"Ouch..."

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin nang magreklamo ako. Nginitian ko lang siya.

"You are not paying attention with your surroundings. Look what you've got." He scolded me...again. I was like a pup here, sitting while he is kneeling in front of me, healing the scratch in my knee.

"Exaggerated mo naman. Maliit lang 'yan. I won't die with that." I can't stop but to be sarcastic on him.

"Maliit man o malaki, ang sugat ay sugat. What if ma-infection kasi hindi na-treat agad? You can't set aside little things or it will cause a big trouble." I just scratch my brows and let him do what he want to do with my bruise.

"Thanks." Saad ko pagkatapos niyang gamutin.

"Tsk. Next time, mag-iingat ka. Kung hindi pa kita nahila kanina, baka nasagasaan ka na ng bisikleta." He look mad. I scratch my nape, stopping myself to say that, next time, if he will going to save me, atleast, don't give me bruises.

"I'm sorry. A-Are you okay? Do...do you have...bruises too?"

"Actually, I have. I can't treat it by myself." He showed me his elbows. Na-guilty naman ako dahil ako ang may kasalanan nun.

"Uh...let me treat that." Naiilang na hinawakan ko ang braso niya.

"You'll treat me while I'm standing?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Yeah, of course. Sit...there." He laugh at me.

"You sound like you're talking to a dog."

Ididiin ko mamaya sa'yo itong bulak na may alcohol, makita mo.

Kinuha ko na lang ang bulak na may alcohol para malinis muna ang sugat niya. Pinahiran ko ng bulak na may alcohol ang gasgas niya. Hindi naman siya malaki pero hindi kasi dumudugo eh. I know that hurts because he flinched.

"Aww. Can't you do that in a gentle way?"

"It's already gentle. Duwag ka lang talaga."

"I'm not duwag."

"Oh, yeah."

Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang paglilinis sa sugat niya. He keeps cursing because I am too harsh with his bruise while in fact, I am not even dipping it in a hard way.

"God, you're going to kill me." I pursed  my lips to stop myself to shout at him. He's so over-acting. "Is that how you show gratitude? By hurting others physically?"

"Are you gay or what? Hindi ko naman diniinan, ah. You want me to do it again in a harder way? Para naman may hustisya ang pambibintang mo." Nagiging madaldal ako kapag kasama ang OA na lalaking ito. I just can't help.

"Wow? Is that what you call gentle?"

Patuloy lang siya sa pagrereklamo na masakit daw. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. Kaartehan niya.

From: Papa
Xia. Go home.

Napabuntong-hininga ako nang mabasa ang text ni Papa. Ito na eh. Masaya na ako. Can't I just be happy endlessly?

"Problem?" Tanong ng katabi ko.

"Pinapauwi na ako ni Papa. Uh...mauna na muna ako." Saad ko saka inayos ang gamit ko.

"Ihatid na lang kita para sure akong safe ka. I'll just call for my driver since I can't drive." Tumawa pa siya, hindi man lang hinintay kung papayag ba ako or what.

Pero tatanggi pa ba ako? I know that many out there had bad intentions. Who knows? Mamaya pala ang nasakyan ko ay mali.

We waited for his driver. I just texted my father that I am going to ride in my friend's vehicle so he is aware that I am on safe hands. He didn't respond but I know he read it.

"He's here." He get my shoulder bag and carry it. I blinked many times with his sudden action. "Hey!"

"Uh...yeah." Saad ko bago lumulan sa sasakyan. Inabot niya naman ang bag ko sa akin pagkasakay ko. Inayos ko lang din ang buhok ko. Muntikan ko pang makalimutan 'yung salamin sa upuan ko kanina.

"You lived in what village?" He asked me. Hindi niya alam since hindi ko naman sila inaaya doon. Many people know where the mayor lived but my friends, especially Blake don't.

"Fidel." I answered. He nod and tell the driver the village's name.

"Thanks for the ride."

"Sure."

Bumaba na agad ako ng sasakyan pagkarating. I just waved my hands on him then he waved back. Nakatingin na lang ako ngayon sa papalayong sasakyan kung saan siya nakasakay.

Nang mawala na ito, saka ako nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga. Naglakad ako papasok sa bahay namin. I feel tired.

"I'm home." I said as I enter the house.

"Who are you with?" 'Yan agad ang tanong ni Mama.

"I'm with my friend. Blake." I said.

"Where did you go and why are you with him?"

"Because he need someone and I'm his friend?" I can't help but to sound sarcastic. "I'm sorry." I apologized when I saw their reaction. Without any word, I go upstairs and locked in my room.

Was I too rude to answer like that? Will they hate me because of that? Am I bad daughter for answering like that?

O my god, Xia. You didn't mean to answer them in that way. You should not overthink about it. I should not.

But I just can't stop overthinking. This is the first time I answered like that. And I badly want to slap myself for being disrespectful.

Hindi ko na lang masyadong inisip ang nangyari kanina. Pinagpahinga ko muna ang sarili ko. Baka pagod lang ako kaya ko sila nasagot.

Nagising lang ako ng palubog na ang araw. Naghilamos muna ako bago napagdesisyunang bumaba. Wala si Papa. Si Mama lang, nilalaro si Ben.

"Uh...M-Ma, sorry for my rude answer kanina." She just nod at me and continue playing with Ben. Kita sa mukha niya na nag-eenjoy siya sa paglalaro sa kapatid ko. Napabuntong hininga ako pero hindi ko masyadong pinarinig. Naiinggit ako kay Ben.

Nagpaalam lang ako na mag-aaral lang sa taas. Pinaalalahanan niya ako na bumaba kapag kakain na. Kahit na ganoon lang ang sinabi niya, natuwa na ako. Ganon talaga siguro. Kapag kinausap ka ng magulang mo in a nice way, you feel special. 'Yung hindi ka tatanungin about school at papaalahanan ka tungkol sa sarili mo.

Kinabukasan, simula na ng third quarter. Wala namang bago. Ganun pa rin. Nag-iba lang ng topic. Much worst.

"Since it's the third quarter of the school year, sana naman mas pag-igihan pa ng mga nagpapabaya. I didn't tell this to down you all dahil alam kong lahat kayo ay magagaling. Kelangan niyo lang ilabas. Excell class! Graduating na kayo so give the best of you." One day, my teacher said.

Hindi naman siya mukhang galit or disappointed. Sinabi niya lang talaga 'yun para i-motivate ang mga kaklase ko.

Tama nga naman siya. Highschool life is not just about having fun. You should learn to show your intelligence and talents. You should excell. You should show the best of you.

Nagturo lang ang teacher ng kung ano-ano. Minsan, may time talaga na kahit gaano mo pa pilitin ang sarili mo na intindihin ang topic, hindi mo magawa. Tulad ngayon, ang hirap i-catch up ng topic. Pero maaaral naman siguro 'to.

"Grabe ang hirap! Parang ayaw ko na tuloy mag-aral." Napatingin ako kay Lola nang umupo na naman ito sa harap ko. Nasa likod niya sina Reese at Blake.

"Kaya nga eh. Ang hirap na ng topic. Even I can't catch up." Blake scratch his head and sat beside me.

"Si Vina, oh." Napatingin ako sa tinuro ni Lola. There, I saw Vina, laughing with other guy. I looked at Blake na hindi man lang tinapunan ng tingin si Vina. "Close pala sila? Guwapo."

"Saan banda?" Sarkastikong anas ni Reese. Inirapan lang siya ni Lola at binalik ang tingin sa lalaki.

"Hayst. Nakita ko na ata ang crush ko." She then smiled.

"Crush amputa."

"Paka-epal talaga ng lalaking 'to kahit kailan. Hindi ka sana magka-jowa. Forever. Magaya ka sana kay Xia." Agad akong napatingin kay Lola nang banggitin niya ang pangalan ko. Nagpeace sign lang siya sa akin.

"Bakit ang tahimik mo ata ngayon?" Hindi ko na mapigilang tanungin si Blake.

"Broken-hearted sis, 'di ba obvious?" Tinawanan lang ako ni Lola. "Ikaw ba naman makita 'yung crush mo na may kasamang iba, hindi ka ba naman pagbagsakan ng langit at lupa."

"What if kaibigan niya lang naman? We don't know." I tried to lighten up his mood.

"May kaibigan na ganyan ka-intimate?" Hindi rin nagpatalo si Lola.

"Close friend? Best friend?" I tried again.

"'Di mo sure." Nakangising saad niya.

"Asarin mo pa." Sarkastikong anas ko sa kanya.

"'Wag mo ng masyadong problemahan, dude. Mahal ka 'nun." Nginisian pa siya ni Reese. Umiling lang si Blake, nagpapasensiya.

"I can't imagine Blake being crazy for a girl." Natatawang anas ko na sinabayan ni Lola at Reese.

"Tsk. Shut up." Masungit na anas niya.

"Ay, congrats! May dalaw siya!" Tumawa pa si Lola sa sarili niyang joke.

Kumain na lang kami. Blake started talking again pero minsan, hindi siya nakakasabay, mukhang malalim talaga ang iniisip. Hanggang sa matapos ang lunch, ganon pa rin siya.

"Why don't you just take her on a date and confess on her? Ako ang nahihirapan sa'yo." Hindi ko na mapigilan ang magsalita.

He stared at me for a minute, probably thinking of what I have said. Nakaramdam ako ng ilang sa pagtitig niya. May dumi ba ako sa mukha?

"If that will be just easy. I know the thing that might be ruin in just one confession. I am not brave enough to ruin everything." He said before he left.

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A/N: OMAYGOD, mental block, STOOOP MEEE!!!!