Falling for the Ice Genius (Barkada Series)

Chapter Three

Chapter Three                  Lie * Rage

UMILING-ILING ULIT SI EIRA NANG MAALALA ANG MGA NANGYARI NOONG NAKARAANG LINGGO. Eira, snap out of it! Kanina niya pa kasi paulit-ulit na naaalala ang pangyayaring iyon. After kasi nung pag-rescue ni Arjh sa kanya sa SC office, she found herself sleeping in their house. Yeah, believe it or not. She just found it so hard to believe until now, na dumating talaga si Arjh para tulungan siya. Isa pa, pwede naman siyang ihatid nito sa bahay ng tita niya pagkatapos siya nitong tulungan.

Baka hindi niya alam ang address mo? Saad ng isipan niya.

Tama, baka ganoon nga. Ayaw niyang mag-assume ng kung ano. Ayon sa principle of accounting, ‘Never assume unless otherwise stated’. Nalaman niya din nung sumunod na araw kung paano ito nakarating doon. Tumawag pala si Cailey kay Arjh, nagbabakasakaling nasa campus pa ito. Baka pinuntahan siya nito dahil… dahil… Argh! Never assume nga kung hindi stated.

Pinukpok niya ang ulo para kalimutan ang nangyari. She looked at the folder she was holding; the report for the old building. Kahapon niya pa sana ipapa-approve kay Arjh kaya lang biglaan itong nawala. Ngayon na ang deadline at may hanggang noon lang siya para maipasa iyon. Paliko na sana siya ng hallway nang mahagip ng paningin si Arjh. Nagmamadaling tinungo niya ang direksyon nito at tatawagin niya sana nang mapansin ang mga kausap nito. Naalala niyang may bisita pala sila nang umagang iyon mula sa DepEd at ito ang naatasang mag entertain sa mga bisita. She sighed as she watched them walk away. Susubukan niya ulit mamaya. Ilang oras lang naman nitong kasama ang mga bisita para mag-ikot sa campus. Ang headmaster din ang makikipag-usap sa mga ito after an hour and a half.

*RECESS TIME

She was pacing back and forth sa may bench sa garden while she keeps on reaching Arjhun’s phone. Kanina pa siya nababahala. Hindi kasi ito pumasok sa klase at hindi niya din ito mahagilap ngayong break. Dapat ngayon niya ito makakausap dahil break time, free period. Pero hindi niya naman mahanap. “Oh, shit.” She uttered in frustration. Bakit ba kasi hindi niya makontak si Arjh? Palaging voice mail ang sumasagot. She tried again pero voicemail parin nito. She sighed as she left him a message. “Call me. ASAP.” Saka niya ibinaba ang tawag at nanghihinang napaupo sa bench.

Pabalik na siya sa classroom since tapos na ang break. Her shoulders are slumped as she walked back to the classroom with aching feet and legs. She went to every places and corner of this huge campus just to find Arjhun but failed. Kung kailan kailangan niya ito ay saka naman ito mawawala. He knew she needed him! She informed him days before! Pero bakit bigla nalang itong nawala? She can’t help but fear of the thought that he might have disappeared because he wants the building down. Umiling siya ng mariin. No, he isn’t like that. Arjhun is fair and just. She believes he won’t do that.

She breathed in deeply and headed inside the classroom. She can still find him before twelve. She just has to be positive about it. She settled down on her chair when her phone vibrated. She immediately took it out and relief rushed through her when she saw the caller. “Arjh! Thank God you called back! Where are you?” eagerness of his whereabouts visible from her voice.

“I am in the company. Why?”

“Can’t you make it back here before lunch? I still need your approval for the report. I have to submit it by noon—”

“Ms. Chen, no using of cellphones during class hours. Turn that off.” Paalala ni Sir na hindi niya namalayang pumasok na sa loob.

Tumayo siya’t naglakad palabas. “Just a moment, sir. Excuse me!” saka siya lumabas at kinausap si Arjhun. “Can’t you make it?” if he can’t, then she’ll go to him even if that would mean she’ll be cutting classes. She waited for his response which is taking him too long. She groaned. “Arjh! I need your answer! Damn it!” she managed to curse while covering the speaker.

“I’ll be heading back in a few minutes. Leave it on my desk in the office.” Then she heard the end tone.

Yes! She can still make it on time. She went inside the room, took the folder, excused herself before dashing to the SC office. Everything will turn out just fine. She reminded herself as she glanced on the folder placed on his table before leaving the office to attend her classes. It will be fine.

HER EYES were glued on the wall clock inside the room. Why does time seem to fly so slow? She can’t sit any longer in this room as the clock ticks! There are urgent matters she needs to attend to! She sighed heavily and felt Cailey poking her side.

“Are you alright?” she asked din a whisper. “You’ve been sighing for more than ten times already.”

Umayos siya ng upo. “Sorry to worry you. Kinakabahan lang ako.”

“It will be alright.”

She nodded at her and focused her attention to the teacher in front.

Finally! Nagmamadaling inayos niya ang mga gamit nang tumunog ang bell ng quarter to twelve para sa lunch break nila. Muntik niya pang mabunggo si Corby dahil sa pagmamadali niyang makalabas. Mabuti nalang at maagap ito’t nakaiwas kaagad.

“Woah! Easy, VP.”

She looked back, “Sorry! Sorry! I’m in a hurry!”

“It’s okay!” dinig niya pang pahabol na sigaw nito sa paglabas niya sa classroom.

She went as fast as she could to the SC office. Pagbukas niya ng pinto, no sight of Arjhun inside, and the folder was still in place where she had left it. Nanlumo siya. Teka, baka ibinalik lang nito sa kung paano niiya inilagay. She went near his table and scanned the folder. No signature of his. Nanghihinang napaupo siya. Why isn’t her here? She glanced at her watch. Ten minutes. She still has ten minutes.

She decided to look for him as fast as she could. She asked students she met along the way but all they could say was they didn’t know nor have they seen him. She stood still. Five minutes. This was her last resort. She dashed towards the head’s office. Papakiusapan niya nalang ito. She’ll ask for a few minutes more. Hinihingal na siya nang marating ang opisina. Napasipat siya ulit sa relong suot. Ten minutes pass the deadline. Huminga siya nang malalim at inayos ang sarili saka kumatok sa pinto. She waited but there was no response. She knocked, knocked and knocked again and again.

“Ms. Chen?” she heard someone called. Lumapit siya sa music teacher niyang si Ms. Evans na siya palang tumatawag sa kanya. “Hinahanap mo ba ang headmaster?”

She nodded. Please, it better be something good.

“I am sorry, hija. Pero kakaalis niya lang ten minutes ago. He had a flight to catch.” Saad nito na nagpalambot sa tuhod niya’t napaluhod. “Oh, my goodness! Are you alright?” she exclaimed as she went to her aid.

She nodded silently. Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa folder at dahan-dahang tumayo habang inaalalayan nito. “Pasensya na po kayo sa abala, ma’am. Ayos lang po ako. I’ll take my leave.” Tinanguan niya ito saka naglakad palayo.

“Ms. Chen?” tawag nitong nagpatigil sa kanya. “Sigurado kang okay ka lang?”

She smiled at her reassuringly, but she knew it didn’t reach her eyes. “Yes, ma’am. I’m tough as you think.” biro niya dito.

“You can always take a rest, Eira. Being the VP and all, it is tiring, you know. You are a girl. You may seem tough as they say but we are as fragile as a fine glass. If you are not feeling well, then you can excuse yourself. We will understand.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” She nodded and continued walking.

She found herself on the field grounds, lying on the green grass under the shade of the huge trees. She felt all her energy drained from all the running and worrying she had early this morning. Pakiramdam niya pa nga nakapagbawas siya kaagad ng timbang. Nakadipa siya habang nakahiga at hindi alintanang palda ang uniporme dahil nakasuot naman siya ng tights para hindi mabosohan.

She stared at the skies as she found it relaxing and comforting just by staring at it. Nakatitig lang siya doon nang may makitang lumilipad na bola.

“Watch out!” someone shouted.

Doon niya napagtantong sa direksyon niya papunta ang bola. She rolled to her side to avoid the incoming ball. Kamuntikan na iyon! Napaupo siya at nakita ang isang lalaking nakatayo sa gilid niya habang hawak ang bola. Base sa suot nito, he is a member of the school’s soccer team.

Hinihingal pa ito. “Whew! Muntik na iyon! Mabuti naman at nakailag ka, VP.” He said with a smile, showing his perfect white teeth.

She frowned, “Next time, watch where you kick the ball to. Paano nalang kung may ibang natamaan?”

Waring nagulat ito sa sinabi niya but he looked amused rather than afraid. He grinned at her, “Sorry. In case you forgot, nasa field ka kasi. Laying around here will cause you harm. Pwede ka naman sa grounds na malapit sa garden.”

Namula siya sa hiya dahil sa sinabi nito. He has a point. Field nga naman kasi doon at may nagpapraktis.

“But anyway, we’ll keep that in mind.”

Yumuko siya’t huminga ng paumanhin dito. “Pagpasensyahan mo na ako sa inasal ko. Mali ang sinabi ko.”

Nanatili lang itong nakangiti. “Nah, wala iyon. I’m Marco by the way, junior niyo. Halika, tumayo ka na diyan. Baka matamaan ka ulit.” Sabi nitong inilahad ang kamay para alalayan siyang tumayo.

Tinanggap niya naman iyon at nagpahila patayo dito. “I’m Eira Chen.” Pagpapakilala niya.

“I know. The VP.”

“Yeah—”

Sabay pa silang napalingon nang may sumigaw, “Yow, Marco! Mamaya na ‘yan. Balik ka na sa game, pare!” sigaw ng isa sa mga kasama nito.

Naiiling na nilingon siya nito. “Sige, babalik na ‘ko. It was nice meeting you, Eira.”

She gave him a smile and wave as he headed towards his team members. Nagbiruan pa ang mga ito. Napapailing na pinulot niya ang mga gamit at naglakad palayo sa field.

She was walking in the hallway after grabbing her lunch. Ginutom kasi siya after nung nangyari sa field. Naisipan niya ding magpahinga muna sa clinic. She really wanted to sleep and rest after all that happened within the past week. Masyado siyang naging abala at ngayon palang ata umeepekto ang stress at fatigue sa mga ginawa niya.

“Yep. I heard siya yung nililigawan ni Micco. Nandoon ang buong barkada niya to meet the girl. She’s so lucky. Si Micco pa na sobrang bait ang manliligaw. Nakakainggit!”

Nagpanting ang tenga niya with what she just heard from the ladies talking as she passed them. She stopped while recalling what she said. Buong barkada… “Buong barkada.” She frowned saka mabilis na lumapit sa mga ito. “Excuse me.” Waring nagulat pa ang mga ito nang makita siya. She tried to calm down and gave them a small smile. “Sorry, but I overheard your conversation about Micco and his friends. I just want to ask, nakita niya ba si Arjhun doon kasama nila?”

“Opo, VP.”

“Uhm, do you mind telling me where they are? Kanina ko pa kasi hinahanap si Pres. He’s needed in the office.” Pagsisinungaling niya.

Tumango ito, “Sige po.”

She followed them. Narrating nila ang isang parte sa malaking grounds kung nasaan may benches at tables na tinatambayan ng mga estudyante. Itinuro nito sa kanya ang grupo nila Micco. “Nandoon po sila. Diyan po sila tumatambay, VP. Hanggang dito nalang po kami, may gagawin pa po kasi kami.”

She nodded, “Thank you. You’re a big help.”

Ngumiti ang mga ito pabalik at nagpaalam saka siya iniwang mag-isa doon.

She turned towards Micco and his friends’ direction. Ramdam niya ang pagbilis ng t***k ng puso nang makita si Arjhun na nandoon. Hindi dahil sa kinikilig siya na makita ito. But because of the rage that’s slowly consuming her inside.

She stopped a few meters away from them. Her hand turned into a fist as her other one gripped the folder so tightly. She was shocked to see him smiling, enjoying his little chat with the girl seated alongside Cailey. She felt a sudden pang on her chest. She was hurting. She’d been busy as hell with the report, she believed in his words that he’d come and this is where she sees him? And what hurts more is because he is smiling—laughing with someone gayong palagi itong nakasimangot at seryoso kapag siya ang kaharap. She had been waiting for years to see him smile like that to her, but she just saw it once. Hindi naman siya yung tipo ng tao na irrational pero ewan niya ba at nagkakaganoon siya ngayon. She’s probably really stressed out. And what she’s seeing right now hurts her.

She tried so hard not to shed tears as she walked to them. She stopped when she heard him laugh. He just… laughed. She felt furious all of a sudden. Her fist tightened; her knuckles white as sheet. She was shaking in anger as she continued walking. “So nandito ka lang pala at nakikipagkasiyahan while I have been searching for you the whole time kasi kailangan ko ng approval mo para sa isang project na i-su-submit. Are you really making my life a mess?” malamig na saad niya na nagpalingon sa mga ito.

She’s not like this. Hindi siya nawawalan ng control ng basta-basta nalang pero hindi niya magawang pigilan ngayon. He’s pushed her to her limits. Napatahimik silang lahat at napatayo si Arjh. Hindi ito nagsalita and that enraged her more. She can’t take this!

Pinunit niya ang hawak na report at ibinato iyon kay Arjh. All her hardwork gone in an instant. “It didn’t reach the deadline because of you! You liar!” she immediately turned away before any of them could see the tears flowing from her eyes.

She ran to the classroom, took her things and headed straight to the gates. She wants to go home. Nakita siya ni Kuya Nard pero hindi na siya nito napigilan nang parahin niya ang taxing dumaan at sumakay kaagad. She instructed the address to the driver and went home. Her heart and mind already had lot of pain today. She needed to rest.