Ashton's POV
"Maria?" I called. She remained silent. Nakatitig lang siya sa suot niyang singsing na binigay ni Voughn sa kanya.
"Are you alright?" I asked. She lifted her head and looked at me using her cold eyes.
"Why? Do you wish that I'm not?" she replied. Napatigil ako sa naging sagot niya. What? Where did that come from?
Ilang segundo rin kaming nagtitigan bago nanlaki ang mata niya na tila natauhan at binawi ang sinabi niya. "I-I'm sorry! I just... I just... I just feel so terrible right now," nauutal na dipensa niya. My face crumpled but I understand her. Kahit naman siguro sino ay mawawala sa wisyo kapag nawalan ng mahal sa buhay.
"It's okay," I answered and smiled at her to lessen her tenseness. She forced a smile.
"Should we go eat?" I asked and she nodded. I grabbed her hand and my smile faded when I saw several fresh cuts on her wrist. She withdrew her hand and avoided my gaze.
She's doing it again.
I forced a smile. "Let's go," I told her cheerfully and started walking to the cafeteria.
I told her to find us a table while I go and get our food. I know her favorites and I hope that it could help to lighten her mood. Pumila ako sa likod ng isang familiar na estudyante.
"Harmony?"
Her shoulders winced from my sudden call. She turned to look at me and her face brightens. "Ash!" she replied shyly, blushing a little.
"Have you chosen a dress?" I asked and smiled. I'm trying to sound as friendly as I can. I don't want to scare her with my usual tone of voice.
"Yeah. Si Mama ang pumili ng dress ko," nahihiyang sagot niya. I smiled. I can't believe that she's being bullied just because of the reason that she's taking medicines.
Kung ako ang tatanungin. Maganda siya.
Pero s'yempre hindi kami talo dahil mas maganda ako.
I chose Maria's favorites and halos mapuno ang dalawang kamay ko dahil sa dami ng order ko. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papalapit sa table namin nang matisod ako sa paa ng isang nakaharang na upuan.
Akala ko ay babagsak na ang mga binili kong pagkain pero naagapan 'yon ng taong kumapit sa braso ko. "Need a hand?" he asked and smiled. Napatingin ako sa katabi niyang ulopong na si Voughn. Kinindatan pa 'ko ng loko. Tumango ako sa offer ni Billy at kinuha niya ang isang tray na hawak ko.
"Kayo lang dalawa ang kakain nito?" Billy asked. Mukhang amaze na amaze siya sa thought na kami lang ni Maria ang kakain nitong lahat.
"Well yeah," I responded shortly.
Pinatong namin sa table ang mga order namin at kita ko ang pagliwanag ng mukha ni Maria nang makita si Voughn.
"Voughn," she called sweetly. Tinaas ni Voughn ang tingin niya kay Maria.
"Hello, Mae," he greeted and went back to tapping on his phone again. Umasim ang mukha ko sa pangalang tinawag niya kay Maria.
Sino si Mae?
Bakas ang disappointment sa mukha ni Maria pero agad din 'yung nawala. "It's Maria," she corrected. Gulat na napatingin sa kanya si Voughn.
"Ow. I'm very sorry! I am talking to a friend kasi and her name happens to be Mae kaya— sorry talaga," he explained to her. Halatang hindi naman talaga siya genuine sa pagso-sorry niya. Tsaka friend? Sus. Baka babae niya.
Mukhang effective naman kay Maria ang pagpapakyut ni Voughn dahil nakangiti siyang tumango. "Wala 'yon." Her eyes twinkled when she saw the foods that I ordered.
"Wow," she said amusingly.
I smiled. Kahit papaano ay nawala ang lungkot niya dahil kay Voughn. He might be a dick oftentimes pero iba talaga ang epekto niya kay Maria. He's Maria's happy pill. Even when he forgot her name and called her Mae, Maria's still happy about the thought of him joining us here.
This girl is so naive. I'm gonna cry.
"I heard the new guy is your roommate?" Billy asked, opening a topic. I sighed and nodded. "Is he cool?"
"Yeah," I answered shortly.
My brows raised when he pouted his lips. I looked at Maria and she looks very amused. "Why do you always give me short replies?" he asked. I smiled awkwardly.
Well...
"Because your questions are answerable by yes or no," a familiar voice answered. I looked behind me and saw Fovi. I knew it. Epal talaga 'to kahit kailan.
Well. I was going to tell that to Billy anyway. I was just hesitant. Napatingin ako sa gusot na mukha ni Billy. Halata sa itsura niya ang inis at pagkahiya. Napatawa ako mentally.
Same Billy.
Same.
Fovi looked at me and so I raised both of my brows asking what the fuck is wrong with him. "Sir Ernesto wants to see you," he said. My face crumpled. Bakit na naman?
Isang beses lang akong nakaperfect sa exam namin sa P.E. pero lagi na ako ang trip niyang utus-utusan. Para akong teacher's pet dahil sa ginagawa niya. I can't bring myself to tell him that, of course. Baka ma-offend ko pa at magparkour ang 98 kong grade sa kanya to 78.
Nakabuntot lang sa'kin si Fovi habang naglalakad ako papunta ng office ni Sir. Medyo naiilang tuloy ako. Feeling ko kasi ay tinititigan niya ang likod ko at ang paraan ng paglalakad ko. Bigla tuloy ako naconscious. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at humarap sa kanya.
"What?" he asked.
"Don't tail me like a dog. Sumabay ka sa paglalakad ko," mataray na sabi ko sa kanya. I can see the amusement in his eyes.
"Is that your other way of telling me people to get closer to you?"
Agad namula ang pisngi ko sa sinabi niya. Ang feeling talaga, Grabe! "I'm n—"
"I'm just kidding," he cut me off. He walked towards me and stand beside me.
"Are you satisfied now, Ash?" he asked. Parang may kumiliti sa kalamnan ko nang tawagin niya ako sa pangalan ko.
It sounded sexy.
Wait what? Sexy? Argh! Erase! Erase!
Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagsimula na 'kong maglakad ulit.
I knocked three times before opening the door. "Sir," I called. Tumingin sa'kin ang binatang guro. Kasunod kong pumasok ang kapreng si Fovi. Umupo kami sa magkabilang upuan.
"Mister Anderson asked me about the prom dahil wala pa siyang partner and I found out na wala na pa lang walang partner sa inyo," he said. I glanced at Fovi and nodded. 
"Yes, Sir?" tugon ko.
So? Ano ngayon kung wala siyang kapartner? Ano'ng kinalaman ko do'n?
"Remember the dance you performed last August?" he asked. Nagtataka akong tumango.
I'm not a good dancer pero I won the competition last month. The dance I performed was for the school's yearly celebration of Dance Festival. The theme was Ballroom Dance and I did Tango. Si Nyx pa nga ang kapartner ko no'n.
"Since hindi makakapagperform si Mister Anderson ng Waltz sa prom dahil wala s'yang partner, p'wede mo bang ituro sa kanya 'yung steps ng sayaw mo noon sa Dance Festival?" he asked.
Ilang beses akong napapikit sa sinabi ni Sir.
Bakit ako?
"Sir alam niyo naman pong hindi ako magaling magturo ng steps," pagdadahilan ko. Ayaw ko ngang turuan 'tong ulupong na 'to. Tsaka bakit naman Tango pa talaga?
"Sige na, Ash. Kailangang humabol ni Anderson this 3rd quarter. Remember that your performance tasks are 60% of your grade," pangungumbinse ni Sir. Pilit akong napangiti.
Bakit pati ako makikihabol?
Masama kong tiningnan si Fovi pero nginitian niya lang ako at nagtaas ng balikat.
"I'll exempt you in the exam kapag tinulungan mo si Mister Anderson sa grade niya."
Biglang lumiwanag ang mukha ko. Parang pumalakpak ang tenga ko sa narinig. I like that! Hindi ko kailangang magmemorize ng mga musicians, composers, painters, arts, and etc!
"Kailan po ang deadline?" nakangiting asong tanong ko. Mukhang natuwa naman si Sir sa biglang pagbabago ng tono ng boses ko.
Tuturuan ko lang naman siya.
Hindi naman siguro mahirap 'yon?