Chapter 14
1561 Words
"Uy, mukhang nagkakamabutihan na kayo ni Zyrus, ah." Claudette said as soon as she claimed seat beside me on our first class. Alam kong nakita niya ang ginawang paghatid ni Zyrus sa pinto ng classroom.
I can't help but to smile slyly at her remark. "Hindi naman. Magkaibigan lang kami." I said in defense.
She chuckled while bringing out some of her learning paraphernalias and setting it on her desk.
"Wala naman akong sinabi na kayo. Ang sabi ko lang nagkakamabutihan kayo."
Ooopps, busted.
I blushed, deep red, before looking away. Wala akong ibang nasabi sa tugon niya. Kahit nga ako hindi makapaniwala sa nangyayari ngayon. Three semesters ago, I wanted to bury Zyrus and his friends six feet below the ground, but now... things are different...Entirely different than it was months ago.
After the oreo incident, Zyrus and his friends distanced theirselves from me. The after three peaceful days, Zyrus started popping out of the blue in front of me every after my classes. The running, hiding, and chasing went on for three weeks. But the guy's persistent as hell so I gave him a chance to talk to me.
He spat of numerous apologies, each one for each prank and he played on me. I was glaring at him the whole time he was explaining. And somewhere along his words, he rambled, "Because I fücking like you so much so I started doing things for you to notice me."
That's when it all started.
The moment those words hit me, my heart energerically pounded like happy rabbits on Easter day.
And now, nearing the last week of the second semester of our second year in the university, I can say as clear as day, that the 'thing' between me and him are going great. Terrific. Fantastic.
Kahit walang label!
"Carlo's throwing an after semester party after finals. Come with me." Zyrus said.
We were inside the library, me trying to study, him bugging me while he acts as if he's studying.
He was sitting beside me and he keeps on poking my cheeks with the back of his pen.
"Zyrus...nag-aaral ako." Suway ko sa kaniya. I fully intended to glower at him but the cute expression he was sporting me giggle instead. "Ano ba? Mag-aral ka na lang diyan. Iiwan kita rito."
"Hindi mo naman kailangang mag-aral, Miss President's Lister."
"Ah, basta. Mag-aral ka na diyan." Ulit ko sabay balik ng atensyon ko sa notebook at libro na nasa harap ko.
Pumalumbaba siya saka niya pinaglaruan ang dulo ng buhok ko. "You haven't answered me yet."
"Nagtanong ka ba?"
"Not really. So should I just assume that you gave me an implied consent?"
I rolled my eyes before staring back at him again. He was grinning gorgeously beside me and I can't stop my heart from reacting. Damn those lips and those eyes.
"Lagi naman nag-pa-pa-party si Carlo kahit walang okasyon. And besides, parties aren't my thing." I waved him dismissively as I turn my attention at my notes.
"Kahit itong party lang na 'to. Please, Vinang."
I stopped writing and turned to face him. When he saw me that I wasn't ready to back down, he pouted his lips and battled his lashes at me before leaning at my shoulders.
"Pretty please, meine?"
My mind turn into mush at the sight of him like that. As a defense mechanism, I sought for a distraction.
"What does 'meine' mean, anyway? You keep on calling me that."
He chuckled, still resting his head comfortably on my shoulder. But now his eyes where darting to the towering shelves in front of our table.
"Well, actually by now, akala ko sinearch mo na 'yon sa internet."
"Hindi ko alam ang spelling."
"And you're stalling? So, is it a yes or a yes to the party?"
Napairap na lang ako sa kawalan pero may ngiti sa mga labi ko. "Fine, pick me up at 8PM."
Pagkatapos no'n, nagpasya kami na 'wag munang magkita para mag-aral sa nalalapit na finals. Plus, it will give us something to look forward to after the hell week comes to an end.
The day after the party came and it went on like how a normal party would. Raging hormones flooding the three-story house, music banging the glass windows, beer drowning every student inside.
Zyrus was very clingy to me at the party. He never let me out of his sight. He was holding my hands all night. Hindi nga lang kami nagkakausap ng mas madalas dahil busy siya sa mga kaibigan, which is fine with me as long as I'm with him.
Hanggang sa pumatong sa mesa si Andi,one of his friends.
She was holding a red solo cup brimming with the intoxicating amber colored drink. Her skimpy outfit catching all the interest inside the room.
"Listen up everybody!" She called. And boom . She was the center of attention.
"Gusto ko lang i-welcome ang first timer sa mga ganitong pangyayari. Little Miss Perfect Score, little Miss President's Lister, little Miss Brainy, little Miss future top architect. Altheyah Aguilar. Let's give her a warm of applause everybody."
Pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon, nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. Dumagundong ang kakaibang kaba sa dibdib ko sabay lingon kay Zyrus. Nagkatinginan sila ni Carlo, "Pare, ilabas mo muna si Altheyah. Ako na bahala rito." He said with a low voice.
I searched for Zyrus's eyes for answers but he just shook his head and stood up before tugging me with him. But I stood my ground and looked at him again, probing him to tell me what the hell was going on.
"Oh, wait up. I'm sure you'll want to hear what I'm about to say." She said in all out confidence, probably from the alcohol.
Then she fished out her phone.
Hinatak ako muli ni Zyrus, "Vinang, tara na muna sa labas."
"Hi, good morning. Can't wait to see you today. I miss you." She read out loud.
I was stunned and shocked at the situation while I stare at Zyrus whose face was inreadable.
"Actually, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nagyayari 'to sa atin. I'm so happy with you." She continued.
"I'm the luckiest because of you."
She's reading all my chats and texts to Zyrus. IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY. ALL OF IT.
Zyrus did nothing. Regret and something else was written in his face. Binawi ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya. My eyes turning cloudy while I listen to every word Andi was shouting.
"Andi, bumaba ka na riyan." Narinig kong sabi ni Carlo at ng isa pa nilang kaibigan
Pero nagmatigas siya at nanatiling nakatungtong sa mesa.
"Bakit? 'Diba pustahan naman talaga natin 'to? This is the ultimate prank, right? Leading her for one whole semester and breaking the news to her in this party. And now WE did it, so we sould partying harder."
Nilingon ko si Andi na nakangisi sa akin, saka siya hinatak ng isa nilang kaibigang babae, "Andi, lasing ka na."
"Lasing o hindi, alam ko ang sinasabi ko. Bakit ba ayaw niyong aminin?" Sagot niya.
I met her gazed and she challenged me right away. "Bakit hindi mo tanungin si Zyrus, Atheyah? Tanungin mo kung lahat ng sinabi ko ay pawang kasinungalingan lamang."
It took me a brief moment before I fawned my attention back at Zyrus again.
And the look on his face was enough to confirm it.
"Divina, I'm sorry. I—"
I didn't let him finish. I stormed out of the party and ran towards no direction until I found myself in the school soccer field. I knelt on the grass and yelled my frustrations out.
After that night, Zyrus constantly reached out for me. I left my condo unit and stayed at my cousin's because I know he'll appear at my doorstep. Very Zyrus-like moves.
His friends, except Andi, messaged me too which I never bothered reading.
Until I decide to switch Universities. Kasi alam kong hindi ko masisikmurang makita siya o kahit sino sa kaibigan niya sa susunod na pasukan.
Even though changing schools means I'll give up my dreams of finishing the degree with a Latin award, I went on with it.
Tinatapos ko na lahat ng kailangan kong gawin para makalipat ako ng eskwelahan ng bigla kong nakasalubong si Zyrus sa hallway ng main building.
The moment caught me off-guard but I managed to appear nonchalant while he gaped at me before enclosing me into a hug.
"Vinang!" He said with glee. As if absence made his heart go fonder.
Mabilis akong kumalas sa pagkakayakap niya. May sasabihin pa sana siya kaso nabasa niya ang papel na hawak ko. With the font size of 20, bold letters, it's not hard to miss.
LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
It took him a moment to fathom what it means, then he stared at me wide eyes.
"M-mag-t-transfer ka?"
I nodded my head and smiled. "Yep." Popping the 'p' at the end.
"Divina, kung dahil ito doon sa nangyari sa party—"
Mabilis kong pinutol ang mga sinasabi niya, "Hindi. Sino ba naman ako para magreklamo o magalit 'diba? Saka, at least nanalo ka sa pustahan." I smiled at him sweetly. "What we had was never a real thing, anyway."
I immediately turned to my heel and stalked away.
He may have crushed my heart but at least I'm leaving with my dignity.
- Writer
