Chapter 8

Fertile

When I step out of the bus, I could feel the weight of my body, it almost feels like the world is hitting on me now and when I speak, my breath were so hot and I don't know why. Tumuloy naman ako papasok sa loob ng bahay, I was greeted by my parents nang makita nila ako but then I got no strength to do the same but I just smiled at them but it's too weak to compose myself and so I headed upstairs and I left them with all their conscious reactions, they called out for me but I didn't get to do a respond.

When I get inside of my room, mabilisan lang din naman ang pagpalit ko nang damit at ilang saglit lang din ay bumagsak na ang katawan ko sa kama. Hinigit ko naman ang kumot para sa ibalot sa buong katawan, hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nilamig na lang nang bigla.

"Alex?" Mom came in the room and when she saw me covered in blanket, she come closer and have her hands dive in my neck and feel my temperature. "You're hot, Alex... not literally honey the way I speak honey but you're sick."

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako sa sinabi ni Mommy but still I can't react on it.

"I'll prepare some hot soup and then you'll get to your medicine after, okay?" she said.

Tumango na lang din naman ako sa kanya at pinanood ko siyang lumabas ng kwarto. Gustong gusto ko nang matulog para kinabukasan ay maayos na ang pakiramdam ko pero mabilis akong napabalikwas sa kinahihigaan ko nang maalala ko ang mga homeworks ko. Kahit na hindi gumagana nang maayos ang utak ko ay pinilit kong gawin ang homeworks ko.

Umabot ako nang thirty minutes matapos lang ang isang homework, panay tulo ang aking sipon kaya hindi ko patigil-tigil din ang ginagawa ko. Saglit lang din naman ay bumalik si Mommy na hawak ang isang tray na may bowl of soup at ang gamot na iinomin ko after. Sumunod din namang pumasok si Daddy at nginitian naman niya ako.

"So, how's our baby girl?" He teases.

"Dad!" I scowled pero dahil wala akong energy para gawin iyon para sabihing naiinis ako, hindi effective dahil medyo malat ang boses ko.

"Eat this honey and after your med, okay?" ani Mommy saka inabot sa akin iyong bowl of soup at kinuha naman sa akin ni Daddy iyong homework ko. Habang humihigop ako ng sabaw ay napakunot noon a lang din naman ako dahil nakatingin sila sa akin na parang naaawa sa lagay ko.

"Ang weird niyo." Sabi ko dahil hindi nila ako inaalisan ng tingin. "You can go back downstairs and do guys your thing."

"What thing?" inosenteng tanong pa ni Mommy. "What are you talking about, Alex?"

Agad naman akong umiling sa sinabi niya, wala iyon, masyado lang malawak ang aking pag-iisip at dahil na rin sa nararamdaman ko. Nag-iinit ako. Not in sexual matters, though.

"You're not going to school tomorrow, Alex." Dad said, natigilan naman ako sa paghigop ko nang sabaw. "You need to rest... just for a day."

I shook my head for disagreeing, "I don't think I can't do that, Dad." I said, "this is an actual school, absences will make an impact on my standing and I couldn't risk it. "Homeschooled is different on going to an actual school. Homeschooling can be moved and this, isn't. I can stay but I can't."

Sabay na napahinga nang malalim ang parents ko at ramdam ko sila doon. It is like they were talking through eyes, right just in front of me and I couldn't figure out what they were telephatizing. And I think when they agree to a decision, they both look at me afterwards, just by raising my brow because I stil couldn't know how they did it.

"What just happened?" I asked but they didn't mind it.

Mom nodded, as if they concluded to their decision. "Okay, we'll give it to you this time but when it happens again, you should obey us, okay?"

Mabilis naman akong tumango sa kanilang dalawa, "I will... thank you."

"You better finished up the bowl, so you can get your med." Dad said.

I salud on him, "yes, sir!"

Iniwan naman nila akong dalawa saka lumabas nang kwarto. Pinagpatuloy ko na lang din naman ang pagkain ko nang soup, naging okay naman ang pakiramdam ko kahit paano at saglit lang din ay sinunod ko nang ininom ang gamot ko. Mabilis din naman akong tinamaan nang antok, dahil na rin sa pagod at tamlay nang katawan ko.

-

Kinabukasan nang magising ako, umo-okay okay na rin naman ang pakiramdam ko pero hindi pa rin ganoon kasigla ang katawan ko pero kailangan ko pa ring pumasok sa Savvy. It is just the first week of school, hindi ko kailangan ng absences sa record ko at ayokong sabihan nila akong tamad dahil lang sa may sakit ako, though, siguro sa nangyari talaga kahapon ay nagkasakit ako.

When I took the shower, it's half of cold and hot water, para hindi mabigla ang sistema ko. Mabilis rin naman akong nakapagpalit on my uniform saka ako bumaba para sumama sa breakfast with my parents. Nang madatnan ko sila sa dining, si Daddy na nagbabasa nang diyaryo at si Mommy na abala sa pagprepare ng pagkain sa mesa at nang makita nila akong paparating ay agad namang inusog ni Daddy ang upuan doon para makaupo ako.

Dinampi naman ni Daddy ang likod ng kamay niya sa leeg ko, "you're still hot, Alex... do you still stand on your decision?"

Tumango naman ako sa kanya, "yes, Dad... I wouldn't change it."

Napakibit balikat na lang din si Daddy, "okay but before you go, get some med first, okay?"

"I will!" Ganado 'kong sagot sa kanya but deep inside, walang wala akong kagana-gana.

I hardly touch my breakfast, simula nang mailagay iyon sa harapan ko ay hindi ko pa nagagalaw at kung kakain man, pilit at kauntingb piraso lang din ang makakakain ko. My parents understand my condition pero syempre, ayaw nilang malipasan ako ng gutom pero hindi ko talaga kayang pilitin ang sarili kong kumain kung wala akong gana. Mom just packed me some sandwiches at pinabaon na lang sa akin ang gamot ko incase na tumaas na naman ang temperature ko.

Hindi rin katagalan, dumating na ang school bus ko. Nagpaalam naman ako sa kanila at tumungo papasok sa loob, I took the seat behind the bus driver who greeted me with energy but I just give him a weak smile instead. Some also greeted me pero hindi ko na nagawang balingan sila nang atensyon, sabihan man nila ako nang snobber, I couldn't help myself but just to stay put na lang.

It doesn't take long when we reach Savvy. The school bus parked itself on the right spot, and one by one we walked out of it and headed straight to the main building and as I came closer to the entrance, I felt so cold and all the things I felt last night is also the same.

"Axel!" When that voice calls out some names, I immediately figured out who was it and when he came to me, he's smiling too wide when he greeted me. "What's with the mood? Kay aga-aga."

I just shrugged off my shoulder and didn't mind to give a respond, instead we walked straight to our first subject. I sat on my chair and dunk my head on the armchair. Pee shooter's keep wiggling me but I didn't bother to lift up my head and stopped him instead he murmurs something I couldn't even understand.

"Okay, Mr. Sawyer's here..." when he whisper that, I immediately life up my head and sees the beautiful man in a red hair. "And now... that's how you woke up." he said but I didn't mind.

Mr. Sawyer started his lecture and I think not anyone are interested but most of the girls are into looking him so attentively, it is just because Korg looks so much of him or it just because Korg has simply has his father's features and I think that's good because all I can think of right now is seeing this like sculpted creature who were formed into a human being planted with a red hair, waving alone without the participation of the wind. It is so smooth that you wanna smell it.

"Miss Carreon."

Pee shooter got to poke me and I easily got irritated by it and roll my eyes on him but when he pointed the direction where our professor is, my eyes shifted from him to Mr. Sawyer and all of my classmates attention were on me.

Agad naman akong napatayo sa kinauupuan ko pero bigla namang nagtawanan iyong mga iba kong kaklase, hindi ko ma-gets kung anong nangyari at hindi ko rin alam sa sarili ko kung bakit ako tumayo nang biglaan.

Bumaling ang tingin ko kay Mr. Sawyer.

"Are you in my class, Miss Carreon?" he asked.

I timidly nodded on him, couldn't bear the humiliation I'm getting. And when I look at Pee Shooter's he's giving me some hand languages to sit down and when I do, and look again in front of me, I left Mr. Sawyer with that answer and I couldn't be having this kind of a bad day.

"Are you sure, Miss Carreon?" he asked.

"Y-Yes... sir." I stuttered and I think he was satisfy on my answer.

"Good to hear that," he said, "because you were staring straight right into me, and I couldn't even figure out if you're listening or just spaced out." he explained. "But whatever Miss Carreon... we all just need a little fun, right?"

Napangiwi na lang din naman ako sa sinabi niya at pinili ko na lang mag-notes habang nagsasalita siya para kahit papaano ay mawala ang atensyon ko sa kanya. Korg and Mr. Sawyer really have the opposite attitude, his father has humor but Korg has this kind of a serious, boring aura but still every girls find him sexy and hot—and I'm not opposing to that structure because we see what it is.

Mr. Sawyer's class ended, and I immediately walk out of his class para hindi na niya ako mapansin. Didn't even know that I left Pee shooter inside, he run towards following me.

"What's the matter with you, Alex?" he asked, rolling his eyes.

I shrugged off, "don't know... just didn't feel like talking."

"Cause of what?"

I shake my head, I'm tired of even saying a word.

When we reach our second class, I couldn't even cope up with what's happening. I don't feel like jotting down some notes, couldn't participate in class recitations and all I feel like coming out from me is the heat. Heat from both of eyes, clogged nose and chill breath. Luckily, our class dismissed early and got to take my sandwich were to where we headed.

"I feel like something's wrong..." Pee shooter said, looking at me from head to toe. "But what is it?" he said and he raise his brow, he grab my arms but when he notice that I'm too warm and immediately put his back of his hand on my forehead and he only came into one conclusion, "you're fertile, girl."

"Philippe!" I scowled but followed by coughed.

He was bit of a shock when I call his name, "you don't get to call me like that, you're really sick, girl."

Tumango naman ako sa kanya, "I know..."

"What?!" he exclaimed, "why didn't you even tell and I could have you attended on the clinic."

"I brought my medicine." Sabi ko naman sa kanya, "this will go away..."

"When did this happen?"

"Yesterday... when I got home." I said, "but don't worry about it, I can still carry myself."

Agad naman siyang umiling sa akin, "no... you're not, we're going to the clinic and just give yourself a rest for a minute." He said but I try to disagree because there's a lot of things we got to do, "please... Alex."

"Oh, you're also sick." I chuckles 'cause he says my name without even mentioning stranger's name.

He rolled his eyes, "whatever... just come with me, okay?"

I nodded timidly.

"Thank you..."

He smiled, "do better this time, and so I could make fun of you, okay?"

"Whatever, Philippe."

"That's too disgusting hearing it from you." he said. "But you're my friend, we bitch each other."