Behind His Smiles (Flawed Series #1)

Chapter 12

I'm back to school and ever since that day Lucy approached me, I haven't seen her around the campus anymore.

"Hoy, alam mo na ba ano nangyari kay ate Cassi?" I heard one of my schoolmates.

"Ay, oo! Gagi, hindi ko talaga akalang magiging gano'n siya!" sagot ng isa.

"Kaya nga, e. Kawawa naman si ate Cassi. Idol ko pa naman 'yun. Ang talino ta's super ganda pa. Nung nakita ko 'yung video, grabe! Naawa ako sobra!"

Agad akong lumapit sa dalawang babaeng nagchichismisan.

Napatigil sila nang makarating ako sa harap nila. Agad natutop ang bibig nila.

"Anong video ang pinagsasabi mo?" I asked.

Agad na napakali ang babae.

"H-ha? H-hindi niyo po ba a-alam, k-kuya Pat...?" pahina nang pahina ang tanong niya.

I scoffed, "Magtatanong ba 'ko kung hindi ko alam?"

Agad siyang napaiwas ng tingin at may kung anong tinipa sa phone niya. May pinakita siya sa'kin. It was a video of Cassiana posted by her mom on facebook.

Rapunzel Gomez

Oh, Lord! Please, help my child! I cannot bear seeing her like this anymore!

[Video Attached]

Napakunot ang noo ko.

I didn't watch the video fully. I only saw three seconds of it. Agad kong binalik ang tingin sa babae.

I slightly smiled, "Okay, thanks."

Tumalikod na ako at naglakad papunta sa first class ko. I immediately heard their whispers I honestly don't care about.

Lubos ang kaba ko nang mabasa ang caption ni tita.

Honestly, I only acted like I didn't care about the video because I don't want people to assume things again.

Hindi ko pinanood ang video dahil ayokong biglang mainis at maawa sa harap ng dalawang iyon kaya papanoorin ko ang video mamaya pag-uwi ko.

Because fuck it. I'm more worried than everyone else out here. It's my baby who's in deep struggle.

Even tho we broke up months ago, I still care. 'Cause I still love her. And I don't think I'll ever find someone better than her. I mean, how can I if she's already the best God has ever made?

Pagkapasok ko sa room ay namataan ko na agad ang tingin ng mga ka-blockmates ko.

They must have seen the video and was waiting for my reaction.

Too bad. They won't see anything from me. Ever since the day Cassiana had her illness, I already learned how to perfectly hide my emotions.

Pumasok si Renoah at doon ko lang napagtanto na magkaklase pala kami sa subject na ito. It's a general subject in pre-med kaya magkaklase kami.

"Pat..." bungad niya. There was worry in her eyes. I knew it. She saw the video.

I sighed, "Not now, Renoah."

Napatigil siya and smiled. Tinapik niya ang balikat ko.

"You'll be okay. We're here," sambit niya at umupo na sa napili niyang upuan.

Huminga lamang ako nang malalim.

I don't think I'll be okay, Ren. As I also don't think there could be anyone from you all that could make me feel safe aside from Cassiana.

Pero asan siya? Ayon, nag-aagaw buhay.

Ginagago ata ni Lord ang buhay ko.

"Kuya," Teirra approached me as soon as I got home.