Under His Circumstances

Chapter 7

Nicolannia's POV

"So," I looked at him. "Who are you going to choose? Him?" he pointed at the guy standing in front of me, wearing a black polo. "Or me?" he finished as he pointed himself, wearing a white one.

Kumunot ang aking noo upon seeing their faces. Their faces are blurred like they were erased for me not to have any idea who I am talking to but their body built, the way they move, and the excitement I feel is enough already for me to figure out who they are.

"You choose me, Nica." The white one said. "Ako ang para sa'yo. Hindi siya."

"You know what he did to you, Nica." The black one pointed out. "Do not forget how he crushed you with his hands."

"You stay out of our past." The white one insisted.

"No, you stay out of her life." The black one shouted.

Tanging naririnig ko na lamang ay ang kanilang sagutan. Hindi ko na maintindihan. Gulong-gulo na ako. Tinakpan ko ang aking tenga at ipinikit ang aking mga mata.

--

Nagising ako dahil sa boses ni Trevor. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata at agad siyang nakita na nakatayo habang nakadikit ang kanyang cellphone sa kanyang tenga.

It's a dream.

Kumunot ang aking noo bago tinignan ang aking bintana. Anong oras na ba? Bakit parang gabi pa rin?

7:39

Iyon ang sabi ng orasan ko. Kinusot ko ang aking mga mata 'saka muling tinignan si Trevor.

"Is there any other way for that goddamn tree to be lifted up?" galit na tanong nito sa kung sino man ang kausap niya sa telepono. Nakatalikod siya sa akin kaya hindi niya alam na gising na ako. "I'm here at uhm Nica's. I crashed at her place."

Dahan-dahan akong bumangon mula sa aking pagkakahiga at sumandal sa headboard ng aking kama, my eyes still half closed. "It's not that. Nakakahiya lang kay Nica. You know she hates me."

Sino ba kausap nitong lalakeng ito? Bakit parang ako ang topic nila?

"Just make sure." Iyon ang huli niyang sinabi 'saka na ibinaba ang kanyang telepono. Ilang segundo pa at nailipat ang kanyang atensyon sa akin. His eyes widened, surprised that I was looking back at him. "Nica,"

"Bakit hindi ka pa umaalis?"

"I just talked to Chin. She said na blocked pa rin ang daan patungong condo so I can't go there. Isa pa, classes are suspended."

Tumabingi ang aking ulo bago agad na kinuha ang aking cellphone. I visited the page of Salazar University to confirm if the classes are really suspended, and it really was.

Legit ang saya kapag walang klase.

"Anong--Anong sinasabi mo garod?"

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Garod?" he asked in a slang accent. I wanted to laugh at the way he said "garod" but tried to calm down. Isa pa, inaantok pa ako.

"I mean, anong gusto mong iparating? Ngayon na, na hindi ka makakaalis pa."

He sighed. "I can't go out, Nics. Can I please stay here a little longer?"

Napabuntong hininga ako. "Ang usapan natin, makikitulog ka lang. Hindi makikitira." Irita kong sabi. Anong magagawa ko eh sa inaantok pa ako.

Ang lamig ng panahon at gusto ko na lang matulog at magbabad sa ilalim ng kumot ko. Inaantok pa ako. Wala naman talaga akong balak na bumangon kung 'di lang ako nagising mula sa malakas na boses ni Trevor.