Chapter 37

I haven't gone to school for a week. I need to have a rest not just one day, but one whole week. Buong linggo rin akong 'di nakatulog at nakakain nang maayos, so I really need a long rest.

Two weeks have passed since my Twin died. Sobrang hirap mag adjust! Seeing his bed, clothes, pictures, down to the living room, his place at the kitchen, our musical room, lahat ng 'yan kapag nakikita ko naalala ko siya. I am avoiding to weep, but I hardly can control myself. It's indeed hard to move on.

Today's Monday, at kinakailangan ko nang bumalik sa pag-aaral. Hindi naman ako naiiwanan sa klase 'cause Hillary always shared me her notes. She took a picture of it and sent it through messenger. By that, I can immediately cope up the lessons. All thanks to her, of course!

"Sky!" Veia approached me too soon as she'd seen me going inside, "okay ka na ba?" she asked.

I chuckled and sat at my seat, "ikaw pa talaga 'yong nagtanong niyan," I uttered. Siya 'tong iyak nang iyak, eh. Tapos halos gabi-gabi tumatawag sa'kin dahil gustong may makausap, eh 'di naman nagsasalita, puro iyak lang. "Pero, ako, okay na'ko," I added. Well, I'm really okay. I need to be okay. Mom's still not fine, lagi niya pa ring natatawag ang pangalan ni Sun and I do understand her. So, I really need to be strong for my Mom.

"Ako, okay na rin," she replied, smiling. "Unti-unti ko nang natatanggap, pero ang hirap-hirap pa rin kalimutan," she added.

"Let's just think that Sun is in another country, let's not bear in our mind that he died," I uttered.

"Kung ganiyan lang kadali."

"Try it, Vee. It will work. Not now, but soon."

"I hope."

"Ano na naman?" Hillary suddenly asked Andrei, somehow annoyed?

"What's happening?" I asked with confusion.

Veia giggled, "these past few days, Andrei's annoying Hillary to hell. Hindi niya binubully, pero jinojoke niya si Hillary to show his feelings," she replied and my brows knitted right away.

So, this is how outdated am I when it comes to my classmates? Tss.

"I just want to give you this," Andrei handed her a paper.

"Stop giving me sh*ts! Your letters had so many grammatical errors!" Hillary said, at hindi ko alam kung ba't natawa sila.

"Hindi man lang ma-appreciate 'yong letter," and that's Driana. Tsk, tsk! Someone's jealous over here.

"Pinacheck ko na 'yan. Basahin ko pa 'yan sa harap mo," Andrei said, chinned-up. Woah, confident.

Hillary stood up and stares straight at his eyes, "make it sure, or else, I'll photocopy this and send it to your parents," Andrei chuckled, "I'm dead serious," she's somehow giving a warning.

"Fine, fine!" Andrei said. "Next time, hindi ko na ipapacheck 'yong letter ko para ipaphotocopy mo at ibibigay mo sa parents ko," he's damn smiling when he said that.

"So? What's good about it?" mataray na tanong niya.

"Pwede na kitang ipakilala sa mga magulang ko," he replied, showing his damn smirk.

"AYOWN!" his friends exclaimed in a chorus.

"Cliche," Driana uttered and walked out.

"Selos na selos," Veia whispered.

Hillary has been staring at him, "dream on," she said and they all laughed again.

"Hillary, it's fate that-"

"Fated," she corrected.

"Alright. Nakalimutan lang. It's 'fated' that you'll meet my parents."

Hillary slightly laughed that makes Andrei smiled, "4 over 5," she uttered.

"Ha?"

"You got one mistake, so you scored 4. Converse with me in English and if you speak straight without any mistakes, I'll meet your parents."

Lahat yata kami natahimik. Si Andrei hinahamon niya sa ganiyan? Eh, laging 75 sa English subject 'yan, eh. Okay, good luck! Tss!

"Totoo?" he asked.

"What?" oh, I guess her challenge starts now.

"Really?" Andrei asked, smiling.

"What's going on?" Miss Amon asked as she'd went inside. Lahat naman ng mga kaklase kong nakatayo ay nagsibalikan na sa upuan nila, even Hillary and Andrei.

"Nothing, Ma'am," they all said in a chorus.

She nodded, "then, let's start the class," she said. "Oh, Sky, you're back," she'd suddenly uttered when she saw me.

"Yes, Ma'am," I answered.

"Are you now fine?"

"Opo, Ma'am."

"Alright. Pero, kung gusto mong malaman 'yong lessons nang wala ka you can just come to my office, I'll give a soft copy of it."

"No need, Ma'am."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Hillary's been sharing her notes with me," I said, smiling. Hillary looked at me with her brow arched up, as if she's not expecting me to say it.

"Ayown! May rival si boy Andrei," Greg interfered.

Rival? Sh*t that rival.

"Oh, that's nice of you, Miss Madrigal," Miss Amon said, but note that her tone is somehow teasing Hillary. Tsk!

"You should have asked for my notes, Sky. Gumawa rin naman ako," Veia whispered. Well, she didn't go back to her seat, nakaupo siya ngayon sa upuan ni Sun.

"I-I'm sorry. Nagsisend kasi agad si Hillary, eh," I replied, and she just nodded, smiling bitterly? Weird.

The class went fine. At, sa wakas free time na. Two hours 'yong free time, so I'd decided to go to the library.

"Sky," Hillary called me when I was about to leave the room.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Sa'n pun-"

"I'll go with you, Sky," Veia suddenly said and grabbed me.

"W-Wait, I'll just talk with Hillary," I said.

"Huwag na. Give her time to bond with Andrei," she replied at tuluyan niya na nga akong hinila. "Sa'n ba punta mo?" she asked.

"Sa library."

Give her time to bond with Andrei? Ano ba sila? Tss.

Nang makarating kami ro'n naghanap agad ako ng vacant seat at buti na lang walang katao-tao ngayon dito kaya nakahanap ako agad. Kumuha na rin ako ng mga libro. I prioritized General Physics 1, 'di ako masyadong nakapagfocus sa librong 'yan, eh. I started reading right after I found it.

"Vee," I called her attention, "why are you reading the books of ABM students?" I asked.

"I want to manage a business, Sky. I'll take BSBA in college," she replied.

"Ha? Ba't ka nag STEM kung gusto mong mag manage ng business soon?"

"Si Mama lang naman ang may gusto na mag nursing ako."

"Bakit?"

"Practicality. Para raw kapag may nagsakit sa pamilya at isa na akong nurse, eh may advantage silang makukuha. Kaya lang, wala naman akong interest sa medicine courses, eh. Natatakot nga ako sa injection at dugo."

We really are so different. Ako, I love seeing injections, I love the hospital's ambiance, I love their uniform, I love everything about being a Doctor.

"Pursue your dreams," I said and she nodded immediately. "Hindi naman sila 'yong mageeffort para makuha 'yong mga pangarap mo, they're just there to support you," I added.

"Why are you still following me?"

Sabay kaming napalingon sa kabilang table nang marinig namin 'yon.

"Just want to be in you...all the time," Andrei replied. I really don't know if he's being real or she's playing with Hillary.

"With you not in you," she corrected him again and Andrei just scratched his head. "Just sit there, read books, and don't be a nuisance if you want to be with me," she said. She suddenly looked at me, I smiled, but she didn't give a damn, umupo na siya agad.

"Magbasa na tayo ulit," Veia said.

I nodded and continued reading, but damn, I can't focus!

"Hillary?" Andrei called her again for the nth time!

"Hmm?" she's getting annoyed, no doubt.

"Bakit nakatabon sa mukha mo 'yong libro habang nagbabasa ka?"

"Para 'di kita makita."

"Ouch! You has been hurting my feelings!"

"Have been."

"Nakalimutan lang."

"Linya mo, mukhang ikaw."

"Bakit?"

"Nakakaumay."

I secretly chuckled. I don't even know why on earth am I listening to them. Tsk!

"Pero, gwapo naman ako, ah," Andrei uttered again.

"Sinabi ko bang hindi?" she asked, and I immediately looked at her, "you're handsome, but damn, you're a nuisance," she added.

But, she still finds her handsome. That's the point.

"Sky," Veia called me, so I looked at her too soon. "May gusto ka ba kay Hillary?"

And, I was caught off guard! I looked at Hillary again and she's looking at me! N-Narinig niya yata 'yong tanong ni Veia.

D-Damn!