Fated Souls

IV.

Papasok pa lang ako sa subject ko ngayon. Zia and Saph attended their classes after namin kumain sa cafeteria. I'm actually late kasi nga natae ako at ang daming tao sa restroom.

Syempre uunahin kong tumae at mag hintay na lang maubos ang mga tao sa banyo kaysa naman sa classroom ako maghasik ng lagim ano. Kaklase ko pa naman yung Zeke na yon mamaya ipagkalat pa niya kay Elijah e ang tabil ng bibig non.

Nasa harapan na ako ng classroom namin nang maalala ko yung book ko. Anak ni Saph naman oh. Babalik pa ako ng banyo neto.

Nang makarating na 'ko sa banyo ay pipihitin ko na sana ang pinto pero naka lock na. "Hindi ko naman nilock 'to ah." Bulong ko pa sa sarili ko. I knocked three times and told the person inside that I just need to get my book. Pero walang sumagot. Wala rin nagbukas ng pinto.

I was about to knock again when someone with the key opened the door. I looked at him, not just look. Tumingala ako ng konti because he's tall. And a gorgeous man. Teka, kailan pa ako na mesmerize sa looks ng isang lalaki? The hell is wrong with me?

"Uhh... You can come in now. I heard that you were trying to get something that you left inside." Sabi nito and flashed the brightest smile I've ever seen.

"A-ah... Oo, Thank you." I told him at pumasok na ako. Bago ko pa man maisara yung pinto he introduced himself.

"Eithan by the way." he said while still smiling and offered me his hand.

"Calista. You can call me Cali." I said after shaking his hand. He just then nod and I closed the door. Napasandal pa ako sa pinto pagkasara ko nito dahil nanlambot ako. Who wouldn't? That guy is sending me butterflies just by his smiles.

"What's wrong with you, Cali?" Bulong ko pa sa sarili ko at tinampal ang mukha ko. Tumayo na ako ng maayos at kukunin na sana ang libro ko pero wala ito sa may lababo.

"Where the hell is my book? Dito ko lang yon naiwan." Sinilip ko pa ang ilalim ng lababo pero wala roon. I even entered every empty cubicle pero wala rin. Bubukasan ko na sana yung huling cubicle nang may narinig akong kalabog and after that a shout.

"What the hell?! Why are we hiding? Ibigay mo na lang kasi sa kaniya yang hinahanap niya." Sabi nito. That b***h.

Kinatok ko yung pinto ng cubicle kung nasaan sila. "What's going on? I mean, I don't care what's going on with you guys. But I'm just looking for my book. Kung nasa inyo, just give it to me because I'm late." I told them. Pero hindi sila sumasagot.

"Hello?" And then I knocked again.

"Just tell me kung nasa inyo o wala so I can leave." I said. Nauubos na ang pasensya ko ah. I was about to knock again but then the door opened. Nagulat pa ako because I saw Trisha. Alam kong siya yung nasa loob ng cubicle na yon, but I did not expect that she's with Chase.

"Have you seen my book?" Tanong ko na lang dito para hindi mahalata ang gulat ko. Pero malas yata ako sa araw na 'to dahil nakalimutan kong naka taas pa sa ere ang kamay ko na dapat na ipang kakatok ko.

Chase put my hand down at nilagpasan ako. "Wala akong nakita." Sagot nito pero nang tignan ko siya na papalabas na, nakita kong may hawak siyang isang book.

"Hey! I think that's my mine!" Sigaw ko rito tsaka siya hinabol palabas nang hindi pinapansin si Trisha. Pakealam ko naman sa kaniya? As if she can change the fact that I'm late. Teka, oo nga pala late na 'ko.

I followed Chase na hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin nung sinabi kong baka aking yung hawak niya. Nang maabutan ko siya hinila ko ang braso niya para humarap siya sakin.

"Can't you here me?" Tanong ko rito.

"I can." Tamad na sabi nito.

"Bakit hindi ka man lang lumingon?"

"I am not informed that you're clingy." Sabi nito.

"W-what are you talking about? Anong clinging pinagsasabi mo?" And then I eyed the book that he's holding. "I think that's my book. Can I take a look at it?" I asked him.

"Aren't you looking at it right now?"

I took a deep breathe dahil nauubos na talaga ang pasensya ko. "May I check it para sigurado?" I said. Inabot niya sa akin ang book and then I checked it. "This is my book." I said and looked at him.

"Is it?"

"Yeah." He responded at bigla niyang inagaw pabalik yung book ko so I hissed.

"Hey! I said that is mine!"

"This is mine now. I'm the one who saw it and there's no name written on it."

I let out a loud sigh. Chase just started walking again while holding my book. My f*****g book! 

I followed him because I really need that book right now. Tatawagin ko na sana siya nang bigla niyang binuksan ang pinto ng room namin. Wait, what? Hindi naman kami pareho ng course ah?

Nasa may pintuan siya nang madatnan ko siya.

"Can I stay here?" He asked our professor as if he's just his friend.

"S-sure, Mr. Montecillo." Napakunot lang ako ng noo sa reaksyon ng professor namin.

"And, I'm with her." Sabi pa nito and then pulled me closer to him. Ano bang trip nito?

"You may now come in." Sabi nito at pumasok na lang din ako. I don't have the rights to complain. Late na nga ako e. I just sat at my usual seat malapit kay Zeke. Beside him is Chase.

"Please bring out your books." Sabi ng prof. Screw Chase. Nasa kanya yung book ko. 

I looked at him and he was just turning the pages. Luminga linga lang ako sa room because the hell what I'm going to do? E wala nga akong book.

Napatingin ako ng diretso nang tawagin ako ni prof. "Miss Peterson, where is your book?"

"I uhh..." I can't think of any reasons. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihing na kay Chase as if maniwala siya sa akin. Tinignan ko ulit siya and he was just waiting for my answer.

"I-"

"I will share her with mine." Sabi ng isa sa mga kaklase ko. Tinanguan lang siya ni prof at nag sulat na sa board. Nang tumayo siya para lumipat sa tabi ko doon ko lang siya nakita.

"Hey, hindi mo nakita book mo?" he asked me nang maka upo na siya.

"E-eithan"

"Yeah, it's me." he said and smile.

"I- I mean, yeah. Hindi ko nahanap. Maybe some jerk saw it at walang balak ibigay sa may ari." Sabi ko and looked at Chase na walang pakealam. Eithan just smiled at inusog ng kaunti yung book niya sa akin para makita ko. I know him. Of course, I do. He's the School's Student Council President. I just can't think of anything kaninang bigla siyang sumulpot sa labas ng restroom kaya hindi ko siya marecognize.

Ano naman kasing pakealam ko sa ibang nasa paligid. As if it will be life changing kapag nakipag salamuha ako sa mga barbies.

Nagsimula na ang professor namin with his lesson kaya nagfocus na lang ako sa may harapan until I heard someone.

"S'share mo lang naman ako e. Napaka damot mo naman." Zeke said.

"Ayaw ko nga, diba? Wag ka ng makulit non." Sagot naman ni Chase.

"Hindi naman sayo yan e." Tsaka siya inismiran ni Zeke. This is the first time I heard and saw them like this.

"Hindi nga. Hindi rin naman sayo, so shut up." Si Chase.

"E hindi mo naman alam kung paano yan e. Pinag drawing ka nga noon ng baka pero mukhang demonyo yung dinrawing mo. Kaya anong alam mo sa ganyan? Kunwari ka pang nakikinig."

"Ikaw nga e, course mo 'to pero wala kang libro." Sagot ni Chase kaya napa tigil si Zeke sa sinabi niya at napa isip. "Oo nga no?" Sabi nito. Parang si Saph.

"Oh, share mo na 'ko." Sabi pa nito kaya inilapit na ni Chase sa kaniya yung libro at isinili siya. Ano bang tinitira ng mga 'to? Napailing na lang ako at tumungin ulit sa board.

2 hours had already passed and I'm fixing my things in my bag para makalabas na sa room.

"I hope you can find your book." Eithan said habang inaayos din ang bag niya na kinuha niya kanina sa pwesto niya.

"Yeah. I need to answer the activity." Sagot ko rito habang inaayos pa rin ang bag ko.

"If you want you can have mine, hindi ko pa nilagyan ng pangalan so you can have it. I will just tell the librarian that I lost my book." Sabi nito kaya napa tigil ako sa pag aayos ng gamit and looked at him.

"Nah, It's fine. Baka mahanap ko na rin naman yung sa akin mamaya. Mag papatulong na lang ako kina Zia."

He just smiled at kinuha ang bag ko at pinasok ang book sa loob. As if sa labas. "It's really fine. Take it." And then hand me back my bag. Napa kurap lang ako and then he smiled.

"So, I'll go ahead. We have a meeting." Sabi nito at tumango lang ako. What the hell? Kailan pa ako naging speechless sa maliit na bagay na ginawa para sa akin?

He just then wore his bag at ginulo yung buhok ko. "I'll see you around." He said and walked outside.

I'm still processing. Someone just messed up my hair and I didn't complain about it? That's insane! That is not so me. Binitbit ko na ang bag ko and about to leave the room dahil wala na rin namang tao sa loob. Pero nagulat ako when someone talked. Kaka kape ko raw kasi 'to sabi ni Saph. Lahat na lang pang gago naiisip niya.

"Do you want your book back?"

I faced him. "No, thank you."

"Why not? Because Mr. President gave you his?"

"It's none of your business." Ano bang trip nito sa buhay?

"It's as if you're having a tiny little crush on him. So as him to you. The way he messed up your hair? That flirty Student Council President." Napa iwas ako ng tingin sa inis sa kanya. Baka hindi ko sa matantya suntukin ko siya.

"At ano nanamg koneksyon non sa pag gulo niyang buhok ko? Sira na ba ulo mo?'

"What?" Pag mamaang maangan niyang tanong. "That's how guys flirt if you're not still familiar about it."

"So you're telling me that is how you flirt? Yuck. Hindi bagay sayo." Panunuya ko sa kanya.

"Do you want me to tell him kung paano ka nag padulas sa likod ng pinto kanina?" I looked at him eyes winded. He's unbelievable. Nag kibit balikat lang siya habang naka sandal pa rin sa pader at naka pamulsa.

I stood up straight at sinalubong ang tingin niya. "Fine. Just don't do anything stupid when I told every single student here that you locked up yourself inside the lady's restroom with that Trisha girl."

I was expecting him to just mock me but he grabbed my arm at hinila ako papalapit sa may pinto and locked it.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Don't you dare." he said with gritted teeth as if he's a lion trying to stop himself from attacking his prey.

"It hurts." I seriously said while looking at his cold eyes. It's as if he was back in the real world and the look in his eyes soften. He let go of me at nag iwas ng tingin.

"I-I..."

"Forget it. You don't have to drag me when you're mad, madali lang naman akong kausap. You should not mess with someone like me if you're taking everything personal." I said and opened the door to leave.

That jerk. I cannot with him.

"Cali!" Someone called me and when I looked at that person he waved his hand and continued walking towards me.

"Eithan" I said.

"What are you up to?" He asked nang nasa harapan ko na siya.

"Uhm... Maybe grab something to eat with my friends?" I answered and he just nod.

"How about you? Akala ko may meeting kayo?"

"Yeah, but it was cancelled for some reasons." he answered and I just nod as well.

"Hmm... Can I come with you?" He asked me.

"H-ha? Saan?" Kabadong tanong ko.

"Gusto ko rin sanang kumain but I don't want to eat alone. Maybe eating with you and your friends would be fun." He said while smiling, as if convincing me not to say no. And I really didn't.

"Y-yeah, sure." I said and his smile grew bigger.

"Great. Then, let's go?" He asked and I just smiled and started walking with him beside me.

I swear to God, this guy beside me is giving me a feeling I can't recognize.