How did I end up being at the guidance office? Penelope got furious when I told her Lhieon is not hers. Sabunutan ba naman ako. Para namang nag sisinungaling ako.
"It is her fault!" she was already throwing a tantrum.
"You are seen as the first one to attack her, Miss Cruz," the guidance counselor told her.
"I did that after taking what's mine!"
What if ilagay ko nalang siya sa mine shuta siya nakakabwiset na ha.
"Ano ang kinuha niya sa iyo?"
"Lhieon,"
Napansin ko namang umayos ng upo ang counselor at nagpipigil ito ng tawa.
"Mr. Rivera isn't a thing for you to claim," mahinahong sabi sakaniya ng matanda.
I was just watching her throw tantrums infront of me.
The counselor told us that she will call our parents and Lhieon's. I just sat there and waited for Dad to arrive. He won't be mad, I know. Pero hindi ko alam kung pupunta siya.
Para ring magagalit sakin si Dad na ganoon ang nangyari bakit napaaway ako. Napaka immature at nonsense naman ni Penelope.
Tatawagin nalang daw kami kapag nandyan na parents namin. Daig pa namin kinder jusko.
Bumalik na ako sa classroom pagkatapos non. Hindi ko na rin inisip 'yon dahil hindi naman worth it isipin. Nakakasira lang ng araw 'yon.
Nag lelesson na sila ng dumating ako kaya naman ay sinabihan ko lang 'yung subject teacher na pinatawag ako sa guidance. I heard negative reactions kasi of course, they thought na hindi ako makakapasok don at hindi ako magkaka record.
Para namang napakabait kong nilalang.
The class resumed and I was listening carefully. Ayoko ng maraming iniisip kaya makikinig nalang ako. I will be excused sa mga assignments for days since I will be attending the camp pero nakikinig padin ako.
Lunch came and that's when my Dad also came. Pinatawag ulit kami sa office so I went there. Nang makarating naman doon ay nandoon na sila at ako nalang hinihintay.
Lhieon's Mom and Penelope's were talking. Looks like they're close.
"Miss Gray is here. Now let us discuss what happened earlier," the counselor told them what happened. Penelope's Mom doesn't care, at all.
"They're kids! It is normal to have those fights," Her Mom insisted.
Sabi mo e.
"Tolerating your child won't let her learn from the mistakes she did. You are spoiling her too much," Dad told her.
"You are now questioning my way of parenting? Lhieon and my daughter have a thing," I raised a brow at her.
Before Penelope's Mom can talk again, Lhieon talked, "No Ma'am. We don't have a 'thing'. Penelope is already making me uncomfortable,"
"Then how is she here?" she pointed me.
"I'm being with her. Your daughter got furious when she told her that I'm not 'yet' hers,"
Nagsasalitan sila ng salita habang ako ay nakaupo lang doon. Penelope told her Mom that she's in a serious relationship with Lhieon which is not true. Tuwang tuwa naman ang Mom niya for unknown reasons nang malaman. I was just listened to each side. Dad kept himself silent too.
I don't really like listening to conversations like this. Pero nakinig ako. Ngayon lang ako naging chismosa.
"How is my daughter involved in this?" Dad interrupted.
"I'm courting her po," Lhieon answered with sincerity.
Dad looked at me and raised a brow, "Not telling me this?"
"I was about to," bulong ko naman.
They ended the conversation by clearing things up. And still, I was just waiting for them to be finished as I was just involved.
We went out exactly lunch time so that bring me to the cafeteria to eat. Lhieon in the other hand, came with her Mom kasi mag uusap daw sila. I don't mind. I will talk to Dad din.
We will leave after lunch so I need to hurry up. Lhieon and I will go there together. Kung sasabay pa kami sa school bus ay mas matagal.
"Care to explain?" Dad started the conversation while we are waiting for our food.
"It wasn't my fault though," I whispered but I know that he hears me.
"About you and Lhieon, Kil. Explain," he wasn't mad. He just want a clarification.
"He's courting me. I already saw the whole him a lot. You don't have to be scared for me-"
"I'm not. I know Lhieon. The thing is... are you ready to have a relationship with him in the future?"
That's why I let him court me. To prove himself if it is really worthy to let him be with me. He is proving himself right naman.
"He is still proving himself po. No pressure," I assured.
Dad didn't talked after that. Hindi naman siya sobrang strict and I was too independent for him to take care of me. He never did though.
Pagkatapos kumain ay sinamahan na ako ni Dad sa classroom para kunin 'yung bag ko.
"Don't let yourself get drained, Kil," Dad reminded me before leaving me with Lhieon when we got there.
"I won't po," he nodded and immediately turned his eyes to Lhieon.
"Take care of her,"
"I will surely do po," Lhieon assured.
Dad felt relieved and turned his view on mine before leaving us.
Hindi naman kami madalas magkasama ni Dad. Hindi rin kami close. Dahil siguro sa childhood kk kaya kahit hindi ako sumama kay Mom ay hindi ko parin hinayaan ang sarili ko na malapit sakanya. He was too focused with work, I can't even sneak myself in his schedule even for a minute.
I was longing for his attention but I can't get what I've been longing for so much. I never looked for it to anyone. They can't fulfill those like a father can do.
Lhieon helped me with my bag. Nakikita ko ang mga ka team namin from here, nasakay sila sa university bus. Puwede naman pumunta roon ng ikaw lang pero dapat may sarili kang vehicle. Hindi puwedeng commute.
Naghihintay lang ng cue si Lhieon para makaalis na. We will be heading to another university arena. May katabing beach 'yon which is may area rin for beach volleyball.
After everyone is on the bus, we drove off first.
Lhieon played music as usual and I just sat beside him while playing my phone.
We both didn't talk while heading in where we should be headed. Gusto ko matulog pero hindi ko magawa.
"You can't travel without music, aren't you?" I asked out of the blue.
"You don't like music?" he asked instead of answering my question.
"I love music. I just asked," I assured.
It's not that I hate music, I just noticed it ever since I get to be with him inside the same car. He can't stand silence, I guess.
Both of us decided to pass by a drive thru to buy something to eat and drink. I'm not that hungry but I wanted to eat something.
We passed by a fast-food restaurant and bought burgers and fries, plus ice cream and iced coffee. Ko lang 'yung nag iced coffee to be exact.
I insisted on paying mine kasi akin naman halos 'yung binili pero binayaran niya parin lahat.
"Sabi sa'yo babayaran ko 'yung akin," I told him.
"I already payed for it— and you don't need to pay me back," I just gave up.
There's no use if I continued arguing with him.
We ate on the way to camp. This will surely be a long drive.