PITCH

"Where is Nich?"

Tumingin silang lahat sa akin. Everyone looks uneasy habang naka tingin sa akin. Nakatayo ako sa harap nilang lahat dito sa canteen. Vacant naming lahat ngayon so dapat andito rin si Nich.

Inilapag ko ang bag ko sa isang bakanteng upuan at tumabi kay Carter.

"You know what? Forget it. Alam ko namang nagloloko lang kayo sa sinabi niyo. Nich loves me, I know that." I gave them my most genuine smile. Molly smiled back at me but the rest remained still and quite.

"You don't understand, Pitch," Lexi said without looking at me. Huminga ako ng malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili ko.

"Then explain it to me!" Okay, I have a very short temper so I can't help it but to shout. Trinary ko ang best ko na pagaanin ang sitwasyon pero ano ang ginagawa nila?

Walang nag salita pagkatapos kong sabihin yun. Tinignan ko si Ferris pero nag iwas lang siya ng tingin. Si Molly naman ay naka tingin lang sa pagkain na nasa harap siya habang si Carter ay hawak-hawak ako sa likod, trying to calm me down.

Mag sasalita pa sana ako nang may dumating na babae. It was Piper. Hindi ko maiwasan na hindi mas lalong mainis. Idagdag pa na nakita ko siya.

"You!" Tumayo ako. "You are the reason why we're like this. Can't you understand it?! You don't belong here! Stop trying to fit yourself because you're not one of us."  I bursted out. I saw how my friend's eyes widened in shock which later turned into disappointed and anger.

"Ate Pitch..." she stammered. Tears are starting  to build up in her eyes. Everyone is now looking at us but I don't care.

I glared at her.

Nakaramdam ako ng grabeng sakit sa wrist ko kaya tinignan ko yun. Carter's grip is too tight. Nasasaktan ako. I pulled my hands from him at humarap ulit ako kay Piper but before I can even face her. Someone slapped me.

It was Lexi.

Automatic na napahawak ako sa pisngi ko. I heard everyone's gasp dahil sa ginawa ni Lexi. I can't believe she just slapped me.

"You're not the Pitch we knew. Gusto mong malaman ang totoo? You are the one who doesn't belong to us. Pangit ang ugali mo, Pitch. You are the worst. So stop playing victim because you're not." Hindi ko mapigilang lumuha sa sinabi niya.

"Lexi ano ba!" Molly tried to stop her. Carter and Ferris remained still sa likod ko. They didn't defend me. I feel so alone, parang wala akong kakampi.

"I hope you're happy, Piper." Tinignan ko siya ng masana bago pinunasan ang luha sa mga mata ko at tumakbo pa layo.
I even heard Carter calling my name pero hindi ako lumingon.

I kept on running hanggang sa makabunggo ako ng isang tao. Akala ko matutumba ba ako but the guy is gentleman enough to catch me. Kakalas na sana ako when I recognized the familiar scent na pumapasok sa ilong ko.

"That jerk," I heard him whispered.

Hindi ko alam pero mas lalo akong naiyak dahil sa kaniya. Parang kusa nalang akong napayakap kay Raden. I felt him stiffened nang yakapin ko siya but he slowly put his hands sa likod ko.

"What did he do this time?" umiling ako sa kaniya. I don't want to talk and I still can't talk.

I heard him sighed nang hindi ako sumagot sa kaniya.

"Everyone is watching let get out of here." Parang hinang-hina ang pakiramdam ko kaya tumango nalang ako sa kaniya.

Tirik na tirik ang araw at ramdam na ramdam ko yun sa balat ko. Hindi pa rin ako bumibitaw kay Raden at nang marealize niya na wala akong balak gumalaw. Binuhat niya ako. Bridal style.

I feel too weak to complain so I let him carry me. I don't even know why I feel comfortable now with him basta gusto ko munang lumayo.

I don't know where he is planning to take me but I trust him. Ibinaon ko nalang ang mukha ko sa balikat niya para hindi makita ang mga students na tumitingin sa amin.

I felt him opened a door and a talking noise filled my ear. I heard Millet's voice so I suspect that I am here at his and friend's place in the university.

"What happened?" agad na tanong ni Airee nang makalapit kami.

Ibinaba ako ni Raden sa sofa. Now, ramdam ko na hiya dahil sa pag buhat niya sa akin. Kitang-kita ko ang pang aasar sa tingin ni Millet sa akin.

"This is game I'm waiting for," sabi ni Miller na hindi ko naman nagets. Anong game ang sinasabi niya?

"Don't start me, Miller," Raden hissed.

"Wow ha, Raden? Ikaw na ba ngayon yung cool boy na pa mysterious kala mo hindi ka naglalakad ng tulog ah?" Pang-aasar ni Millet kay Raden. Natawa ako dahil sa sinabi niyang yun.

Raden is really something.

"Anyway, anong nangyari?" Pag-uulit na  tanong ni Millet.

Nang maalala ko ang nangyari kanina. Kusa nalang akong naluha. Mukhang nag panic naman si Airee at Millet dahil sa pagluha ko.

"Huy, Ander paabot ng tissue!"

"Chill ka lang, Milly babe." Kusa nalang ako napangiti dahil kay Ander at Millet. I can feel how much they love each other the way they interact and look at each other.

I thanked Ander nang nag abot siya sa akin ng tissue tapos ay nag simula ng mag kwento. I feel comfortable with them so hindi na ako nag dalawang isip pa na nag open sa kanila.

"Maybe they have reasons so don't just jump into conclusions, alright?" I nodded at Airee's remark. Napayuko nalang ulit ako.

"I can't understand eh. They could've just told me," I said to support my claims.

"Listen, Pitch. No matter what the reason is, whether for your own good or not. True friends will tell you the truth. Or maybe, they can't choose between two side. So two choices, ask your friends or ask Nicholas himself." Natahimik kami lahat nang mag salita si Clayton.

Minsan lang siya nag salita pero sobrang malaman. Napa-isip ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Maybe Clayton is right. I should ask Nich myself what's going on.

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