Never Again

Chapter 6

Hindi ko siya gets.

Yesterday he was acting so strange and now he's with Cha? Don't get me wrong, I am not jealous. Paano ko siya sasagutin kung mismo siya parang hindi sigurado? It was really annoying seeing him with her from my direction. I can't help but snort in annoyance.

"Go Axel!" Jelai shrieked and jumped repeatedly so she can express her love and support. Isa pa 'to.

I don't even know why we're here in the gymnasium and acting like a bunch of freaks. The game was too sudden that Carla and Jelai had to snatch me from my classes, considering that I am the Student Council President and must be a role model.

Sighing, "Carla bumalik na tayo. Hindi naman 'to maganda."

"Why? Mamaya na—" She shoved my face away and jumped excitedly like Jelai, ignoring my demand. "Go James!"

This event was supposed to be a PE class of both strands— HUMMS and ABM. Pero sineryoso na ata ng mga studyante at heto sila ngayon— kami at nanunuod dito. Who wouldn't? Mat's class has the most handsome men in our University. Correction, sila ang nagagwapuhan. Not me.

Umirap ako habang nakatanaw sa direksyon ni Mat. Nasa gilid siya ng court, drenched in his own sweat.

"Sana all," I mumbled with a hint of sarcasm. Pinapahiran siya ng towelette ni Cha, they were laughing at each other. Mukha na nga silang magjowa. I can almost see the sparkles in their eyes, they were too sweet. Or was it just me who's imagining things?

I couldn't fathom the whole scene and the craze in that place, I left my friends unnoticed. Dumiretso nalang ako sa gazebo na lagi naming tinatambayan, It's already lunch and gutom na rin ako. Hindi na ako maghihintay sa kanila dahil talagang mamaya pa 'yon.

The whole afternoon, I busied my self with council stuffs. Malapit na ang intramurals kaya kailangan na naming magplano. My mind was too loaded that I forgot Mat. Alas singko na noong matapos ako sa lahat, I wasn't really expecting for him to wait for me. I halted my tracks, gripped my bag sling tightly.

"Bakit ka naghintay? It's almost dark..." He was standing beside the gate with his bike.

"Yun nga, mas kailangan kitang hintayin," He let out a chuckle. Nilagpasan ko siya ng lakad, he started following me. He was holding his bike while walking beside me. It's just any other day.

I gazed up, the skies looked so lovely.

"Ang tahimik mo ata ngayon?" He cleared his throat.

"Lagi naman?" I don't speak that much. "At saka wala rin ako sa mood," I'm not holding grudges!

He breathed out, he looks so stressed. "I sent a resignation letter to our club..."

Literal akong napahinto sa paglalakad at humalukipkip. "Okay ka lang ba?" It must be hard. He's good in writing and it's his passion, sa pagkakaalam ko rin ay maraming lugar na siyang napuntahan dahil sa journalism. He's our school's pride. I am curious why he did it.

Mapakla siyang tumawa. "I have reasons, wala ka nang kinalaman doon," He showed me his reassuring smile and ruffled my hair gently. "Let's go?" Aya niya at nagsimula nang maglakad papalayo. I stared at his broad shoulders for a moment before following him.

***

The next following days were boring. I don't really know if Mat's really courting me. He wasn't doing anything, really. Nakakaligtaan ko nalang siya. There are times he couldn't be with me, there are times we hang out often. And Intramurals are fastly approaching, I will be very busy.

"Hey!"

I was busy looking at our attendance sheet when someone called from the doorway of our office. I knew it was him, hindi ko nalang nilingon.

"Hindi ka ba maglalunch?" He asked, I still didn't lift my head. Bahala siya riyan.

"I will, later. Wala namang klase, una ka nalang." Teachers are also busy, masaya sana kung regular student ako, kaso ako ang may pasan ng ilang problema ng paaralan.

"Why are you still here, though? Jelai and Carla are already eating their lunches. We can't just eat without you,"

Nagtaas na ako ng tingin at pinanliitan siya ng mata. "If you're that eager to eat, then ikaw nalang ang kumain sa lunch ko."

"Ang taray mo ngayon, ano ang problema?" He innocently chuckled.

Inilapag ko ang attendance sheet at ipinagsalikop ang mga kamay sa ibabaw ng mesa. "Just go away, Mat."

"Are you really okay?" Nagdadalawang-isip siya kung papasok ba siya o hindi. He's not allowed to enter here, Thanks God.

I am. Not until I saw you with Cha, siya pala ang hinahatid mo. By schedule kami? I even saw you two hugging each other. I want to smack that soft-looking face of his. I am better than this.

"I am, kaya umalis ka na," Pagtataboy ko ulit. "I will eat my lunch alone."

He scratched his nape, he was so unsure. "I cooked a lunch for us two. Sayang kung hindi mo makakain..."

I gulped. Gutom na nga ako, but my pride is higher than my hunger. Bakit hindi niya nalang iyon ibigay sa kay Cha? "Thanks, but no thanks." I signalled him to go away.

His lips twitched in disappointment. "Sige. Sayang talaga." He then left.

Now he's guilt tripping. Napahilamos nalang ako sa aking mukha, hindi alam ang gagawin. Yes! some part of me wants to eat the food he cooked for me, that was sweet, pero mas nangingibabaw ang inis ko nang makita silang dalawa na nagyayakapan. I was even too excited to go home para makwento sa kaniya kung gaano kapalpak magluto si Chile, but instead I saw him with Cha!

Isa pa yung sa PE nila, nakakairita rin iyon. I'm too shy to ask his friends about Charlotte. I'll just keep my mouth shut and let my mind devour my sanity.

I couldn't help but left the office and sprint towards the gazebos and looked for my friends. Nabubuang na ako, I'm really craving for that food he said. Still, hindi ko pa rin siya mapapatawad.

I halted, hinahabol ko ang aking hininga. I was just a couple of meters away from where they are, my mouth went agape because of what I saw. I couldn't believe of what I was seeing, WHAT A SIGHT.

My friends and Mat's are laughing because of something Cha said. Napapagitnaan siya ni Aito at Mat. She was happily eating the food in that familiar blue lunchbox— it was Mat's. Tumingin ako sa direksyon ni Mat at may lunchbox din siya.

I was gravely disappointed and I felt betrayed. Was it his plan all along? Na kapag wala ako ibibigay niya iyon kay Cha? He even had the audacity to let her sit on my spot. I ran this far just to see this scene?

I know, I am being unreasonable. However, If you were in my shoes, your reaction would be the same as mine. Sino ba ang sasaya if feeling mo ikaw ang kabit?

Instead of going back to the office like a lone soldier, I started guiding my foot towards the gazebo. Bahala sila.

It was Aito who first noticed my presence, he was petrified. Sinenyasan niya ang iba at nakita ko ang pagkagulat nila Jelai at Carla. Mat gulped so hard that he almost choke himself. Charlotte was just smiling at me. I wonder if it's fake or not.

"Hi guys," I smiled mockingly. Hindi maalis-alis ang aking tingin kay Charlotte. Nakakainis. Her features are more gorgeous than mine. Her skintone was gorgeously-bronze, her almond-like eyes were too expressive. If I was a boy, I would fall for her wide smile. She's quite tall too, magkasing tangkad lang sila ni Mat.

Clearly, we're the complete opposites.

I am pretty, yes. But I look like an outcast because of my features. I almost don't look like a Filipino. Not to brag about it but I got my father's eyes— blue-greyish, a common eye color of Australians. I am fair too, and unfortunately I got my Mama's height. Hanggang dibdib lang ako ni Mat.

"Akala ba namin hindi ka kakain?" Nabibilaukan na tanong ni Jelai.

Hindi ko siya pinansin, instead I asked Charlotte, "Ikaw ba si Charlotte? You're one of the cheerleaders, right?" I tried to be casual.

She shyly nodded and answered, "I can't believe na kilala mo ako, Miss President."

Of course I know you, you're famous.

"Natapos mo na ang ginagawa mo?" Mat interjected. He clearly doesn't want me to talk with Charlotte. He's being too defensive.

"Kaya nga ako nandito 'di ba?" I raised my brows. I heard Aito murmuring something to Andres— ang isa pang kaibigan ni Mat.

"Akala ko hindi ka..." I couldn't continue his words.

Bumaling ako ulit kay Charlotte. Hindi niya ata napansin ang aking pag-uugali ngayon. She's too dense to notice that I was so pissed. Seriously.

"Masarap ba, Cha?" Turo ko sa kinakain niyang masarap na adobo. I want to cry in frustration, it looks so delicious. Oh Gods, the aroma was making my stomach so wild. Nagsisisi na ako bakit hindi ako pumayag.

"That looks so good, though. Sana all ipinagluto." My tone was hard that my friends are already tapping my shoulders, stopping me from exploding.

"Uh—" Mat tried to intervene. Pero mas lalo ko lang siyang sinamaan ng tingin.

"Yeah, ang thoughtful nga niya e. Swerte talaga ang magiging asawa ni Mat!" She giggled lightly. Muntik ko nang makita ang mga sparkles sa background. So this is the reason why boys are simping over this girl.

I turned my head towards Mat's direction and mumbled these words, "Thoughtful nga..."

Mat composed himself and unbuttoned the first button of his uniform. He then raked his hair using his fingers. Oh gosh. I can almost see my friends' jaws dropped on the floor.

"Samahan mo muna ako, Sy. Bili tayo kape," He said before standing up and started walking away. Napairap ako at sinundan siya, hindi ko pinansin ang mga binitawan na mga salita nila Charlotte.

"Sana all magkakape," I tried keeping up to his pace. His legs are long, ang hirap makisabay.

"Ang sungit sungit mo talaga..." He muttered and laughed mischievously and grabbed my shoulder to pull me closer.

Hindi ako nakaimik dahil una, his perfume was addicting. I was still processing it. Pangalawa, he's comfortably warm and I fit perfectly in his arms.

"Bibilhan nalang kita, nagseselos ka pa e!"

"Gag*!" Pilit kong inaalis ang kaniyang braso, now that the people are looking at us, it's getting awkward. No sh*t, I don't want to be the headline of our school paper tomorrow. "Hindi ako nagseselos at bitawan mo ako!"

"Nagseselos ka kay Cha e, para kang pusa at saka ang pula ng mukha mo!"

I tried nudging him but to no avail. Hinayaan ko nalang siya. And why would I be jealous though? we're still not in a relationship!