Fierce

Chapter 7

Cheater

"I added you on f*******: pero hindi mo ko na-accept." Zendaya approached me after our class for Political Science ended. "I tried to message you too but you didn't reply. You didn't view my message either."

Muntik ko nang masapo ang aking noo nang maalala ko ang aming napagkasunduan. Wala pa kaming nasisimulan sa case digest na dapat gawin.

"Nako! I'm sorry, Zendaya," paghingi ko sa kanya ng paumanhin. "I forgot about it because we had family dinner earlier last night. I felt tired when we got home kaya nakatulog agad ako. I haven't checked my social accounts ‘till now."

"That's okay. Nag-alala lang din ako kasi baka may nangyari sa 'yo." She reassuringly smiled at me, looking like an angel. "Medyo malayo pa rin naman ‘yong pasahan pero I hope we can get to talk tonight."

"Should I give you my number, then?” I suggested to have an easy form of communication with her. “Para i-text mo ako kung sakaling makalimutan ko ulit mamaya."

"Sige," sabi niya agad at kinuha sa bulsa ang kanyang cellphone. "Pakilagay na lang diyan."

She gave me her phone when it was already unlocked. I was a bit startled when I saw her wallpaper.

It's Isaiah!

Isaiah was holding a mic in the picture. It was a solo shot of him without the other band members. I think it was one of their pictures posted on their official account from their European tour. His hair was done in a slight spiky way that made him look hotter. His eyes were even close here, looking like he was feeling the song while he was singing.

I lightly shook my head and brought myself back to reality before Zendaya noticed anything weird with me. I quickly typed my number before I returned her phone.

"Itext mo na lang ako para makuha ko rin ang number mo or just give me a missed call," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Okay, then. I'll text you later," she said and bid farewell before she left the room.

Napabuntong hininga naman ako at isinukbit na sa aking balikat ang bag nang makaalis si Zendaya.

I knew it’s a normal thing for a fangirl to save his picture as her wallpaper or lockscreen because he's an artist—their idol. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit ako hindi mapakali nang makitang siya ang larawan sa cellphone ni Zendaya. Wala naman siyang ginagawang mali. Sadyang wallpaper niya lang ang picture ni Isaiah. She's a fan of his band and he is her bias—that's all!

As I was in the midst of convincing myself, my thoughts were interrupted when I caught a familiar person standing in my way. He smiled when he finally got my attention.

"Hey,” he casually greeted me.

I creased my forehead, pretending that I didn't know I was the one he was calling. I even looked left and right before I shrugged my shoulders.

"Sino kayang kausap nito?" bulong ko sa sarili bago ko siya tinalikuran at dumiretso na sa paglalakad.

"Where are you going?" he asked when he caught up.

"To my next class.”

"It's your second break for the day,” he said, like he knew my schedule. “You should be on break, unless you're planning to sit in some other classes."

"You checked my schedule!"

"It wasn't that hard." He shrugged his shoulders. "I could easily get your schedule from the registrar's office."

Right. I forgot that he’s the president of our institute, that’s why he could do that. Mariin kong pinikit ang aking mga mata at huminga ng malalim bago muling itinuon ang atensyon sa kanya.

"Why do you need to know my schedule?"

"My mom asked me to, but it’s actually a favor from your father," he simply answered. "I told you, Blair. It's really happening."

"Can you just act like you're doing the favor when you really don't?" I tried to suggest. "Hindi naman nila malalaman na hindi mo talaga ako sinasamahan dito sa school. I can just also lie to dad that we're hanging out."

"You want me to lie?" He sounded like I was a bad person teaching him to lie.

"Gael! This is for us!" I let out my frustration by raising my voice.

Huli ko nang may mga estudyante sa paligid naming dalawa kaya naman hinawakan ko ang kanyang pulsuhan upang hatakin papasok sa bakanteng room kung saan ang klase namin. Nagpahila naman siya sa akin kaya walang naging problema.

"Gael, trust me." Hinarap ko siya nang makapasok na kami sa loob ng room. "My plan will benefit the both of us. You don't have to deal with me and I don't have to deal with you. It's a win-win situation for the both of us, if only you're going to cooperate with the plan.”

"What if I don't?" he seriously asked and even crossed his arms like he was purposely trying to test my patience.

"This is not something we should be joking about, Gael. Let's be serious."

"I am serious here, Blair. Do I look like I'm joking?"

"You're teasing me!"

"No, I’m not.”

Muli akong napabuntong hininga upang kalmahin ang sarili. "Gael, think about it..." sabi ko. "Ayoko sa 'yo at ayaw mo rin sa akin. Para sa ating dalawa rin 'to!"

"At paano ka naman nakakasiguradong ayaw ko sa 'yo?"

Nalaglag ang aking panga sa kanyang sinabi. What the hell is he talking about?!

"Umayos ka nga, Gael! Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan sa 'yo!"

"Hindi rin ako nakikipagbiruan sa 'yo, Blair."

When his eyes looked straight into mine, I got chills down my spine. His eyes were filled with sincerity that I almost got swayed until I reminded myself that he just came from a long relationship.

Who is he kidding, really?

"Whatever!” I decided to just drop the argument before I go crazy. “Bahala ka na riyan. If you don’t want to cooperate, then don’t!”

I walked out of the room and left him there by himself. Dumiretso na ako sa cafeteria upang hanapin si Ida. Hindi ko nga lang siya nahanap sa madalas naming inuupuan kaya naisipan kong tawagan siya.

"Hindi ka pumasok?" bungad ko nang sagutin niya ang tawag.

"Yes. I'm not feeling well. Stomach problems," sabi niya. "Ayaw ko namang diyan maghasik ng lagim sa school kaya sa bahay na lang."

I chuckled but I still felt somehow worried about her. "Okay, then. Get well soon."

Mabuti na lang at napalitan ang isipan ko ng pag-aalala kay Ida. Alam kong normal lang ang sakit niya pero parang kapatid na ang turing ko sa kanya. Hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi mag-alala sa kanya ng sobra.

From: Zendaya

Hindi pala ako makakapag-online mamaya. I need to review. Can we just meet at Agno before going home?

I was about to go home after class when I received a message from Zendaya. Nilingon ko ang daan papuntang Agno at agad lumihis ng lakad doon.

To: Zendaya

Sure! I'm on my way.

She immediately replied.

From: Zendaya

May ipapasa lang ako sa prof ko tapos pupunta na ako riyan. Pakihintay na lang ako, please. Thank you.

I just sent an okay text before slipping my phone inside my pocket. Pumuwesto ako sa bakanteng upuan sa Agno. It seemed like Zendaya would take a long time, so I just decided to play a mobile game to kill boredom.

I opened my data in order to play Brainwars but before I could even start playing the game, someone sat right in front of me. I thought it was Zendaya at first, but then I just sighed in regret when I saw Darlene

Kaya naman agad ko na lang ibinalik ang tingin ko sa cellphone at naghanap na ng makakalaban sa Brainwars.

"You really have a talent for pissing off someone, huh?" Darlene sarcastically said when I didn't pay attention to her.

"Hindi na nga kita pinansin tapos naiinis pa kita?" Ngumisi ako at agad ding nagseryoso nang nagsimula na ang laro.

The first round was catching raindrops. I needed to tap on the umbrella to catch the raindrops and avoid the lightning. I was pretty good at that game, so I easily won the first round.

"Bakit ba ayaw mo akong pansinin?" inis niyang tanong at inagaw sa akin ang cellphone nang saktong nagsimula na ang pangalawang round.

Nalaglag ang aking panga nang makitang nagkakaroon na ng score ang kalaban ko habang ako ay nasa zero pa rin. Iritado akong hinablot pabalik ang aking cellphone. I exited the game and gave her the attention she wanted so bad.

"Ano ba’ng problema mo? Masyado kang papansin ah!" I said, feeling irritated. "Hindi mo ba nakitang naglalaro ako?"

"Ayon na nga, eh! I'm here in front of you pagkatapos ay nasa nilalaro mo ang atensyon mo."

"It only means that I have no intention to pay attention to you o baka hindi mo lang maintindihan?"

Tumayo siya sa kinauupuan niya at hinampas ang table na dahilan kung bakit napatingin ang kumakaing mga estudyante na malapit sa amin.

"So, feeling mo ang taas-taas mo na sa akin ngayon dahil nasa iyo na ang ex-boyfriend ko?" mapanghamon niyang tanong sa akin.

Deep lines appeared on my forehead because of her accusation. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You and Gael! Alam ko na! Huwag na kayong magmaang-maangan. May nakakita sa inyo," she accused me and Gael. "You two almost made a scene in the hallway pagkatapos ay nagtago pa kayo sa bakanteng room?"

"There's nothing going on between me and Gael.”

"Can you please stop being so innocent?!" Her eyes were starting to turn red because of tears pooling inside her eyes. "Siguro ay kaya mo ako binuhusan ng frappe noon ay dahil may namamagitan na sa inyo ni Gael at hindi mo na natiis ang galit mo sa akin. Kaya ka siguro niya kinampihan no’n! And then, he broke up with me without even telling me the reason why. Ayon naman pala ay nang dahil sa 'yo. Pinagpalit niya ako sa 'yo."

My eyes widened in shock.

Gael's the one who ended their relationship. Pero bakit ang sabi ni Gael sa akin noong nasa carpark ay si Darlene daw ang nakipagbreak sa kanya?

"I can't believe it!" she exclaimed. "A man with principles cheated."

"Gael didn't cheat," I stated without blinking. "Kahit walang namamagitan sa amin at kahit nag-iinit ang dugo ko sa kanya, gusto kong sabihin sa 'yo that he's not a cheater. Don't just believe any rumors, Darlene. Minsan ay napagmumukha kang tanga ng mga sabi-sabi."

Napalitan din ng gulat ang mukha ni Darlene sa kabila ng galit. Nang paalis na ako ay namataan ko si Zendaya na nakatayo malapit sa lamesa kaya agad ko siyang pinuntahan.

"Let's go somewhere else, Zendaya,” I told her and went on my way out of Agno.