A Silence In The Chaos

Silence 8: Reflect

Silence Eight

"Attention..." I repeated these words like a chant or ritual. I stared at nowhere as I took in what he said.

Bumalik si Noah sa kanyang apartment dala dala ang pinagkainan ko. Kahit na nag insist ako na huhugasan ko muna bago ibalik sa kanya'y hindi siya nagpapilit.

Hindi pa ako nakakabawi mula sa mga iniisip ko ay nakita kong muli si Noah sa pintuan ng aking apartment. Halos mapaatras ako sa gulat. I though he was just here to make sure that I eat what he served.

"N-noah. Bakit ka bumalik?"

Bihis na siya sa kanyang pambahay. He's now dressed in white trunk project t-shirt and gray sweat shorts.

Without answering, he effortlessly lifted me off my chair and carried me in a bridal style. I squealed and encircled my arms around his neck.

"Sir Noah!"

"Hmm?" he slightly bended so he could close my laptop. His eyes roamed around the apartment and landed on my dining table where the key to the apartment is placed. He walked us there and grabbed the key.

I hit his chest. "Ano bang ginagawa mo?"

"Taking you with me," sagot niya.

"Huh?" kumunot ang aking noo.

Inayos niya ang pagkakabuhat sa akin kaya napigil ang pagtatalo namin. He chuckled.

"You look thin on the outside but you're heavy," aniya.

Sinimangutan ko siya habang isinasarado niya ang pinto ng aking apartment.

"Bakit mo ba yon ginawa?" I moved, expecting to free myself from him but there was just no way. "At hindi mo pa shinut down ang laptop ko! Ang exam ko hindi ka nasesave! At masisira ang laptop ko!"

"You have Thelma to blame," sagot niya.

"Why?"

"This is her idea. Ayaw mo raw magpapilit sa kanya. She made me do the job," nagkibit balikat siya at nagdirediretso sa katabing apartment.

"At kailan mo pa naging boss si Thelma?" mariin kong sabi.

"Don't worry. I'll gladly type your test paper for you," his lip tipped up and he stopped walking. We are in front of his window instead of his door. "And I'll get your laptop fixed if it stops working."

I rolled my eye. "Hindi lang naman test paper ang naroon. Nandoon din ang grades ng mga bata. Anong gusto mong gawin ko? Hulaan na lang yung grade nila?"

"Pst!" a voice called to our side.

Agad akong napatingin sa apat na pares ng matang nanonood sa amin.

"Bakit ang tagal niyo diyan? Magkatabi lang kayo ng apartment ah," nagtaas ng kilay si Thelma. Habang si sir Allen at Frank naman ay may mapangasong ngiti.

I wanted to hide my face in shame.

"I-ibaba mo na ako," mahina kong saad kay Noah. "Kaya ko nang maglakad. At nasa iyo rin naman ang susi ko."

My feet touched the ground as he slowly put me down. Then I removed my arms that I forgot was still around his neck.

Tumikhim ako at nauna sa loob ng kanyang apartment. Ramdam kong nakasunod lamang siya sa akin kaya mas lalo kong binilisang makapunta sa tabi ni Thelma. Inirapan ko ang kaibigan ko nang matabihan siya.

"Rupok," bulong niya sa akin. "Gusto mo pala binubuhat. Sige buhatin din kita next time."

Tinampal ko ang kanyang braso. Tatawa tawa niyang pinigilan ang aking kamay.