Bad for You (GU #1)

fifty-six

Fifty-Six: The Sender

Walang ingay na maririnig sa apat na sulok ng silid na kinaroroonan namin habang ang mga mata ay nakatutok sa screen sa harapan. The footages were all clear and they were all directed to one person. Mula nung unang beses akong tumanggap ng note, d'un sa pangalawa, maging 'yung nagpicture sa amin ni Miles sa labas ng room, lahat ay nakuhaan ng camera at iisang tao lang ang nandoon.

Napahinga ako nang malalim at sinubukang ituon lang ang atensyon sa pinapanood. This was the last one—the one showing how Slade got the pictures. Tumitingin-tingin muna ito sa paligid bago inihulog ang dala sa locker ni Slade pagkatapos ay tahimik na umalis doon na para tila walang nangyari.

Tapos na ang pinapanood pero nasa screen pa rin ang tingin ko, inulit sa isipan ang pinanood. It was her all along. And right now, honestly I didn't know what to feel. If I'd be relieved finally knowing who it really was. Or be threatened that she was just near me right from the start.

"Isn't she in your class?" dinig kong tanong ni Slade mula sa tabi ko.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at tumango pagkatapos ay nagpakawala nang malalim na hininga. "Yeah. She's actually our class muse."

Hindi sumagot si Slade, tila mayroong iniisip. Samantala, napunta ulit ang mata ko sa monitor. Wala nang pinapalabas doon pero parang nakikita ko pa rin ang mukha ng kaklase ko habang ginagawa lahat ng iyon. Yes, she was my classmate. Tama pala ang hula ko nung umpisa pa lang. It was Lyra. The culprit, it was her.

At gaya kanina, hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman. Like I should be relieved or happy that the mystery was now finally solved and yet I could not place myself to feel that way. Ewan, basta. There was just some uneasy feeling inside of me. Marahil kasi, hindi pa naman ito tunay na tapos. Like I still don't know why she did it. Though, I assumed some reasons for her to do that, still I wanted to hear her side.

At tila iba ang nasa isipan ni Slade. "What do you want to do now? We can report her, Celestine. Just say the word and we can report it to the admin. I believe what she did can be some grounds for a suspension or—"

"No," agad kong tutol kay Slade. I didn't think it was the best way to do. Alam ko mali 'yung ginawa ni Lyra. But for her to be suspended? Hindi ko alam. Basta, ang gusto ko lang ay makausap siya para matapos na itong lahat. Isa pa, tumigil naman na siya. Oo, sa ngayon, pero paano kung mag-umpisa na naman siyang muli? I shook my head at that voice at the back of my mind. Kaya nga kakausapin na para matapos na ang lahat. "No need for you to do that. All I want is some talk, that's it. Kailangan ko lang malaman 'yung dahilan kung bakit niya 'to ginagawa."

Slade was reluctant at first pero napatango lang siya bandang huli. "Okay, if that's you want."

"But I think we have some problem."

He raised a curious brow. "What?"

"Lyra didn't attend class today," sagot ko. "But we still have class later, baka pumasok na rin siya."

He breathed out. "Then do it later if she comes to school." He moved close to me, holding my both of my hands. "I'm letting it all in your hands now. Whatever you want to do, just do it. Just remember that we're on this together, okay?"

I nodded. I felt really thankful because Slade was here, and he was really supportive. Kung wala nga lang kaming kasama ngayon dito ay kanina ko pa pinakita kung gaano ako nagpapasalamat sa kanya. But now, all I could do was to give him a smile. Which I did. A very grateful one.

Ilang sandali pa kaming nakatingin sa isa't-isa nang may tumikhim. Okay. You are not alone here, CN. Sabay pa kaming napatingin sa lalaking kasama sa kwarto. Tumayo na si Slade at nagpasalamat dito pagkatapos ay sumenyas sa akin na sa labas na lang ako maghintay. Tumango ako at lumabas na, hinayaang mag-usap sina Slade at 'yung lalaki.