Gellian—"
"Nasaan si Gellian?!" I was shocked when she yelled in my face.
"H-he's already left," I surveyed the whole living room. "Where are Mang Noel and Nanny Fe, Mommy?"
She held my wrist and guided me to seat on the sofa. I looked at her eyes and saw a glimpse of sorrow. I suddenly felt scared on what she's about to tell me.
"Manang Fe and Mang Noel already left..." I blinked twice, trying to get a hold of what I just heard. "Anak, we have been keeping this for a long time because we don't want to affect on your studies..."
My chest tightened when she hugged me. "Baby, we're now broke. Your dad's business went bankrupt and he already spent your savings for college." She cried.
After hearing it from my Mom, I could hear the glass shattering in my mind. That's the secret that my parents have been keeping to themselves for me to not know.
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