Chapter Two: Chaos

Philip and I were the only ones left. We're assigned to clean our room since we both got a detention slip. It's now four o'clock and our class ended an hour ago. I haven't eaten lunch and I'm not sure if we're just the same. I'm wiping the board while he's sweeping the floor. I have no idea what I'm doing. Wala ba silang maintenance rito at tagalinis ng classroom?

"Hey, I'm sorry. Your time extended because of me," I apologized. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

"You got chalk on your face," he assured. I looked into my mirror and wiped my cheeks using my handkerchief. I guess he'd already cleaned the whole classroom while I hadn't finished erasing the writing on the blackboard.

It's my fault why he's still here with me. His cleaning time was supposed to be thirty minutes only. He took my side and I was relieved. He was the first person who believed me without judging my personality.

"I'm done. Take care of the board so you can go home." He fixed his belongings and was about to go home.

"Hey, wait." I hurriedly erased everything written on the board and went to my bag. I lent him a hundred pesos which I forgot to pay when we both rode a taxi. 

"Here, you go. I wish I could give you more but Dad cuts off my cards."

"It's exact. I split the bill in half if you do the math," he reminded. He left the room but I followed his path aiming a few meters away from him. Napalingon siya sa akin kaya napahinto ako sa pagsunod sa kaniya. He walked towards me and raised an eyebrow. 

"Are you following me or are we just on the same way?" he asked. I nodded without hesitations. 

"So, you're following me or what?" Tumango ako at napahawak naman siya sa bewang niya. I think he's figuring what's on my mind?

"I'm actually following you. I don't know how to go home," I replied.

"Hey, Philip!" Agad akong umalis sa harapan niya nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na 'yon. Nakita ko si Avis na papunta sa direksiyon niya kaya pumasok ako sa isang classroom. 

"Who's that girl?" Avis asked, so I covered my face using my bag. Nakikita ko sa view na 'to na nakahawak siya sa braso ni Philip at mukang matagal na silang magkakilala.

"Aren't  you going home? What took you so long? I've been waiting for you," Avis complained. I saw Philip look into my direction and so did Avis. I lowered my head and waited for them to leave. I don't want that girl seeing me in this situation. She may think that I'm miserable.

Nagpagpag ako ng uniform at lumabas ng classroom. Pagkatapos kong magpaikot ikot sa loob ng school ay nakalabas din ako ng gate. Napahawak ako sa tiyan ko dahil nagugutom na ako ng sobra. What can I buy with this money? I don't even know how to go home and how much do I need to save for my fare. 

I watch my schoolmates leaving the campus one by one. I'm sitting on the side of a road waiting for Azhter to answer my calls. I think his phone was turned off. It's not even ringing. I already left so many missed calls. 

I looked at my phone and it's already five o'clock. Wala na akong nakikitang estudyante na dumadaan. I held my eyes using both of my hands. I started to whine like a lost child looking for his mom. I don't know how to go home and how to catch a cab either. Why does Daddy Chaster want me to experience something like this? Does it mean that I'm adopted?

"New girl?" I wiped my tears and looked at the back. I saw Philip saying goodbye to his friends. Lumingon ako sa ibang direksiyon at hindi siya pinansin. Who knows if he's with Avis? She might think that I'm pathetic.

"So, I was right. It was you," he repeated. He's holding a cartolina and a sketchpad. What is he doing at school at a time like this? 

Tumayo ako at tumalikod sa kaniya. I already told him that I don't know how to go home. Now, he's asking why I'm still here. 

"Where's Avis?" I asked. 

"She went home. I have to attend a club meeting so she had no choice but to go home by herself," he replied. Humarap ako sa kaniya at inayos ang mukha ko. It's embarrassing for someone to see me like this. 

"You seemed like a rich girl, It's impossible for you not to call your parents or guardians to come here," he wondered but I shook my head.

"I wish I could do that. But, could you please tell me the way back and I'll promise to pay you when I got home?" I think he was pleased. Napahawak ako sa tiyan ko dahil nagugutom na talaga ako. My stomach growled and I saw him chuckled. Gosh, I'm starving.

"Don't tell me that you didn't eat lunch?" he asked so I nodded. He sighed and offered his hand to me.

"We have to run. It's getting late."

As soon as I accepted his hand, he pulled me away to run at his speed. I smiled when I saw him running. He was such a slow runner. We stopped at a small—uhm, what do you call this place? Was this a non-air conditioned restaurant without table layering, napkins and a complete set of utensils?  

He entered so I followed him around. He found a vacant seat and asked me to come there. "New girl, masarap pares dito. Gusto mo tikman?" he asked. 

"Uhm, What's pares?" I shrugged. I don't know why everyone was staring at me. I looked at Philip and asked him why. He also grinned at me so I shut my mouth. 

"Eh, Goto? Masarap din 'yon." 

"Uhm, I don't think—" I haven't finished my sentence since he already called the ordertaker. 

"Boss, Dalawang pares nga saka isang goto," he mentioned. "Saka dalawang coke na rin."

"Was that the boss of this restaurant?" I asked but he just laughed at me. I don't even know that these types of foods exist. Philip was acting so weird. I can't understand everything. 

"Saan ka ba banda? Mag gagabi na. Tinawagan mo na ba parents mo?" I shook my head and put my bag on the table. 

"At bakit mo tinataguan si Avis? Kilala ka rin ng mga classmates natin." I averted my eyes and looked elsewhere. 

"I'm a brat," I replied. 

"So, what?" 

"My dad transferred me to Anastasia. I have to raise my grades so I can go back to Foster. Avis is my enemy," I added. He stared at me and raised an eyebrow. 

"Foster U? Studying there would cost a hundred grand," he gasped.

"I know. My dad can afford everything you'd ever imagine." 

"Lychie!" Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa akin. Napatingin din lahat ng tao sa mini restaurant sa kaniya. Argh, Here we go again. Dito pa talaga siya gumawa ng eksena? Napahawak ako sa noo ko at tumayo. 

"Look, what are you doing?" I asked and stopped him. Dali-dali siyang pumunta at hinawakan sa kwelyo si Philip. 

"And, who the hell are you?" Philip asked. 

"Silly! I'm his boyfriend," he replied and pushed Philip on the floor. I massaged my temple and rolled my eyes. Argh, this freak was getting on my nerves! 

"Hoy!" I exclaimed and pulled his hair.