Monasterio Series #2: After All

Kabanata 11

Kabanata 11

Kung nakakapatay lang ang titig, malamang ay pinaglalamayan na ngayon itong si Daniel. Pero gaano man katalim ang titig ko sa kanya, gaano ko man ipakita ang iritasyon ko dahil sa paghila niya sa akin mula sa taxing sinasakyan ko kanina, pakiramdam ko ay baliwala lang 'yon dahil sa ekpresyon ng mukha niya. He looks innocent, waiting for my answer, like he doesn't know the rumors circulating all over the school!

Siguradong alam niya na 'yon. He's just playing innocent. Siguro, wala siyang pakielam kung hiniwalayan niya si Emerald kagaya ng kawalan niya ng pakielam nang iwan niya si Santita. Kaya wala rin siyang pakielam kung nadadamay ako sa kalokohan niya dahil heto at dikit pa rin siya ng dikit sa akin. 

"Are we just going to stare at each other the whole day, Cheska?" he blinked and then shrugged his broad shoulders. "Well, I won't mind."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. My hands balled into fist due to intense annoyance. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa aking nakakuyom na kamao. He lifted his eyes and shot his brow up.

"How can you act innocently in front of me despite of the rumors spreading all over the school that's surely your fault, huh?" I spat those words with blazing fire.

"Rumors?" His brows lined in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Umikot ang mga mata ko sa bubong ng kotse at pinagkrus ang mga kamay sa ibabaw ng braso. I puffed an exasperated breath and looked at the view ahead us. Wala ng estudyante sa labas, nasisiguro kong malapit na magsimula ang klase.

"I told you, Daniel. I am not up for your games. Kung ano man ang dahilan mo kung bakit ka nakipaghiwalay kay Emerald, labas na ako roon."

"Wait, baby, what-"

"I told you not to call me baby!" I yelled as I glared at him. Bahagyang namilog ang mga mata niya, marahil ay nabigla sa biglaan pagsigaw ko. His lips was even separated a bit.

Itinikom niya ang bibig nang makabawi. Nagbawi siya ng tingin, huminga ng malalim at muling ibinalik sa akin ang atensyon.

"Fine, babe then-"

"Daniel!"

Bahagya siyang ngumuso, parang batang napagalitan. Muli siyang nagbuga ng hangin, kinagat ang labi at seryoso akong tinitigan sa mga mata.

"What is really happening, Cheska? Anong kinalaman ni Emerald sa init ng ulo mo ngayon?"

Lalong nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Wala ba talaga siyang ideya sa kumakalat na balita tungkol sa amin? Isn't he aware that we're now the talk of the town?

"Nakipaghiwalay ka sa girlfriend mo at ngayon, iniisip nilang ako ang dahilan kung bakit dahil sa lintek na mga litratong kumakalat!"

His eyes darkened. "Mouth, Cheska. You're not allowed to curse when you're with me," he spat, his serious and intimidating demeanor is now back. "And what pictures are you talking about?"

Convinced that he really doesn't know anything, I breathed an exhausted sigh and looked beside me where I can see the trees dancing its leaves through the slow rhythm of the wind.

"May kumakalat na pictures natin, we're talking beside your car. Nasa arena tayo, that's the time you pulled me out of there. The pictures were uploaded in the website. Sinabayan pa ng break up niyo ni Emerald. They're all assuming that I am the third party."

Daniel muttered a curse. Marahas na buntong hininga rin ang pinakawalan niya.

"I have no idea. Fuck, I don't even have the time to check our site..." he growled darkly. "I did break up with Emerald, Cheska. And the rumors are right, my reason has something to do with you."