Unromantic Romance

Chapter 6

It's been a month simula ng away namin ni Prezy. I thought it was just a little misunderstanding. Well, that's what I think. I tried to talk to her after that day but she always excuses herself. Whenever I tried talking to her, may rason siya palagi para lang hindi kami makapag-usap. Recently, she always distances herself from me. We already presented our project a week ago at sa mga araw na nagtitipon kami para sa paghahanda sa nalalapit na presentation ay pumupunta naman siya pero hindi halos nagsasalita.

It was a pain. I don't know her reasons at sa sitwasyon na palagi niyang inilalayo ang sarili niya sa akin gave me a hint na wala siyang planong makipag-ayos. Tinotoo niya nga ang sinabi niya noong araw na iyon na hindi na niya ako kaibigan. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinutukoy niya na dahilan sa desisyon niya na tatapusin niya ang pagkakaibigan namin.

Prezy's a friend but not as close as Ayii and Jay. Pero kahit gano'n, I treasured her, we shared memories together kaya nasasayangan ako. Siguro napakabigat ng dahilan niya na umabot siya sa puntong tatapos sa pagkakaibigan namin. Kung tahimik si Prezy noon pa man, lalo na ngayon. Maraming nagbago sa kanya.

"Prezy, pahiram naman ng notebook. Wala akong kopya sa subject ni Mrs. Valderama kahapon eh," one of our classmates said.

"Manghiram ka sa iba. Ayaw kong nadudumihan ang notebook ko," sagot ni Prezy sa maliit na boses. Nakita ko ang pagkagulat ng kaklase ko sa inasta ni Prezy. She was not like that so it is unusual to hear those words coming from her.

"A-ah! Sorry, okay lang kung hindi. Salamat," malungkot na sabi ng kaklase ko na kaagad bumalik sa kanyang upuan.

Ayii knew what happened between me and Prezy that day. Ayii being Ayii, she wanted to pull Prezy's hair nang inawat siya ni Jay. Jay calmly talked to Ayii about it and told me that I should not mind. Nagulat pa si Jay nang nalaman ang nangyari, hindi siya makapaniwala na magagawa akong pagsalitaan ni Prezy ng masama. Ayii's opinion of Prezy changed while Jay and I continued to believe that there must be a reason behind it all.

Break time ngayon kaya nag-uusap kaming magkakaibigan sa tapat ng lamesa ni Jay. Lumapit naman si Yvon at Millie para sumali sa usapan namin. Mapagbiro si Millie kaya tawa kami nang tawa. Ayii's busy flaunting her boyfriend the whole conversation. Sila pa rin hanggang ngayon ni Nash. 

Nash is just taking a vacation here for now pero balita ko'y babalik pa rin sa ibang bansa. Ayii does not seem to mind though, well, maybe for now. Jay wasn't sharing anything about herself at iniiwasan ang mga tanong ni Yvon at Millie tungkol sa boyfriend niya.

They were busy teasing me about my new boyfriend, kaya napuno ulit ang lamesa ni Jay ng tawanan. Natigil lamang kami sa tawanan nang nakita naming papunta si Regis sa pwesto namin.

"Miss Montemayor, sumama ka sa akin." Regis said as soon as he stopped at Jay's table. 

I scoffed.

"At bakit naman ako sasama sa'yo? Boyfriend ba kita ah?" Naiinis na sabi ko. Awtomatikong tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Pinapatawag ka sa office ng principal," he informed, walang pakialam sa sinabi ko. Ayii suddenly gasped upon hearing what Regis said and poked me.

"Hala! Ano na naman kayang kasalanan mo sis?" 

I shove her hand away.

"Shut up Ayii, wala no!" Naiinis na sabi ko.

"Baka iyong pagva-vandal sa boy's comfort room?" Jay whispered pero narinig pa rin ni Regis who just shot me a glare.

"What? Hindi naman ako ang may gawa 'non!" I defended. Totoo naman kasing hindi talaga ako!

"Not you pero pangalan mo ang isinulat!" Jay hissed.

"Now that's added to your violation of the school rules, Montemayor." Seryosong sabi ni Regis. Napabaling kaagad ako sa kanya.

"I said, it's not me who did it!" Naiinis na sabi ko. Desperation is evident from my voice. Wala yata kaming usapan ni Regis na hindi ako naiinis. Kargado ang inis ko basta magkausap kami!

Nauna siyang lumabas ng classroom na agad ko namang sinundan, mabibigat ang bawat hakbang. Nang nahabol ko siya ay kaagad ko siyang hinawakan sa braso at marahas na pinaharap sa akin. Matangkad siya kaya nakatingala ako para lamang magsalubong ang aming mga mata.

"Hindi nga ako ang may gawa no'n! Didn't you hear?" I said, still holding his arm.

"Bakit sa akin mo sinasabi? Girlfriend ba kita?" He shot back. Agad kong hinawi ang kamay kong nakahawak sa braso niya.

 I placed both of my hands on my waist.

"Alam mo, nakakainis ka!"

"Alam mo, nakakagago ka!" He said, mimicking my voice bago ako tinalikuran at iniwan.

Pagkapasok ko sa Principal's Office ay nakita kong nakatayo na sa harap ng lamesa ni Mrs. Salazar si Regis habang ang dalawang kamay ay nasa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon. I looked at him from behind. Para naman siyang masunuring asong nakatayo sa harap ng amo niya, naghihintay sa kahit anong utos. 

Ngumiwi ako sa naisip ko.

"Umupo kayo," Mrs. Salazar said, pointing at the chairs in front of her table. Umupo kaagad ako na sinundan naman ni Regis. Nasa kabilang upuan siya umupo na ipinapasalamat ko naman. Ayaw ko nga siyang makasama sa iisang lugar, let alone magkatabi kami ng upuan!

I was busy looking around the office nang sinipa ako ng mahina ni Regis sa paa.

"What's your problem, asshole?" I mouthed at him.

He leaned closer and covered his mouth in Mrs. Salazar's perspective. "Wala bang 'good afternoon diyan?" 

My mouth formed an 'o' at what he said before I nodded.

Bumaling kaagad ako kay Mrs. Salazar na nakangiti na ngayon sa amin. I flashed her a sweet smile before greeting. 

"Good afternoon po, Mrs. Salazar."

 She then greeted back.

Wew, ang galang ng boses ko 'don ah! Boses ko iyon kapag kausap si Lolo eh.

I glanced at the guy sitting across me. "Okay na?" I mouthed, teasing. 

He just shrugged and looked at Mrs. Salazar.

"Thank you for accompanying Ms. Montemayor, Regis." Mrs. Salazar said, looking at Regis who only nodded politely. Aso, amp!

"Why am I being called, Mrs. Salazar?" Diretsong tanong ko na nagpalipat ng atensyon niya sa akin galing kay Regis. 

Regis pushed my shoe with his pero hindi ko siya tinapunan ng tingin. I knew what is he going to say, that I am walang-galang. Hindi na niya kailangang sabihin pa, alam ko na naman.

Mrs. Salazar smiled and clasped her hands at itinukod ang mga braso sa lamesa. "Where were you yesterday at 5:30 pm, Miss Montemayor?"

I didn't expect her question to be like that but I just answered anyway.

"At the house. 5 pm po natapos ang presentation namin so," I said, checking my watch. "Maybe I'm home at 5:15 perhaps?"

She nodded. "Wala ka na bang ibang pinuntahan?" 

I immediately answered no.

"Why? What is this about?" Naguguluhang tanong ko.

"May outsider kasi kahapon na naghahamon ng away sa isa sa mga students dito," she said.

"Ano namang kinalaman ko diyan?" I asked and leaned on my seat, crossing my legs.

"Miss Montemayor, mind your manners please." I heard Regis.

"It's fine, Mr. Cuevas." Mrs. Salazar assured him. I looked at Regis with a teasing face. "Boyfriend mo ba si Mr. Gomez?" She asked me.

"Uhh... sinong Gomez po do'n?" I asked which made her coughed.

"Owen Gomez, Le' Pauline." Sabat ni Regis with gritted teeth. Napalingon kaagad ako sa kanya nang tawagin niya ako sa pangalan ko. This is once in a while. Madalas niya akong tawagin sa apelyido ko so it took me a minute looking at him.

Tumaas ang kilay niya nang napansin ang matagal kong pagtitig sa kanya which made me look at Mrs. Salazar who's waiting for my response.

"Yes," sagot ko without much thinking.

"Talaga? Kung gano'n---"

"No! He is not my boyfriend na!" I said, panicking. "S-sorry. I mean, hindi ko na siya boyfriend. We ended our relationship a week ago? Two weeks ago?" I asked myself while counting using my fingers. 

I shrugged. "I can't remember exactly when."

Jeez, why am I panicking? I gave Regis a heavy stare who's mouth is drop open now. I lost my composure all because he called me by my name!

"Oh!" I heard Mrs. Salazar gasped. "Anyway si Mr. Owen Gomez ang hinamon 'nong outsider kahapon na student rin sa kabilang bayan. His name is..." She paused and scanned the papers beside her.

"...Gelson Ty."

I closed my eyes upon hearing Gelson's name. Napasapo ako sa noo ko, problemado. Why does every time I hear Gelson's name always makes me problematic?

"Do you know him, Miss Montemayor?" 

Tumango ako bilang sagot.

"Siya na naman? Boyfriend mo pa rin ba iyon, Le Pauline'?" Tanong ni Regis na hindi na mapakali sa inuupuan. Napapatingin na rin sa kanya ang principal.

I froze when he called me by name again. I looked at him, shocked. Nakakadalawa ka na ngayon ah!

"B-boyfriend mo, Miss Montemayor?" Mrs. Salazar asked, surprised. 

I shook my head immediately.

"Ex po. We broke up a month ago," sagot ko, trying not to be distracted at Regis who's restless at his seat.

"Correct me if I am wrong but ito bang si Mr. Gomez ang naging boyfriend mo pagkatapos niyo mag-break ni Mr. Gelson Ty?"

"Y-yeah." I answered, still glancing at Regis. Naguguluhan ako sa ikinikilos niya. Para siyang asong naiihi dahil hindi mapakali.

"It took how many weeks bago naging kayo ni Mr. Gomez after the break up with Mr. Gelson Ty?" The principal asked.

"A day?" Hindi ko na matandaan! The principal's mouth formed an 'o' at my response and smiled weakly.

"We are planning na ipatawag si Mr. Ty bukas pati na rin si Mr. Gomez. That's the decision kasi sa field sila nag-away. We don't tolerate violence," saad ni Mrs. Salazar.

Napayuko naman ako sa kahihiyan. Does this mean that I was the reason why they fought? This is driving me insane! Sa field pa talaga nila napiling mag-away? And what's wrong with Gelson!? We broke up so why is he acting like that? Coming to my school and picking a fight with Owen? I knew that he is immature at times pero hindi ko naman inakala na ganito pala talaga! To keep me out of trouble, dapat naghanap sila ng ibang lugar para magbugbugan, iyong hindi ako masasali!

"I would like you to come pero tsaka na kapag malapit na matapos ang disciplinary action bago ka magpakita." 

I nodded weakly. She smiled at me and looked at Regis' direction who is now sitting properly with brows furrowed.

"I'll have Regis to accompany you," puna niya na tinanguan lang ni Regis. "You may go. Thank you for your time." 

Kaagad akong tumayo at humingi ng paumanhin sa Ginang bago lumabas nang hindi hinintay si Regis na kinakausap pa ang principal.

Pababa na ako sa hagdan nang narinig ko ang hakbang niya pababa. Sa field ako dumaan kasi may iilang parte doon na hindi natatamaan ng mainit na sikat ng araw kasi may mga puno. I thought that we parted ways pero nang lumingon ako sa likod ay nakita ko siyang nakasunod. Akala ko sa may hardin siya dadaan kasi mas malapit sa building namin pero mainit nga lang. Hindi ko alam na conscious rin pala siya sa balat niya. Well, it's not like I am interested to know anything about him. 

I shrugged at the thought.

"This is stressing me out." 

Napasapo ako sa noo ko nang nakitang kumakaway si Owen galing sa building nila. Nakalimutan kong madadaanan ko pala ang building ng Seniors namin kapag sa field dumaan. Pababa na siya ngayon.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad, hindi alam ang gagawin. Dapat ba akong umiwas? Kung tumakbo kaya ako at sa hardin dumaan? Kaso babalik ako sa dinaanan ko at ang init-init pa!

And why would I run away? That's cowardice!

Huminto si Regis sa paglalakad at tumabi hindi kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko. I didn't bother to look his way kasi mas iniisip ko kung ano ang dapat kong gawin sa papalapit na si Owen.

"Who won't be stressed sa sitwasyon mo? Ang dami mong lalaki kaya marami din ang problema mo," he said while looking at Owen heading our way. 

I looked at Regis, pissed.

"That's none of your concern, kamahalan!" 

He coughed a little and looked at me. "Break up with him and be with me."

My mouth fell. Is he serious? I surveyed his face. Yeah, he is serious right now. His eyes are looking right through me which made me look away.

I hate to be the one that looks away. It felt as though I lost a battle of some sort so I looked back at him. I crossed my arms, nanghahamon.

"Why should I?" 

His brows then furrowed.

"Kasi hindi ako nagbibigay ng problema. I will be the one who will solve the problems," he said seriously. Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sagot niya at tumango, digesting his answers even though it's already making me feel uneasy.

"That's not what I want. I want someone who can solve---" 

Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang bigla akong hinalikan ni Owen sa pisngi na ikinagulat ko. Hindi ko namalayang nakalapit na pala siya!

Regis looked at Owen, annoyed. Owen is just clueless though and is all smiles.

"Forget what I said," he said before leaving.

My brows furrowed as I watched him walking away from us. I don't need a man who will solve all of my problems. What I need is a man who can solve my problems with me. And... knowing Regis, he's not the type who seeks help because he can do everything alone. 

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