Dark Phoenix #2: Echoes Of Lies

CHAPTER 22

Chapter 22

Lunch break came. As soon as the teacher dismissed the whole class I immediately keep my binder inside my bag while I put my ballpen inside my skirt. Inisang hawi ko ang buhok ko bago tumayo ng tuwid.

"Hi, Cassandra! May kasabay ka bang maglunch? Sama ka sa 'min!"

I look at the three girls smiling and standing right beside me. I smile curtly and shook my head.

"Thank you but may kasabay na kasi ako." I said, "Una na ako," I excuse myself and left the room.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bag then I opened the message applications and saw Jin's message.

Jin Brazen:

Canteen near the Engineering building.

I reply 'Ok.' at tsaka ibinalik ang cellphone sa bag. I was smiling on my way to the cafeteria when I was bumped to a tall body of a familiar person.

"I'm sorry!"

I heard the guy chuckled.

"No, that's fine. Next time look at your way." he said while smiling.

I nodded my head and say sorry again before leaving.

At the Engineering's cafeteria, I already heard Ken's loud voice cursing Lexus while the others are laughing. I dunno but they looks like a children teasing each other.

"Gago ka!" Ken cussed.

"Wag kang mag-alala mas gago ka." Lexus said.

I heard Ken muttered another cursed before standing up and sat beside the always quiet Ramjen.

"Pre, dito na lang ako. Putangina kasi ni Lexus."  tinaasan lang siya ng kilay ni Ramjen at sumipsip sa can Coke na hawak.

Tinapik ko ang balikat ni Jin para ipaalam na nakarating na ako bago naupo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi niya.

"Hey," I nod my head.

Tiningnan ko isa-isa ang mga nakaupo sa lamesa para tingnan kung nandito rin ba si Kuya pero wala. It looks like Jin know what's on my mind so he answered.

"He ditched the SocSci class. 'Di pa rin siya bumabalik."

Tipid ko na lang siyang nginitian at kinuha ang ibinigay niyang bottled juice. I sip on its mouth while typing my password. I opened my IG app and browse. My face heated immediately after seeing Jin's post 2 days ago. It was me busy on my book while biting the tip of my pen. My forehead were creased and I remember on this picture that I was having a hard time understanding the example written on the book.

"I'm asking you what else do wanna eat?" I was startled by Jin's voice and makes my face burn more is after realising that Jin is just beside and I was staring at the picture on my phone for about a minute now. This is so embarrassing.

"H-huh? A-anything but pasta." I stuttered.

"Hmm, 'kay."

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin pagkatao niya. Nang makalapit na siya sa counter ay tsaka ko lang binalikan ng tingin ang screen ng Phone ko. Torn between liking the picture or just scroll up. In the end I chose the latter.

"Here."

"Thank you,"

Kinuha ko sa kaniya ang nakabalot pa sa tissue na sandwich. Me being me, Sinilip ko muna ang spread nito bago ito kinagatan. It's a tuna spread sandwich. But I like egg sandwich iyon nga lang hindi nagtitinda dito sa cafeteria no'n.

"They don't have egg sandwich." I smiled at Jin. "This is okay."

Isang buong buwan ang matuling lumipas. University at bahay lang ako kapag wala ako sa mood na sumama kay Jin. I got a bit busy too because of my papers. Buwan pa lang ang nakakalipas ay may papel na agad kailangan matapos ko bago pa pumasok ang unang linggo ng susunod na buwan.