Chapter 24

"I'll be seeing you soon again, Isel, ha?" Ngiti ni Ate Mallory sa akin. Niyakap pa ako nito nang napakahigpit at saka may binulong.

"You're choking her. Let her go," utos ni Bennett. Pinakawalan naman niya ako sa pagkayayakap at nanatili ang ngiti sa labi niya. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong isasagot do'n sa binulong niya sa akin kaya tumango na lamang ako. "We should leave now. The rain in manila won't wait for us to get to our home."

"Sabi ko nga..." Ngiwi ko pa.

"When are you coming back to Manila, ate?" tanong ni Bennett.

"Hm... hindi ko pa sigurado. Masyadong toxic pa sa Manila now so I think mag-stay muna ako rito ng ilang days or weeks. And I've watched the news, sa NCR dadaan ang bagyo. Siguro hindi kalakasan dito, so I better stayed here than in Manila. I'll let you know na lang."

"Call me, just don't barge there without telling me you'll come, get it?"

She make faces to him. "Bahala ka riyan. Basta pupunta ako kung kailan gusto ko."

He grunted and rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Come on, Sel. Let's go."

"Ingat kayo sa biyahe!"

"Thank you, ate! Just let your mom know na umalis na kami. Thank you ulit!"

"Of course, you are such a sweetheart, Isel. I hope to bond with you again soon."

"Okay, that's it. We're leaving."

Before Ate Mallory could do or say something, kinuha na ni Bennett and kamay ko saka niya ako hinatak papunta sa sasakyan niya. He's carrying my bag at iyong backpack naman niya ay dala na rin. Inilagay niya lang 'yon sa upuan sa likod at saka kami pumwesto sa harapan. I saw Ate Mallory wave at us when Bennett started driving his car away from the parking lot.

As soon as we left their home that I call a mansion, it felt weird for me to sit here in front rather than in the back. Cinema should be sitting here and not me, but because of what happened last night, it was chaos... I think. Good thing, his mom didn't find out about or it will just ruin the day for her. They just keep it to themselves and some people who witnessed Cinema's outburst.

"I hope we won't be trapped when we get back into Manila," Bennett muttered.

"Sana nga... sabi nga ni Tessa na medyo tumaas ang tubig do'n sa España."

"Stay in my condo if it's impossible to get through your dorm."

"Okay... pero siguro makalulusot naman tayo. Medyo malapit lang naman ang dorm ko sa condo mo."

"Okay," tipid nitong sagot sa akin. "We'll see."

Tumahimik na lang muli ako. Nagsasalita lang ako kapag may itatanong siya sa akin. This will be two-hour drive pabalik ng Manila. Alas y tres pa lamang ng hapon at panigurado by five or six ay makararating na rin kami ro'n.

Nakababagot iyong biyahe namin. Ni hindi rin magawang magpatugtog ni Bennett ng music. I tried to sleep it off and good thing, I've got to sleep, but unfortunately, pagkagising ko ay umuulan na lang.

"Manila na ba tayo?"

"Malapit na," simpleng sagot sa akin ni Bennett.

"Okay... ingat ka sa pagmamaneho," pagre-remind ko sa kanya.

Remembering what happened to him the other time it rained, nadisgrasya siya at feeling ko hindi ko na maiaalis sa isipin kong hindi siya maaksidente kung hindi dahil sa akin. We talked about it, but never the way Archie told it to me. Siya nagkwento sa akin kung anong nangyari, but Bennett chose to keep silent about it. Just like what happened last night, he's not talking no anybody. He just wanted to be alone, to be by himself. Siguro gano'ng tao lang talaga siya.

"You know I have a plan to go to Batanes after the championship game," Bennett said out of nowhere.

I looked at him with a flustered look. "Oh, talaga?" Tinanguan naman niya ako, but he's not looking at me. Focus lamang siya sa pagmamaneho. "So, it's either to win or lose, itutuloy mo 'yon?"

"Hmmm..." he mumbled, nodding his head. "If you want to come, that's alright. Just give me some heads up so I can book you a plane ticket."

"Ay." Napangiwi naman ako. "Ayokong ano... gumastos... siguro next time na lang. Enjoyin mo na lang 'yong visit mo sa Batanes. I've heard it was a great place to unwind. Mukhang magandang spot nga 'yon after the tiring game and if you guys won the game, that'll be a good treat for yourself."

"Yeah, right, I agree. But who says you'll have to pay for your own ticket, huh?"

I gasped, shifting my attention back to him. "Uy, Bennett. Hindi na 'no. Pero totoo, ayokong gumastos at hindi mo naman ako kailangan pang isama. You have no responsibility to take me with you sa trip to Batanes so it's fine, but thank you for your invitation... I appreciate it."

I tried not to blush, but only flaunt a smile. Okay na 'yon at baka kung ano pang isipin niya sa akin. Napatango na lamang at mukhang nakumbinsi ko naman siya.

Mas lalo ring lumalakas ang ulan sa labas kaya nagdahan-dahan na sa pagmamaneho si Bennett. Mas lumamig ang temperatura sa loob ng sasakyan kahit hindi naman tinataasan o binababaan ni Bennett ang lamig. Mabuti na lang din ay may sweater akong dala kaya iyon ang isinuot ko ngayon. Mas marami pa akong naiuwing damit dahil sa mga ibinigay sa akin ni Ate Mallory. May gusto pa sana siya ibigay sa akin pero sa susunod na balik ko na lang daw. Aayusin na lang daw muna niya 'yong mga damit na never na niyang nasuot o one time used lang.

"Mukhang mahihirapan tayong makalusot, traffic din," anunsyo ni Bennett.

"Okay lang naman kung magtagal... hindi rin naman ako nagmamadaling makauwi. Okay na 'yog safe at buhay na makararating sa bahay."

"Yeah, you're right..."

Muli namang tumahimik ang loob ng sasakyan. Tila ang mga pagbagsak na lamang ng mga ulan sa bubong ng sasakyan ang umaalingawngaw sa paligid. I heard Bennett's tapping his finger on the steering wheel while I tend to watch the drops of rain on the window beside me. Ang lungkot sa feeling panoorin iyon ulan. Hindi ko pa maka-chikahan itong kasama ko, KJ din sa pag-play ng music. But still, I enjoyed the company kahit na medyo... awkward.

Dahan-dahan din namang umusad ang sasakyan pero panay rin ang hinto sa haba ng traffic.

Dahil hindi na rin ako mapakali sa kinauupuan ko at gusto kong alamin kung anong nasa isipin ngayon ni Bennett, siguro hindi naman masama kung tatanungin ko siya o kakamustahin man lang."

"Bennett," pagtawag ko sa atensyon niya. Nilingon niya ako at tumaas ang kilay niya, mistulang nag-aabang ng itatanong ko. "Bennett, I've watched—"

"Just stop right there," he ordered. Napangisi naman siya at mahinang sinasapul ng kamao niya ang manibela. "I don't like to talk about it, Sel. Just please don't bring that up. I don't like hearing, talking about it. I just don't want to do anything with her. I'm sorry if that's a little rude, but I hope you understand."

"Oh... okay... pasensya na. I shouldn't bring that up."

Umigting ang panga ni Bennett and I know he's just trying to avoid it kaya naman hindi na ako nagbalak pang magbukas ng kung ano mang topic. Nahiya ako bigla. Natakot sa kung anong sunod na mangyayari.

Based on his reaction, that only proves that it really happened. Ayoko namang i-judge si Cinema dahil wala pa rin akong alam sa totoong nangyari. I wanna learn it, but he immediately shut me out so I understand his point. It's not my place to meddle with it. Niyakap ko na lamang ang sarili ko saka tumahimik at hinintay na makalusot kami sa traffic.

But he couldn't pass through the traffic pero nasa loob na kami ng Manila kaya naman nag-suggest na lang ako na bumaba since malapit-lapit na lang din naman ang dorm ko. Para hindi na rin siya maabala na ihatid pa ako. Ako na lang ang nagpresentang bumaba and he didn't even stop me to do it.

He didn't say a word when I jumped out of his, alam ko na ako naman ang may ginusto nito so I just find my way back to my dorm na basang-basa. The worst thing, nakalimutan ko pang kunin iyong isang bag na naglalaman ng mga dress na binigay sa akin ni Ate Mallory sa sasakyan ni Bennett. Nakarating ako sa dorm nang basang-basa. Mabuti na lang ay hindi ako naabutan ni Tessa sa oras nang pagdating ko kaya mabilis lang akong nakapagbanlaw at nakapagpalit ng damit.

When she saw me back, isa lang naman kaagad ang una niyang itinanong sa akin, kung totoo ba 'yong scandal na kumakalat tungkol kay Cinema at anong sabi ni Bennett. I didn't spill a word about it. Tahimik lang ako since I respect them both.

So I stayed silent not until we're back in the university and we've been hearing people talking about it, even though na kabilang university iyon, some people manage some time to talk about it. To send copies of the video on their phones and made fun out of it.

I felt bad about Cinema and Bennet who has to deal with this kind of situation.

"So, true nga? Kalat na kalat na nga 'yong scandal..." ani Serron.

Hindi naman ako kumibo. Nanatili akong tahimik, kunyaring binabasa ang libro na hawak ko.

"Ayaw pa kasi sabihin ni ate mo Isel 'yong alam niya, e," sabi naman ni Dolly. Ibinaba niya iyong libro na hawak ko kaya tiningnan ko siya. "'Yong totoo, magkakaibigan naman tayong apat dito, ano ngang chika? Totoo ba o hindi? Kasi from what I've watched, it does really look like her."

"Girl, enjoy na enjoy niya nga 'yong kahabaan no'ng lalaki, e. Mukhang better pa ata kay Bennett."

"No comment na lang ako."

"Ikaw, Tessa? Baka chinika na naman sa 'yo ni Isel pero sa amin hindi."

Agad namang umiling si Tessa. "Wala rin siyang sinabi sa akin. Nagulat na nga lang ako kahapon na nakabalik na pala siya ng dorm. Pero promise, wala akong alam and 'wag na natin pilitin si Isel na magsabi nang kung ano man. In the first place, she has no right to say things about it."

"I agree naman..." Tango pa ni Serron.

Maya-maya lamang ay nagulat kami nang biglang dumating si Archie. Ako agad ang hinahanap nito at tumabi sa kinauupuan ko.

"Hey, are you okay?" tanong nito sa akin. Tumango naman ako. "Really? Ba't parang ang tamlay mo?"

"Pagod lang..." simple kong sagot sa kanya.

"Oh, okay. May gusto lang sana akong sabihin... I've just heard that the guy from the video has been sanctioned and I'm not sure if they're going to kick him out since taga-Benilde pala 'yong lalaki while Cinema has been suspended for I don't know how long... posible rin na matanggal siya sa team nila sa cheersquad if she won't handle the situation."

"What the fuck," Serron uttered. "So, it's true nga? Si Cinema nga iyong nasa video?"

"Ah... unfortunately, she is. Akala ko alam niyo na kasi... si Ise... ah... okay, my bad."

Bahagya akong napangisi sa sinabi niya. "Hindi ko sinabi sa kanila 'cause I felt bad for them kaya kahit alam ko, hindi ko na lang sinasabi. And I don't have the place to talk about it since it's a very sensitive issue."

"Yup, my bad, as well, sorry..."

"Okay lang..." aniko.

"At least now hindi na kami mangungulit sa 'yo, Isel," ani Serron.

Napahugot na lamang nang malalim na hininga si Dolly. "That's the thing about cheating, don't ever film yourself while having sex with anybody kung ayaw mong mahuli. But she did and now she's paying for the price of it."

"But cheating is wrong," Tessa rebutted. "It shouldn't have happened in the first place kung steady naman ang relationship nilang dalawa. But I doubt that it was. Hindi 'yon maghahanap ng ibang lalaki if she's not happy anymore. Oh, well, it's her choice naman and that her choice leads her to this situation. Let this be a lesson for her."

"So, anong ganap ni Bennett ngayon? Anong sabi niya?" tanong ni Serron kay Archie.

Napakibit-balikat na lang din naman ito. "We haven't got to talk again since I took Cinema home from Laguna. But I guess he's keeping it for himself. He likes to deal it by himself. But let's just give him some space, he'll around. His girlfriend just cheated on him and we should understand his situation."

And they all agreed to what Archie said.

A little while, I've received a phone call and when I look at the screen and checked who's calling, I was a little nervous when I saw Bennett's name. I immediately excused myself from them just to answer his call. Nang medyo makalayo-layo naman ako ay sinagot ko na ang tawag niya.

"Hello?" bungad ko.

"Hey," simple nitong tugon.

"Are you calling me to postpone our session tomorrow?"

"No, I'm not," mabilis nitong sagot. "I called you to let you know that we'll move our session tomorrow early. Is that fine with you?"

"Yes, yes, okay lang naman. Thank you for informing me."

"Not a problem, that's all I called you for."

"Oh... okay... but wait, ano, Bennett..."

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

I heard he took a deep breath and slowly let it go. "I'm fine, thanks for asking. I gotta go now."

When he dropped the call, mga ilang minuto akong naiwang nakatayo sa pwesto ko. Huminga na lamang ako ng malalim saka ako sumama muli sa mga kaibigan ko.

I know he's not fine and he's just saying it for people not to symphatize his situation, but I know he'll get through this. Bennett's one of a kind, he's not giving it all up for nothing,

"So, who called you?" Archie asked when I seated back on my chair.

"Ah, 'yong kapatid ko lang. May pinapabili na naman sa akin."

"I see... I wanna meet your brother na rin."

"Ano ka ba! Ituloy muna natin 'yong napag-usapan natin no'ng nakaraan."

"Uy, may date 'yong dalawa!" pangangantyaw ni Tessa.

"Ay, talaga ba? Dating ba kayo?" usi ni Serron.

Umiling ako. "Wala naman! Sige, sama na lang kayo sa condo ni Archie, pwede ba?" Lingon ko kay Archie at dahil mukhang wala siyang choice dahil napaliligiran siya ng mga kaibigan ko ay napa-oo na lang din siya kaagad.

"So, kailan niyo gusto?"

"Bukas! Wala naman tayong pasok!" suhestyon ni Dolly,

"Wala rin akong pasok tomorrow," pagsang-ayon naman ni Archie. "You have a session with Bennett tomorrow, 'di ba? Anong oras ang tutorial niyo?"

"Ah, morning session kami tomorrow. Pwedeng-pwede tayong mga hapon na pumunta sa condo mo. What do you think?"

"Then that's settled! Bukas na agad!"

Sabik na sabik naman 'yong tatlo sa mangyayari bukas sa condo ni Archie, but I'm more thrilled to see Bennett tomorrow and see how he looked like. I don't wanna be so nosy in his situation, but I feel like he needed a friend right now. Someone who can be there for him. I may not be the right person for it, but thinking of it, Bennett deserves to be happy.

I know he does... it's just that, people take him for granted. And hopefully, he doesn't look at me like that way. I appreciate him as a person that's why I wanna get to know him more. If only I could get the chance... I would take it.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

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