Paper Planes (Sandejas Siblings: Companion Book)

Kabanata 15

Kabanata 15

"LENA, NAASIKASO MO na ang requirements?" My eyes left the empty chair beside me when Cecille spoke in front of me.

Kaagad ko siyang binalingan at ngumiti ng maliit.

"H-Hmm?"

"Naayos mo na ang requirements?" She asked again and I slowly nodded.

"Y-Yeah," sagot ko.

Her eyes shifted from my face to the envelope I am holding.

"Ayos ka lang?" She lowered her face to look at me.

"Oo naman," I smiled at her happily but she never smiled back at me. Instead, sadness filled her eyes, dumukwang siya at nang yumakap siya sa akin ay doon na ako nanghina ng tuluyan, hindi na napigilan ang pagtulo ng mga luha ko.

The smile I faked faded, nang maramdaman ang lungkot ay unti-unti nang kumawala ang hagulgol sa bibig ko.

"C-Cess..." I sobbed.

"Shh, Lena..." she murmured. "It's alright, nandito lang ako."

"I-I let him go..." I murmured. "T-That's for him, I want him to succeed."

"I understand," she caressed my hair while I sob on her shoulder. "Sometimes, we have to sacrifice for the greater good. Minsan...makakasakit talaga tayo but you see, it's a part of life."

"I-I don't want to hurt him but I did." I murmured. "I love him so much, Cess... I just... I just want him to go after his dreams."

"I know Jer will understand it," hindi na ako sumagot at mahinang umiyak habang yakap ang kaibigan ko.

When she realized I was slowly calming down, she went down stairs to get me some water. Nakita kong unti-unting nagkakatao ang classroom para sa orientation ng nalalapit na graduation.

I slowly lowered my head when I caught some classmates looking at me, the curiosity, judgment and things I couldn't quite comprehend was written on their faces. Nagsama-sama ang mga graduating students para isahan na lang.

I saw Brittany's group entering the large room. Isang titig pa lang sa akin ay narinig ko na ang bulungan nilang hindi ko maintindihan.

They sat on the seat almost in front of me, nakita ko pa ang ngisi sa akin ni Brittany pero nag-iwas lang ako ng tingin at itinago ang mukha ko.

Ang maingay na kwarto ay biglang naging tahimik, akala ko'y dahil dumating na ang speaker pero isang tili at tawag ng pangalang pamilyar ay nagwala na ang puso ko.

"Hello, Jer!" Brittany's voice filled the place.

Marahas akong napalunok, nakagat ko ang labi at dahan-dahang nag-angat ng tingin. My heart stopped when our eyes met.

His forehead creased, looking at me. His jaw tightened and his cold eyes almost made me weak.

Nagbaba ako ng tingin at kumuyom ang kamao.

But then, I froze when I saw a pair of shoes in front of me.

"May nakaupo?" His cold, baritone voice filled my ear.

Nagpa-panic na nag-angat ako ng tingin at mabilis na umiling.

"W-Wala..." I murmured.

He nodded, nagpamulsa at naupo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ko.

Halos hindi ako makahinga ng maayos. I noticed the stares from our batchmates, masama rin ang tingin sa akin ni Brittany pero ang kaba ko ay para kay Ejercito na nasa tabi ko.