Fourth of October (Juntarsiego Series #1)

Chapter 21

"I'll wait for you here again later. Message me, all right?" I nodded at his reminder for me.

He stayed late at my dorm last night. Alas dose na ng umaga ito nakauwi. Though my landlady knows him, one of the rules is that we should not let someone inside for a long time, especially guys because for some reason.

"Oo naman. Huwag mong agahan masyado. Nagi-guilty ako kapag matagal kang naghihintay rito," tugon ko nang makababa na sa sasakyan niya. I don't want him to spend his remaining time here doing nothing.

He eyes suspiciously as if I don't want his presence in here. Kahit hindi siya galit, kapag ganoong uri ng titigan ang ginagawad niya sa akin, parang tingin ko ay gusto na niya akong lamunin ng buhay.

Tinapik ko ang kanyang balikat upang kahit papaano ay hindi na mag-alala pa. His lips twitched at what I did.

"Don't look at me like that. Sige ka, baka hindi ako makapasok niyan," biro ko sa kanya pero hindi man lang umubra. My lips pouted, not being able to know why I said that.

Ang corny ko namang girlfriend.

He sighed heavily and then pointed somewhere using his lips. Sinundan ko ang direksyon no'n, nakita sina Chantal pati ang iba niyang kaibigan na nakatingin na rin sa amin.

Iyong kanilang tingin ay mapanuri rin. I don't know why they arrived earlier now, not the typical them. Lagi kasing isang minuto na lang ang agwat bago magsimula ang klase ang kanilang pagdating.

"Sige, mamaya—" I was cut off by his sudden movement. He pulled me for a hug and I cannot resist to not give him the favor. Natutulala akong nakatayo habang pinapakiramdaman ang kanyang sarili, kung kinakabahan ba siya o hindi.

So warm for this cold morning. I can feel the sudden change of his body. Masyadong matigas iyon.

"I'll message you also later," he said softly and applied a quick kiss on my cheek. Napabuntong hininga ako, alam na alam na nakatitig sa akin sina Chantal.

That was his last message for me before I went straight to Chantal, still feeling his invisible warm embrace to me.

Inabutan ko kaagad ang mapanuksong tingin nito sa akin, taliwas sa mga kaibigan niyang natutuwa sa nakikita. I badly want to remove that scene inside their head but sadly, I've got no powers.

"Sweet ng boyfriend, ah? Kaya pala nakakaganang mag-aral. Need ba by pair?" Tumawa ito ng malakas saka nakipag-apir sa kanyang mga kaibigan na nasa kanyang likuran lang, nakasunod sa amin.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa bag. Umiling ako sa kanyang sinabi. Her tone is a bit bitter, may kaunting panghihinayang pa dahil alam naming pareho na wala siyang boyfriend. Ngayon niya nga lang yata ako nakita sa ganoong sitwasyon, eh.

"You can find your own Jaeden. Maganda ka, Chantal. Marami rin naman sigurong nagkakagusto sa'yo sa ibang eskwelahan," pampalubag loob ko sa kanya. She only gave me a 'tss' with a tone of not being fond of hearing it.

Humalukipkip ito na animo'y hindi natatanggap ang katotohanan. She doubts herself always.

"As if namang makatulong iyon sa akin. I want to fix first my problem. Baka mag-shift ako ng course kapag second year na."

Tumingin ako sa kanya, nagugulat.

"Ha? Sanay ka na rito, ah?"

She's not liking the idea of being a teacher, especially major in arts. I've seen her struggling from everything, lalo na sa mga topics na hindi niya maintindihan dahil alam kong wala lang talaga siyang kagustuhan sa mga iyon.

It's not her passion so it's hard to make yourself learn with it. She hates teaching but that's what her parents want for her.

Pumasok kaming lahat sa room na. She's a bit grumpy, lalo na dahil napag-usapan na naman namin ang tungkol dito.