Rejecting Niccolos

Chapter 18

Napakaikli lang ng oras kapag masaya ka, pero kapag naman may dinadamdam ka, parang nakahinto ang oras.

Lumulutang ang isip ko habang nagkaklase, bawat minuto ay napapasulyap ako kay Sahara. I am somehow stressed, even when she's totally doing nothing but to listen to our teacher, she still shines like a diamond.

"Miss Oleo!"

Nagising ako sa reyalidad nang bigla akong tawagin ng aming teacher sa General Math. Para akong natauhan...buong oras pala akong nakatulala.

"So far, you have the best performance in General Math. Can you answer this on the board?" She tapped the problem written on the white board.

Lumipat ang aking tingin doon. It was not the same as what we studied last week. Panibagong lesson na ito. While she was discussing, I was not myself and I am not listening, kaya naman hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin para masagot iyon.

"Miss Oleo?" She repeated.

"O-Okay, Ma'am." Tumayo ako sa aking kinauupuan.

All of my classmates is already looking at my way. Dahil na rin siguro sa nababother ako sa mga tingin nila ay napilitan na lamang akong mag-comply. But I almost wanna hit myself when I reached the blackboard. My mind is not working! At nakaiwan lamang sa ere ang kamay ko habang nakatitig sa problem.

What is happening? I am supposed to be good at this since I am always listening!

"Uhh, excuse me, Ma'am?" Sa lambot pa lamang ng boses ay alam ko na kung sino ang nagsalita. Hindi ko na kailangan pang lumingon para alamin.

"Yes, Sahara?"

She even knows her name even without getting her to introduce herself!

"Can I help her?"

Parang nagpantig ang aking tainga sa narinig. She'll help me? But why? No one dared to ask but her.

Nang lumingon ako ay papalapit na siya sa harap. Otomatiko akong napagilid nang makarating siya sa harap inilahad ang magandang kamay para sa marker. I composed myself and immediately passed the marker to her.

Upon receiving it, she immediately answered the whole problem. Parang ang dali lang, pero ang haba ng kanyang isinulat sa white board. If I have listened, maybe I could be able to answer it like what she did too. Makikinig na ako sa susunod.

Nagpalakpakan ang mga kaklase ko nang in-announce ng aming guro na tama ang sagot niya. I almost felt like air in front dahil sa nangyari.

"Hello!"

Uwian na at kasalukuyan na akong nag-aayos ng gamit nang lumapit si Sahara sa akin. Nagkatinginan kami ni Izzie. She only smiled at me and nodded, she also motioned her hand that she'll wait outside.

"You're Sophia, right?" She was all smile.

I nodded unconsciously, pero hindi na ako makangiti. "Yes. But they call me Pia."

"Oh! Is that so?" She smiled at me. "Then, hi Pia! You are so pretty. But I noticed about how you did poorly on our General Math just a while ago..."

Agad ko siyang tinignan, nalulukot ang noo. Agad naman niyang na-realize ang kanyang sinabi at agad na ngumiti nang ninenerbyos.

"N-No! That's not what I meant," she shook her head. "I-I mean...if you want...I can help you study.."

The wrinkles on my face vanished. "B-Bakit mo naman gagawin 'yon?" Humina ang boses ko sa gulat.

"Hmm. I just want to. Is that okay with you?"

Kinagat ko ang aking dila. If I agree, I should hang out with her more often. Ayaw ko noon. Ayaw kong laging....nai-insecure.

"Pia!"

Pareho kaming napalingon sa pintuan nang may marinig kaming tumawag sa akin. It was Lev, and upon seeing him, I knew his whole squad is with him. Agad napalitan nang pagtataka ang ekspresyon ni Lev sa mukha nang makita si Sahara.

"Uy! Sahara!" Lumapit na siya nang tuluyan, tumagos naman ang mga mata ko kay Lev nang makita ang pagpasok din nila Niccos sa classroom.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at tumingin din kay Sahara na mas lalo pang lumapad ang ngiti sa mukha.

"Lev! How are you? Long time no see!" She asked, sinalubong niya si Lev.

"I'm good! Wow, you've gotten so much prettier!" Lev said.

I put my remaining things inside my bag and zipped it up. Tahimik ko iyong ginawa.

"Hi, Novo! Luka! Wow you're all so tall now!"

It seemed as if like she was so close to them in the past. The mini reunion is too strong, it's suffocating. I wanna go out and breathe fresh air.

"We're fine, too." I heard Novo's voice.

"Oh, you've finally come back." Si Luka.

Before I hear more than I could. I immediately made my way out of the room.

"Why don't we hang out?" Napatigil ako sa narinig kay Sahara.

Nasa hamba na ako ng pintuan noon. Naghintay ako ng sasagot bago tuluyang lumabas.

"Sur—"

"Sorry. I can't come. I'll send Pia home."

Tuluyan na akong napalingon sa kanila noong marinig iyon. Napakurap-kurap na lamang ako nang tumalikod si Niccos sa kanila at sinundan ako sa paglabas. Parang lumulutang naman ang utak ko.

"Bakit hindi ka sumama?" Tanong ko bigla.

Nagpaiwan si Izzie sa hihintayin pa raw niya si Lev. So we ended up walking at the empty hallway alone.

"I just don't want to. I'm sure they can go on without me." Paliwanag niya.

"But are you really going to send me home?" Bigla kong tanong.

"Yup."

A smile suddenly crept on my lips. Dahil doon, sa maliit na bagay na iyon ay parang napawi lahat ng panghihinayang na naramdaman ko ngayong araw. Ibang klase.

Kinabukasan ay medyo na-late ako sa pagpasok sa school, but I somehow made it on time. Nang makarating ako sa classroom ay agad nagkukumpulan ang mga kaklase ko sa kanya-kanyang grupo. Agad nalukot ang noo ko at hinanap si Izzie gamit ang mga mata.

"Ano'ng meron?" Bungad ko sa kanya.

"See for yourself." She handed me her cellphone.

Wala akong pinalampas na oras at tinignan ang naka-view roon na post sa f*******:. Nagsalubong agad ang aking magkabilang kilay nang makita ang mga litrato roon.

Litrato ni Sahara. And heck these photos are nude photos!

"I don't know if that is legit or not. Pero pinagpyepyestahan na 'yan ng mga kalalakihan dito sa school." Setyosong paliwanag ni Izzie.

"What?!" I hissed.

Bigla na lamang natahimik ang classroom nang bumukas ang pintuan. It was Sahara na kararating lang. It seemed that she was aware about what is happening, dahil pagtapos niyang mapahinto nang bahagya ay pinagpatuloy niya ang paglalakad papunta sa kanyang upuan.

Then a moment passed, napuno ng bulungan ang buong classroom.

"Kabaga-bago pa lang, may issue na agad?"

"I know, right? Sayang naman siya..."

Some of the murmurs were very clear to hear, I doubt she couldn't hear all of that. Although, ay mga kaklase akong sinusubukan siyang ipagtanggol ay as nanaig pa rin 'yung mga panlalait nila.

Bigla ko aiyang sinulyapan. This will be the very first time that her smile vanished from her face. She looked dull today, ngunit sa kabila noon ay hindi nagbabago ang kanyang karisma. Maganda pa rin.

"Did you try reporting the profile?" Tanong ni Novo nang i-open up ni Izzie ang tungkol doon noong sabay-sabay na naman kaming kumain ng lunch.

"Yup. Nireport na namin ni Pia pero wala pa ring nangyayari." Sagot ni Izzie. "I doubt wala pang ibang nagreport sa kanya, ang kunat naman ng account niya kung ganoon."

"I've tried stalking that f*******: profile before too. It was made a long time ago, kaya siguro matibay." Wika ni Lev.

"That means, it is not a simple dummy account." Napatingin kaming lahat kay Niccos.

I composed myself properly. He looked determined.

"It was made a long time ago. Tiyaka, kapag nag-respond na ang f*******: sa pagkakapost at kung sakaling burahin na ang post, wala pa rin iyong silbi dahil kumalat na ito. Some downloaded the video and even posted on other social media platforms." Niccos added.

"So all we have to do is find the owner of the account?" I chimed out of nowhere. I felt obliged contributing a suggestion.

He unconsciously nodded. "That's necessary."

Nagkatinginan kaming lahat.

In the end, I only sighed. Why am I feeling so sulky towards this? Niccos is the council president and it is his responsibility. Gaya noong ginawa niyang pagtulong sa akin noon, tutulungan niya rin si Sahara dahil iyon ang nararapat. Yup, that's right, I shouldn't put too much meaning towards anything.

Kinabukasan, imbes na humupa ang issue ay mas lalo lamang itong kumalat. Also, Sahara's parents went to school to confront them about this issue, ayon sa mga naririnig ko, kapag hindi pa ito nalutas sa lalong madaling panahon, ay aabot na ito sa mga pulis, kahit naman hinfi sigurado na galing dito sa school ang nagkalat ng mga malalaswang pictures.

"I think, whoever did that, must be very insecure about her. Kahit naman may ganoong litrato si Sahara, hindi dapat iyon kinakalat. I feel bad about her." Izzie said out of nowhere while we are walking in the middle of an empty hallway.

Tumikhim ako upang magbigay ng responde. I don't have a say about this amd as much as possible, I don't wanna involve myself.

"Oh, by the way, sabay kaming uuwi ni Lev ngayon," she remarked. "He'll give me a ride home, how about you? Hindi ka basasabay kay Niccos?"

Wala sa sarili akong umiling.

Niccos was busy since yesterday about that. Hindi ko na siya inistorbo pa dahil alam kong isa rin siya sa naididiin ng mga magulang ni Sahara. I do not know why, but I guess that's because he is the council president, he has a part of the blame— well, that's based upon them, not mine. I think, Niccos has nothing to do with it, immature lang talaga siguro kung sino ang may gawa noon.

Nagpaalam na ako kay Izzie nang makarating kami sa labasan. Nang makalayo na siya ay 'saka ko lang naalala iyong reviewer ko sa ilalim ng desk ko, kaya naman dali-dali ko iyong binalikan. Nang makuha ko iyon ay agad din akong umalis ngunit napatigil ako sa pagbaba ng hagdan nang mayroon akong narinig na nag-uusap.

Someone is sobbing, crying. And it intrigued me so much that I stopped midway stepping down.

"I didn't know what I did wrong! Bakit nangyayari ito sa akin?"

It is Sahara, her voice is distorted, making me wonder why. Kaya naman dinungaw ko ang baba at napakurap nang mabagal nang makita si Niccos, nakapamulsa habang si Sahara ay nakasubsob ang mukha sa dibdib nito. Her hands were kept to herself, but the physical contact is enough....for me to get triggered.

"Calm down, we will find out who did this." Kalmadong wika ni Niccos.

Mas lumala ang paghikbi ni Sahara, kasabay noon ang biglang pagpalibot ng mga kamay niya sa baywang ni Niccos. Now, she is hugging Niccos. I wonder if Niccod would hug her back?

"Off." Mahinang sinabi ni Niccos. "I know you're going through something right now, but can you get off me?"

"H-Huh? N-Nicc—"

"It bothers me so much that you are hugging me like this," diretsong sinabi ni Niccos sa isang payak na paraan.

"Are you worried that someone might see us and they'd get t—"

"Yes," putol ni Niccos sa kanya. "However, I don't care about just any other person. I'm afraid a specific person would see us, and get the wrong idea."

Natigilan si Sahara, pagkatapos ay bigla siyanng humiwalay at humawak sa magkabilang braso ni Niccos. She gulped, and looked at Niccos's eyes. All of that....I saw it all, even her breathing is a noisy thing for me at this point.

"You know why I rejected you before, right?" Kumislap ang kanyang mga mata.

"You didn't like me." Niccos answered without hesitation.

Sahara smiled while tears are still falling from her eyes, making it sparkle. "You're wrong."

Niccos stayed silent.

"I'm back now," wika ni Sahara nang walang matanggap na responde galing kay Niccos. "Where did we end? Let's....continue everything."

I didn't like it. I regret listening after all, and despite that, I finally decuded to move down my feet. Nagkaroon ng tunog ang aking paghakbang, dahilan upang mapatingala silang dalawa sa akin. I smiled upon meeting with their gazes.

"Pia." Niccos called out and faced me. He was intently looking at me, pinapakiramdaman.

"Hindi pa kayo umuuwi?" Patay malisya kong tanong. Bumaling ako kay Sahara na nagpupunas na ng kanyang luha. "Are you okay now?"

"Yes, thank you." Her voice is still distorted though.

Pareho nila akong sinundan ng tingin hanggang sa nakababa na ako.

"Kayo?" Huminto ako saglit. "Hindi pa ba kayo uuwi?" Sinulyapan ko saglit si Niccos.

"Uhm," tumikhim si Sahara. "Actually....uuwi na...rin."

Marahan akong tumango at ngumiti. I motioned to excuse myself, and then was about to turn around when Sahara cleared her throat once again.

"Are you heading home right way?"

Napanguso ako at muling humarap. I nodded and smiled— lips pressed together.

"Why?"

"I uhh," she glanced at Niccos, "Actually wanna know you more. I see, you're good friends with Niccos too."

Gamit ang mga mata, sinulyapan ko saglit si Niccos na tahimik lamang na nakatayo nang tuwid habang nakapamulsa.

"O-Okay..." although, hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. I mean, paano, ganoon.

"Great!" She smiled. "Halos lahat kasi ng friends ni Niccos ay kilala ko na, sila Lev? And...I wanna do the same with you."

Niccos sighed and glanced at Sahara with grumpy eyes. Somehow, I saw him scowl at her.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot get what you mean." May pag-aalinlangan kong tanong.

"Oh! Yeah, actually, wanna catch up with you, like...eating together and spending time together..."

"H-Ha? Ng-ngayon ba?"

Umiling siya. "Everyday." She smiled.

Hilaw akong ngumiti. For someone who is going through a scandal, she seemed too fresh with it.

"S-Sure." Hindi ko makita ang sarili kong tumatanggi sa kanya. Baka mas lalo lang akong dumagdag sa kanyang dinadamdam.

"Great! But since you've mentioned it, how about let's go somewhere before going home?" She smiled, the innocent one. Too innocent for me. Sinulyapan niya si Niccos. "You should come too."

"No, thanks."

"Sige na!" Sahara pouted. "You're closer with Pia, and we are not yet that close. Can you help me?"

"Just go home," mahinang sinabi ni Niccos at binalingan ako. "Ihahatid na kita."

Hahakbang na sana palapit si Niccos sa akin nang binalingan ko siya.

"Sure." I smiled.

Napairap si Niccos sa hangin.

"Seriously?! Yes! Thank you!" Sahara cannot hide her excitement.

"Seriously..." Niccos murmured.

"Hindi ka ba sasama?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Do I have a choice?"

Hindi ko rin alam sa sarili ko kung bakit ako pumayag. Bukod sa ayaw kong tumanggi o natatakot lang tumanggi ay wala na akong ibang maisip na dahilan.

Niccos also came in the end. We went to the nearest fast food using Sahara's chauffeur. She insisted dahil iyong kanya ang pinakamaagang dumating, wala na rin kaming nagawa pa. Habang nasa loob pa kami ay panay ang pagkwekwento niya tungkol sa mga memories nila noon nila Lev, Novo, at Luka. She also mentioned that Niccos courted her, but in a very carefree way.

Now, I am starting to get confused. Is she naive or just insensitive or...wala siyang alam sa mga nangyayari? Hindi ko alam.

Siya na rin ang humanap ng uupuan namin kaya sinundan lang namin siya. Tapos habang papalapit kami sa table ay may isang lalaki akong natanaw na nakaupo roon.

Umurong bigla ang sikmura ko habang nagsasalubong ang mga kilay.

Leona waved his hand at Sahara and Sahara waved back.

"Guys, here!" She excitedly said to us.

What is happening here?