Chapter 43

Blame

The next few days has been busy for me. After class ay diretsyo kaagad ako sa club room para sumali sa discussion ng team. Sinabi rin naman ni Mebby na hindi ko na kailangan pang dumaan sa puspusang training dahil nalalapit na rin ang competition kaya kailangan naka-focus na ang mga concentration namin doon. I've been adjusting to the whole set-up, hindi naman bago iyon but I'm already comfortable enough para makihalubilo sa ibang member ng team.

They even check my grades if I'm going to qualified in the competition and they were amazed by my grades. Nakakahiya nga sa kanila dahil puro papuri ang nakukuha ko sa kanila. I was just being humble to them, hindi rin naman ako mapagmataas na tao.

"Guys, I'll give you five for a break." Miss Keltz announced.

Dali-dali naman kaming kumilos, ang iba ay pumunta sa restroom habang ang iba naman ay uminom at kumuha lang nang snacks. Sinamahan naman ako ni Mebby sa drinking fountain. When I'm done, she murmuring something while drinking on it. Natatawa naman ako dahil mas tinuon niya pang makipag-usap sa akin kaysa sa uminom noon.

She wipe her mouth with her hands, hindi ko rin naman maitago ang tawa ko dahil sa kanya.

"Ano ba kasing sinasabi mo? You could've finish drinking while talking, right." I chuckles.

"No," she giggles, "I just want to know what's with you and Korgian? Pansin ko kasing lagi na kayong magkasama. And some students even talked about you guys, anong meron kayo?"

Napakibit balikat naman ako sa kanya, "wala namang meron sa amin... ano naman iyon?"

"The two of you seems like closed enough. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, Korgian were dating you, tama ba ako?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya at mariing umiling sa kanya, "hindi 'no, pa'no mo naman nasabi 'yan?"

Napangisi naman ito, "iyon ang napapansin namin but you don't have to worry about me, hindi naman kami mga chismosong tao na naninira ng puri ng ibang tao. I am not like Lathomia.

"I won't say anything, Mebby." I said in defeat, "but to clear out, Korg and I were just really close. Kung may iniisip man ang ibang tao sa aming dalawa ay bahala na sila doon. We have our mind, and we can't predict anyone's thought."

"Well... you only know yourself what's happening." Mebby said.

Natapos naman ang break namin at bumalik na kami sa mga pwesto namin. Bumalik naman sa discussion ang aming activites. Hindi ko alam pero nauuwi sa pagkabagot ang mood ko, nababawi ko lamang ang sarili ko sa tuwing magtatanong si Mebby sa akin. Napansin din naman niya iyon kaya hindi na niya ako tinigilan kausapin. She wouldn't want to keep me bored kaya dinaldal na niya ako.

"Students, please don't forget your homeworks, we'll be having some activites tomorrow, okay?" Miss Keltz announced, "see you around."

When our club hours dismissed, isa-isa naman kaming nagpaalam sa isa't isa. We were also excited for our activity tomorrow dahil na rin sa nalalapit na competition namin ay kailangan na naming pagpursigihan ang mga ito. We should learn, motivate and keep our focus on the game because if we failed to do our part, we also failed the club.

Papalabas pa lamang kaming dalawa ni Mebby ng club room nang tinawag ako ng isang member namin. Nagtaka pa ako dahil sunod nitong sinigaw ay ang boyfriend mo, agad naman akong kiniliti ni Mebby sa tagiliran ko dahil alam na niya kung sino iyong naghahanap sa akin. Nagmadali rin naman akong lumabas ng club room and to see Korg waiting there for me.

"Oh, Korg!" gulat ko pa nang makita ko siya.

He's just wearing a sando, carrying his duffel bag and I think he's gone off to the shower and from the gym because his muscles are firm and tight at the moment. Iniwasan ko namang mapatitig sa mga features niya, though mahirap talaga iyong gawin. Mebby even whispered on my ears, sherep. She joked but I know she's just making that up pero... that's true enough to see the precious being in front of us.

"I cannot see my girl?" he asked with a furrowed brow.

Umiling naman ako sa kanya, "am I your girl?" I chuckles.

He smirk, "ayaw mo ba?"

"Binibiro ka lang, ito naman!" pagpalo ko sa kanyang braso pero agad din naman akong pumulupot doon. I just noticed that Mebby were watching the two of us. "Oh, sorry! Mebs!"

She laugh, "no, it's okay, nakakatuwa lang kayong panoorin. But anyway, I gotta go!"

Nagpaalam naman si Mebby at pinanood namin itong maglakad palayo sa amin. Sinmulan na rin naman namin ni Korg ang maglakad, hindi ko nga alam kung saan kami papunta ngayon. I also asked kung galing nga ba siya ng gym because I can totally feel the muscle on his arms, and he did. He even videod himself during his workout para daw kapag matutulog na ako may papanoorin ako. Ang hangin talaga ng lalaking ito but gladly that I didn't even got the chance to hate him—maybe a little pero hindi na lumagpas doon.

"Saan ba talaga tayo pupunta?" pag-uulit ko sa kanya.

"You got to wait," aniya at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang kamay ko. "You surely wanted to see this."

Napakunot noo na lamang ako sa kanya, he's grinning and I don't even know what it means. May supresa ba siyang ipapakita sa akin? Nalulunod ako sa tanong ko at hindi ko alam kung anong sisimulan kong ahurin.

One of my questions has been answered when we reach the Counselor Office but curiosity speaks again, bakit naman ako idinala ni Korg dito? Hindi na naman ako nagtanong nang tumuloy na kami papasok sa loob ng office. It is always gonna be a nerve-cracking moment for everyone, even myself kapag papasok sa loob ng Counselor Office. And then I remember the time when korg and I got ourselves in trouble. Mabuti ay warning lamang ang nakuha namin doon at hindi malalang punishment.

"Pinatawag na naman ba tayo, Korg?" pagtatanong ko sa kanya ngunit hindi niya ako sinagot kundi itinutok niya ako sa direksyon kung saan nakatalikod sa amin. Mula sa kanyang postura ay nakilala ko ito pero hindi naman ako sigurado dahil baka kahulma lang din niya ito pero nang humarap ito sa amin, her eyes were red and I was surprised to see her like that.

"M-Mia, anong ginagawa mo dito?" I stuttered asking her.

"If it wasn't you, hindi naman mangyayari 'to." Mia said.

"Mia don't blame Alex." Korg defended. "You did this to yourself kaya 'wag mong sisihin si Alex. It is all your fault."

Her breathings were deep, coming out from sobs. "Korg, you're making a mistake for choosing her."

Korg smirk, "you know mistake I did before that until now I'm regretting... is that I love you." He took a deep breath, "don't make this hard for us, Mia. Just let it go. Move on, it is the best thing you need to do."

She shook her head, "and that's it? Okay, fine... if it's the karma for me. Then it's time."

"Wait—wait... what's happening, can anyone lighten me up?"

"She's the master of the robbing on your shop." Korg said, "the police caught the person she hired and busted her out after. Now she's going to have her punishment... and worst, maybe kick-out?"

"W-why would you do that, Mia?"

She smirk, didn't bother to answer my question.

"Miss Carreon, Miss Lathomia, come at the office."

Nang tawagin kami ng Counselor, tumuloy naman kami sa desk nito. I could totally feel Mia's shaking knees. Si Korg naman ay nakaantabay lamang sa tabi ko at nakikinig. The Counselor started speaking about Mia's crime issue. Nakayuko lamang si Mia habang tinatanong siya ng Counselor. She was just giving a nod and shaking head for an answer. And for the last time she's been ask why she did it, nasaktan ako nang sabihin niyang trip lang niya iyon at para makaganti sa akin sa pag-agaw ko sa kanya ni Korg.

I didn't stole Korg from her. Si Korg mismo ang umalis sa kanya.

Hindi ako makapaniwala kung bakit nagawa ni Mia iyon sa amin, for sake of her revenge ay dinawit niya pa ang pamilya ko. Hindi na naibalik ang perang nakuha sa shop namin. Mia even told na babayaran na lamang niya ang nakuha sa amin. I don't know what to say. Hindi ko nga siya matingnan nang maayos. I wanna feel sorry for her but I couldn't stand the fact that she did it because she just wanted to put me down.

"Miss Lathomia, you'll be having one month suspension as this is a serious matter for the school and your behaviour. If you keep abiding the school's policy, we couldn't help but to kick you out of Savvy. Miss Lathomia, your suspension starts tomorrow, no reprimandation."

"But Ma'am..." she begged but the Counselor didn't listen on her.

Mia stood up from her chair, run leaving the office, sobbing.

Lumabas na rin naman kami ni Korg and he told me not to worry about Mia dahil kung hindi naman niya idadamay ang parents ko at ang business namin ay hindi aabot sa ganito ang lahat. Mia did this on herself, kasalanan niya kung bakit siya na-suspend. Unti-unti namang pinalubag ni Korg ang loob ko.

"Saan mo gustong pumunta?"

Napakibit balikat naman ako sa kanta, "I think, sa bahay na lang muna... gusto ko munang magpahinga."

"Sure, wait for me here." Aniya.

Iniwan naman niya ako sa labas ng building at tumungo siya papunta sa parking lot.

Habang naghihintay ako ay ang dami-daming bagay ang tumatakbo sa isipan ko. I shouldn't be deprived of the things na hindi ko naman ginawa. I should be when it is my fault. Siguro nga nakikisama na sa akin ang panahon at bumabalik na sa dati ang lahat. Iyong simple at walang gulo. Mas better ang situation kung love at happiness ang papairalan...

And I found it when I found love and happiness at the same time.

He stopped his red Ferrari in front me, binuksan naman niya ang pinto sa loob, "hop in, babe." He called me out. Natigilan pa ako dahil sa pagtawag niya sa akin noon but it all comes into one point. Everything's getting clearer now.