Setting Into The Horizon (Painted Colors Series 1) ON HOLD

Chapter 5

Chapter 5
Setting Into the Horizon

It was again another busy week for me. Malapit na rin magtapos ang first semester kaya ramdam ko na ang pressure. It was lunch break but I didn't bother to buy food kasi alam kong busog pa naman ako. So I took that time to review and read some of my notes. Hannah was sitting on the chair right next to me. But instead of reading her note, she borrowed my phone to take selfies. I took a glance and saw her pouting her lips while holding the phone in front of her.

Umiiling kong ibinalik ang tingin sa notebook na nakapatong sa desk ko. I was sitting near the door and it suddenly swung open, allowing the air to enter and play with my hair. I put the pen that I was holding down before tucking my hair behind my ear and fixed my bangs. Umakyat ang tingin ko sa kung sino man ang nagbukas ng pinto.

West entered the room, holding his backpack over just one shoulder. May kausap ito sa labas pero hindi ko makita kung sino. Hindi naman ako interesado kung sino ang makakausap niya. Oo, hindi.

"I'll see you later then," rinig kong sabi ng babae sa labas, sabay ng munting pag halakhak nito. Napa-angat ang aking tingin at agad lumingon malapit sa pintuan. I tried stretching my neck to get a better view outside. I was already slightly standing kaya lang biglang lumingon si West na ikinagulat ko. Taranta akong umiwas ng tingin at tumayo ng diretso, kunwari ay nag-iisip. Nagulat din tuloy si Hannah kaya ramdam ko ang mga nalilitong tingin nito sa akin.

Hindi ko na narinig kung ano ang isinagot ni West dahil mas rinig at ramdam ko pa ang pintig ng puso ko sa sobrang kaba. Teka nga! Bakit nga ba ako kinakabahan?

I cleared my throat and turned around, ready to sit on my chair. But once again surprised to see West standing in front of me. He is way taller, kaya umangat ang tingin ko at nagtama ang mga paningin namin. "You dropped this," he said while handing me my notebook, a tender smile on his face and an amused twinkle in his eyes.

"T-thank you-"

"Oh my god! Koa! DG sent you a chat message pala?!" Hannah didn't let me finish what I was about to say. Lumingon ako sa gawi niya at kita ang gulat na gulat nitong mukha.

"DG? Who's that?" I asked, trying to remember if someone with that name sent me a message.

"Douglas, duh! That's his nickname. Ang pangit nga naman pakinggan ang Douglas." Hannah answered, shrugging her shoulders.

"Ahmm... yes," I replied. And in the corner of my eyes, I saw West sat down on his chair. I didn't even have the chance to thank him.

Bumalik na lang ulit ako sa pagkaka-upo pero sige pa rin ang sa pagtatanong si Hannah. Nakapatong pa ang dalawang kamay nito sa desk ko at tila para bang nasa interrogation room kami dahil sa mga tanong at sa asta nito. Lihim na lang akong napangiti.

Hannah took my phone and looked at it for quite some time. Her gaze went back to me again. "And you didn't reply? You left him on read, Koa!" she exclaimed.

Halos lahat ng kaklase ko na narito sa room ay tumitingin na rin sa amin. Nahihiya akong umiwas ng tingin sa kanila at pilit hinihila si Hannah para umupo pero hindi ito nagpatinag dahil hinihintay nito ang sagot ko.

"Hannah, he has a lot of girls," I whispered.

Hannah chuckled after I said that. "Baka mga fans lang. Alam mo naman na sikat 'yon sa school nila," she added.

I shrugged my shoulders, "He looks like a player to me," I uttered under my breath. But Hannah heard that eventually and ended up laughing.

"Tama ka nga, Koa. Oo, ang dami nang pina-iyak nun." halakhak pa nito. I tried to cover her mouth pero iniwas lang nito ang ulo niya. "Buti na lang hindi ka nagpauto doon sa poem niya kuno," iling na naupo si Hannah.