Unromantic Romance

Chapter 7

"Why would you kiss me?" Iritadong tanong ko sa kanya habang pinupunasan ang pisngi gamit ang likod ng kamay ko. I didn't bring my tissue with me!

Owen laughed at my question. "Kasi girlfriend kita?" 

I scoffed. "Break na tayo ah!"

"Ikaw lang ang nakipagbreak! Hindi naman ako pumayag," sagot niya bago nilagay ang dalawang kamay sa bulsa ng pantalon.

I can't believe this guy! 

"Tapos na tayo kaya huwag mo na akong halikan ulit," I warned. 

He raised both his arms, laughing.

"Officially break ang magjowa kung payag ang dalawang side, hindi desisyon ng isa lamang Le'." He said like it is a matter of fact.

"Your decision doesn't matter to me. Save it for yourself," masungit na sabi ko at nilagpasan na siya.

"Alam mo bang sinugod ako 'nung ex mo kahapon?" He asked. Hindi ko siya nilingon at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad. 

The day just ended at panibagong araw na naman. Maya't-maya ay pupunta ako sa meeting room dahil sa request ni Mrs. Salazar kahapon. Just imagining both of them together in the same place gives me a headache. 

"It's about time, let's go." I heard Regis.

 Nag-angat ako ng tingin but our eyes didn't meet. He immediately turned his back on me at lumabas na ng silid. I sighed at the thought na pupunta ako ngayon sa lugar kung nasaan si Gelson at Owen. 

I quietly followed Regis. Ayaw kong sumabay sa kanya sa paglalakad. He always has this intimidating aura that I cannot possibly handle. May mga tao naman sa hallway and most of them greeted him. Regis just nodded at everyone who greeted and smiled a bit. I cannot deny the fact that he is a respectable person and the students politely greeting him is the proof of that fact.

Come to think of it, siya ang pinakaseryosong tao na nakilala ko. Focus sa acads na akala mo'y ikakasira ng mundo niya ang bumagsak sa test, well, it's not like he failed one. He always excels pagdating sa acads. He is very active too kaya marami siyang club na pinapanguluhan. Palipat-lipat siya ng clubs noon ayon sa nalalaman ko and one time, our adviser back then convinced him to run for the position of SSG President. Ni-reject niya yata ang offer na iyon pero kalaunan ay bumigay rin. He is not the type of person who easily changes his mind so I wonder why he decided to run for it. Lamang na lamang si Regis sa bilang ng mga boto which made him the Student Council President until now. 

Bago ko buksan ang pinto papasok, I heaved a deep sigh. This will be awkward for me. My ex-boyfriends are in the same room! 

I held the doorknob and closed my eyes for a minute. When I opened my eyes, I glanced at Regis' way who's now leaning on the wall. 

"Hindi ka ba papasok?" I asked in a soft voice.

He kicked some pebbles that wandered on the floor. 

"No."

 I nodded before going inside. 

I saw Gelson on the right side of the long, wooden table with some teachers, not from my school. On the other side is Owen who's looking at Gelson with his brows furrowed. 

Pumunta ako sa pwesto ni Mrs. Salazar na nasa dulo ng lamesa when she gestured me to sit beside her. 

"Good morning po," I greeted politely. 

She smiled and nodded. 

The meeting was about to end nang pinapunta ako dito kaya nang nandito na ako ay humingi ng paumanhin ang kasamang mga guro ni Gelson kay Mrs. Salazar at sa ibang guro namin na nandito. Even Mrs. Valdez is here who glanced my way with her usually stern face. 

"For a better reconciliation, why not Mr. Ty and Mr. Gomez shake hands?" Mrs. Salazar suggested. Both parties agreed except for Owen who just looked away. 

Lumapit si Gelson sa kinauupuan ni Owen and held out his hand. Owen lazily looked at him and stood up. Owen stared at Gelson's stretched hand for a minute before accepting Gelson's hand. They shook their hands that lasted less than a minute na unang binitawan ni Owen. Gelson's brows shut up and smirked. He is enjoying this, I can see. 

I opened the door at lalabas na sana nang inakbayan ako ni Gelson na ikinabigla ko. I immediately removed his arm and distance myself. I looked at Owen's way who is now showing his irritated face. I closed the door and looked back at Gelson. 

"Nagpunta ka pa talaga dito! Gusto mo lang akong makita 'no?" Gelson playfully asked that made me roll my eyes. 

"I was asked to come," I answered to stop him from keeping his hopes up. He held his chest and winced in pain, obviously faking it. 

"Can't you at least sugarcoat your words, babe?" He asked. 

"Drop the act, Gels. Bakit ka sumugod dito at nanghamon ng away kay Owen?" I asked with eyes squinting. He opened his mouth a little and nodded. 

"I did that just for fun. Don't get too worked up, Le'," Gelson said and laughed playfully. 

"Paanong hindi, nasali ako sa kagaguhan mo!" I said with gritted teeth. 

"Hinamon ko lang naman si Gomez, siya naman ang unang sumuntok. What can I do? Of course I punched him back, hindi naman kasi ako punching bag!" Natatawang saad niya. 

"Owen won't likely land a punch first if you were not being an asshole, Gels. What did you tell him? Did you provoke him?" 

He snorted. "Sinabihan ko lang naman siyang huwag siyang magpakampante sa'yo."

"Of course that would stir him up, Gels! What else!?" I asked, craving for more. He swallowed a lump on his throat and looked at me seriously. 

"And that I'll snatch you away from him." 

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya.

"What's your deal, Gels? I made it clear na break na tayo!" I retorted. 

He scoffed. 

"Break na tayo and the the next day, malalaman kong may pampalit ka na kaagad?!" He asked, a bit aggressive now. 

I looked away. 

"You should know that before starting a relationship with me. I know you heard that about me... na papalit-palit ako ng boyfriend." I said in a slow voice. I am not guilty about this. Gelson is not serious about me too! It's even.

"So it's my fault? Is that what you're implying?" He asked, losing his cool. 

"I cannot say it is mine so it is yours," I said in a hard voice while looking at him. His mouth fell and was about to say something but couldn't voice anything out. 

"Don't do this again. Ayaw kong masangkot sa kahit anong gulo." 

Lumabas ang mga gurong kasama ni Gelson and tapped his arm, telling him that they'll go now. Sumabay na siya sa dalawang guro at nagpaiwan naman ang isa sa harap ko. 

The teacher smiled at me. "I am sorry for troubling you, Miss Montemayor. Rest assured that this won't happen ever again. We held Mr. Ty accountable for his actions so a punishment will be laid."

 I nodded. She smiled and greeted someone at my back that made me turn. The teacher tapped my shoulder bago umalis at sinundan ang naunang mga kasama. 

I thought bumalik siya sa classroom pero nanatili pala talaga siya. Bumuntongt-hininga ako bago siya nilagpasan. Narinig ko naman ang yapak niyang nakasunod, siguro babalik na rin sa classroom. 

Sa hardin ako dumaan para makarating ako ng mas mabilis. Hindi naman din gaanong mainit ang sikat ng araw kasi umulan naman kaninang umaga. 

"Are you alright?" I heard Regis asked. Huminto ako sa paghakbang. 

"Yeah, I guess so." Mahinang sabi ko. Wala naman na siyang sinabi pa kaya nagpatuloy ako sa pagtahak sa hagdan. 3rd floor ang silid namin kaya malayo-layo pa ang aakyatin.

When we were on the second floor's stairs heading to our floor, I stopped and turned to him who's behind a few steps from mine. 

His brows raised. "What?"

I sighed and looked at the ceiling, hesitating if I should ask or save it. 

"If you were in my situation, how would you deal with all these?" I asked. 

He nodded and placed his fingers at his chin, thinking. 

"I just want to clear this up. I don't want to be in your situation and I don't think I will," he said. I rolled my eyes upon hearing. Oo nga pala, bakit ko ba siya tinanong? He's the King, of course he wouldn't know how to handle this situation of mine at isa pa, we hate each other so why would he want to give me an answer? Of course, hindi niya ako bibigyan ng solusyon sa problema ko. The person he hates is in a mess right now so he should be celebrating!

I waved my hand, dismissive. "Nevermind. It was foolish of me to ask you." 

I turned my back on him.

"Alam mo naman ang puno't dulo ng lahat ng problema mo ngayon hindi ba?" Regis asked which made me halt.

 "Bakit ba kasi papalit-palit ka? Look where it brought you? It's a hell hole!" 

I turned to him aggressively. "This is how I enjoy my teenage life!" I blurted. "Oo nga naman, how could you possibly know? Sa acads lang yata umiikot ang mundo mo!" 

He advanced his steps until we are only one step apart. He scratched the back of his head and massaged the bridge of his nose right after. That's what he does if he is confused or something is bothering him. I always see him doing that whenever we have a test like he is confused about something and is seeking for assurance. Him, doing that mannerism now is unusual for me to see. Kadalasan ko lamang siyang napapansin na ganito kapag may sasagutan o kahit anong related sa academics. 

"I..." He swallowed the lump of his throat and put both of his hands on his pocket. He looked at me intently which made me conscious of myself. I don't want to look away so I bravely welcomed his gaze. 

"My world is not solely spinning on acads, just so you know. I have other things I enjoyed on doing. If you can just spare me some of your attention, you will know." 

My throat dried up. Bakit niya sinasabi sa akin ito? It's not like I want to know. Wala naman akong... pakialam. I instilled in my mind that I hate him. I recalled the reasons why I do so. He is arrogant and self-centered, and rude, and he has this intimidating aura. He has an ocean of thoughts that if I ever involve myself, I am afraid I might drown at hindi na makaahon pang muli. Reconciling with him is impossible lalo na't hindi ko alam kung saan at bakit kami ganito ngayon. It is impossible because we didn't know where to start. Heck, I didn't even know when did all these go astray and resulted in this hate relationship!

I badly wanted to tear his gaze away from me just so that I won't be given a chance to be the one to look away first. I wanted to win this but why do I feel like I am losing for the sake of winning?

"Look harder and you'll see. Are you courageous enough to swim the depths of me? Find what's beneath my world you set your eyes to see. The one you'll find beneath me is actually way above me... Le' Pauline."

I hate him alright but why do I like him calling me by name? This is the third time he addressed me by my name today. I never knew my name could sound this beautiful. I was astonished. I don't want to admit that I am but I don't want to make this overwhelming feeling unwelcome either.

He walked passed me while here I am, standing still. I don't know if I could even move, I am afraid to try. I am afraid that once I move, I might find myself doing something I might regret. I don't want that. 

I stared at his back for a long time.

My answer to your question is no. I am not willing. No matter how interested my unconscious self is, I will do what I can to stop it. I am afraid to discover something of you, Regis because I might find something great and I know for myself that I'll lose once I do. I won't even if it's a crown awaiting. 

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