Not Me

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Tonton didn't bother me anymore. Tinanggap niya na lang yata na nagjojoke ako dahil sobrang weird nga naman for someone to hide his identity.

Tama pa nga bang ginusto ko 'to? Tama pa bang sinimulan ko?

"Turumpo ka ba?" Nagulat ako nang biglang magsalita si Tonton sa kalagitnaan ng gabi.

"Hmm?" I asked.

"Ikot ka kasi nang ikot. Alam mo, jogging will help. Maraming nagjajog sa field nang ganitong oras kaysa umikot ka lang nang umikot diyan." Sabi nito at narinig kong nagtalukbong na sya ng kumot.

I must really be that disturbing kaya nagsalita na siya.

And for the record, I feel like I really need it right now. Mas maganda na yatang ako na lang ang tumakbo nang tumakbo despite me not being a fan of running nor whatsoever exercise there is rather than my mind getting tired of running everywhere.

I took a deep breath before standing up.

I didn't bother changing my clothes because I'd sweat either way. I brought my ID in case the guard asks for it.

I was surprised that there are still students inside the campus at 10 in the evening. Ang alam ko, the last class that we could have is at 9:00 so the people that are still here are either friends bonding with each other or couples dating... And here I am, wanting to shrug things off my mind.

I went to the field just like what Tonton told me. Akala ko, sa field talaga nagjajogging ang mga tao but observing these people, they're jogging around the field which makes the running more tiring.

I started jogging. Turns out, nakakapagod nga talaga. Narandaman ko na ang hingal at pagod sa katawan but my mind kept on craving for more. I wanted more.

But my body can't take it anymore. I was barely catching my breath. Umupo ako sa isang pavilion to rest for a while bago umuwi.

"Woah. Nandito ka rin?" I heard a familiar voice behind me so I looked at him.

To my surprise, he is still here.

"Hindi ka pa rin umuuwi?" I curiously asked.

"Nakauwi na. Diyan lang naman dorm ko." Sagot nito at tumingin sa damit niya. Hindi na nga siya nakauniform. "Gusto ko lang magjogging sana." He explained.

"Same." Sagot ko rito. "Kanina ka pa?" I asked.

"Medyo." He answered. "So, what brings you here? Naks, English." Tanong nito na may halong biro. I guess that can't be taken away from him.

"Hindi kasi ako makatulog."

.......... then again, I lied. This jogging might have helped me shrug my thoughts off for once but it can't shrug my tendencies to lie.

Or did I? Did I lie? Hindi naman talaga ako makatulog. Hindi ko lang sinabi ang rason pero hindi naman ako nagsinungaling, 'di ba?

That situation gave me hope. Maybe, I can continue hiding without the need to lie. I guess I should start doing that.

Hide but never lie.

"Huy!" He snapped his fingers in front of my face. Sobrang halata yatang I was spacing out.