Chapter 5

New

"Where's Felo?"

Napahinto ako sa paghahalo ng tinitimplang kape. I turned my back at the kitchen counter just to face Sky. I blinked sleepily.

"Nasa kwarto ko," I weakly said.

Natigilan siya. Marahil dahil sa matamlay na estado ko. It made him stare at me. He looked at me for quite a while. It was as if he was trying to figure out something. I almost thought he would open his mouth to ask me. My heart skipped a beat at the thought.

But then he just let out a sigh. He just sighed. Lightly. Before giving me a soft nod. Then he turned to the direction of my room.

I can't help but sigh in relief too. I don't feel like being asked right now too anyway. Cause I don't even know what to answer anymore. Sadyang may mga ganitong araw lang kasi talaga ako. Yung parang walang lakas at walang ganang harapin ang panibagong araw. Tila normal na lang at walang espesyal na rason sa likod ng ganitong pakiramdam ko.

Habang sinusundan siya ng tingin ay kusang umarko ang kilay ko. Dire-diretso ang lakad niya papasok sa kwarto ko. Tila wala man lang pagdadalawang isip. He seems to be getting too comfortable on going in and out of my room. While I haven't even took a single step inside his room. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung anong itsura ng kwarto niya dahil hindi pa ko nakakasilip doon.

I looked away in panic when he came out of the door with Felo on his arms. Binalik ko ang atensyon sa ginagawa. Kinuha ko na ang tasa at umupo sa lamesa.

I took my breakfast briefly why Sky and Felo stayed in the living room. Nang matapos ako ay kinuha ko na ang bag ko sa kwarto. Ang gamit naman ni Sky ay nakahanda na rin sa tabi niya.

He stood up when he saw me coming out. Sinukbit niya na rin ang mga dala niya habang maingat pa rin ang pagkakakarga kay Felo.

Tahimik kaming nakababa habang papuslit-puslit ako ng tingin sa cute na si Felo. Her clean white and coffee-colored hair complimented so well. She was behaving just right with her tongue sticked-out most of the time. My lips can't help but lift at how adorable she is.

Dumaan kami sa dog cafe sa lobby ng tower kung saan namin siya usually iniiwan tuwing kailangan na naming pumasok.

It was a short and quiet drive towards the school too. Like usual. 

Pagkahintong-pagkahinto ng sasakyan ay natigilan ako ng muling maramdaman ang mabigat na paghinga niya. An indication that he's about to talk to me.

"You.. watched our performance?" he slowly asked.

I stiffened. Suddenly feeling guilty. 

Nung nakaraan kasi ay hindi muna ako agad nagpahatid sa kanya sa bahay pagkatapos ng klase dahil may kinailangan pa akong gawin sa library. Meron naman talaga pero pwede ko naman sanang tapusin na lang iyon sa bahay. Ang totoo'y nalaman ko kasing nung araw na 'yun ang launch ng banda nila sa school at sa publiko.

No matter how much I don't want to admit.. I missed seeing him.. play. And even.. sing.

Saglit na inangat ko ang tingin sa nag-aabang niyang mga mata. But it didn't take me long enough to look away. I just can't.. match the intensity of his gaze. It had always been too much for me.

Did he see me from that large crowd last time? Napalunok ako. Bakit naman kasi nanood pa 'ko. Alam ko namang ayaw niya nang may nakakaalam ng tungkol sa amin pero pumuslit pa rin ako. 

Tila biglang may kung anong mapait akong nalasahan sa bibig ko. Siguro pagbabawalan niya na rin ako roon. Kasi baka may makahalata. Baka may makaalam. Baka madawit pa yung pangalan niya sakin.

"Stop it,"

My thoughts were interrupted by his voice.

My head unconsciously turned towards him.

At first, he was looking at me but he eventually turned his eyes in front.

"Whatever you're thinking.." he breathed out. "..that's not it,"

I noticed how his grip on the steering wheel tightened a bit after what he said.

I tried hard to avert my gaze from his arms. Staring into nothingness made me sigh. I just reached for the handle of the car door.

"Una na ko.." I said in a small voice without looking at him.

My head was turned downwards while on my way to our classroom. Mahigpit din ang kapit ko sa strap ng bag ko.

Sa gilid lang din ng bawat koridor ang nilalakaran ko para siguradong walang mabangga habang nakayuko ang ulo hanggang makarating sa silid.

Nakapasok na ko sa pinto at pipihit na sana sa direksyon patungo sa pwesto ng upuan ko nang tumama ako sa isang pigura.

"S-sorry!" I tensely said.

"Ano ba yan! Hindi kasi natingin sa dinadaanan eh," a voice exclaimed.

I can't bring myself to look. I don't even know what else to say aside from sorry. My head just lifted down more.

"Ang weird talaga ng Yara na yan," I heard someone murmuring beside the person in front of me.

Tila suminghap ang nasa harap ko. "Tabi nga!"

Nabigla ako nang itulak niya ako paalis sa daan. Hindi naman malakas ang pwersa noon ngunit dala ng gulat ay bahagyang nawala ang balanse ko. 

Sa pag-atras ng katawan ay naramdaman ko ang isang mainit na kamay na marahang sumalubong sa braso ko. Pinipigilan ang tuluyan pang pag-atras. 

My breathing hitched.

The familiar scent enveloped my nostrils.

Just a sniff of it and I can tell. It's him.

Sky.

My heart pounded inside my chest. We never really had any interaction inside the class. We never really get to be in a close distance like this. 

I swallowed as I took a step to free myself from his hold without looking at him. Worried that anyone might get intrigued if we stay longer in that position even more.

Mabilis akong nagtungo sa upuan nang hindi na siya tinatapunan pa ng tingin. 

I was kind of losing my focus the whole time. Napapatulala ako habang hinihintay dumating ang guro para sa first subject.

"Listen, everyone."

I straightened my back on the chair when the teacher entered the room.

"I know it's already been two weeks since the start of the class but it's not too late to welcome a new classmate, right?" she positively inquired.

She smiled and turned towards the direction of the door. 

"Meet the newest addition to your class,"

As if on cue, the door opened more widely.

All of the eyes were directed on it. Waiting with anticipation.

The clicking sound of the shoes stepping against the floor echoed in the silence of the room as the transferee made her way in front.

My lips slowly parted.

The same time my heart dropped.

Our new classmate.

It was... Frida.