Flaws To Your Perfect (PUBLISHED UNDER PAPERINK IMPRINTS)

Flaw #5

"TEAGAN, what really happened here?" tanong ng faci sa akin as soon as I got inside the auditorium.

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago hinanda ang ngiting nahirapan akong ilabas for the first time. I usually have a good control over my emotions because I'll rather act rationally than let my wild emotions control me and my actions. That could cause too much regret later on kaya I tried my best to have control over it all the time.

Ngunit ang pagkairita ko mula kanina ay mukhang nangingibawbaw ngayon. I was sure of that nang makadalawang beses akong balingan ng tingin ng faci.

"I heard Mr. Avila harassed you?" tanong ng isa sa mga professor kasabay ng matalim nitong tingin kay Rookie na akmang aangal pa ngunit naputol iyon nang mapabaling kaming lahat sa may door two ng auditorium kung saan problemadong pumasok ang principal.

She stared at Rookie's bruised face and sighed heavily before turning to Paige who was quietly following behind her. Kasunod nila ang iba pa naming mga kaibigan na halata ang kaba sa mukha.

"Teagan?" tawag ni Ma'am Lala na mabilis kong sinagot.

"Are you alright?" nag-aalala niyang tanong. Inodded at her before shifting my eyes to her side where Paige was also staring at me, waiting for me to answer.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry to cause such a ruckus tonight," panimula ko. "But Rookie's the first to disturb us and utter suggestive words. He even resorted in using violence against us, women."

"T-Teagan—"

"No one asked for your input yet, Mr. Avila," mariing putol ni Paige kay Rookie kasama ang matalim nitong tingin.

If looks could kill, Rookie's would probably held his funeral tomorrow. Paige's piercing angry eyes were staring at him sharply. It was funny how that huge guy cowered over someone like Paige.

"Paige," babalang tawag ni Ma'am Lala sa kanyang pamangkin na tahimik lamang na umirap bilang tugon sa kanyang tiyahin.

Rookie immediately explained his twisted truth as soon as he was asked for his side of the story. According to him, he went up to us with a friendly intent and Paige suddenly hit him.

"Teagan," tawag ni Ma'am Lala sa akin after hearing Rookie's statement. Kasalukuyan na kaming nakaupo sa set ng monoblock chairs na in-arrange pabilog sa gitna ng auditorium after they sent the students out to dispute this ruckus.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I wan't you to supervise the community service of these two—-"

"Ma'am Lala/Tita!" sabay na putol sa kanya nina Rookie at Paige but Ma'am Lala didn't mind all of their protest and instead focused her attention to me.

"Supervised them well, Teagan. Ayoko nang makarinig pa ng ganitong incident," ani ng principal bago matalim ang mga tingin na bumaling kay Rookie. "Are we clear with that, Mr. Avila?"

Rookie looked like he still have something else to say but his coach pulled him back at pinanlakihan siya ng mata kaya naman ay wala na siyang nagawa kung 'di ang tahimik at bigong pagtango sa utos ng punong-guro.

"Siguraduhin mo lang. This would be the first and final warning for you. The school wouldn't tolerate harassment. Do this again and I would go directly to expulsion for your punishment."

"Paige?" baling naman nito sa katabi na nakangusong tumango bago bumaling ang tingin sa akin.

I felt my heart skip a beat nang muling mag-tama ang tingin namin dalawa. Kanina ko pa kasi pilit na iniiwasan ang kanyang mga titig dahil pakiramdam ko ay mawawala ako sa wisyo dala ng inis at . . . dahil na rin sa pagririgodon ng dibdib ko.

"Alright. Teagan, please come to my office first thing in the morning on Monday for the final instructions regarding their punishments." Tumango ako bilang tugon sa kanya bago sumabay sa pagtayo ng lahat.

"It's been a long night. Let's call it a day," Ma'am Lala announced before leaving the auditorium first, followed by the other faculties and facilitators. Sumunod rin kaagad sa paglabas sina Rookie at ang kanyang coach na siyang nagsilbing guardian niya kanina.

Now, it all went down to the two of us.

Paige cleared her throat as she stood up from her chair and walked towards me. Pinilit kong pakalmahin ang sarili sa kabila ng nagwawala kong puso para mapanatili ang seryosong ekspresiyoon sa mukha ko.

I wanted to let her know na hindi ko nagustuhan ang ginawa niya. Alam kong gusto niya lang akong protektahan, but I don't want her turning to violence everytime. Ikapapahamak niya lamang iyon, tulad ng nangyari ngayon.

"Teagan," tawag niya nang hindi na matiis ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Between us kasi ay madalas na ako ang makwento. I usually carry our conversation and I'm fine with it. Masaya na ako na hindi na siya ilag sa akin at na hindi na niya ako pinagtataguan pa. Kaya siguro ay nahalata niyang medyo galit ako sa kanya dahil sa pananahimik ko.

"Teagan—"

"I didn't like what you did, Paige," putol ko sa kanya.

She bit her lower lip and averted her eyes elsewhere. Hinubad niya ang leather jacket na suot, leaving her on her black tube. I had to blink a lot of times to prevent myself from staring too much.

What the hell's happening on me?!

Kailan ako nag-umpisang humanga sa katawan ng kapwa ko babae?

But her collarbones were really pretty, it suits her fair skin very well.

Halos sampalin ko ang sarili dahil sa mga naiisip. I keep having those weird thoughts everytime I'm with her. I have an idea what it is . . . I just don't want to acknowledge it. I can't . . . I can't be swinging that way . . . right?

That's just too absurd.

No.

"I just . . . that asshole . . . Fine, I'm sorry." Nabalik ako sa wisyo nang marinig ang hirap na hirap at pabago-bago niyang bulong sa hangin. She don't look sincere when she said sorry but I understand why. It was out of her character to say that just to end a fight.

"You're sorry about what exactly?" I asked her.

Binasa niya ang kanyang labi at tila problemadong kumunot ang noo nang muli akong harapin. "I don't know. Just . . . whatever made you mad, I'm sorry."

Maingay akong napangisi bago tuluyang tumayo. There's no point getting mad at her now.

"Let's go—" Napalingon ako pabalik sa kanya nang maramdaman ko ang pamilyar niyang mga daliring pumalibot sa wrist ko.

"Are you still mad?" she asked solemnly. Her eyes sparkled a bit from the light coming from the fluorescent lights from the auditorium's ceiling.

Umawang ang mga labi ko kasabay ng dalawang beses na paglunok.

This is dangerous, Teagan. Usal ko sa sarili but I know . . . I know I was already too late to step back.

"Huwag ka nang magalit, Teagan." Her weird accent in speaking tagalog was not enough to pull me away from the reverie her beautiful chinky eyes gave me.

"Teagan . . ." She called out once again. Naglalambing ang kanyang boses . . . or that was how I hear it?

"H-hindi ako galit," nauutal kong sagot bago iniwas ang tingin sa kanya at pasimpleng inalis ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko.

I heard her step away from her chair. Naramdaman ko ang presensya niya sa likuran ko. Mariin kong nakagat ang pang-ibabang labi ko kasabay nang mariin kong pag-pikit.

This is not normal.

Hindi normal na ganito ang maging reaksiyon ko dahil sa isang kaibigan. That much I can admit.

"Paige—" Isang singhap ang kumawala sa mga labi ko nang maramdaman ang braso niyang pumalibot sa katawan ko mula sa likuran kasabay nang pagdaan ng kanyang hininga sa may braso ko.

"I'm sorry. Na-carried away lang ako. I let my anger take over . . . I'm sorry. Don't be mad anymore."

Damn, Paige! Stop this, please!