My AI Romance

Episode 17

Cold

I was with Denise the whole day to finish our report. Thank God, s'ya 'yong nakagrupo ko sa subject naming Physics. I can say that I am really comfortable with her presence unlike the feeling when I'm with Eleonora before. In the middle of fixing my bag, maya maya pa ay may kumatok sa pinto.

"Hershey, may bisita ka pa ba?" tanong ni Denise. I just shrugged my shoulder dahil baka si mommy lang 'yon. But knowing her, she will text me first if she will go here. Another thing, alas singko na din naman ng gabi.

"Buksan ko lang," paalam ko dito. Tumango naman s'ya sa akin bago ibinalik ang tingin sa screen ng laptop.

Someone knocks on the door again kaya't binilisan ko ang paglalakad. To my surprise, Edward is the one that I saw. Nagtaka tuloy ako kung ano ang ginagawa n'ya dito.

"Call Denise. Tell her I'm here," utos n'ya. I won't invite him to go inside. It's not like I'm acting rude. I just don't want him here. Hanggang ngayon kasi ay hindi n'yaa pa din ibinabalik yung ninakaw n'yang gamit na pagmamay ari ko.

I know it's wrong to just accuse someone without any valid evidences. But, I can't stop myself. I felt that it's him.

"Denise,"

Mabuti naman at narinig n'ya ito. Dali dali itong lumapit sa amin ng makita n'ya kung sino ang nakatayo sa may pinto.

"Kuya Edward," aniya.

"Manang Tessa is looking for you. She's sick that's why she needs your help,"

Denise apologized to me dahil hindi pa tapos 'yong report namin. I just tell her that it's okay and we can still talk through phone call naman.

"Aayusin ko lang yung mga gamit ko." she went back to the sofa to get her things. Naiwan naman ako kasama si Edward.

"Stop your false accusations about me. I will not waste my time in stealing your nonsense journal."

I was just quiet here but he's becoming too defensive.

I was about to say something only if Denise didn't arrive. Mabuti na nga lang at dumating na ito dahil baka kung ano ang masabi ko sa lalaking ito.

He's getting on my nerves! Everytime that I saw him pakiramdam ko palagi akong highblood.

"Mauna na kami, Hershey." pagpapaalam ni Denise na tinanguan ko na lang.

She told me one time that Edward is kind pero sa puntong ito, hindi ko alam kung paano ko ba papaniwalaan yung mga sinasabi n'ya.

Sigurado ako na si Edward ang kumuha ng journal ko. If its not him, then why the hell did he know about the Nikkolas' secret? Why does I feelt that he's hiding something? As days passes by, he's becoming more suspicious.

"HERSHEY, THANK YOU TALAGA!" Maurice exclaimed after I explained her the 5 problems that we answered in physics. This day was supposed to be our reporting but our subject teacher didn't arrive.

"Since you need an extra money for our expenses, why don't you apply as my tutor? Para hindi naman masayang yung pagod mo sa'kin diba?" she suggested but I chose to decline her offer. I helped her because I want to. Not because I needed something from her.

Masaya din naman ako sa ginawa ko. Hinihintay ko lang naman na sila ang lumapit at mag approach sa akin. I will not say no if they want my help regarding this matter.

After the remaining time of our classes in Physics, we went to the laboratory to conduct an experiment. I was heading my way there after I get my laboratory gown in the locker area when I saw Denise.

Halos hindi na ito mapakali kaya't nakaramdam na din ako ng pag aalala ng may tumulong mga luha mula sa mga mata n'ya. She's not feeling well again earlier. Nung magkadikit kami kanina ay ramdam kong mainit na naman ito.

"Hershey, can you tell Sir Meo that I will skip his class today?" she requested. Napakunot tuloy ang noo ko. Gusto kong malaman kung ano 'yong problema n'ya.

"Anong nangyari?"

"Kuya Edward is in the infirmary." sagot n'ya. Pagkatapos n'yang sabihin 'yon ay nagmamadali s'yang umalis sa harap ko. I am torn between proceeding to the lab or following her. I don't understand myself kung bakit ako dinala ng mga paa ko papunta sa infirmary.

When I'm already there, hinanap ko kung nasaan si Denise. I saw Edward na nakuha pang ngumiti sa kabila ng sugat sa labi n'ya. Mukhang nakipag away ata ito. Denise is beside him, crying. Lumapit ako sa kanila.

"Nag alala ako. Kung hindi dumating si Gio baka kung ano na naman ang nagawa mo. Ako ang mapapagalitan ng mommy mo," wika ni Denise habang hindi pa din tumatahan. I can see that she really cares for Edward.

"Just don't tell her," he said before his gaze went on me.

Kaagad naman akong nag iwas ng tingin. Maya maya pa ay biglang natahimik si Denise. Hinawakan ko yung noo n'ya at medyo mainit ito. Dahil siguro sa matinding pagod, bumagsak yung katawan n'ya sa akin.

I asked the nurse about what happened. She told us that Denise is okay but she needs to rest para maibalik yung dating lakas n'ya. I also skipped attending my class with Sir Meo and stayed here in the infirmary. Binabantayan ko si Denise hanggang sa magising s'ya nang pumasok dito sa kwarto si Edward. Hindi ito makalakad ng maayos habang papalapit sa direksyon ko.

"Can you accompany me in the locker area? I'll just change my clothes." he said. Napataas naman ang kilay ko dahil sa sinabi n'ya. Is he asking me for a favor?

Hindi pa rin ako nagsasalita matapos n'yang sabihin 'yon. He seems very frustrated when I declined his rquest dahil pagalit n'yang ginulo yung buhok n'ya.

"I can't walk staight. I'll return your journal after this." gusto kong sumabog sa galit dahil sa sinabi n'ya.

Okay! He already admit it! Sya nga iyong walanghiyang kumuha ng journal ko. Magnanakaw talaga.

"Will you stop giving me that kind of stares? If you don't want, then I won't return it." pananakot pa n'ya.

Lumabas na ako ng kwarto dahil baka magising naming dalawa si Denise. Like what he wanted, sinamahan ko lang s'ya na kuhanin yung shirt n'ya sa locker area.

"Magnanakaw," bulong ko. Akala ko ay hindi n'ya ito narinig dahil nahuhuli s'yang maglakad sa likod ko pero nagkamali ako. Mas matalas pa ata ang pandinig nito sa kaysa sa hayop.

"I told you to accompany me. Can't you see that I am injured?" reklamo n'ya pa. Pinipigilan ko lang talaga ang sarili ko na huwag magalit. I just want my journal back. That's all.

I smiled at him sarcastically bago ko hinawakan ang braso n'ya. Maya maya pa ay nagulat ako ng umakbay ito sa akin. Ang bigat ng lalaking ito!

"Few more steps. My locker is there." he said. Nang makarating na kami dito sa tapat ng locker n'ya, binitawan ko na ito. He was holding his white shirt when he faced me.

"Give me back my journal." I said but he just playfully smiled at me.

"I told you, I didn't stole it. But since you accompany me here, I just decided to buy you a new one." mas lalong nag init ang ulo ko dahil sa sinabi n'ya. Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko kung kaya't sinipa ko yung binti n'ya. I watched his reaction at halos mamilipit na ito sa sakit.

"Magnanakaw!" sigaw ko dito. I was about to walk away kung hindi n'ya lang nahawakan yung kamay ko. To my surprise, hinigit n'ya ako kaya't napasubsob ako sa dibdib n'ya. We're an inch far from each other.

"B-bitawan mo ako," I warned him but still, he didn't let go of me. Mas lalo n'ya lang akong hinapit papalapit sa kanya.

"This is what you get for hurting me." he whispered. I tried my best para makawala sa kanya hanggang sa nahagip ng mga mata ko si Nikkolas. I don't know if I'm mistaken pero huli na ng mapagtanto kong nakatingin nga s'ya sa amin. Malakas kong tinulak si Edward bago ulit ako tumingin sa kanya.

He turned his back on me kaya't tumakbo na ako papalapit sa kanya.

"Nikkolas!" I said. He didn't took a glance on me. Lumingon lang s'ya noong pangatlong tawag ko.

I am catching my breath because of running too fast.

"What is it, Ms. Levithan?" he asked coldly. Natahimik naman ako ng ilang segundo dahil sa nangyari.

"A-about what you saw..."

I bit my lower lip because of being too nervous.

"About what?"

"It's nothing. Walang meaning yung nakita mo kanina." pagdepensa ko. If it's not because of Edward hindi mangyayari lahat ng to.

"Don't worry, I won't share to anyone if it's a public display of affection," he answered. He didn't get what I mean.

"Nikkolas, what I m-mean is..."

He cut what I am going to say next.

"Why are you explaining your sides, Ms. Levithan? Besides, we're not in a relationship."

After he said those, natahimik ako. Oo nga pala, wala nga palang kami.