Chapter 16 | Biased

Yara had mysteriously vanished from class for three days, leaving her friends worried. Despite their attempts to reach out, her silence loomed over them like a thick fog, impenetrable and unsettling. Tinambakan pa sila ng activities ngayong linggo na sabay-sabay din ang deadlines.

Despite their jam-packed schedule, Xamuel couldn't seem to shake off his worries when it came to Yara. No matter how many tasks he checked off his to-do list, his mind circled back to her. He found himself constantly fretting about whether she was okay or if she needed anything from them. A restless feeling nagged at him throughout the day, even as he tried to focus on work or other distractions.

Walang ganang kumain si Xamuel nang nag-break time. Kung mayroon man siyang gustong gawin ngayon, iyon ay ang matulog. Lion, South, and Frost went to the cafeteria to satisfy their cravings while Xamuel hesitantly went to the music room.

Laging tahimik ang palapag na ito kaya dito unang dinala si Xamuel ng kanyang mga paa. Kagabi ay nag-announce naman ang next subject teacher nila na late ng isang oras magsisimula ang klase dahil may dadaanan pa raw ang guro. Nanalangin si Xamuel na sana'y walang ibang tao sa silid upang makapagpahinga. Dinala niya pa ang bag para gawing unan.

The door creaked open under Xamuel's gentle push, revealing the hum of an electric fan. His eyes traced its breeze to find Yara, an unexpected joy leaping in his heart at the sight.

"You're here!" His excitement couldn't be contained, piercing the quiet room.

Yara's response was a frown, her words tinged with surprise. "Bakit ka naman nandito?"

Xamuel's smile was undeterred, stretching wider as he closed the distance between them. Yara's table was a landscape of scattered belongings, a testament to the days she'd missed and the mountain of catch-up work ahead of her. Ikaw ba namang umabsent ng tatlong araw, gaano karaming activities ngayon ang kailangan mong habulin?

Taking the seat beside her, Xamuel was met with Yara's silent scrutiny. In her hand, a pen poised over a calculus worksheet lay a disastrous battlefield before them.

Inignora ni Xamuel ang mga nakakalat na papel at binaba ang bag sa tabi upang kausapin si Yara. "Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Kumusta na ang pakiramdam mo?"

Bumagsak ang mga balikat ni Yara, tila ba pagod na pagod na siya sa ginagawa. "Nilagnat lang ako. Mabuti na rin ang pakiramdam ko kanina kaya nakapasok. Parang sasama nga lang ulit ngayon dahil sa dami nito."

Her furrowed brow and frustrated gestures only made him want to burst into laughter even more. He tried his best to suppress the urge, but each time she shot him a side-eye glance, it further fueled his amusement.

"Ang saya mo namang makitang nagdudusa ako," Yara cried. "Bakit kasi ang daming pinagawa noong wala ako, at sa calculus pa talaga? Natapos ko na kanina ang mga pa-essay, dito na ako matatagalan. Kanina pa kami nagtititigan, Muel. Mai-in love na ata 'tong papel sa 'kin."

Despite the guilt for finding joy in her distress, Xamuel couldn't help but find the situation hilarious.

"Stop laughing!"

Xamuel wiped off the tears forming in his eyes. "Sorry! Sige, hindi na. Sinabihan ka kaya namin sa groupchat na kung kailangan mo ng tulong sa mga subject, magsabi ka lang. Ni isang beses hindi mo binasa mga message namin."

Yara sighed. "My body was too weak even to lift a finger. Besides, I wanted to take a break from social media. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa akong ginagalaw sa mga message."

Tumango si Xamuel at nirespeto ang desisyon ni Yara. Nilapitan niya ang mga sinasagutan ni Yara at napansing halos pareho lang lahat sa naging activities nila kahapon.

"May mga binago lang si sir ditong numbers pero pareho lang sa sinagutan namin," he said.

Yara pouted. "Ano namang gagawin ko? Wala nga akong alam dahil absent saka hindi pa yata nababalik ang papel ninyo."

"Why need the papers when I'm here?"

Yara snorted. "Ang yabang naman."

"Magpapatulong ka ba o hindi?" panunukso ni Xamuel. "Kasi kung hindi, matutulog na lang ako rito. Habang sumasakit ulo mo kaiisip ng gagawin, mahimbing akong–"

"Fine! Please... help me," Yara trailed off and looked away.

Xamuel's gaze softened, tenderly observing Yara navigate her request for help. This act of reaching out seemed almost foreign to her. Her voice was laced with a hesitance that, to Xamuel, felt misplaced over such a trivial matter.

Then, he noticed something missing—the white headband she always wore was gone. He recalled the last time he saw it, torn and ruined, a loss of her being bullied.

"Okay, I'll help you. Mabilis lang natin 'tong matatapos," Xamuel reassured her. "Pero bago 'yon, may gusto akong ibigay sa 'yo."

"H-Huh?"

Mabilis binuksan ni Xamuel ang dalang bag at hinanap ang bagong biniling white headbands para kay Yara. Kahapong uwian niya lang ito binili noong kumain silang magkakaibigan ng dinner sa mall. Hindi na niya ito naalis sa bag dahil nawala rin sa isip niya.

"What..." Yara whispered when she realized what was Xamuel's gift. "Ang dami naman! Hindi ko 'yan kayang tanggapin lahat."

Xamuel smiled. "Anim lang naman 'yan, Yara. Nahirapan akong pumili ng design kaya binili ko na lang kung anong makita ko. Bagay naman sa 'yo lahat."

The unexpected praise made Yara feel both flustered and pleasantly surprised. "G-Gumastos ka pa... pwede naman akong bumili online–"

Xamuel handed the headbands, forcing Yara to finally receive them. "It's okay, really. Lahat kami nag-alala sa 'yo kaya..."

Yara was interested in looking at some headbands in front of her, each looking special in its own way. Xamuel was calmly watching her as she looked at them. Finally, Yara decided on one headband, leaving the other five behind. She then took her chosen headband out of its wrapping and looked at Xamuel, both happy and excited about her choice.

"Tulungan kita?" Xamuel asked.

Yara nodded. "Wala akong salamin, e."

Xamuel tenderly took the headband, his fingers stretching it with a gentle precision just above Yara's head. The faint fragrance of her shampoo enveloped him, a subtle proof of their closeness. Yara, with bright eyes, gazed up at him. As he delicately placed the headband upon her head, he brushed away some stray strands of her hair, ensuring the headband sat perfectly like a comfortable crown atop her head.

"Bagay sa 'yo," Xamuel said softly.

"Baka inuuto mo lang ako?"

He chuckled. "Kabisado ko na kung paano mo sinusuot ang mga headband mo."

As Yara tried to respond with a simple thank you, she couldn't help but notice the warmth spreading across her face and down to her neck.

"Siguro magpapalit na lang ako araw-araw para lahat magamit," Yara said. "Thank you talaga, Xamuel."

Xamuel casually shrugged his shoulders, but inwardly, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and contentment at Yara's positive reaction.

"Turuan na kita. Patingin nga."

Niligpit ni Yara ang mga headband sa bag para makapagsimula na sila.

"Disclaimer: I'm a slow learner in almost everything."

Xamuel chuckled. "We literally have Frost. You don't have to worry."

Yara gasped. "Ang sama mo kay Frost. Kung makapagyabang ka naman... matalino rin kaya si South."

Xamuel snorted. Si South na naman.

"Mas mataas average ko sa kanya last quarter sa calculus."

Yara raised her brows to provoke him. "We? Ilan sa 'yo?"

Xamuel smirked. "98."

"One point lang tinaas mo. Huwag kang mahangin."

Xamuel rolled his eyes. "Why do you admire South as if there's a difference? Frankly, we stand on equal ground, despite what you might think."

Yara frowned. "Turuan mo na nga lang ako. Paano ba kasing 'tong question na 'to?"

Muling binasa ni Xamuel ang tanong. It wants them to find the equation of the line that passes through the point (-2, -5) and is parallel to the line 5𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 2. Pamilyar na kay Xamuel ang mga ganitong klaseng tanong dahil maraming na silang nasagutang ganito.

Sinubukan niyang ipaliwanag kay Yara ang proseso sa pagkuha ng tamang sagot gamit ang sariling naisip na halimbawa. Paminsan-minsa'y tinitingnan niya si Yara kung nakikinig ba, hindi na kasi nagsasalita. Matapos niyang ipaliwanag ang unang tanong at ang proseso, hinayaan niyang si Yara ang mag-solve sa worksheet.

Xamuel watched Yara write the solution with an admiring smile. He couldn't help but be fascinated by how gracefully she held her pen. Xamuel felt a sense of calm wash over him, entranced by the rhythmic movements of her hand gliding across the page.

Xamuel went back in reality when Yara asked, "T-Tama ba ang ginawa ko? Bali 5𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 10 ang sagot?"

He lazily glanced at the paper. "Tama naman. See, you can do it! Plus, you learn faster than Frost."

Kumpara kanina, mas ginanahan na ngayon si Yara gumawa ng worksheet na kinatuwa naman ni Xamuel. Ito ang unang pagkakataong natuwa pa si Xamuel magturo ng calculus sa puntong sinakripisyo niya pa ang kanyang tulog.

Namamangha rin si Xamuel sa mga katanungan ni Yara dahil napapagana nito ang kanyang isip. Napansin niyang mahilig magpa-clarify si Yara sa mga maliliit na detalye dahil doon niya mas naiintindihan ang topic.

"No wonder 98 grade mo rito. Oo na, may karapatan ka ngang magyabang," she said while copying the last solution on the worksheet.

Xamuel chuckled. "Hindi naman ako nagyayabang. I'm just telling the truth."

"Sumasali ka ba sa mga competition?"

"Nakakatamad."

Yara glanced at him. "Si South?"

Sinubukan ni Xamuel isipin kung sumali ba noon si South sa kahit anong paligsahan sa paaralan.

"Oh, there was a time he joined a math quiz bee. Nanalo siya at may cash prize. Kumain kami sa isang Japanese restaurant gamit ang napalanunan niya."

Yara giggled. "Ang galing niya talaga."

Xamuel snorted and lazily rested his head on the table sideways. Nakaharap pa rin siya kay Yara. "Ngayong tinanong mo, naalala ko ring sumali siya sa lahat ng science competition last school year."

"Science!"

"Yeah, specifically sa chemistry at physics. Siya naging pambato–"

"Wow... ang talino niya naman sa lahat," manghang sabi ni Yara habang nagsusulat pa rin.

"Mas mataas grades ko sa kanya sa general chemistry at physics."

He noticed the sudden change in Yara's expression. "Okay."

Xamuel grunted. "You're so biased! Kapag si South, manghang mangha ka. Kapag ako, okay lang?"

"Ano bang gusto mong marinig? E kay South ako interesado, hindi naman sa grades mo?"

Wow... just wow.

Bumangon si Xamuel at hinarap siya nang buong buo. "Sino bang nandito ngayon na tinuturuan ka? Si South ba? Ako, 'di ba? Hindi ka man lang nagpanggap, talagang pinapamukha mo sa 'king wala kang pakialam."

Yara's eyes widened. "Nagtatampo ka ba?"

"Ako? Magtatampo?" Sobra!

Yara shook her head with a small smile. "Lahat naman kayo marunong sa kanya-kanyang specialty. Si Lion sa lahat, ikaw at si South sa math, si Frost... si Frost magaling mang-trashtalk."

Napailing si Xamuel. "Tama ka naman. Hindi ako makakakontra sa sinabi mo. Sa sobrang galing ni Frost mang-asar ng ibang tao, nasuntok siya ni South noong nakaraan."

"Huh?"

"Huh? Ano 'yong sinabi ko?" Xamuel asked, confused.

Shit, nadulas ako!

"B-Bakit sinuntok ni South si Frost? Kailan? Saan?"

"Wala," Xamuel said.

"Hala, dali na!"

Napapikit si Xamuel dahil lumapit pa talaga si Yara. "Wala nga. Joke lang 'yon."

Naramdaman ni Xamuel ang mga kamay ni Yara sa kanyang magkabilang braso. Halos manghina siya sa hawak ng dalaga. Dumilat siya at nakita ang nagsusumamong mga mata ni Yara.

"Wala nga talaga 'yon. Napangunahan lang ng gulat at galit si South. Nagkaayos nga sila agad—"

"Pero bakit? Anong nangyari?"

Xamuel sighed and removed Yara's hold. "Look, I'm not supposed to tell anyone about this, but since you're persistent, keep it as well, okay?"

Yara nodded.

"Naabutan namin si Frost sa loob ng isang storage room dito sa school. May kasama siyang babae no'n. Base sa kwento ni Frost, hinila lang talaga siya ro'n ng babae. Nakita naming pinipilit niya si Frost na halikan siya–"

"W-What?"

"Yes, but Frost kept refusing. Ang ending, 'yong babae ang humalik kay Frost."

"Tapos... sinuntok ni South si Frost? Dahil? Kilala niya ba 'yong babae?"

Xamuel sighed. Hindi niya alam kung paano niya ba ito sasabihin kay Yara nang hindi siya nasasaktan.

"Apparently, South and that girl have a very complicated relationship. Hindi sila, pero parang sila na. We don't know, really. Ayaw ni South magkuwento."

"S-Sino 'yong babae?" Yara asked.

"Hindi mo na kailangang malaman—"

"Xamuel, sige na," she insisted. "Please? Sino?"

Xamuel rolled his eyes. Hindi niya alam kung tama bang ipaalam niya pa ang pangalan ng babae kay Yara. Maaaring hindi niya iyon kilala ngayon pero madali lang mahanap si Titus sa campus at sa social media.

"Xamuel," Yara pleaded.

"Si Titus Cordero, okay? Let's stop here—"

"Titus Cordero?" Yara muttered. "Student council vice president? President ng science club? Aspiring gold awardee?"

Xamuel sighed. It hit him that Yara already knew about Titus Cordero's reputation, which shouldn't have surprised him. After all, Titus' name was a buzzword across the campus.

The four of them couldn't believe it when they finally connected the dots—why South always used Titus-branded pens, why South never seemed interested in dating anyone, and why he was always participating in academic competitions.

"What are you thinking?" Xamuel asked when Yara continued writing on her worksheet as if nothing happened.

She was taken aback and visibly upset by this news, her normally bright eyes dimming with disappointment. Xamuel knew Yara had always harbored a secret admiration for South and hoped that he might notice her in return one day. Learning that his affections lie elsewhere probably left Yara feeling dejected and somewhat defeated.

Yara chuckled to hide her pain. "Akala ko pa naman may pag-asa na noong... tinulungan ako ni South sa restroom. He even carried me the entire time. I mean, kasalanan ko namang umasa pa ako."

"Yara—"

"Look, I'm okay. At least kilala ko na kung sino ang gusto niya. Wala na akong magagawa, si Titus Cordero na 'yon. Maganda, high achiever, sporty, student leader—samantalang heto ako, kailangan pa ng tulong sa calculus."

Xamuel gently tapped her left arm. "You're fine the way you are. Really."

Yara shook her head. "Kaya rin pala hindi natin madalas makalaro si South dahil may kausap siyang iba gabi-gabi."

Xamuel couldn't help but chuckle. "That's valid–lahat tayo may konting tampo sa bagay na 'yan."

Yara smiled weakly at him. "I guess... I'm not worth changing for."

"Please, never think that way. You are absolutely worth every effort it takes to be with you."

In that fleeting moment, Yara was deeply grateful for Xamuel's presence in her life, knowing that his words could uplift and enlighten her in ways she never thought possible. Yara's smile finally emanated warmth, illuminating her features with a tender, serene light.

"You sound biased just now," she teased.

Xamuel chuckled heartily. "Ikaw na 'yan, e."