Chapter 12 | Treat

The days after Sunday passed like a blur to me.

Sa tatlong araw kong pag-gym ay hindi present si Lukan, dumating man ay tapos na ako o hindi kaya ay kapag titingin lamang saglit. I was good with it, actually, because he didn't bother me.

He was nowhere to be found around me but I frequently saw him flirting with other girls. I shrugged it all off because it was none of my business to think about. If he finally realized that I was too ugly for him, then congratulations.

My life went back on being quiet without him. Makarinig man ako ng pang-iinsulto ay tila ba bingi na ako sa mga ito.

Lukan and I were never friends or anything else before. Bigla na lamang siyang susulpot kung gugustuhin niya at pagkatapos nito ay hindi na muling magpaparamdam. Ganito siya lagi, noon pa man kaya nakapagtataka kung bakit ngayon, tila hindi pa ako nasanay doon.

Ate Serin and Trojan said that I must stay away from him. Tingin ko, alam ko na ngayon kung bakit.

He could leave you whenever he wanted.

Hindi ko naman masasabing iniwan niya ako sa ere... gusto kong bumalik kami sa dati na papansin lamang siya at hindi ang laman ng aking isip.

"Pumapayat ka na, Thera," puna ni Trojan.

Nakangiti pa ang loko.

"Wala akong bente, pinsan. Manahimik ka," I said kahit napangiti sa kanyang sinabi.

"Wala pang isang linggo kang nagg-gym pero nag-improve na. Kailangan ko na yatang bakuran ang paborito kong pinsan," aniya na parang napapa-isip pa.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo. Ikaw bakuran ko r'yan tutal mukha ka namang aso," I joked.

"Ako? Gwapo ko namang aso," proud pa siya.

I only chuckled because I didn't have the energy to joke around.

"Pero may isa pa akong napapansin, e," puna niya.

"What is it?" I asked uninterested.

"Parang... ang lungkot, e," he unsurely answered.

I arched my brows and didn't say anything.

"I'm always quiet," I pointed out.

"Oo pero hindi ganito," patol ni Trojan.

I only shrugged.

"Hindi ka na pinansin ni Lukan?" he asked me.

"Gano'n naman talaga siya, 'di ba?" I tried adding humor on it to avoid the bitterness from spilling.

"Yes but you look affected by it, Mia... and it's not good," Trojan seriously said.

Thursday came and it seemed like every passing minute felt heavier. I couldn't focus on the lectures and my body only wanted to sleep. I couldn't describe how this day went but I was thankful it already ended.

I was wearing my bag when a classmate of mine called me.

"Zorron!"

"Po?" tanong ko.

"Pwede bang pakipasa ito kay Ma'am sa guidance? Nagmamadali na kasi ako," paki-usap ng aming class president.

"Sure," sabi ko at kinuha ang kanyang inabot.

Salungat ang aking naging daan sa karamihan. Sila ay palabas ang tungo samantalang ako naman ay patungo sa dulong bahagi ng paaralan.

Ang guidance ay na sa dulong bahagi pa ng school, katabi ng ESP Department at TLE Department kaya naman sa aking paglalakad patungo roon ay marami pa akong dinaanang corridors and classrooms.

Some noticed me that I didn't wish for.

"Sarado na ang cafeteria, Mia," tukso ng isa.

"Ito, Mia, may ulam pa ako rito," someone joked.

I sighed. Mas binilisan ko ang aking paglalakad at sa lapag lamang nakatingin. Their laughter echoed the corridors and it sounded like a curse.

The thing about life, the more you distance yourself from something, the more hurt you become. I couldn't get the logic of it but one thing I was sure of, it sucked.

"What, Lukan?" I heard a flirty feminine voice.

I unconsciously looked at where the voice came from. Na sa loob ang babae ng isang silid at kausap doon si Lukan na nakangisi lamang habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"I know you want it too," the girl said sexily.

Napa-iling na lamang ako at binalak nang tumabok palayo.

"Thera!" nawala ako sa pag-iisip nang narinig ang tawag na iyon.

I stopped and turned around.

"Oh, Eros. Hindi ka pa umuuwi?" I asked him surprisingly.

My heart was beating fast but not because of his presence.

"Nah. Katatapos pa lang ng training. Alam mo na, malapit na ang district," he answered me casually.

I nodded kahit sa totoo lang ay hindi ko alam.

Dumako ang kanyang tingin sa aking mga dalang papel.

"Pupunta kang guidance?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered.

"Oh, tara na. Dumidilim na," yaya niya sa akin.

Hinawakan niya ang aking palapulsuhan at hinigit na upang lumakad.

If I was in my normal state, my system would now be electrified of his touch. I didn't feel anything at all, maybe, I was too exhausted to exaggerate the things he did... or maybe, I got tired of it already.

My mind was still floating like the clouds when we arrived in front of the faculty.

"I'll wait," he informed me with all smiles.

Tumango na lamang ako. Pumasok na ako sa loob at hinanap ang guro namin.

"Oh, Zorron?" nagulat siya sa aking presensya.

"Ah, ma'am, ito po 'yong pinapabigay ni Daluy. Inutusan niya po ako kasi nagmamadali na siya kanina," I explained.

She thanked me before I went outside.

"Tara na," yaya ko kay Eros.

Sa daan pabalik ay tahimik kami. Ayaw kong maging awkward ang paglalakad kaya nagsalita ako.

"Okay na kayo ni ate?" I asked without looking at him.

"Yup. By the way, may family outing kami this weekend. Sama kayong family ni Serin, gusto kasi nina mama't papa na makita kayo," he announced to me.

The feeling of gloom suddenly turned into shock after hearing his words.

"Wow! Saan naman?" agap ko.

"Sa private resort namin sa Subic," he answered.

"Nasabi mo na kay ate?" I asked him.

"Hindi pa kaya ko nga sinabi sa 'yo," nakangiti niyang utas.

"Okay. Sasabihin ko kina ate—"

"Oh, well. It was good anyway, Lukan."

Natigil kami ni Eros sa paglalakad nang nakitang lumabas ang isang babae at si Lukan. Ah, tapos na sila sa landian nila.

Nakita kong nagulat din si Lukan na magkasama kami ng kanyang kapatid ngunit agad siyang nakabawi. I didn't want to see more of it.

Nauna na akong umalis sa kinatatayuan. Sa gilid, malayo sa kanilang banda, ako dumaan at dumiretso na palayo. Hindi ko na inisip si Eros na aking iniwan sa likuran.

God. My blood was boiling and I couldn't explain why.

"Mia!"

Binilisan ko pa ang aking paglalakad nang marinig ang kanyang pagtawag. I wasn't in the mood to talk to him and if I ever speak, I would only say hurtful things.

I was irritated not just because of him but also me. Trojan warned me before yet look at me now. I hated myself because I became dependent on him... that. Fast.

I couldn't get if it was just my emotions or I was really stupid to be carefree.

Ilang saglit pa ay na sa harapan ko na siya at hindi niya ako hinahayang makalagpas.

"Ano ba? Why don't you just flirt with your girls instead of chasing me? Instead of talking to me? Instead of giving your time to me?" I shouted on his face.

Good God! I was never this loud before.

"Bakit ka galit?" mahinahon niyang tanong.

Nakakapikon ang pagiging kalmado niya habang ako ay naiinis na. Para pa siyang inosenteng bata na nagtatanong ng kasalanan nito kahit alam niya naman na.

I was a patient human being but the stress and tiredness mixed up.

"Bakit ako galit? Simple. Because I hate boys like you... at ikaw ang na sa unahan ng listahang iyon! Don't talk to me!"

Sinubukan ko muli siyang lagpasan ngunit mabilis ang naging kilos niya.

"Why can I hear the sound of jealousy, huh?" paratang niya.

"Me? Jealous? God! Saang planeta ka ba ipinanganak—"

"Shit!" he cussed.

I got stunned of his sudden cuss but it also made me angrier.

"Anong pagtrato ba ang gusto mong ipakita ko sa 'yo, Mia? Ano? Paano ba? Kasi hindi ko alam," tanong niya na nagpatigil sa akin.

"Paano ba ang gusto mo, Mia?" he asked again when I didn't respond.

"Wala! Dahil hindi ko naman gustong maka-usap o makasama ka! Kaya lang naman tayo nag-uusap dahil sa pagtulong mo sa akin. Iyon lang naman, 'di ba?" I pointed out.

An unknown emotion passed through his eyes. Was that sadness?

"Iyon lang ba ang tingin mo?" he asked instead.

"Yes," I answered, not thinking straight.

"Do you want me to treat you like how you treat me?" he asked, not letting go of my eyes.

"Yes."

"Fine," he answered, then unblocked my way.