Who Are You, Christofer?

01: Stars Turn Black Holes

BELLE

AS USUAL, I came to Wilton High—my school, a bit early. The security guard had to run and open the other half of the gate so our family's SUV can enter. I can see the eyes of those other students looking at our car. I can see those girls whispering to each other like a tea for them was served the moment our car entered the gate.

Whatever.

Katulad din ng usual na nangyayari, ang mga estudyante'y inaayos ang kanilang mga sarili kapag dumadaan ako. Ang iba'y halatang nagpapapansin. May mga ngumingiti rin sa'kin at bumabati. And there are those who throw that piercing look on me.

Before I could ever reach our classroom sa third floor ng blue building, natigilan ako nang makita ko ang mga nagkukumpulang mga estudyante sa harapan mismo nang pintuan namin. Most of them are girls pero may mga lalaki rin naman. I also saw some of them wearing the student media IDs.

With knitted eyes, I continued walking. Wala naman sigurong nangyaring masama 'di ba?

Nang makita ako ng mga babaeng nasa pintuan, they paved way for me to enter. Kung gaano sila kabibo kanina, ganon din sila ka-pormal noong nakita nila ako. But they eventually went back to being noisy and chaotic when I passed through them.

I was expecting that they were here for a morning problem. Or at least something not that serious. Pero gano'n na nga lamang ang aking pagkabigla nang makapasok ako sa room. My jaw dropped as I saw Tofer sitting at his usual seat at the back. Kakaunti pa lang kasi ang naririto kaya napansin ko siya agad.

Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa kaniya. I saw him looking at me for a split-second pero agad niya ring ibinaling ang kaniyang atensyon sa binabasang libro.

"Tofer, what the hell?"

I can hear loud murmurs from those 'chismosas' outside when I yelled at him. Now I know kung bakit may nagkukumpulan sa labas. They are probably eager to see him after being lost for months.

Tofer didn't even bother looking at me so I grabbed the book he has been holding, grabbing his attention this time as well. "Bakit ka nandito? The doctor said that you are to be discharged after two weeks!"

He raised a brow. I noticed how he licked his lower lip before speaking. "What do you expect me to do? Bore myself to death?"

I rolled my eyes on that. Tatlong araw pa lang simula noong magising siya. Ang sabi ng doctor, kinakailangan pa raw nilang magsagawa ng mga tests sa kaniya. And above all, the doctor said that he needs ample time of rest.

"Pero sabi ng doktor, kailangan mong magpahinga." I placed my hands on my waist.

This time, he was the one rolling his eyes on me. I don't know how he did it but in a split-second, the book I stole from him was already back in his hands. He continued reading it like I wasn't speaking to him.