Chapter 2
“What’s happening here?” I slumped back on the wall when I heard a very familiar voice. Ugh, bakit kailangan pa nilang makitsismis dito?
Jeymi, Joy and Jam stopped on their tracks and ‘yung mga ‘gangsters’ ay nagpakita sa harapan namin. Kahit na masakit pa rin ang katawan ko, I forced my way to stand up. There’s no way I’m going to look weak in front of them.
“Heaven! Samahan kita sa clinic?” Biglang nagpunta sa tabi ko si Joy at inakay ako.
“I can manage myself and I don’t need any help,” sabi ko at lumayo sa kan’ya.
Napansin ko ang pagngisi ni Matthew. “Kahit na may masakit sa’yo, pride pa rin ang pinapairal mo? You’re just an ordinary brat, and you need help. ‘Wag ka ng mag-inarte,” sabi niya.
“I’m warning you, Matthew,” sabat ni Jeymi. “You don’t have any rights to talk to her like that.”
“I’m just saying what she needs to know. Para hindi nadadagdagan ang pagiging brat niya,” sabi nito.
I clenched my fists and glared at him. Ano bang problema niya? We don’t even know each other and kung tatanungin ako, siya dapat ang magbawas ng pagiging bitch niya!
“Tara na,” aya ni Joy.
Kumunot ang noo ko at naglakad palayo. “We’ll be late for our next class, I’m fine.” I grimaced when my hip suddenly ached but I continued walking.
I can’t believe this. Dahil lang hindi ako isa sa kanila, automatic na mahina na ako? I’m going to prove them wrong.
Naramdaman ko ang paghabol ni Jeymi at Jam sa akin. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been beat up by those girls. I mean, they’re gangsters, they’re stronger than ordinary. Okay ka lang ba talaga? No fracture or anything?” sunod-sunod na tanong ni Jam.
“I told you, I’m okay, Jam. I can handle myself,” sabi ko.
Sure enough, late na ako sa class ko. Dahil doon, I was forced to explain myself in front of the class. After no’n, doon ko lang naalala na magkaparehas ulit kami ng klase ni Gabriel. And the only unoccupied seat in the room is next to him.
Napabuntong-hininga ako. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko siyang makatabi, but I think I need to move on from my embarrassment first.
Wala naman ako nagawa, umupo ako sa tabi niya. Kaso nang sumandal ako sa upuan, sumakit ang rib cage ko. Napahawak ako dito nang wala sa oras as I gritted my teeth to endure the pain.
Shit, that was one hell of a punch. Ano ng gagawin ko? I have two choices, to let this pain be or to go to the Nurse’s office. Number two’s the most logical choice I have pero ‘pag nalaman ‘to ng Matthew guy na ‘yon, siguradong pagtatawanan niya ako.
Huminga ako ng malalim but that only made the pain worsen.
Naramdaman kong may humawak sa kamay kong mahigpit ang pagkakakapit sa ballpen at napatingin ako sa katabi ko.
Hindi siya nakatingin sa’kin but he was caressing my knuckles. “You’re hurt.”
“No shit, Captain Obvious,” sarkastiko kong sagot. Doon na siya napatingin sa’kin at kahit na naramdaman ko na naman ang pamumula ko ay hindi ko tinanggal ang tingin ko sa kan’ya.
“What happened?” tanong nito.
“Wala, nothing serious.”
“By the way you’re clutching your clothing and how tight your grip is, I can say that that’s something serious.” Before I could stop him, he stood up and because he was still holding my hand, I was forced to stand up with him.
I flinched nang gumalaw na naman ang katawan ko. I think he’s right, this was something serious. Sana pala nagpunta na lang ako ng clinic. I never knew pain was this unbearable.
Pinagmasdan niya ako habang hirap na hirap ako sa pagtayo. Doon ko lang napansin na tumigil sa pagsasalita ang prof sa harap habang silang lahat ay nakatingin sa amin.
Nagsimula na siyang maglakad palabas and hindi ko naman siya mapigilan dahil hinang-hina na talaga ako ngayon. My eyesight was becoming blurry and I was beginning to feel numb because of the pain.
“It’s not that serious. You just broke a rib or two. It’ll heal in three to four weeks. For now, magpahinga ka muna,” narinig kong sabi ni Gabriel.
I nodded pero agad akong kumalma nang naramdaman kong nagki-kick in na ‘yung pain killers na ibinigay sa’kin ng nurse.
Humiga ako sa kama at mas nag-relax pa ang buong katawan ko. I can still feel it, the pain. This is my first time na nabugbog ako, and I think my whole body is swollen.
“You have bruises, too. Anong nangyari? Did you get into a fight?” tanong nito tapos narinig kong nanghingi siya ng ice pack sa nurse.
“I’m okay, no need to nurse me. Gagaling rin ako.” I closed my eyes when I felt the cold compress onto my skin.
Hindi naman siya nagsalita. “You didn’t answer my question,” sabi niya after minutes.
I sighed. “It’s nothing. It’s just gangsters,” I spat that word in disgust.
“Who? Sila Matthew? They’d never do that,” kunot-noong sabi ni Gabriel.
Muntikan na akong matawa pero pinipigilan ko lang dahil masakit talagang gumalaw. “Dummy! Alam mo naman palang hindi gagawin ‘yun ng mga kaibigan mo, pero bakit mo sila binanggit? May chance ba na bubugbugin nila ako?”
Napayuko si Gabriel. “Yes.”
Napalunok ako. They’re dangerous as I thought. I can’t believe na kaya nilang mangbugbog ng babae.
“But only if they knew na malakas ang kalaban nila,” dagdag nito.
Agad akong napasimangot. Does that mean I’m weak? Nakakainis talaga.
“You’re ordinary compare to us. But we’re still humans nonetheless, we have our limitations. We get hurt, but it doesn’t mean we’re weak.”
“I don’t get it,” At ayokong ma-gets. Kahit wala akong naintindihan sa sinabi niya, tingin ko ay malaki itong bagay.
“Now, tell me. Sino sila?”
“Wala.”
“Don’t be stubborn.”
“Wala nga, don’t make a fuss about this.”
“You got a broken rib and a few bruises, siguradong magagalit ang mga kaibigan mo when they hear about this.”
Napangisi ako. Yeah, right. I can already imagine the 3Js beating up those girls for the second time.
“Wala akong pake.”
“I need to know.”
“Bakit ba?!” I snapped.
“So I could tell them not to mess with you again.”
***
Hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon kay Gabriel. The moment na sinabi niya ‘yon, I just felt like flying. God, I already forgot why we were talking in the first place! Basta ang alam ko, hindi kami magkakilala. But why did we end up talking anyways?
Umalis na siya agad nang nagpanggap akong natutulog. But knowing him, alam kong sila Jam ang pupuntahan niya for that information. At sasabihin rin ng lalaking ‘yon na nasa loob ako ng clinic.
Everybody knows Gabriel. He’s the quiet type, seryoso sa lahat ng bagay, he’s smart in all ways, but he never smiles. Now that I think about it, hindi ko pa nga siya nakikita na nakangiti. But that doesn’t make him less cool.
I developed my crush for him when we were at the library. Hindi ko alam na may nanghahalungkat na pala ng bag ko. He caught that student at ibinalik niya ang bag ko sa akin. Doon ako nagsimulang humanga sa kan’ya.
Pero hindi ko kilala ‘yung mga kaibigan niya. Just now, when I saw that he was hanging out with that Matthew dude, doon ko lang nalaman na isa pala siyang gangster.
“Heaven!” Napailing ako nang naringi ko ang pagsigaw ni Jeymi.
“Ven! I never knew you had a broken rib! Gahd, damn those girls!” sabi ni Jam.
“Are you okay? Did you take pain killers? Masakit pa rin ba?” tanong naman ni Joy.
“I’m fine girls. Stop making a ruckus. Ang ingay niyo. Pasalamat kayo at walang tao ang clinic,” natatawa kong sabi.
“Sabi na eh, we should’ve brought you here earlier.” Jam was looking all guilty.
“No, it’s my fault kasi nag-inarte pa ako. That Mathew guy is right.” Kahit na I super-duper hate him.
“Get well soon, okay? Here, we brought you lunch,” sabi ni Jeymi at inilabas ang isang lunch box.
“Susubuan niyo ba ako?” tanong ko.
Natawa ako nang sabay-sabay silang napairap. But I stopped when it hurt too much dahil sa pagtawa ko.
“Hindi pilay ang kamay mo, Heaven. Stop being lazy,” sabi ni Joy at napailing.
“She’s just taking advantage of her situation,” sabi nama ni Jam.
“Yeah, right. Feed yourself, Heaven,” sabat ni Jeymi.
“Dali na, please? I feel so weak. Hindi ako makagalaw. Ang hirap ding huminga,” I acted all dramatic. Sabay naman silang napatawa.
“Akin na nga, ako na magsusubo sa’yo, magpapacute ka pa eh.”
“No, ako na lang.”
“I can do it, let me.”
Mas lumapad ang ngiti ko. See how easy I can persuade them?
“Pero mali-late na tayo sa next class pag hindi tayo nagmadali,” sabi ni Joy at tumingin sa orasan niya.
“I can stay here to feed and watch over her,” pagprisenta ni Jam.
“Ako na lang,” sabi ni Jeymi.
Napailing ako. “Joke lang ‘yon, umalis na kayo. Don’t miss any classes. Kaya ko na ang sarili ko.”
Sabay-sabay naman silang napangiti. “Love you, Heaven!”
“Ciao!”
“Kanina pa tapos klase namin!”
At bago pa ako makapagsalita, wala na sila sa paningin ko. Ugh! Those sneaky gangsters! Nadaya ako doon ah!
Inabot ko ‘yung lunch box at pati ‘yung kutsara nang mapansin kong naka-bandage ang kamay ko. Oh right, natapakan nga ito kanina kaya ito namamaga.
Great. Just, great.
Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan at napatingin ako kay Gabriel na kakapasok pa lang.
“O-oh, Gab. Bakit ka nandito?” nagtataka kong tanong.
“Well, nakita ko ang mga kaibigan mo and they were laughing. I guessed it’s because they tricked you.” Kinuha niya ang lunch box sa kamay ko.
“Teka, hindi mo na kailangang gawin yan. Lalo na’t hindi naman tayo close, nakakahiya,” sabi ko dahil pumasok sa’kin ang ideyang susubuan niya ako.
“You’re hurt. How else can you eat? I’m simply helping you out. Hindi naman kailangan na magka-close kayo para tulungan ang isang tao diba?”
“I guess not. Pero bakit mo to ginagawa?”
“Do I need to have a reason?”
Tumahimik na lang ako and let him feed me. Ang dami kong first times ngayong araw. At isa na roon ang first time na subuan ako ng crush ko.
May biglang kumatok sa pintuan at pumasok ang isa sa mga kaibigan ni Gabriel.
“Sabi na at nandito ka eh. Hey there, pretty,” bati ni Felix.
“What are you doing here?” tanong ni Gab.
“Boss’ been looking everywhere for you. I just guessed na dito ka magpupunta at kasama mo ang babaeng ito,” nakangiti nitong sabi.
“Why?” Hindi pa rin tumitingin si Gab kay Felix. He was so focused on feeding me.
“Gang stuff. Ikaw lang naman ang pinagkakatiwalaan niya when it comes to this stuff. Puntahan mo na siya, ako na ang bahala rito,” sabi ni Felix while tumayo naman si Gab at ibinigay yung lunch box sa kanya.
He left without saying a word at iniwan pa ako kasama ang isang lalaking hindi ko kilala!
“You call that ‘mayabang’ na guy ‘Boss’?” tanong ko. Umupo siya sa harapan ko habang nakangiti. I’m pretty sure na yung Andriel dude yung Boss na tinutukoy niya. Yun yung guy na umalis agad ng wala man lang sinasabi.
“Yep. There’s nothing wrong with that.” Medyo nahiya ako nang siya naman ang nagsubo sakin dahil hindi naman namin kilala ang isa’t isa.
“Don’t be shy, Louisse. Request to ng kaibigan ko so I’m doing this for his sake.”
“Alam ko naman ‘yon! And don’t call me Louisse! Paano mo nalaman pangalan ko?”
“Y’know what? I’ll tell you a secret,” nakangisi nitong sabi na para bang excited sa sasabihin niya.
“Matagal ka ng kilala ni Gab. He’s got his eye on you the first day you met each other. He just doesn’t know how to approach you. That explains why nandito siya at inaalagaan ka instead of his usual hiding spot.” Malaki ang ngiti niya habang patuloy naman na nagpoprocess sa akin ang sinabi niya.
***
A/N:
Sorry kasi matagal ang update. Busy with Science Investigatory Project and stuff :(( I don't know kung kailan babalik yung normal na schedule ko sa pag-update pero babawi ako sa Christmas break.
Thanks for reading! :D