EHLEIN POV'S
Naupo ako sa aking kama at mariing pinagmasdan ang necklace. I don't wan't to accept it yet, I accepted it.
In fact, he made such a good deal. If I accept it, he will stop bothering me. But why am I not feeling happy about it?.... hindi ba't ito ang gusto ko sa simula pa lang? ang lubayan nya ako. Ngunit bakit ganun? I'm not happy, I'm even confuse as of what am I feeling right now.
I was still at that state when my cellphone rung. It's Patty.
~Hi Ehlein, are you home now?~
"Yeah. what's the matter?".
~Just checking out kung naka-uwi kana~
"Yeah. I did".
~Okey ka lang ba? wala ba siyang masamang ginawa sayo?~
"Hindi naman. Kumain lang kami sa labas".
~Kami?~
Right. She doesn't know about Dian being with us.
"Dian was there too".
~Dian? sya ba 'yung kasa-kasama ni Hessiah?~
"Hmm".
~Okey ka lang ba talaga? Your voice seems odd like your down or something~
"I'm just probably tired".
~Talaga?~
Batid ko ang pag-aalala sa kanyang boses, but I really don't know what to tell her at this moment. Naguguluhan ako sa kung ano talaga ang nararamdaman ko.
"Yeah".
~Okey. pero kung may problema ka nandito lang ako, okey? You should get some rest now. See you tomorrow. bye. love you~
Then she hung up.
After that call ay kinuha ko muli ang necklace at nilagay ito sa ibabaw ng aking study table. I look at it for a moment and then headed to the bathroom to take a half bath.
Kinabukasan pagkarating ko sa classroom ay agad akong nilapitan ni Patty. She immediately ask me about yesterday. I told her everything including the agreement.
"Then.... bakit parang mukha kang hindi masaya sa nangyari?", she asked.
"I don't know".
Patty just stares at me strangely. I just look down to avoid her eyes.
"Do you like Hessiah?".
Agad akong napataas ng tingin sa tanong nyang iyon.
"Huh?".
"May gusto ka ba kay Hessiah?", ulit nya.
"W-what made you think that? I'm not attracted to him. I even hate him", dispensa ko.
She then stares at me once again. Nakakaramdam na tuloy ako ng pagka-ilang dahil sa ginagawa nya.
"Patty, seriously. Bakit ka ba tumititig sa akin ng ganyan?".
"Well to the sense na you're not acting like you used to. Kagabi akala ko dahil lang iyon sa pagod but now....It's strange to see you acting like this. I mean, sa simula pa lang gustong gusto mo ng iwasan si Hessiah d'ba? Ngunit bakit parang hindi ka masaya na sa wakas ay lulubayan kana nya? Seeing you right now makes me think that you're actually not happy with it".
"I don't know, Patty. I don't know. I really don't know. I keep on asking myself that same question since last night, but....".
She pat my head and gave me a warm smile.
"Sorry. nadagdagan ko pa tuloy ang iniisip mo. Kagaya ng sabi ko. Andito lang ako if ever gusto mo ng kausap, okey?".
"Sure", sabi ko saka ngumiti narin.
We were at the cafeteria eating our lunch when Dian suddenly came close to us. Nang makita ko ang kasama niya ay agad akong nabato sa inuupuan ko. I could feel my heart pounding from my chest when our eyes meet. But that didn't last long for he immediately averted his eyes.
"Can we sit with you two?", naka-ngiting tanong ni Dian.
Napatingin muna si Patty sakin bago sumagot,"Well, I guess".
"Okey. Sorry for the bother", hinging-paumanhin ni Dian saka naupo ito kaharap si Patty.
Since the table was set up for 4 people kaya wala ng ibang nagawa si Hessiah kundi ang umupo sa harapan ko. My heart still pounding, maybe because of nervousness.
"Sorry talaga kung dito kami naupo. Our table was already occupied so we decided to share table with yo—
"It's not we. You just decided it on your own", sabat ni Hessiah.
In fact, marami namang ibang bakanting table ngunit napili parin nilang maupo sa table namin. Kind of odd but I just ignore it. Dian was just probably wanting to sit with us.
Minutes had passed at si Dian at Patty lang ang nag-uusap. I believe they already know the matter between me and Hessiah so they just ignore us and continues on talking and laughing like we were never there. Okey lang naman saken dahil wala rin naman ako sa kondisyon para makipag-usap.
I'm fre*kin uncomfortable having him near me. My heart keeps on pounding na para bang wala na itong planong tumigil. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nakakaramdam ng ganito. I never felt this before, not even after meeting Hessiah. This just happen right after our talk yesterday, at talagang naghatid ito ng kaguluhan sa sistema ko.
"Can I go first?", tanong ko sabay tayo mula sa kina-uupuan ko.
I know they were all stunned by my sudden reaction. But I no longer can stand sitting here infront of someone who causes me so much confusion.
"Sure. Tatapusin ko lang tong pagkain ko saka susunod narin ako sayo", nakangiting tugon ni Patty. I'm sure she knows the reason and can also feel my discomfort.
After kung makaalis sa table ay unti-unti naring tumigil sa pagkabog ang dibdib ko. I felt relieved and headed to the bathroom near the cafeteria. I was still inside one of the cubicle when I heard multiple footstep entering the bathroom.
"Hey girl, that bitch you mentioned before were flirting again with Hessiah", wika ng isang babae dahilan kaya na-focus ang attention ko sa kanila.
I decided not to go out yet and just listen to what they were saying. I had a bad feeling about it.
"They were even eating together like they were close or something", dugtong naman ng isang babae.
I gulped as I hear a footstep walking towards my direction. It stops right infront of my cubicle's door.
"I know you're right behind this door, Ehlein".
Napalunok muli ako ng marinig ang pangalan ko. How did she know my name?...
"Listen here bitch. Hessiah is mine. I mean he should be, kung hindi ka lang sana nakisawsaw. He's supposed to ask me to go out with him the day after his accident, but guess what happen. Hessiah is ignoring me because of you! You intentionally saved him to get his attention, right? you sl*t!!", galit na wika ng babae.
What the hell? Did she mean that I seduced Hessiah?...This woman really pisses me with her accusation. I definitely need to shut this lunatic. Hindi ako pinalaki ng magulang ko para lang tawagin ng kung ano-ano.
Ini-unlock ko ang pintuan saka malakas itong binuksan dahilan kaya napasigaw ang babae.
"Sorry. Did I hit you?", sarkastikong tanong ko sa babae.
"You!".
She raise her hand and was about to hit me when I suddenly speak causing her to stop.
"Listen. I didn't seduce him or whatever you were thinking. Helping him that time was a mere coincidence and meeting him again wasn't my intention. The thing between you two wasn't my fault either".
"Like I'd believe you".
"At hindi rin kita pipilitin na maniwala sakin".
"You really is a b*tch!".
"I want to make things straight to you. Your accusation is senseless. His the one who's bothering me all this time".
Marahang tumawa ang babae.
"Now you're bragging, huh? what a smug. Do you think Hessiah would follow you all around? you're not even that pretty".
"Yeah", dagdag naman ng dalawang kasama nito.
"Think whatever you wanted to think. I don't care. You can even have him all by yourself. Now that he finally stops on pestering me, you can lock him up or do whatever you wanted to do with him. Continue your fre*kin love story. Like I even care".
After saying that ay lumakad na ako palabas ng banyo. Hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakalayo ng hilahin nya ang braso ko.
"Were not yet done here, bitch".
"Yes we are", tugon ko saka marahas na binawi ang braso ko. Mabuti na lamang at hindi mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya.
Nasa pintuan na ako ng banyo ng muling magsalita ang babae.
"Hessiah is mine. Remember that".
Paki ko. Kainin mo sya ng buo kung gusto mo. Just don't bother me.