labingpito
Ex
"Ba't hindi n'yo ma-balance? I've explained it a hundred times already, tignan n'yo ng mabuti ang numbers na nilalagay n'yo!" Naiinis na si Sir Renaldi sa mga tanong dahil paulit-ulit nga naman siya. Kanina pa niya ine-explain kung pa'no makukuha 'yong total ng assets.
"Sir, pa'no po 'pag mali 'yong nalalagay pero nag-balance. P'wede po ba 'yon, sir?"
Hinampas ni Sir ang hawak niyang pamphlet sa wooden desk. He dragged a hand a cross his face, his stress lines more evident than ever. "Aba putangina, ayoko na! Grade 12 ba kayo?! Para 'kong nakikipagusap sa mga elementary students, paulit-ulit nalang ah. Oo, mali!" His eyes shot daggers at the student who kept asking that.
"Eh sir, pa'no 'pag mali 'yung pag-solve ko pero tama yung lumabas na sagot?"
Nagbuntong hininga si Sir, "Mr. Ermando, show your solution nga. E'di 'pag mali solution, mali na lahat! Oh, ano pa tanong n'yo?"
Tahimik lang akong umo-observe sa kanila habang nagno-notes. I hunched forward nang mahagip ko ang matalim na mata ni Sir Renaldi. Bad mood 'to ngayon, ta's paulit-ulit pa mga tanong na napakadali lang namang intindihin. Nakakatakot baka ako pa pagbuntungan niya ng galit. I was rebellious but only on a level, I knew my limits. I wouldn't want to provoke a teacher during their bad days.
"Psst."
I peaked over my shoulder to see Vortigern, My eyebrows raised in confusion. Nang hindi siya sumagot, tumalikod nalang ulit ako at nagsulat nalang muli.
"Psst!" my irritation peaked.
"Ano?!" I whisper-yelled as I perched my head above my shoulder. He glances at Sir Renaldi, who was busy teaching Ermando, before inching his chair closer to mine and leaned closer to my ear.
He cups a hand around his lips. "I heard his boyfriend broke up with him over text, that's why he's so grumpy today." he said in a low, soft voice.
Lately, all he's ever been to me was anything but the usual cold, dark and mysterious Vortigern. Ever since that song stunt he pulled, he's been more outgoing and bubbly... only when he's with me, however. 'Pag ibang babae ang kumakausap sa kanya, nagsusungit pa rin ito.
In a way, it made me feel special. Slight.
My brow plucked up, "And you're telling me this, why?"
"Because I want to. So, anyways, would you like to eat lunch with me? Tayong dalawa lang dapat pero Bhaltair and the others are bitching to me about it, kaya sama sila, ah?" He grinned cheekily before it dropped to a thin line. "Wala kang choice, sumama ka."
Napaka-weird talaga! Pero, mas gusto kong gan'to. 'Yong kinakausap n'ya 'ko kahit na tungkol sa walang kwentang bagay kesa sa dati na para lang akong dumi sa ilalim ng sapatos niya. Pinasa ko na rin 'yong test paper ko sa harap, nang bumalik ako sa upuan ko, nakita kong wala ng Vortigern na nakaupo sa likod ng upuan ko. I packed up my stuff inside my bag and headed out the room.
"Cheese and rice!" napasapo ako sa noo ko nang may umakbay sa'kin, Vortigern smiled down to me as we perambulate the halls.
"You're so jumpy."
Hinayaan ko siyang akbayan ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa loob ng cafeteria. Eyes travel to us with jealousy and curiosity. Siguro'y nagtataka sila kung bakit kasama ko si Vortigern ngayon at inaakbayan pa 'ko. Aba malay ko rin! May lagnat ata 'to ngayon at kung anu-anong pinaggagawa. Napakakulit din niya I waved at Maeve and Helios who had the same expression as the students here, I shrugged at them and point my finger to where Vortigern's friends are.
"Hello, Hate!" si Trevion, stuffing his face with cheese potato balls.
"Oh, ba't nandito siya?" si Zemex.
"Paki mo ba kung nandito s'ya! Tara, Hate! Dito ka sa tabi ko." Yce patted the seat next to him. I made a move to go to the seat he pointed at but Vortigern pulled me away from him and sat me at the seat farthest away from him.
Ang gulo nga naman talaga ng lalaking ito. Hindi ko alam kung anong gusto nitong mangyari sa buhay. Pacold-cold pa s'yang nalalaman no'ng una tapos s'ya na ngayon ang halos ayaw akong pakawalan. May sapak din 'to, eh. Tahimik akong kumain habang naguusap sila tungkol sa isang game at sa ibang gig na gaganapin na kasama sila. Apparently, they're all part of the football them here. I caught the head gear next to Bhaltair as well, maybe they had practice today. Kukunin ko na dapat ang milkshake na binili para sa'kin ni Vortigern ngunit hinablot iyon bigla ni Zemex.
"Hoy, akin 'yan!" reklamo ko habang pilit na binabawi ang milkshake ko.
Zemex stuck his tongue out before shaking his head at me in a mocking way. "Bleh, akin na 'to!"
Bata amputa.
The corners of my lips twitched down to a frown as I ate silently. A glass of strawberry milkshake was placed in front of my view. Napatingin ako kay Vortigern na bumalik sa pag-kain n'ya, I beemed with joy at his chivalry. I didn't fail to notice the teasing and meaningful glances his friends sent our way, I just chose to ignore them instead of satisfying them with a reaction. Lunch went on with Zemex and I bickering over the food he stole from my plate, but with one look from Vortigern; he stops bothering me and sulks with the half-empty milkshake.
Though I may not understand why he wants me to be around him so much... no! maybe he just started to like you, too. I shrugged off the negativity surrounding my thoughts before stealing a piece of meat from Vortigern's plate. He seemed okay with me doing that, his lips even twitched when I did! Kanina kasi pinipilit niya akong damihan ang pagkuha ko ng pagkain ngunit nahiya ako ng nalaman kong ililibre niya pala 'ko, kaya kaunti lang ang kinuha kong pagkain. Kada week, may theme ang pagkain namin sa cafeteria. This week's theme is German food. I got the rouladen while Vortigern stuffed himself with Spätzle, soft egg noodles are made from wheat flour and egg and are often topped with cheese and roasted onions.
The five of them roared out in laughter, catching the attention of some of the students that stayed.
"Oh my God, Vortigern!" tili ng isang babae.
Heads turned to the voice while Vortigern only groaned in despair. Ngumisi sina Bhaltair sa kaibigan at tinukso pa ito nang may lumapit sa'min ay agad na nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. His soft eyes hardened at her. She's everything I'm not.
Mga tipo ni Vortigern talaga.
Long ebony hair cascaded down her back and flowed with her each step she took, her hooded eyes made her look chinky, thin lips and narrow nose. She's slender and had curves placed on all the right places. She was the epitome of a filipina barbie doll with her morena skin. It made her look mature and not... not childish like me. She had all the things I was insecure about. My arms unconciously wrapped around my figure, hiding my not-so-flat stomach from wandering eyes. I'm bloated and my face probably puffed up, too.
"It's so good to see you!" she hugged Vortigern's shoulders.
He pressed his tongue against his cheek and clenched his jaw. "What are you doing here, Omega?"
The girl named Omega giggled, her giggles irritated my hearing. I'm sure it irritated Bhaltair, who sat next to me, as well. Her eyes met with mine. Immaturely, I refused to back down. So, I stared back at her. Her smile widens.
"Oh, hello." she took five steps to me. "You must be one of Vortigern's friends."
I stared at her outreached hand. Rasing a brow, I ask her. "Who are you?"
"How silly of me to not introduce myself!" she giggled once more. Her giggles are starting to get on my nerves. She turned to me with that stupidly large smile of her's. "I'm Omega Pasion, Vortigern's ex-girlfriend."