Ashton's POV
Nanlulumo akong naglakad pabalik ng dorm. I can't believe what just happened. We were having fun picking our clothes for prom tapos biglang may bad news. Gusto ko sanang sumama kay Maria pero tumanggi siya.
Naiintindihan ko naman. It's a private matter and besides may curfew din ang dorm namin and ako ang magsasabi ng dahilan kung bakit hindi siya makababalik. I feel bad for her. Kahit naman kasi sobrang strict ng Mommy niya ay sobrang mahal na mahal niya ito.
I entered the building at agad kong nakita ang head ng girl's dorm na nakaabang sa may entrance. "Yes?" nagtatakang tanong niya.
"Kindly excuse Maria. She's staying on Room 23," I told her plainly. She raised both of her eyebrows while typing on her laptop.
"Why?"
"It's... something personal." Tumango naman siya kaya umalis na rin ako. I checked my phone and it's almost seven. Malapit na 'kong ma-late. I fasten my pace and nakarating naman ako agad sa boy's dorm.
"Almost late," Aldrin said. He's the head of the boy's dorm. Tipid lang akong ngumiti. He's my senior na kasi.
I walked on the quiet alley. Rinig na rinig ang bawat yapak ko. Bawal kasi ang pagala-gala sa hallway kaya tahimik talaga dito lagi lalo na kapag gabi. I grabbed my key and unlocked the door. Napatingin ako sa lalaking nakatutok sa tablet niya. He's wearing huge headphones. I rolled my eyes and closed the door.
I put my stuffs on my study table and hang my suit in the closet. I badly need a shower.
Hindi naman ako pinapansin ni Fovi kaya I minded my own business na lang din. Maybe I should pretend na he's not existing na lang. Compare naman kay Frank, my ex-roommate, mas okay siyang kasama sa k'warto. Basta huwag mo lang kakausapin dahil lagi kang mababara sa pagiging pilosopo n'ya.
I grabbed my clothes and went inside the shower to take a bath. Malinis siya sa banyo. Hindi nagulo ang arrangements ng mga skincare products ko. I scanned the new products on the shelf. These must be his. Basic toiletries lang. Shampoo, shaving cream and such. Unlike me na kung anu-ano pang mga serum at facial masks ang binibili.
I smiled nang maramdaman ko ang pagyakap ng tubig sa hubad na katawan ko. Pero agad ding nabura ang ngiti ko nang maalala ko ang sinabi ni Kuya Bonet.
I only met Tita once. Kahit na strict at intimidating siya, sobrang warm-hearted niya when we had dinner together. She was telling me a lot of Maria's childhood stories. Maria was so lucky to have her and now that she's gone, I can't describe the pain Maria's going through right now.
I finished my bath.
I did my ritual in front of the mirror while listening to some music to divert my thoughts. Hindi kasi mawala sa isip ko si Maria. I should go check on her later. I'm not really the clingy type of friend kaya I don't know how to comfort someone. Maria's my only friend kaya I really hope I can make her feel better. She must be crying buckets of tears right now. Nalungkot ako dahil sa naisip.
I turned the lights off in the bathroom and hop on the bed.
"What's the suit for?" Fovi asked, breaking the silence. Ayaw ko sana siyang sagutin pero the tone of his voice sounds friendly tonight.
"Prom," I replied shortly.
"I guess the head forgot to informed me about that." He heaved a sigh and took off his headphones. He walked towards his closet and open it.
He must be searching for something to wear.
I closed my eyes. Should I call Maria? Maybe now's not a good time. Baka gusto niya munang mapag-isa. I think I should just send her a message.
I searched for my phone and type my thoughts to her.
You feelin' alright? I'm here, okay? Call me if you need me.
Should I send emojis? Nah. I tapped send and waited for her to seen it but I realized that she's not online. I looked at Fovi. Kumunot ang noo ko sa hawak niya.
A book?
Akala ko naman ay naghahanap siya ng susuotin for prom. Pati ba naman sa closet niya ay may libro?
Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nagtalukbong ng kumot upang matulog.
—
Nagising ako sa mga tunog nang sinasaradong cabinet at bukas na faucet. "Arghmmpp!" I stretched my body and searched for my phone with my eyes still closed.
I opened my right eye to check the time. It's 4 a.m.
What the fuck?
Naiinis akong tumingin sa pinto ng banyo. Bukas ang ilaw sa loob. Ang aga niya gumising. Asar. Pinatay ko ang cellphone ko at muling bumalik sa pagtulog.
—
Napatakip ako ng mata sa silaw dahil sa sinag ng araw mula sa bintana. Ano'ng oras na ba?
I sat tiredly and checked my phone. Unti-unting nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita kong 6:48 a.m. na. Nagmamadali akong bumangon at pumasok ng banyo.
"Hindi man lang ako ginising ng kumag na 'yon!" inis na singhal ko habang naglalagay ng toothpaste sa toothbrush ko.
Dahil wala ng oras ay napilitan akong isuot ang uniform ko nang walang ligo. I grabbed my bag at mabilis na tumakbo papunta ng classroom. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ko si Sir Peco sa hallway at may kausap na student. Pasimple akong dumaan sa gilid nila at nagmamadaling naglakad papasok ng room.
Muntik na 'kong ma-late.
I walked towards my seat. Masama kong tiningnan ang lalaking hinayaan akong ma-late ng gising. Walang pakialamam ba talaga gusto niya? Sana 'di ko na lang sinabi sa kanya 'yung about sa prom. Psh.
Dahan-dahan akong umupo at nangaliwang baba. For some reason ay inaantok pa rin ako. I yawned tiredly and glanced at the vacant chair beside me. Wala si Maria. Ine-expext ko nang hindi siya papasok ngayon dahil nga sa nangyari kahapon.
"You have something on your face."
Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niya. "Huh?" I asked.
"I said you have something on your face," he repeated. Kinapa ko ang mukha ko. Wala naman ah? Bored siyang tumingin sa'kin.
"You're not trying to act dumb like how girls do on cliche dramas so the guy can remove it for them, right?" Nakangibit na sabi niya. Napatawa ako sa inis. Ang feeling naman nito!
"Don't worry. I wasn't expecting any mind gestures from you," I slurred. I grabbed my mini mirror and checked my face.
Gosh. My toothpaste pa 'ko sa panga.
Napatingin ako sa pinto nang pumasok si Sir Peco. Agad kong tinago ang salamin ko at umupo nang maayos.
"Good morning class," he greeted and my classmates answered in chorus.
He scanned the room at agad tumigil ang mata niya sa katabing upuan ko. "Where's Maria?" he asked and looked at me.
I was about to answer when someone entered the room. My lips parted.
"Sorry for being late, Sir," Maria apologized.