"Khai? Umalis na lang kaya ako?"
"No," I reached her head and made it lean on my shoulder. "Stay here. You can leave at lunch."
"P-pero yung mga k-kaklase mo kasi..."
I glance at Robots. Kahit umiiwas sila nang tingin ay alam kong pinapanood nila kami. They've been alerted since I came to class with Claire. They've been watching us yet no one dared to come close. Nagbubulungan lang naman sila kaya hindi ko na pinatuungan nang pansin. There's nothing wrong with what I'm doing.
Tinawagan ko kanina si Mattew to confirm it to him. Ang sabi niya'y wala raw batas ang school na hindi pwedeng pumasok ang mga babae rito kaya walang problema kung andito si Claire. Hindi rin naman siya pinupuna nang mga guro. Kahit nagtataka'y wala naman silang sinasabi.
3rd subject na nang pumasok si Mattew. Alam kong nasa skwelahan na siya pero may gagawin pa daw siya sa office kaya excused siya.
As soon as he came in, palagay ko'y na alarma si Claire. Ngunit guni-guni ko lang ata yun dahil the moment I looked at her she was looking away.
Mattew walked closer to us. Tinignan niya si Claire before a smirk appeared on his lips. Tinignan niya ang mga kaklase at tinaasan sila nang kilay tila may pinahihiwatig. His glance went to me before it went back to Claire and her arms around my right one. Her grip tighten yet she didn't move nor glance at Mattew.
"So she's the girl you asked permission for?" He asked with a teasing tone.
I rolled my eyes at him.
Obvious ba?
He chuckled. "Hi, I'm Mattew."
Nong una'y hindi pa nakagalaw si Claire. Nanginginig ang ka niyang mga kamay. Sumulyap muna siya sakin bago tinggap ang kamay ni Mattew. "C-claire,"
I don't know if it was just me, but her voice trembled.
"Great," Hindi nawala kay Claire ang mga tingin ni Mattew. "You guys are friends now, huh?" A humorless laugh came out from his mouth before he glance at me. "Can we talk?" He glance at Claire again before looking at me. "On private." He clarified.
Hindi ako sang-ayon sa idea niya. Hindi comfortable si Claire sa mga kaklase ko, that's for sure. Hindi ko siya pwedeng iwan basta-basta. But Mattew's tone seems so serious.
Tinignan ko si Claire. She smiled at me as assurance that she'll be fine before letting go of my arm. I took a deep sigh before tapping her shoulder. "I'll be quick." I whispered to her. She blushed that made me chuckled.
Tinignan kami ni Mattew bago ngumiti nang nakakaloko. He signed me to go outside. I followed him but before I could passed by the door I glance at Claire again. Nakatingin rin siya sakin at ngumiti nang pilit. I nod at her before following Mattew.
"This better be important. She's uncomfortable in there." I said seriously.
He chuckled. "Worried much?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Don't worry, she's fine in there." He assured. "They made a promise." Bulong niyang halos hindi ko na narinig.
"Ano 'yon?" I asked.
"Wala." Lumiit ang ngiti niya bago umiwas nang tingin. He leaned on the railings.
Nana Ace building parin kami. Sa harap nang special science 10.
"Sa taas tayo." He didn't give me time to respond at hinila pa akyat sa taas, sa rooftop.
Matataas ang mga bawat kwarto nang Ace building, kaya kahit there's only 6 rooms, mataas parin ang building. From here nakikita mo ang boung school. From the gate, auditorium, cafeteria, main building, court, kahit ang maliit na kwarto nang section eleven ay kita rito.
Walang imik na ibinigay sa akin ni Mattew ang isang puting folder. I opened it.
"Wala ka pang sinasalihan na club. Everyone should at least join one."
Tinignan ko ang mga nakasulat sa folder. There's a Mathletics, athletes, drama, science, program, writing, and some more.
"Mathletics."
"No. Puno na ang club na 'yan." He said not glancing at me.
"What's left available then?"
"Drama, athletes,"
"What?! Hell no!"
Great suggestions. I don't do sports nor acting. No way. Never.
"Well it's not my fault your a transfere. Everyone hates those clubs, no one dares to join them. so those who choose late have to choose to join them."
"Gosh, no!"
I have asthma! What am I suppose to do in the Athletes? Die?! Ikamamatay ko pa ata ang mga club na 'yan.
"Well it's your choice. But you have to join one today, hihintayin 'yan sa office. Nandiyan sa folder ang form mo."
Wala akong choice kundi ang bitawan na muna 'yon. I romed my eyes around. Ang ganda-ganda nang building na 'to ang dumi-dumi nang rooftop. May mga box made of woods, may mga ibang parte nang upuan, may mga basura pa. Don't they clean this?
"No one's aloud in here."
Napatingin ako ka'y Mattew nang magsalita siya tila nababasa ang utak ko.
"This place is private. The ex-President, Layvance, made a rule that no one is aloud here but the President. Unless, the President invite you here personally." He added.
"Why?"
Tinignan niya 'ko na parang ang tanga-tanga nang tanong ko.
"Why? Khai, have you forget already what type of person Layvance is? He hates people minding his business."
Aba malay ko!
"Anyway, I already did what you want." Umarko ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. "Nakausap ko na ang council, they'll think about assigning someone to be the Advisor of Section eleven."
Napatango-tango ako. Mabuti 'yon. Kung sino pa kasi ang last section, sila pa ang walang advisor. That doesn't fare, lalong lalo na't andoon si Aidan.
''Yon lang ba?" I asked him. Hindi siya umimik so I took that as a yes. "I'll go now. Hinihintay ako ni Claire."
Palabas na 'ko nang magsalita siya. "Khai,"
I stopped and look at him. Nakatalikod parin siya sakin.
"T-take care. Take care for me."
Nalito ako sa tinuran niya pero bago pa 'ko makapagtanong muli'y nauna na siyang bumaba.
Is he talking about my asthma? The Club?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mattew's POV.
I left her there. I was scared, scared of her question and for what's about to come.
She acts and talks like she cares, like she cares so much.
If.... If she's here..... Would she acts like that too?
She feels so much like her. Her shoulder, her voice, habits, and sence, she acts so much like her.
I wonder if he knows that, I wonder if he realized that?
Ang hirap pala. Akala ko kaya ko na. Akala ko tapos na. Pero sa tuwing na 'ron siya, hindi ko lubos ma-isip kung sakali bang nauna ako? Kung sakali bang naging mapagmasid ako, ganto pa rin ba ang madadatnan 'ko.
I sat on the bench under the tree. She..... She used to like this place so much. I remember how she would often rolled her eyes at me every single time.
Flashback....
"Mat?"
"Oh?"
"Do you believe in second chances?"
Tinignan ko siya nang maypanunuya. Hindi pa man ako nagsasalita'y alam niya na ang sasabihin ko kaya napairap na lang siya't hindi na umimik.
I laughed at her. I tapped her shoulder and pushed her gently. "Naiinlab na ba tayo? Ano? May nagbabago naba?"
She glared at me. Napadaing na lang ako nang batukan nya'ko. "Buyset kausap." She murmurs.
Napatawa na lang muli ako. I leaned on her shoulder, and held her hand. "You look and act like a man more than me, yet behind those figures and traits, you are still my girl, huh?" I chuckled at the taught of that. "Don't worry, sumugal ka lang nang sumugal. It's your life, your decisions. I'll be just right here, everytime, everyday. Pag pagod kana, pag hindi na kaya, andito lang ako."
I felt her rest her head on mine. "Thank you."
End of flashback.
f I knew, if only I knew, sana, sana hindi ko na sinabi 'yon. Sana pinigilan ko siya. Sana hindi nangyare 'yon.
Hindi ko na namalayan na unti unti nang pumapatak ang mga luha ko.
Ang tanga. Ang tanga tanga! Ang tanga nang mga decision ko. Ang tanga nang ginawa ko. Ang tanga nang mga pinagsasabi ko.
Lahat na lang. Lahat nawala. Walang natira. Ubos na ubos na. Simot na simot na 'ko.
"Ilabas mo lang 'yan."
Napatingin ako sa pinaggalingan nang tinig. Ang layo nang tingin niya at tinabihan ako.
"Miss mo na?" He handed me his handkerchief.
Tinanggap ko iyon. Hindi ko na sinagot ang tanong niya. He, more than anyone knows the answer to that.
Ilang Segundo siyang nakaupo sa tabi ko. Walang umimik sa amin. Alam kong iisa lang ang pakay naming dalawa. Ang maramdaman siya. Ang maalala siya.
Years past, wala parin siyang pinagbago. The kindness person in the universe, that's how she described him. And we all know that. Kung mamatay ang lahat nang masasamang Tao, siguradong matitira siya rito.
His Phone ringed. Kahit hindi ko tignan ay alam ko na kung sino 'yon. "I need to go. Lawrence is looking for me." He gave me a plastic bag with take out foods in it. "Eat, lunch na in six minutes. I heard your sick, binili na kita nang gamot. Don't die, asshole. A-attend ka pa nang birthday ko." He tapped my shoulder before walking away.
Before he totally left my sight. "Thank you," I said to him.
He laughed before raising his middle finger at me. Tinaasan ko rin siya nang middle finger. Bakit ikaw lang marunong niyan?
Tumawa kaming dalawa bago siya kumaway sakin at sinagot ang cellphone niya.
I can't believe him. After everything that happened, he never change. Siya parin ang putang inang kumakandidato atang senator sa langit.
Steven Dejaro #2 sa balota.
Botohin nyo po siya. Nag-te-twerk po 'yan paglasing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone's POV.
[How is she?]
"She seems fine."
[Wow, few days passed at 'yan lang ang kaya mong sabihin sakin?]
"Mattew's taking good care of her, don't worry."
[Gago kaba? Si Athesa?! Kay Athesa mo siya ipinagkatiwala?!]
Inilayo ko ang telepono sa tenga. That aches my ears. "Relax, she's in good hands."
[Good hands?! LET ME REMIND YOU, EUGENE. HE COULDN'T EVEN PROTECT HIS SISTER! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK HE CAN PROTECT KHAI, HUH?!]
"Hey! Lower it down. You're injuring my ear."
Ang ingay parin talaga niya pag nag-aalala. Napaayos ako nang tayo nang dumaan si Steven sa tabi ko. He gave me a nod before passing.
[Hello?! Nakikinig ka ba?!]
"I need to go. I'll call you later."
[What?! We haven-]
I didn't let him finish and cut the call. Ang sakit niya parin talaga sa tenga. Is it a Birondo ting to shout whenever they get worried? Or Layvance is just the best in that game?
Tinago ko na ang cellphone at dumertso na sa Cafeteria. I ordered a salad, I couldn't help to think of her whenever I buy this.
This used to be her favorite.
"120 po."
I took my wallet ang payed for the food. A smile unconsciously formed on my lips when I saw a glimpse of her in my wallet. It was a picture of the three of us. Nasa bukid kami non namamasyal. Layvance's mom took this picture of us.
She look so sleepy. Lagi naman. People who sees us together would always say that. We'll we have different auras.
Leyvance is the intimidating one. She's the sleepy one. And I'm the 'I don't care' one.
Remembering our days together, I can't help to think of the word 'sayang'. Kung sana may nagawa ako, she would still be here, right? She would still be with us, with me.
My body reacted when a voice walk near the room.
"Diego, stop, she's just a friend." She said full of boredsom.
Antagal kong hinintay ang panahon na marinig at masilayan ko muli ang tinig mo.
My heart flatter when she walked passed the door. My world slowed down with the view of her. She just walked past thro yet she manage to affect me so much.
Suddenly an image of her as a kid flashed through my eyes. Wala parin siyang pinagbago. Ikaw parin.
I can't help but to adore her more.
"Sir?"
Napabalik ako sa realidad nang tawagin nang babae. Kinuha ko na ang order ko't naglakad papunta sa table naman. Andito na pala sila. Hindi ko man lang namalayan.
*********
Hi, guys. So I will be answering some of your questions or misunderstanding here. Just comment hehe.