Scent's Point Of View

"That was very harsh of you, Scent. Why would you do that to Armil?" Apple asked while we were on our way back to the classroom.

"I know. Pero naiirita na kasi ako sa ginagawa niya. Gusto ko mag-sorry, pero kinain na ako ng pride ko."

"Well, you should be. Mag-sorry ka kay Armil mamaya. And tell him to stop too, in a nice way na ha?" she gently touched my shoulder.

Tumango ako. What I did was wrong. I'm not going to defend myself. Pagdating ng hapon ay pumunta ako sa Council. Ma-pride ako, kanina. My pride instantly vanished as I realized what I did was a huge mistake. 

"Hi. Nandito ba si Armil?" tanong ko kay Jun na siyang nadatnan ko sa loob ng Council's.

"He went outside, probably to freshen up. Iiwan muna kita rito, hintayin mo nalang si De Luna."

Tumango ako at umupo sa isang mono block chair. Nope, this is not a monoblock chair. It's a Keter Bali mono chair. Nice.

Mayamaya pa ay bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa si Armil na salubong ang kilay at nagtatagis ang bagang. Nanatili akong tahimik at pinagmasdan lang ang bawat galaw niya. I stiffened when he spotted me and darted me with dark eyes.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" his cold voice roared around the cold room.

"Mags-sorry," kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi at pinagsiklop ang mga kamay.

Umikot si Armil sa isang desk na may nakalagay na pangalan niya sa name plate na nasa ibabaw ng desk. Niyakap ko ang sarili dahil sa lamig na nararamdaman. Ang init-init sa labas tapos ang lamig dito sa loob.

"A-ano... sorry do'n sa sinabi ko. It wasn't my intention to tell you in a bad way. Stop ka na kasi," mahina ang pagkakasabi ko at hindi rin ako makatingin sa kaniya.

"Look at me," his voice was menacing.

Nanatili akong nakayuko at pinaglalaruan ang mga daliri.

"Colina. Look at me."

"'Yon lang naman ang sasabihin ko. Sige, alis na ako."

I hurriedly stood up and was about to open the door when a huge warm hand reached the doorknob before I could do so. I looked up only to see Armil's perilous eyes.

"Let me leave," I whispered.

"Yeah, I will. Later. Upo."

"Wait, what? Aalis na ako!" I raised my voice.

"Sit and we'll talk."

"No!"

Ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa doorknob ay napunta sa braso ko. He drag me back to where I was sitting and just stood in front of me.

"I already said sorry. What more do you want?" I sarcastically asked.

"Look at me."

"Nakatingin na ako sa 'yo! Vice President ka pa naman tapos... 'wag na nga baka ma-hurt ka eh."

Napangisi ito dahil sa sinabi ko. Nanatili ang titig ko sa kaniya. He reached for a chair and carried it in front of me. Umupo siya sa upuan na iyon at nag-de kwatro. He looked like a teacher who's about to interrogate the hell out of me.

"So, you're sorry huh?" he mocked.

"Punyeta ka," naiirita kong sabi.

"You're forgiven. Nandito ka rin lang naman, I must tell you about your performance a while ago. Sa tingin mo, tanggap ka o hindi?" he asked.

"What? I'm forgiven? Are you for real?"

"Yeah," he shrugged.

"Just like that? You won't lash harsh words on me?"

"No. I would never do that. Especially to you," he sighed.

"Look, Scent. I understand, okay? And it's fine. It's my fault. And I'm sorry for that too. But for some reason, my cardiovascular system becomes restless when you're around."

Nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko naintindihan. Hindi ma-process ng utak ko.

"Ano?"

"My dopamine levels rise whenever you're nearby," he added.

Marahas na lumunok si Armil at mahinang natawa. He stared at e in a weird way and shakes his head.

"Just like osteoarthritis, you're really making me weak in the knees," he tsked.

"Okay, Mr. Science Geek na hindi ko maintindihan. May iba ka pa bang sasabihin? Bilis. Babalik na ako sa room."

"So impatient. Sa performance mo nga kanina, ano sa tingin mo? Tanggap ka ba o hindi?"

Prenteng umupo ako at tulad niya ay nag-de kwatro rin. I crossed my arms below my chest and nodded proudly.

"Hindi lang ako marunong kumanta pero kaya ko tumugtog. That's why I know na tanggap ako. I see no reason para hindi ako matanggap," nagm-maldita kong sagot.

"Mayabang ka pala, Colina."

"Hindi naman ako mayabang na hanggang salita lang, may kaya rin naman kais akong patunayan."

"Hell, yeah. Anyways, hindi ka qualified," he stood up and went back to his desk.

"Punyeta ka! Anong hindi ako qualified?!" namumulang sigaw ko.

"Ang kailangan namin ay 'yong kumakanta at tumutugtog, hindi 'yong tumutugtog lang. Know the difference, Miss Colina," he seriously remarked.

Namula ako dahil sa hiya at inis. How could he?! 

"'Di 'wag. Marami pa naman ibang clubs diyan na paniguradong qualified ako," irap ko kahit na nagpupuyos na talaga ako sa inis.

Bwesit na lalaki 'to. 

"Then I'll make sure they won't accept you," sumipol pa ito at bahagyang napangisi.

Inayos niya ang sleeve ng uniform at itinaas hanggang siko. Matapos ay kinuha ang reading glasses sa tabi at isinuot. 

"May galit ka ba sa 'kin, Armil?"

"Masama ang mambintang, Scent."

"Nagtatanong ako, 'wag kang shunga."

"What did you just say?" he looked up to me and his lips parted.

"Bingi mo naman, Vice President," asar ko.

Natigil kami nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Jun. He silently walked over to his desk and stayed silent.

"Magt-transfer nalang siguro ako, halata namang may lihim na galit ka sa 'kin," ani ko.

Mahinang natawa si Armil at tumingin sa 'kin saglit saka ibinalik ang tingin sa libro.

"You give me so much energy I could give up caffeine," he simply said.

At dahil dakilang slow ako, hindi ko naintindihan. Marahang napalingon ako sa gawi ni Jun nang maubo ito ng tatlong beses.

"Tumigil ka, Jun, kung ayaw mong totohanin ko 'yang ubo mo kapag nasuntok kita," walang bahid ng pagbibiro na sabi ni Armil.

"Quantum entanglement, eh?" Jun asked, in a mocking sound.

Nanatili akong tahimik at pabalik-balik ng tingin sa kanilang dalawa.

"Shut your damn mouth, Jun," Armil said in a warning tone.

"You should learn about quantum physics, Miss Colina. Baka makuha mo ang ibig kong sabihin," pasimpleng sabi ni Jun.

"Pwede ring quantum love, para mas madali," Jun grinned.

Napahalakhak ito nang batuhin siya ni Arrmil ng kung ano, tingin ko ay ballpen 'yon. Bakit ba kasi napapaligiran ako ng mga matatalino? Wala akong na-gets. Tapos 'yong sulat sa papel na binigay ni Armil, the hell beh, translation no'n 'I Love You'. Kaya nga naiinis ako, grabe na sa trip, nasobrahan.

"Malakas internet dito, Miss Colina. Pwede mo naman i-research," ani ulit ni Jun.

"Tangina, Jun Joshua," Armil hardly breathes.

Tumawa si Jun at hindi na nagsalita pa.

"Scent," Armil softly called.

I hummed in surprise.

"You know why men are so much sexier than women?" he asked with a smile.

"No. Why?"

"Because you can't spell sexy without xy."

*****