Chapter 25-III
"Tuloy pa ba ang art month sa lagay na ito? Yung drugs kasi..."
"There is no reason to postpone it!" Kiera stood in front of the play's stage. I'm having call, they're too noisy. Kaya napatayo ako." Our plays are the main events! We could use this time to be not a mere distraction for the students but their inspirations and eye opener as well!"
"El, ayos lang ba dyan sa inyo?" I ask.
"Yeah, for now...Pinag-iinitan ang ng mga professor kaming mga athletes at pati na rin yung department ko. Ang raming naconfiscate na alak at party drugs sa mga hidden compartment, Shin." Ellie narrated from the other line of the phone as soon as I step out the door." May nag-tip sa faculty na may mga students na nagp-puslit dito ng mga bawal dito sa loob. The inspection was planned, but the mass psychosis from that org assembly is not."
"I heard their drinks are laced with alcohol and drugs..."
"...Y-yes, hindi pa nila kung kanino galing yung ginamit.
"Let's stop thinking about that. Buti malinis yung team members mo, hindi ka nadamay..." Pagcomfort ko sa bestfriend ko. I can see the some faculty members and teachers from afar, they're approaching the auditorium." Ah, how about this? Gusto mo lumabas tayo mamaya? Imbitahin din natin si Ralph."
"That sounds fun...I-I'll talk to you later, Shin..."
"See you, El. Take care."
"Ate Sheena? I was looking for you everywhere." Ricos startled me when appeared behind me. He was nowhere in sight since Nabi and I've gone to the storage room. Siya yung kanina pa wala, pero sa expressions niya parang ako yung antagal na nawala." San ka po nanggaling? Nasan si Ate Nabi? Kanina ko pa kayo hinahanap..."
I raised my brow. "Hinatid ko si Nabi sa room natin..."
Ricos step forward, litong-lito siya. " Bakit po? Anong nangyayari?"
"Where were you? Don't you know what's happening on campus?" Malumanay kong tanong saka agad akong napalapit sa kanya. Nakayuko siya. He seems out of himself .I grab his hands to waken him up. Ang lamig niya at nararamdaman ko ang discomfort niya. I caress his back because it's the only comfort I can provide." Never mind. Let's go back inside. Saka na ako magpapaliwang, mukang masama din ang pakiramdam mo..."
"Everyone looks scary to me..."
"I-its fine, there just something go on. Halika na sa loo-------"
Ricos raise his head." They look at me as if I'm weird...And a bad person."
"You two there, are you part of the theater arts? Bakit patambay-tambay pa kayo dito?" A male professor shouted at us, he's one of the teachers Nabi and I saw at the hall earlier. Napakapit sa akin si Ricos dahil sa sigaw niya at presensya ng ibang faculty na nakasunod sa propesor." Pag kayo nalaman kong may kalokohan din kaya nasa labas kayo."
Napailing ako."...Hindi po, Sir."
Ricos was pulling me, pleading." Let's go, Ate..."
"What are you muttering about? You, with the hoodie. Tago ka ng tago." The professor's attention was set on Ricos, I realized how his being targeted because of his odd behaviour. The professor's loud voice just made Ricos hide behind me more." Look at me when I'm talking to you, may ginagawa ka ba kaya hindi ka makatingin?"
"S-sir, he's not what you think." Pagpipigil ko.
Yet, the older man won't listen to me. His jaw and fist in clench with authority, siya na lang ang natirang kausap kami ni Ricos habang ang mga kasamahan niya ay nasa loob na. Naiinis akong hindi nila pinagsabihan si Sir at iniwan na lang kami. " Mister, you better say something. Kanina pa kita kinakausap, wala ka bang galang?"
"Ate Sheena..."
"He's ill, he's mentally ill." Asik ko sa propesor na nasa harap namin, pagkarinig niya ng sinabi ko ay parang nawasak siya. Then I glance at Ricos. I don't know if I humiliated him, I don't if what I said is better than being a drug addict." You're scaring him, Sir."
Hindi natuloy ang plano naman ni Ellie at Ralph.
Ellie and Ralph's parents called them home. I live alone, and I don't think the news about that drug incident reach my parents yet. I don't them to know and nag me. Kahit si Percival ayaw ko rin makisawsaw pa siya dun. Gusto ko lang na mag-unwind at libangin ang sarili ko pagkatapos ng lahat na yun. Baka tataas na lang ako sa chapel sa may sa amin. Baka masaktuhan ko si Ronald dun.
I miss Ronald---dumidistansya na naman siya sa akin...
"Hindi na kita pipilitin ulit pumunta sa school, just forgive me." Paliwanag ko kay Ronald dahil sa pagkabalisa niya. He run away from me. Parang may tinatago siya, pero kanina kausap grupo nila Kenneth and Gregory." R-Ron? Pupunta ka ba ulit sa chapel? Gabi na rin, kung ayaw mo pang umuwi sa inyo, pwede na samin ka na lang. Sakto bibisita si Percival ngayon!"
"Uuwi na ako..."
I can see him shaking. He won't lift his head, and he have his hands over his mouth. My worry is rising. Gusto kong masigurado na ayos siya," G-Galit ka ba sa akin?"
"Mukha ba akong galit sayo?" Ronald lifted slowly his head, I was fearful that perhaps I'll see anger in his face. But what I see is an emotion I can't describe. At saka dugo. Umaagos ang dugo mula as ilong at bibig niya. " Ano ba dapat ang mukhang galit sayo?"
"Y-you're bleeding?"
"Madam! Bakit bigla na lang kayo umaa------"
"Gregory, huwag kang lumapit! You and your friends just ruins things!" Sigaw ko nang humabol pala sa akin si Gregory, siya at ang grupo pa lang niya ang kausap kanina ni Ronald bago niya ako layuan!" Get away from us! Pagsabihan mo ang mga kabarkada mo na lubayan kami!"
Ronald look down, cursing at us."Tangina. Lubayan niyo ako!"
"I-I'm sorry. You're hurt again. I wasn't able to do anything. I want to help." I protested to Ronald as I try to aid him, pero nakuha pa akong pigilan ni Gregory at pumagitna dahil nakita niyang ekspresyon sa mukha ng kaibigan ko. Ronald's hurt, I want to treat him, I want to take his pain away. But nobody would let me. They're just misunderstanding instead! "R-Ron, Ronald. Listen to me I'm sorry you're like this. Please don't push me away!"
Gregory hissed, pumapagitna pa rin siya. " Ano bang inaatupag mong bata ka?"
"Anong karapatan mo napilitin mo ako sa tabi mo? Kada galaw at sabihin ko may idadada ka din Sheena! "Ronald's words are cruel but his towering fram is so fragile now. He can't lookat me, but he can't look at Gregory either. He's backing away." Ako na namanang nagpapabalingan mo. Saan ka na naman pumalpak