Realms Under Sacrifice

Chapter VII

Mina's POV

It's been days since I last came out of my room, although magaling na ako from my fever, I still decided not to go to work nor school. Ewan ko ba pakiramdam ko magkakasakit ulit ako isipin pa lang na makikita ko si Yohan dun, ayoko muna magpakita for now.

Habang nakatulala sa kisame i heard a knock, "Come in!" I said, my mother came in with a tray of food for me. Marahan akong umupo at sumandal, my mother put down the tray and sat beside me.

"Anak, anong araw na ayaw mo pa bang pumasok? Marami ka nang na-miss na lessons," my mother said while looking at me with a worried face.

I sighed, "Wala pa akong gana ma." Saad ko habang naka tingin sa kawalan.

"Nag punta nanaman dito yung boss mo nung nakaraang araw, sabi ko wala ka, halatang sobrang nag aalala sayo yung tao bakit ayaw mong kausapin? kawawa naman." My mother stood up and went to the table near my bed, she placed my food and took the tray with her.

Tumayo na ako at nagpunta sa table para kumain, "Wala naman kaming dapat pag usapan ma eh, isa pa...may fiancé na 'yun." I started eating, I heard my mother sighed.

"Okay sabi mo eh pero anak, kahit may fiancé na 'yun kung hindi naman niya mahal wala ring saysay, tsaka ito ang tatandaan mo Mina, talo ng totoong pusong nagmamahal ang kulungan ng pag-ibig na puro lang kasinungalingan. Hinding hindi mag e-effort 'yun kung wala siyang nararamdaman para sayo...okay lang na sumugal sa pag-ibig anak ang mahalaga wala kang pagsisisihan sa huli." My mother left me in deep thoughts after those words of her struck directly at my heart.

Maybe...my mother was right, I want to believe....gusto kong maniwala na may pag asa ako kaso sa ngayon napaka labo pa. Lately napaka raming mixed signals ni Yohan pero ayokong I-take advantage 'yun dahil para sa akin mabait lang talaga siya. What if he really likes me? Or maybe not....I saw it with my own eyes, I saw how sweet they looked that night. Hindi naman niya gagawin 'yung mga bagay na 'yun kung wala lang diba?

Pinilit ko na lamang itong alisin sa isipan ko at ipag patuloy ang pagkain, mas mabuting umiwas na lang muna. Bukas, papasok na ako, kaya mo 'yan Mina!

The next day I stood in front of the school gate.

This is it...calm down Mina, calm down...

I was already in front of my school, I don't know why I hesitate to step forward. Once again, huminga ako ng malalim at tsaka nagpasiyang maglakad.

I used to be an invisible person in front of everyone's eyes, but now it seems like the tables turned for me because everyone's eyes are focused only on me. Lahat ng estudyanteng mag daan sa akin nakatingin.

What's happening to earth?? Did something happen??

Ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang aking pag lakad hanggang sa makarating sa building kung saan naroon ang first class ko, habang naglalakad sinisikap kong ignorahin ang mga makamandag na tingin sa akin lalo na ng mga kababaihan. Kung nakakapangit lang ang titig siguro tinubuan na ako ng maraming tigyawat sa mukha, kulot na buhok, at naninilaw na ngipin. Paano ba naman kasi eh kung makatingin sila parang pinapatay na'ko sa isip eh.

Habang lunod sa patong-patong na mga katanungan ay bigla akong tumama sa isang matigas na pader, dahilan para matumba ako.

When I looked, I was stunned by the figurine in front of me, it was a tall, handsome, innocent looking man holding books and an ipad. He offered his hand and helped me get up while my eyes are still locked up on his beautiful eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked looking worried.

"Y-yeah...I am, thank you by the way," I said and smiled.

He's so handsome! His looks are enough to make everyone stop what they're doing just to look at him. Paano ba naman kasing hindi eh kahit sino yata mapapatitig sa napaka guwapo niyang mukha. Mula sa mga mata niyang kulay aquamarine na tila hinihipnotismo ang bawat tumingin dito, sa matangos niyang ilong na tila isang perpektong bundok para akyatin, hanggang sa kanyang labi na kulay rosas. Dagdagan pa ng eyeglass na talagang bumagay dito.

"Hey, down to earth miss!" the guy said while waving his hand on me. Masyado pala akong nakatitig sa kanya...

"Oh...y-yeah?" utal kong sambit habang pa inosenteng naka tingin sa kanya.

"Is something wrong with my face?" he asked.

"No! There's nothing wrong...by the way I'm Mina Sereiah, how about you?" pag iiba ko sa topic.

He smiled, that smile almost made my knees weak, "I'm John Joseph, nice meeting you...uh what do you prefer to be called?"

"Mina, just call me Mina. You're also from Orihalchum Section?" I asked while looking at him smiling.

Ang swerte ko naman taga section ko rin pala siya, that's why he looks familiar. He took a look at his ID and back at me, "Just call me Jay-Jay then, and yeah, you too? How come I never see you?" he asked.

"I got sick that's why, by the way transferee ka? kasi now lang rin kita nakita eh," tanong ko. He just giggled, we stayed in there for a moment before he asked me to go to class together. As we walked together, I spotted a very familiar person. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.

I verified my hunch when he turned to look at our way, that moment I froze that I didn't realize JJ was looking back and forth from Yohan to me. Natauhan lamang ako nang tapikin ako sa balikat ni JJ, "Mina, you okay?" he asked as he look at Yohan from a far.

"Y-yeah I am." I replied while looking at him, when I turned to look at Yohan he was walking straight towards us. I panicked that made me push JJ as much as possible, of course JJ is confused as why I did that.

"Wait Mina, why are we in a sudden rush?" he asked, when he look at Yohan that's when he realized.

Hinakawan niya ang kamay ko at nagmamadaling tumakbo palayo hanggang sa mailigaw namin si Yohan. We stopped at the Wisteria tree in the school's garden while we both catch our breaths.

"Do you know him? Is he your boyfriend?" JJ asked, still catching his breath.

Parehas kaming umupo sa ilalim ng wisteria tree, huminga muna ako ng malalim bago nagsalita.

"Yes, pero hindi ko 'yun boyfriend never ko siya magiging boyfriend. Boss ko lang siya" angal ko sa kaniya.

He laugh, " Chill, I was just asking. Bigla niya kasi tayong hinabol eh." he said, still laughing.

He cleared his throat, " So you're working under him?"

"Yeah, I'm a working student," I replied.

" Okay, but why are you running away from him?" he asked, staring at me in a confused look. I sighed before looking away.

"It's complicated JJ, it's quite personal don't worry i'll tell you soon enough, let's go?" I smiled before I stood up.

As we took our first step, there stood Yohan...not so far away from us. Napatigil ako sa paglakad habang hawak ang braso ni JJ, na ikinagulat rin niya. When he traced where I was staring, that's when he realize that Yohan was standing one meter away from us. Bahagya akong nagulat at napatingin kay JJ nang hawakan ako nito sa aking bewang.

"You alright, Mina?" he asked while looking at me smiling genuinely.

I smiled, "Yeah, I am." I replied, before we could walk straight past Yohan he grabbed my arm...stopping us from going further.

I shoved his hand away but he won't budge and instead, his grip tightens. "Yohan...let go." I said coldly.

"No. Why won't you answer any of my calls? Even my messages, I even went to your house the other day because I was so worried but your mother just told me to leave. Tell me, did I do something wrong? I've been so worried about you!" he said straightly.

I was about to say something when JJ interrupted me, "Bro can't you see? My woman clearly doesn't want to talk to you so stop bothering her."

Ackkk!! My woman who?! me?! I know hindi dapat ako kinikilig in this situation but I can't help myself! Did he just call me his? I almost fell on my knees when he said that. I tried not to smile and remain fierce.

"Your woman? Since when? Who even are you? I bet you're just sticking around with her because you're just using her." I didn't even hesitate a single bit and slapped his face that made him shocked. Now I don't care if I get fired, Yohan is too much.

"You're being too much Yohan, don't you dare talk to him like that, he's more important than you think." I said pointing my finger at him. I don't know why he's being a jerk right now.

"Aren't you engaged already? You already have a fiance and here you are chasing after us and bothering Mina, aren't you ashamed?" JJ said.

That made my eyes open wide and look at him, this guy...he has some guts...

Nilipat ko ang tingin ko kay Yohan, one thing's for sure....he's pissed but why would he get pissed when it's the truth though. Totoo naman na may fiance na siya kaya dapat hindi na niya ako ginugulo and yet he kept bothering me ever since that night.

Natauhan lang ako mula sa malalim na pag-iisip nang magsalitang muli si JJ.

"Look everyone's staring already aren't you embarrassed yet? Oh good timing your fiance is here too." We both look past where Yohan was standing and yeah...there she is.

Yohan's...one and only. As I scan the area I can clearly hear the gossip of the students here at the garden. Right now I just wanna get out of here as soon as possible.