Book Of Unknown

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Matthew’s Point Of View

“So, hindi ang mga guide questionnaires ang pakay mo? In addition, your point is to must cancel the debate for tomorrow, am I right?”

I nodded as I crossed my arms and leaned my back on the locker, “You have to lower your voice, Kal. Someone might hear what we’re talking about,” ani ko at saka tumingin sa aking kaliwa’t kanan.

She took a step so I can hear what she will respond. “I just can’t believe that you have to do such things, Matt. Are you sure about that? Ya’ think there will be no one caught us? It’s insane, Matt. You’ll snatch something, huh.”

I shook my head, “We. We will snatch something by 8 o’clock.” I said.

She crosses her arms and she leans her back on the locker, “How could we do that? I mean, it wasn’t my first time to snatch something after all, but, dude. The thing is, it’s a thing from school. I used to snatch things from our neighbourhood but from this? I don’t think so, Matt.” She said as her face leaves a mark that she’s confused.

I shook my head once again, “Nah. Sinabi ko na sa ‘yo, ‘di ba? You should trust me this time, Kal. I have to do it, I already spilled my reason, okay? It’s for someone’s safety, I have to protect her,” I explained.

She bit her lower lip as she nodded. “Okay, okay. I now understand. So, our plan will be discussed later?”

I nodded, “Yes. It’ll be discussed in your dorm,” I uttered and fixed my necktie beside her.

“Uh-huh? I got surprised, you didn’t mentioned that the plan will be discuss on my dorm a few minutes ago,” aniya at halata sa kanyang mukha na nabigla nga siya sa sinabi ko.

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. “Hindi mo ba narinig? Sinabi ko lang ngayon, ‘di ba?”

She glared at me as she took a deep breath, “I just got surprised, okay? Okay. It’s no big deal to me. Ako na magsasabi, ha? Our plan will be discussed in my dorm, okay? You’re okay now, huh?” iritadang aniya.

Umiling na lamang ako at saka tumingin-tingin sa kaliwa’t kanan namin. Why he taking so long? It’s already 5 o’clock.

“Oh, there he is!” sigaw niya at saka tumuro sa direksyon sa gilid ko.

Inilingon ko ang aking sarili at saka nakita si Yco na mayroong dalang papel. Tumigil ito sa harapan ng kasama ko at saka sumulyap sa akin, ibinaling naman kaagad ang tuon kay Kalea. “Ito lang ‘yong nakita ko roon. If I’m not mistaken, the schedules, what exact time their duties, and even their break are in there.”

Kinuha niya ang nakalahad na papel sa kanya ni Yco at saka binasa ‘yon. Makikita sa kanyang mata na sinusuri niya ang mga nakasulat doon.

“And, ah! Also, kung sino ang mga nightshifter. Hindi ako familiar sa mga ibang guards na night shifter, except from Mang Sinlac. You guys knew him, right?” He asked.

Kumunot ang noo niya sa hindi ko alam na rason. “6 o’clock to 9 o’clock will be Mang Sinlac shift, Matt. And then, it’s Mang Oscar after him, from 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock,” aniya at saka mas lalong kumunot ang kanyang noo. “Wait, huh? 12 o’clock was Mang Oscar’s ends on his duty, but why there’s no guard when 12 o’clock drops?”

Kumunot din ang noo ni Yco sa narinig. “Wait, wait. Mang Sinlac wasn’t a night shifter, Kal. I knew something about him, his wife was against it when they offered Mang Sinlac to be a night shifter, he told me that.”

Tinitigan ko si Yco at halatang naguguluhan ito. “For me, that couldn’t help us, Yco.”

Hinaplos ni Yco ang kanyang ilalim na labi at saka tumango, “Okay. Pardon.” aniya at saka lumayo na sa amin.

Sinamahan ko siya ng tingin habang palayo ito sa kinatatayuan ko.

I heard her giggles, “What the actual fluck, Matt? You are really so harsh to Yco, you both had fight?” tanong niya at saka tiniklop ang papel na hawak niya at inilagay sa bulsa niya.

Umiling ako. “He will understand, he always.”

Natahimik kaming dalawa nang mayroong tumigil na estudyante na babae sa harapan ko, ito’y nakayuko habang may yakap na dalawang libro na makapal. I could say that she’s freshmen, ang tangkad na mayroon siya ay parang 5’4.

Umayos ako sa pagkakasandal at saka ipinatong ang aking magkabilang palad sa binti ko upang masilayan ang kanyang mukha, “Hey, what’s up lil’ student?” I asked.

I saw her that she bit her lower lip when she heard my voice. “Uh. K-kuya, makikiraan po sana ako. Yung locker ko po kasi hinaharangan mo.”

I heard Kalea laughed for no reason. Umalis ako sa pagkakasandal ko at saka sinenyasan ito na buksan na ang kanyang locker, “My bad. Sorry.” I said.

Ipinasok nito ang kanyang dalang libro sa locker niya at saka isinara naman kaagad, “Sorry po sa abala, kuya, ate.” She apologized and then walked away from us.

Hinawakan niya ako sa aking balikat at saka bumuntong hininga. “Hmm. I bet she heard us. Well, it was a sign, Matt. Come on, I wanna rest for some minutes. Time is ticking.”

Time is ticking. Yes, it totally is.

“And I bet that she saw or maybe she noticed our armbands, Kal.” ani ko at saka inunahan siya sa paglalakad.

Sumunod siya sa akin, “Should I kick her ass up?” She insanely asked.

Inalis ko ang pagkakatali ng necktie sa leeg ko at saka inalis ang unang butones ng aking uniporme habang naglalakad. “Will you accept the punishment that I’ll give to you? If you are going to kick her ass just to shut her goddamn mouth? I bet you’ll refuse it.”

Itinaas niya ang kanyang kabilang kilay at saka dinilaan ang kanyang labi, “Hmm. Pagkatapos ng sinabi mo sa akin, paparusahan mo ‘ko? Well, I think that we both will get a punishment from headteachers.” She said as she laughed.

Nang madaanan na namin ang gate, saka pa lang ako sumagot sa sinabi niya. “I’m the President, Kal. You’re just a slave of mine from now on.”

“Woah, woah. You’re now slaving me, huh?” aniya at saka patuloy pa rin sa paglalakad without glancing me.

Dinaanan namin ang De Vio, nakita ko si Bellia roon na katabi si Logan, kumakain ang dalawa ng ice cream habang nagkukwentuhan. Nakita ko rin si Gabriel na nakatayo malayo sa inuupuan nila ni Bellia at Logan, hindi ako sigurado kung sa direksyon ng dalawa ito nakatingin.

“Hi po, kuya.” sabi ng estudyanteng babae na short-haired.

Nginitian ko ito at nagpatuloy pa rin sa paglalakad.

Siniko niya ako sa tiyan at saka ngumisi, “Heart-throb, huh? You’re really popular in and out,” aniya at saka pailing-iling pa.

Hinawak ko ang aking tiyan kung saan niya ako siniko. “That’s hurt, huwag mo ng ulitin. We’re still ain’t that close, Kal.”

Sumimangot siya at saka pumasok ng building, “Andito na tayo. Hindi tayo close para tanungin mo kung anong palapag at kwarto ako, ha?” aniya at saka lumapit sa elevator.

Umiling ako at saka pinindot button ng elevator at bumukas ito. Pumasok kaming dalawa at hinayaan ko siyang pumindot sa mga numero, “You’re in fourth floor, huh?” I asked and lean my back on the elevator.

She crossed her arms and took a deep breath. “Don’t ask.”

Tumango ako at saka nanatiling tahimik habang nakasandal. Bumukas ang elevator at nauna siyang lumabas, sumunod naman ako sa paglalakad niya patungo sa kanyang kwarto. Mayroon sana akong gustong tanungin ngunit pinili kong itikom ang bibig ko.

Tumigil siya sa 103th room at saka binuksan ito, hindi muna ako sumunod sa loob.

“You have to go outside, Shanxa.” I heard her voice, talking with someone who’s inside.

“And why?”

Binuksan niya ang pinto at saka ikinagulat ng babaeng kasama niya sa dorm nang makita ako. Mabilis itong tumayo sa pagkakahiga sa kama at kinuha ang kanyang bag.

“I’m sorry. Hindi mo naman sinabi na kasama mo pala si Mr. President, text me when you both are done, okay?” aniya at saka tumakbo papalabas ng kwarto nila.

“Mabuti pala’t pinakita ko ang mukha mong palaka,” pang-aasar niya habang inaayos ang kamang iniwan na magulo ng babae. “You can come in.”

Pumasok ako at umupo sa bakanteng upuan na kulay dilaw. Ipinatong ko ang aking siko rito at nag-salumbaba.

Isinara niya ang pintuan at saka umupo sa kama, “So, what now?” She asked fixed her skirt.

I took a glance at my wrist watch. “You’ll be my tail.”

Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. “I get it. And, then?”

“We’re not sure if Mang Sinlac will be the guard who’s in there when 6 o’clock drops. So, you really will be my tail later, ako na ang maghahanap, magbantay ka lang. Sinimulan ko ang plano ko nung nakaraan pa, and I don’t want you to know about it, be my tail, Kal.” I uttered.

Suminghot siya at saka tumango, “Okay. So, spill the beans,” she said and laughed. “Just kidding. Yeah, I’ll be your tail. Huwag sumabit, Matt, hawak mo scholarship ko.”

Tumango ako at saka nagsimula siyang magtanong sa mga kung paano maging buntot ng isang magnanakaw. Nag-usap kami tungkol doon at hinintay ang oras na lumipas.

“Nagkaroon ka na ng idea, ngayon?” tanong ko at saka tumayo sa pagkakaupo sa upuan.

Tumango siya at saka tumayo rin, “Bakit pala tayo tumayo?” She innocently asked.

Hinawak ko ang door knob at saka tumingin sa kanya. “We’re going now. Mahigit 7 o’clock na, maghihintay tayo roon, wala na rin masyadong estudyante sa De Vio sa ganitong oras. Ang sabi mo nga, ‘di ba, time is ticking.”

Binuksan ko ang pinto at naunang lumabas. Nabigla ako nang makita ko si Gabriel at Bellia na nag-uusap na seryoso sa kabilang kwarto lang.

Umalis sa pagkakasandal si Gabriel nang makita kaming dalawa. “Hey, Matt. What’s up?”

Hinablot ko ang kamay niya nang tumabi siya sa akin. “We’re dating, don’t you know that, Gab?” I ejaculated as I took a glance at her.

They both frowned when they saw me suddenly hold her hand, “Oh. Sorry for disturbing you. I mean, I didn’t know that. Because I know that you don’t have an interest in that such thing, you know.” Gabriel adduced.

I shook my head as I tightened my grip on her hand. “I’ll explain this next time to you, Gab. We’re in a hurry.”

We both ran away from them and entered the elevator.