Story Deleted

Chapter 9

/9/ CAN'T FALL

When you fall,

it's either God will

catch you or teach you

how to fly

- Random Saying

.

KHEL'S POV

.

You know that boredom is pushing your limit when you just wanna stare at nowhere and do nothing at all. Like ghost in a room, if such thing exists.

Katatapos lang ng morning classes. It's breakt-time and most of the students spend their time in cafeteria, feeding their stomachs or bonding with their friends. I'm not fond of small talks or exchanging jokes. I prefer talking about theories and conspiracies. Pero dahil walang alam sa gano'n ang kaibigan kong ungas, si Brint, I end up bored.

For the millionth time, I sighed and stare at the open book lying on my lap. Kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa bench, sa gilid ng malawak na green field. The school building is my background.

Hindi ko kasama si Brint. He's probably somewhere around the school. I don't know and I don't care. But I'm sure he's still alive and kicking his ass off.

Tahimik ang paligid. Tahimik ang buong green field at maaliwalas ang langit. No student around, because they're all inside the building. Which makes the environment calm.

Fixing my eyeglasses, I tried to read the book which lies on my lap. It's about Christopher Columbus and how was the shape of earth was discovered.

"Tsk."

But my brain can't absorb the words. Marahas kong sinara ang libro at muli, bumuntong hininga.

I took off my specs and massage my nose's bridge. Groaning, "D*mn it."

"KHEL!!!"

Sinuot ko ulit ang salamin, saka hinanap kung sa'n nanggaling ang boses na iyon. And from afar, I saw an ugly guy with his catish grin that's approaching me. Here comes Brint the moron.

I thought he was alone. But a familiar girl was exposed walking behind the moron. Halos mapigil ko ang paghinga nang makita ang mukha ng babaeng 'yon.

Her smiling face glows like the sunshine.

I was stunned for a moment, staring at her as she approaches my direction. Pero nasira ang moment na iyon nang humarang ang mukha ni Brint sa paningin ko.

"Yo, bro! Wassup? Buhay ka pa ba?"

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatayo na siya sa harapan ko. Meera's standing beside him. Why are they even together? Do they know each other?

"May naghahanap sa'yo, bro!" Brint jerked his thumb at the woman beside him. "Meera raw. Tinanong ko kung fangirl mo siya. Kung oo, h'wag na siyang mag-abalang hanapin ka kasi hindi ka naman interesado sa mga babae..."

What the f*ck?!

"...pero nagpumilit siya. Importante raw kasi ang pakay niya sa'yo. At hindi mo raw siya fangirl," the moron finished.

I gave him a deadpan look. Napakadaldal niya talaga. Sometimes I want to ripped off his mouth just to shut him up.

"Oh, bakit?" Inosenteng nagkibit-balikat si Brint, saka siya ngumisi.

I want to punch him in the face and I'm all ready to curse that moron, pero bigla kong narinig ang mala-anghel na boses ni Meera.

"Pasensya na sa istorbo, ah? May pinapa-inform lang kasi si Ms Blanche tungkol sa project."

"Aaah, tungkol lang pala sa project eh," kantyaw ni Brint.

Umupo ang ungas sa bench, sa tabi ko. Nakangisi siya habang nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa'kin at sa dalagang nakatayo sa tapat ko.

"Oh? Hahaha!" at tumawa si Brint na parang tanga. "H'wag ninyo akong pansinin. Mag-usap lang kayo. I'll just zip my mouth."

You should, moron, or I'll zip it with my fist!

"Pinuntahan kita sa room mo pero wala ka doon. Fortunately, I met your friend and he insisted to bring me to you," ngumiti si Meera sa gawi ni Brint.

My friend replied, "You're very welcome, miss cutie!"

Akala ko ba mananahimik na siya? Ba't nagsasalita pa rin ang loko na 'to?

Nang napansin ni Brint ang masamang tingin ko, agad siyang napaiwas ng tingin. "Oo na, ito na. Mananahimik na."

I heaved a sigh, lowering my eyes to the book lying over my lap.

"What about the project?" I asked while slowly flipping the book's page.

"She finally confirmed that we should start and she gave me this!" Then she showed me a stapled sheets of paper.

Frowning, kinuha ko mula sa kaniya ang naturang mga papel. I read it and figured out that it was an "excuse letter". A formal letter signed by the head office.

"Binigyan tayo ng school ng one week para ma-excuse sa'ting daily classes. Nakausap na rin daw ni Ms Blanche ang mga advisers and subject teachers natin. They all agreed with it," Meera explained. "Now, we're free to miss couple of classes for a week. Nang sa gayun ay magawa na natin ang content ng magazine."

"So, it means, kahit hindi na tayo pumasok sa klase nang isang linggo ay ayos lang dahil excuse na tayo?" ani ko.

"Yup!" She nodded her head. "As long as we use this time to prepare for the contest."

Binalik ko sa kaniya ang dokumento, and she received it.

Tumikhim ako. "So? Any idea when should we start?"

"Bukas agad!" she exclaimed.

I blinked. That surprised me. "Bukas?"

Ngumisi si Meera. "Why not? We can't miss the moment! Meron na rin akong idea sa pupuntahan nating mga lugar."

I fixed my eyeglasses' bridge and instead of protesting, I remain quiet. I have all the rights to protest but I didn't. I f*cking didn't.

"I..." sighing, "...have no objection."

"Teka lang! A-Anong one week excuse?" biglang sabat ni Brint. "Ikaw, Khel, hindi ka papasok ng one week para d'yan sa contest? Kasama itong si miss cutie? Tapos ako, ano? Iiwan mo nang mag-isa sa classroom? Ha? Iiwan mo ako? Nang... Nang ISANG LINGGO?!"

Napatiim-bagang ako. My fist crumpled the page of my book.

If Meera's not watching, I'd probably smashed his face with this bench where we're sitting at.

"Don't be dramatic." I glanced at Brint with irritation. "As if you'll die without me. And it's only a week. Don't react as if I'll be away for decades. Tsk."

"Pero... Bro! Kahit na! Iiwan mo pa rin ako! Payag ka bang iwan ang bespren mo?!"

Hundred percent yes.

"Payag ka bang ma-zero ako sa seatwork 'pag wala ka, wala akong makokopyahan?!"

I have no concern for that.

"Payag ka bang gisahin ako ng teacher natin sa math at wala ka do'n para iligtas ako?!"

It's your problem, not mine.

"Payag ka bang---"

"SHUT UP, MORON!" I roared.

There I said it.

Natikom ang bibig ni Brint. But my concern is Meera's reaction. Nanlaki ang mata niya at tila nawindang sa sigaw ko. She looks tensed... or frightened.

Oh crap!

Napaawang ang aking bibig. I want to find a right word to say, but my tongue can't.

Then Brint gave me a look saying... "Lagot-ka-bro!", yet he's not helping at all. D*mn him.

There's an awkward silence between the three of us. A total awkwardness. And I'm cursing inside my mind.

I want to defend myself. I've never been like this in front of other girls. Mostly, I don't care of what others may think of me. But Meera, for some unknown reason, makes me feel conscious.

And it makes me want to bang my head on the wall so badly.

"PFFT--! Ahahahahahahahaha!"

The awkward silence was broken when a gentle laughter fills the atmosphere. Meera's laughing, with an adorable smile. Her aura is like a sunflower blooming with brightness.

"Cute n'yong mag-best friend! Para kayong tuta at kuting na nag-aaway. Hahaha!" and she laughs again.

The surrounding becomes blurry and all I can see was her face, happy and pure innocence.

Sh*t.

That's bullsh*t, Khel. Wake up! Get your f*cking ass together! She's a christian, remember? She doesn't suit your beliefs and principles, Khel! She doesn't.

I can't fall.

Not with someone who believes in false existence of God.

Not to her.

"So! Bukas?" Meera smiled at me.

Pumungay ang aking mga mata habang nakatitig sa kaniyang nakakahawang ngiti, at wala sa sariling napatiim-bagang.

I can't fall.

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