I looked around, checking if someone noticed Cane's sudden disappearance at mukha namang busy silang lahat apart from Barb of course.
"Hey, are you listening?" I heard Miguel asked.
"No."
Hindi ko na tinignan ang reaction niya. I held tightly on my phone bago idinikit sa tenga ko. Yeah, gasgas na ang excuse na'to pero sobrang helpful padin. "Mom. Yes," tumayo agad ako at dumiretso sa exit.
Shit. I never thought I'd make a dumb excuse just to meet Cane secretly.
Nakita ko agad siya sa may parking, sa tapat ng kotse ni Cy. Nakasandal lang siya don habang nakapamulsa. Parang gusto ko na agad bumalik sa tindi ng pag-ngiti niya! Para siyang aso.
"Chandy.. conservative ako.. hindi ako sanay makipag-kita ng patago," parang tanga niyang sabe. Nilagpasan ko lang siya bago binuksan ang backseat ng kotse ni Cy. Kinuha ko kanina sa kanya ang key fob e.
"Uy! Hindi ko ginagawa yon sa kotse,"
Argh! Wtf?! Minsan sobra.. as-in sobrang hirap talaga maging kalma kapag siya ang kasama. Tipong gusto mo nalang siyang iumpog sa malapit na pader! Ang bilis uminit ng ulo ko sa mga kalokohang sinasabe niya.
Kinuha ko nalang agad ang paperbag at itinalsik sa kanya. Agad niyang nasalo yon at maang na napatingin sakin pagka-kita sa brand.
"Oy.."
"I'm sorry for the perfume," I sincerely apologized.
Bigla siyang ngumiti at parang batang nahihiya na napakamot sa batok niya. "Salamat,"
I just shrugged bago siya tinalikudan. I've done my part already.
"Chandy?"
I continued on walking. I am sure wala na siyang ibang matinong sasabihin.
"Chandy.. you have a red stain."
I halted. A what?! Agad akong napalingon sa likod ko and-oh for the love of all that is holy! A stain! Omg. Bakit hindi ko naramdaman agad? Next week pa dapat ang period ko.
At ang dami!
Okay. Calm down, Chandrella. It's just a stain. Inalis ko kaagad ang jacket na suot ko at pinulupot saking bewang. Shit. I need to go home.
"Do you need.. anything?" he carefully asked.
I shook my head. "I just need to go home."
"Okay. I'll drive you."
"No. I can send myself home."
"It's 11 pm!" He stated like he couldn't believe what I just have said.
"And so?"
"It's not safe."
I looked at him for a couple of second. He has a point, pero kaya ko naman umuwi na mag-isa. I just.. I'm not used to situation like this.. yong may sasalo sakin apart from my friends.. it's kinda new and it wasn't pleasant for me.
"Chandy, look. Just let me drive you so I'm well assured you're going home safe."
I remained unresponsive. Should I just let him?
"Konsensya ko nakasalalay dito." He smirked.
I rolled my eyes na ikinangiti niya. "Fine." I handed him Cy's key fob bago ako pumasok sa kotse. Sumunod naman agad siya.
I immediately texted Ansel para mag-paalam na uuwi na ako and said my reason.
Ansel: Is Hurri w/you?
-Yeah
Ansel: Enjoy!
Ansel: Don't do it on the sofa
Ansel: or kitchen!
Ansel: CR will do ;)
I immediately blocked her. Mamaya ko nalang siya ibabalik. Kung ano ano pinagsasa-sabe! Nakakahiya!
"Why are you so red?"
I glanced at Cane. Tumingin siya sakin saglit bago binalik ang mata sa daan.
Argh! I hate you, Ansel! "Just focus on driving," I sternly replied.
He chuckles, "Yes, madam"
**
Unfortunately, my denim jacket was already stained too. Sobrang lakas ng labas ng period ko. I felt so sticky. Natatakot akong baka biglang kumalat sa legs ko!
"Just walk, I'll be behind to cover you." He seriously said. Tumango nalang ako at dahan dahang nag-lakad.
True to his words he really do walk behind me. As-in, super lapit. Parang may pila! But he has to para walang makakita sa stain. Kahit 11 na madami pa din tao sa lobby. May tatlong college students pa kaming nakasabay sa elevator. They keep on glancing sa kasama ko!
Nasa likod ko pa din siya hanggang sa mabuksan ko ang pinto ng unit ko. I immediately face him. "Thank you," I sincerely said.
I really do appreciate what he did. He's really not that.. bad.
"Do you need anything else?"
"I can handle myself na. Thank you ulit."
"Like some medicine or.. pads?"
I heaved a sigh. Ang kulit. "Cane, I'm a med student. I know how to deal with this on my own. I have meds and pads reserved."
He scratched his nape bago ngumiti, "Sorry, I forgot."
Tumango lang ako inaantay siyang umalis pero nakatayo padin siya sa harapan ko. Ayoko namang pag-sarhan siya ng pinto. He's been good today.
"Why are you still here?" hindi ko mapigilang tanong.
"Well.. won't you invite me for a water?"
"Nauuhaw ka?"
He chuckles bago nagpamulsa at tumango. Parang ayoko maniwala. I heaved a sigh, "Stay here, I'll get one."
Iniwan kong bukas ang pinto bago ako dumiretso sa kitchen para ikuha siya ng tubig. Nakakahiya naman sa kanyang uhaw na uhaw ata. Tss.
"Nice condo."
I almost jumped in surprise sa bigla niyang pag-pasok sa kitchen! Hindi ba siya marunong sumunod? "I told you to stay there."
"You leave the door open, that's a silent invitation." He said roaming his eyes before it land on me.
Inabot ko nalang sa kanya ang tubig. Hindi ko alam kung nananadya ba siya pero sobrang bagal niya uminom! Parang gusto ko nalang itulak yong baso para malunok niya ng buo.
I heaved a sigh. Calm down, Chandy.
Shit. I really felt sticky, bakit ba tagal neto uminom?
"Leave when you're finish." I said before I stormed to my room. Sobrang lagkit ng pakiramdam ko.
I took a half bath bago nag-palit into my pajamas. Pagkalabas ko ng room wala na siya pero may cup of tea sa mini table sa sofa. It's still hot. It's Ansel's tea na nakalagay lang sa may kitchen.
Lumapit ako at kinuha ang post-it note na nakadikit don.
I heard tea's good for cramps :) - H
Hindi ko mapigilan hindi mapangiti.
**
We are currently having our SGD in Patho and I am scrolling through my IG since nasabe ko na ang part ko.
barbsantos liked your photo.
And it's my photo from last year. I only have thirteen pictures in my IG but still..is she stalking me right now?
Hindi ko nga siya followe-shoot. She's now following me. I just shrugged it off. Wala din namang kwenta ang IG ko.
I continued on scrolling and didn't follow her back. When I got bored lumipat ako sa twitter. This time hindi ko na mapigilan hindi mapakunot ang noo. Barb just liked one of my tweets na matagal na at agad ding inalis yong pagkaka-like. Seriously?
Sobrang halata niya mang-stalk!
"Girl, may nasagap ako." I looked at Ansel na biglang bumulong sa tabi ko.
She leaned closer to me bago nag-type sa phone niya. bagay daw kayo ni Hurri.
Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin. Nasayang ang tatlong segundo ng buhay ko kay Ansel. Humagikhik lang siya bago bumulong ulit, "Di mo padin ike kwento nangyari kagabi?"
Hindi niya talaga ako titigilan. Guard, ang hirap kapag sobrang kulit ng bestfriend. "Nothing happened."
"Sure? Bakit magulo CR natin?"
Abnormal. Ang sarap nilang pag-untugin ni Cane sa totoo lang! Hindi ko nalang pinatulan para siya lang nagmu mukhang tanga.
"Alam mo ba kagabi badtrip si Barbara."
I remained unresponsive but my ears were on full attention sa sinasabe ni Ansel pero hindi niya itinuloy ang kwento. Nakatingin nalang siya sakin.
"Won't you ask why?"
Ugh. "Tapusin mo nalang," arte arte.
"Ang conversation two way be, dika informed? Pag may sinabe ako dapat curious ka tapos mag-tatanong ka ng 'Oh? Bakit? Tapos?'."
This is so non-sense. Ang demanding masyado, hindi nalang mag-kwento. Tinanguan ko nalang siya para ituloy na niya ang sasabihin niya. She heaved a sigh.
"Anyway, she asked me nasaan ka and I told her na umuwi ka'na tapos may tinatawagan ata siya pero hindi ata sumagot kaya ayon umalis na. May readings pa daw siya."
"Tapos? Share mo lang?"
Agad akong naka-tanggap ng hampas kay Ansel. Napaka mapanakit talaga! "What I mean is, selos ata kasi may kutob na mag-kasama kayo ni Hurri? May boyfriend kaya siya."
Yeah. As far as I know, medical student din ang boyfriend niya. Taga kabilang section lang.
So that's the answer of her stalking?
"She stalked my account," I can't help but say.. she's my bestfriend, she deserves to know.
"Omg. Ayoko na sa kanya. Bakit ka ini-stalk?"
"OA. Na curious lang siguro."
Ansel was about to speak ng makarinig kami nang malutong na sampal. Lahat kami napa-tingin sa pinaka dulo ng classroom. Kahit si Doc Elna napa-tigil sa ginagawa niya.
Heather immediately stormed off the room pagkatapos sampalin si Cyclone. What the?! What did he do? At kailan pa sila naging close para mag-sampalan?
"What happened, Mr. Tantoco?" Doc asked, horrified.
Agad kaming lumapit ni Ansel kay Cy. Ang pula ng pisngi at mata niya. Damn, pinipigilan niyang umiyak.
"Hoy, anong nangyare?" Ansel worriedly asked. "Oy, ano bakit ka ganyan? Bakit ka sinampal? Shit."
I watched Cyclone roughly rubbed his palm on his face bago kami iwan lahat sa classroom.
Ansel and I decided na puntahan si Cy sa condo niya after our class, pagkatapos kasi niya umalis kanina hindi na siya bumalik. Pati tuloy bag niya iniwan!
"What if nakay Ada siya?"
"He's not."
Ada has work today and I doubt it na kay Ada siya tatakbo lalo na't may ibang babaeng involved. We asked Heather's bestfriend kanina kung may alam bakit nanampal kaibigan niya pero wala din daw.
It was very shocking since hindi naman nag-uusap yong dalawa ever since.
Hurricane was the one who opened the door nang dumating kami. He looked so serious and.. mad.
Bakit siya andito? May klase siya ah.
"He's in his room."
"What happened ba?" Ansel asked, tuloy tuloy lang sa pag-pasok.
"Ask him." seryosong sagot ni Cane bago kami iwan at pumunta sa kusina.
Napansin ko din na medyo magulo sa sofa. Parang may nag-wala.
"Cy.."
The light was off inside the room, the curtains were close. Parang biglang nag-gabi sa loob ng kwarto but I can still perfectly see Cyclone's silhouette.
"What happened to you, Cyclone?" I heard Ansel asked bago tuluyang lumapit kay Cy.
I decided to turn on the light dahil sobrang hirap mangapa! Pagkabukas na pagkabukas ng ilaw unang tumambad ang mapulang mata ni Cyclone at magulo niyang buhok.
"High ka?" parang tangang tanong ni Ansel. Agad ko siyang sinipa pero nakuha pang tumawa ng bruha.
"Mukha siyang high, be."
"Ansel, stop."
"Nagsasabe lang ng totoo. Mukha kang tanga, Cyclone."
Ansel really don't know how to shut her mouth.
"Cy.. what happened to Heather?" I carefully asked.
I should've asked him a long time ago, since the day na napansin kong may mali na sa kanya. Sometimes.. I really hate myself for not prying.
"Don't tell Ada." He finally speak! He looked at me pleading.
"This is not about Ada. I am asking what happened between you and Heather."
"Onga, mukha ding high si Heather kanina."
Can I gag my bestfriend?
"I.. shit..its not about her, it's not her fault. And.."
"And? tell us, we are your friends Cyclone. You are not alone in this so tell us your problem because we will help no matter what." Ansel assured him.
I remained quiet. Observing Cyclone. I am not good with words but I can listen. Good thing Ansel's here. She's the best advisor I could ever think of.
"Don't tell me may affair kayo ni Heather?" Ansel asked, brows furrowed.
"No.."
"So ano?"
He told us what happened.
It was my second time seeing him this sad and hopeless, Cy's too in love with someone who cannot even love him wholly. As much as gusto kong magsalita at sabihing wag na niyang sayangin ang oras niya, I can't. Because I can't invalidate what he feels. Our only role here is to be there for him.
Kailangan kong lumabas saglit dahil kailangan ko talaga ng tubig. I can't watch Cyclone in this kind of state for too long.
Napatingin ako kay Hurricane. May hawak siya na malaking binder, nakasuot siya ng glasses ngayon.
"Don't you have class today?"
Damn me. Why am I starting to get so curious with his activities?
"My brother needs me."
One thing I observed with Cane aside from being kabute? He's always there for someone. He's like a spine, I don't know if it's a good thing.
"He's lucky to have you," I can't help but say.
Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo ng dila ko? Hindi nalang manahimik.
I saw him smirk, "You can have me too."
"Damn you."