Typo errors are a lot.
Chapter 37
"Sammy."
Napahinto naman si Samuel nang tinawag siya nang Dad niya. Kakauwi lang kasi niya galing sa klase nila. Nilingon naman niya ito at nakita kasa-kasama ang stepmother niyang si Jolina na may kasamang batang babae na tantiya niya, elementary pa lang.
He raised an eyebrow. Because of so many things that happened between him and his dad, he became distant.
"Anak," Panimula nito sa kanya. His dad looked at him seriously. "Ito si Zia. Anak namin siya ng Mommy Jolina mo. Nakababatang kapatid mo siya. At simula ngayon, magiging parte na siya ng pamilya natin."
---
Nilock naman kaagad ni Vanessa ang locker niya matapos malagay ang mga libro niya na ginamit niya kanina sa klase. She was just alone there, putting back her own stuff. It was just a normal day for her—well, no Adrian on her side nor Sam.
She sighed. Gulong-gulo na talaga siya sa mga nangyayari. She's confused on what to feel when everyone around her was making her confused with her own feelings. Everyone was making her frustrated—especially in sorting out her feelings.
She suddenly remembered what happened between her and Sam yesterday. The guy was there for the entire night. Ni hindi ito umuwi para lang bantayan siya. He was staying outside their house—like guarding them. Kahit kasi anong pilit niya ritong ipauwi, hindi ito natinag. The guy literally stayed up for the whole night. Of course she knew, she was checking him time to time from her room's window.
Hanggang sa umaga pa rin ay nandoon pa rin ito kaya pinilit na lang niya talaga itong ipauwi lalo't pa na umaambon na sa mga oras na iyon. Napilitan din naman itong sumang-ayon sa sinabi niya at umuwi na rin ito.
Nakita naman niyang dumaan sa harap niya sina Adrian at Zia na magkasama. Zia was holding Adrian's arm na kung makapulupot sa braso nito ay parang ito ang nobya. Napansin naman siya nito.
"Hi Vannie!" Pagkatapos ay iniwan na siya ng dalawa. She rolled her eyes. Ni hindi nga siya pinansin ni Adrian. She sighed again. Later that night, she got a text from Adrian. 'Nung gabi pa lang siya tinext nito ulit but the message she got from him?
He texted her na sasamahan muna nito si Zia for one week—na ito raw muna ang mag-gaguide sa babae sa university. She only responded a 'K' to him. Kahit ang totoo, sobrang naiinis na talaga siya. Halatang pinapaikot lang siya ng babae but Adrian doesn't mind it. She doesn't even know why Zia was pestering her relationship with Adrian—to think, hindi naman sila close.
Pumunta na lang siya sa cafeteria na mag-isa. She's really alone.
She quickly bought food from the counter—just a spaghetti and an iced tea. Pero laking-gulat naman niya nang may bumangga sa likod niya at muntik na niyang mabitawan ang tray na hawak niya. Napalingon naman siya kaagad sa kung sinong bumangga sa kanya.
Her eyes got widened the moment she recognized the guy. She froze.
"Geez, ikaw lang pala Vanessa," Umiling pa ito. Hindi naman kaagad nakapagsalita si Vannie—instead she was too nervous to utter a word, matagal-tagal din niyang hindi ito nasalamuha sa loob ng campus dahil sa suspension na nakuha nito, "Oh? Parang nakakita ka yata ng multo." Natatawang sabi pa nito.
"M-Max.." She was stammering. It was no other than Max Peter Magallanes. Shit. Will she get herself into trouble again? Tapos na pala ang suspension nito? And why does it look like he isn't pissed off with her anymore? Eh kasi sa tuwing nagkikita sila o nagkakasalubong sa campus noon, the guy always looked like he was going to murder her anytime.
"You're alone? Hindi mo yata kasama boyfriend mo?" Tanong nito sa kanya like everything was normal.
"Y-Yeah," She doesn't know what to respond. Kinakabahan pa rin siya.
"Bumili lang naman ako ng tubig," Max replied, "Why not join with us at our table? Tutal, mag-isa ka lang naman."
Kumunot naman ang noo ni Vanessa rito. Bumait yata ito? Napatingin naman siya sa table na sinasabi nito at nakita ring kasama nito si Jared Montessor doon. Magkasama pala ang dalawa doon sa cafeteria.
The guy just chuckled, "You know, we're not going to beat you again, Vanessa. Just come and eat with us. You'll see." He said as he gestured her to join them at the table.
Napilitan namang sumama si Vannie rito. These guys were acting strange.
Nang dumating na silang dalawa, kaagad naman nagsalita si Max, "Dude, Vanessa is eating with us." Anito at napatingin naman sa kanya si Jared na kanina pa na may parang tinetext.
Jared just grinned, "Oh, if it isn't Vanessa Velasco." Umupo na silang dalawa ni Max. She was just sitting beside Max while Jared was sitting opposite to her.
"Pare, paano ba kukuha ng slip para makakuha ako ng mga make-up classes? My mom has been bugging me, pero hindi ko naman alam kung paano." Max started the conversation. Natahimik naman si Vanessa sa sinabi nito.
She raised an eyebrow. Matino rin palang nag-uusap ang mga ito?
Napatingin naman kaagad ang dalawa sa kanya—like they were expecting an answer from her.
"Uhm," She hesitantly responded, "Pumunta ka sa Academic Coordinator's Office para humingi ng slip para sa make-up classes na gagawin mo. Magbibigay sila ng form sayo at yung form na yun, ipapapirma mo yun sa mga professors ng mga subjects na imemake-up classes mo."
Namamanghang tumango naman ang dalawa matapos ang sinabi niya.
"Ganun lang pala kadali? Akala ko maghihirap ka pa bago ka makakuha ng mga make-up classes mo," Max amusingly replied. "May plano pa naman akong i-seduce yung academic coordinator natin para hindi ako pahirapan."
Natatawang napailing na lang si Vannie sa sinabi nito. Naguguluhan talaga siya inaasal ng mga ito. They really were acting like normal students around her. Matitino rin pala ang mga kaibigan ni Sam.
Pero nahagip naman ang tingin niya nang may dalawang taong dumaan sa harap niya. She was merely boring her eyes to the couple who just passed by.
"And what the fuck is Zia doing here?" Narinig niyang sabi ni Jared sa kanila. Kilala rin pala ng mga ito si Zia?
"Walang sinabi sa 'tin si Samuel na dumating na pala siya. Akala ko magstestay na siya for good sa Australia." Max replied back. Silang tatlo na ang nakatingin tuloy ngayon kina Adrian at Zia.
"Vanessa, isn't that your boyfriend?" Biglang tanong naman sa kanya ni Max. Napatingin naman kaagad siya sa dalawa. The guys were looking at her confusingly.
Tumango naman si Vanessa sa sinabi nito, "C-Cool off muna kasi kami."
Itinaas naman ni Max ang kilay nito sa kanya, he was looking at her in amusement. "Cool off? Why not officially breaking it up with him? Geez, now I know, Samuel is really enduring a lot from you."
"Just look at that bitch." Napatigil naman silang dalawa ni Max nang magsalita si Jared. Matalim pa rin itong nakatingin sa direksyon nina Zia.
Natawa na lang si Max sa sinabi nito, "Ganyan yan, ex kasi niyan si Zia. Nagkahiwalay kasi Zia cheated.. kaya bitter ang gago."
Vanessa couldn't help but to laugh. "Sa lahat ng babae, kay Zia ka nagkagusto?" She replied. Hindi niya talaga maiwasang matawa. Hindi niya kasi inexpect na may past ang dalawa.
"Don't fret about it, hindi na ako bitter. Tangina lang niya," Jared was really pissed off. Mas lalo pa silang tumawa ni Max dahil sa sinabi nito.
"Vanessa, hindi ka ba naiinis na magkasama ang dalawa?" Tanong naman sa kanya ni Max. Nakatingin na silang tatlo ngayon sa dalawa ulit—the couple were both laughing at each other like they were having a sweet moment together.
"Fuck," Jared cursed again, "Vanessa, ano bang nagustuhan mo kay Villaflor? He looked shit. Ugly motherfucker." Napailing na lang siya sa sinabi nito.
"Ang sama mo." Natatawang sabi niya rito.
"No offense," Max suddenly interrupted, raising his hands in the air, "We all looked good than that boyfriend of yours, well, include Samuel, pero sa kanya ka pa rin nababaliw. Ano bang nakain mo, Vanessa Velasco?"
"Ang sasama niyo talaga," She giggled. Mababait din pala ang mga ito. "Ikaw din naman Montessor, anong kinain mo at nagustuhan mo si Zia?" She said jokingly.
"Shit," Jared acted like he was really disgusted, "I don't know either. Pero dahil sa kanya, naniniwala na talaga ako sa gayuma,"
"Maganda naman si Zia, pare." Biro naman ni Max sa kanila.
"Oo nga." Tumawa naman si Vanessa at nag-apir pa silang dalawa ni Max. They were really both enjoying teasing Jared. "Kunwari ka pa." She added.
"What the fuck are you guys saying? Just look at them, bagay na bagay, they look disgustingly good together, good match. No offense, Vanessa, you should just go to our friend, Samuel." Jared replied. Talagang asar na asar talaga ito.
"I have to agree with Jared this time," Sumabat naman si Max, "Your boyfriend is really an ugly ass motherfucker."
"Tumigil na nga kayong dalawa," Napatingin naman ulit si Vanessa sa table nila Adrian at Zia at saktong nakita niyang pinupunasan ni Zia ang bibig ni Adrian kasi sa ketchup na napunta sa may bibig nito.
"Well, yeah, they really look disgustingly good with each other."
---
"Sam." Sabi kaagad ni Vanessa nang sinagot na ni Samuel ang tawag niya. Papauwi na kasi siya at napag-isipan niyang tawagan ito. Nakalimutan niya kasi itong pasalamatan kagabi dahil sa ginawa nito, just for being there for her, always. And she also wanted to do something to owe him back.
"Hey, my whore. Miss me again?" Napailing na lang siya sa sinagot nito.
"Nasaan ka ba?"
"In my pad, why—" Bigla naman itong umubo. Talagang umubo-ubo ito ng grabe.
Kumunot naman ang noo niya sa narinig dito, "May sakit ka ba?"
"Wala." Sagot nito matapos umubo, "Bakit mo natanong kung nasaan ako? Wait, do you want us to use the benefits?"
"No!" Kahit kailan talaga, ang bastos, "Pupuntahan kita diyan." She quickly ended the call. Naalala naman niya na nabasa ito sa ulan kanina nang pinauwi niya ito—kaya pala nagkasakit ito.
---
Pinindot naman kaagad ni Vanessa ang doorbell sa pad nito at wala pang isang segundo ay binuksan nito kaagad ang pinto.
"You're fast." Samuel said in amusement. Nakasuot lang ito ng gray sweatpants at puting tshirt. Pumasok naman kaagad si Vanessa sa loob.
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa kin na nagkasakit ka pala?" She asked as she went to the kitchen. Nakabuntot naman ito sa kanya. She was getting some towel and soaked it with the water. Buti na lang talaga na tinuruan siya ng Papa niya kung paano mag-alaga ng may sakit—ganoon kasi sa bahay nila. Her dad who was a doctor taught her everything about first aid and such.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Velasco."
Nilingon naman ito Vanessa at sinalat ang leeg nito. She just realized Sam was really tall—maybe even taller than Adrian, "Mainit ka. 'Dun ka muna sa kama, humiga ka. Babalikan kita pagkatapos nito."
"I'm really fine, nothing to be—"
"Rivera," She eyed him, "Go, lie down to your bed, ako ng bahala rito." She commanded strictly.
Natahimik naman si Samuel dito at napangiti, "Yes, Ma'am." Vannie just rolled her eyes as Sam finally went to his bed.
---
"Sam." Tawag niya rito at napaayos naman ito ng upo sa kama. Nilapitan naman niya ito dala-dala ang bimpo at gamot. Sinimulan na niya kaagad ang pagpunas sa braso nito.
"Sinabihan kitang umuwi ng maaga para makatulog ka ng maayos, tignan mo tuloy, naulanan ka pa." She sermoned while applying the wet towel around his arms.
"Kung para naman sayo, I'll do it." Sam suddenly replied as Vanessa then looked at him. He was staring at her intensely. She awkwardly avoided his gaze and continued treating him.
"Okay na ba kayo ni Adrian?"
"N-No."
"Do you want me to tell Zia to stay away from him?"
Kaagad namang napatingin si Vannie sa sinabi nito. He was still looking at her—like in any minute, she's gonna melt with his stare. "N-No, it's okay. Uhm..." She really felt awkward.
"Y-You know, your friends are great," She said instead. Well, yes, she had to admit, Jared and Max were fun to be with. May kabaitan din pala ang mga ito. "Nakausap ko kasi sila kanina, si Jared at si Max. I was alone in the cafeteria and they let me join them. I-I didn't expect that they were good. Naging mga kaibigan ko na rin sila."
Samuel just smiled, "Yes, they really are. And I'm glad you're finally okay with them." Napatingin naman kaagad si Vannie sa sinabi nito. Sam was still not getting his gaze from her.
Unting-unti naman nitong inilapit ang mukha nito sa kanya. Vannie froze but just closed her eyes. Bahala na.
But she got surprised when Sam kissed her in her forehead instead. Naimulat naman kaagad niya ang mga mata niya.
Sam smirked—looking like he won, "I can't kiss you right now, baka kasi mahawa ka sa sakit ko."
Vannie felt embarrassed about it though, "Uhm... O-Okay." Tinuloy na lang niya ang punas nito.
She was really thinking deeply about something.
"S-Sam."
"Yeah?"
"A-Are you.. willing to wait for me even if sometimes.. it's impossible?" She then lifted her head up to meet his gaze. She was really nervous.
Silence then filled the air.
Sam grinned, "Velasco, do you really need to ask that?"
"What Samuel wants... Samuel gets."
//
Thank you for the wonderful comments letsjam, Luludearwifey, tnmaria!