PRETTY LITTLE DEVIL (He's Her Comfort Zone)

Chapter 22

Hindi alam ni Blyther kung papaano lumipas ang magdamag sa kanya. Kung anong oras sya nakatulog. Xienlee called and kinumusta si Zandreaj he only said she's okay. Even the boys called him up but he put his phone into silent mode. Ayaw nya munang makipagusap kahit kanino. He woke up late sa mga katok ni Xinni.

Niyakap sya nito pagkakita sa kanya at iniabot ang kanyang bihisan.

"You look so miserable kuya. Dad said. Zz will be okay. Cheer up! She'll gonna be okay."

Ginulo lang ni Blyther ang buhok nito. Dali-dali namang iniwas ni Xinni ang ulo sa kuya nya.

"Come on! I have something to show you." Kinuha nya ang leave-on conditioner ni Zandreaj at pinakita kay Xinni.

"This is her hair product. It makes her curls shiny, silky and fragrant."

Kinuha ni Xinni ang product at pinicturan.
"I hope this is available on the online store where I buy my hair products. It smells really good. I love it."

Ibinalik ni Xinni sa kuya nya ang conditioner at pinagaralan ang itsura ng kapatid.
"Do not be like that kuya. Zz won't be happy seeing you like that when she returns. You have to keep your cool and be as attractive to her as you were when she's with you before." Mahabang litanya ng dalagita bago tumalikod at lumabas ng opisina ng kuya nya.

Napangiti si Blyther sa sinabi ng kapatid.

Naligo sya at nagbihis. Pinilit nyang magalmusal kahit wala syang ganang kumain. Nang magbell for his first period saka sya naglakad na papunta ng kanyang classroom.

Ayaw nya munang makipagusap sa mga kaklase. Hindi nya kayang sagutin ang mga itatanong ng mga ito. Papaano nya sasabihin sa mga ito na naglasing si Zandreaj at naallergy na naging dahilan ng muntik na nitong pagkamatay? At sa opisina nya nangyari? Pero alam nyang kumalat na ang usap-usapan sa school dahil may pailan ilang estudyanteng nasa labas ng kanilang classroom at nakita sya na buhat-buhat si Zandreaj kahapon at isinakay ito ng kotse. At alam nya din na mamaya ay ipatatawag na sya ng principal.

Pagpasok nya ng classroom ay nagsitayuan ang mga kaklase at lumapit sa kanya para magtanong. Nagtaas sya ng dalawang kamay. Naintindihan naman sya ng mga ito at itinikom ang kanilang mga bibig at nagsibalikan sa kani-kanilang upuan. Sa halip na sa upuan nya ay sa upuan ni Zandreaj sya tumuloy at doon umupo. Kaagad lumapit si Xienlee sa kanya at bumulong.

"Dreigh said to tell you that Z woke up 2AM. She's doing good and had undergone some series of tests right away she woke up. But they are still waiting for the result. But it would take her a little more time to fully recover because of the trauma her body had suffered with the allergy and the procedure she had undergone."

Nakahinga ng maluwag si Blyther. Pero hindi sya nagsalita.

"How could you left my friend in her miserable state? I pushed her to go to you yesterday because I can see she needs you and I know you will surely be there for her, but why did you leave her?"

Nagtatanong si Xienlee dahil alam nyang it's not Blyther's nature.

"I thought it would help her realize that she is mine and will follow me right after I left her but I was wrong."

"Not because she came after you to your office, means she will do it again."

Dumating na ang kanilang adviser kaya bumalik na si Xienlee sa kanyang upuan.

"Mr. del Sol, the principal said she is waiting for you in her office now." Wika ni Mrs. Hernandez. Tumango si Blyther. Agad tumayo sa kanyang upuan, sinakbat ang kanyang bag at lumakad palabas ng classroom.

Naghihintay si Dr. Miranda, ang principal sa kanya pagdating nya.

"Have a seat Mr. del Sol. I have been hearing these rumors kahapon pa, I have to hear your version of it."

Sinalaysay ni Blyther ang nangyari sa principal. Tumatango-tango ito habang nakikinig.

"That was a traumatic experience for you, don't you think you need to see our Guidance Counselor? He can help you." Psychologist ang guidance counselor nila.

"No ma'am. I am okay. Thank you. For your understanding and concern."

"Please tell Ms. Sta. Maria to get well soon and not to worry about her classes. She will be given the considerations for her grades and that we will be happy if she could join your classmates on your graduation day this March."

"Thank you so much ma'am."

"You're welcome. How could I not support you? You are an asset of our school. I can not afford to see you losing your better self because of things you can not control. I wish you happiness Mr. del Sol. It is sad that we only have two months left of you. I wish people just come and don't go."

Touched na touched si Blyther sa mga binitawang salita ng kanilang principal. Malaki ang utang na loob nya dito. This brilliant principal had pushed him to his limit. She made sure he was able to develop all of his potentials specially in leadership. How could he pay her?

"Anyway, is your office now working for the upcoming Sports and Talents Festival Week? That would be on the 2nd week of February."

"Yes ma'am. We had our session about that last Wednesday morning. Our secretary is working on the request letter to be submitted to you this Monday. We have also included the conduct of JS Prom. If I am not mistaken we decided to have it Saturday Night right after the last day of the STF."

"Meaning, STF Awards night would be Friday night then the next day is your Prom?"

"Yes ma'am."

" Hindi kaya haggard pa kayo non?"

"It's okay ma'am. We can manage."

Chineck ng principal ang kanyang kalendaryo at ngumiti ito habang tumatango-tango.

"Hmmmm...I wonder no more. Saturday is Valentines day. That's why."

Ngumiti si Blyther.

"The celebration would add to the excitement of the participants ma'am, so I insist."

"And I willingly obligued." Lumapit ito sa kanya at tinapik sya sa balikat.

"Today is January 10. You still have almost a month for the preparations.
You would make an excellent Principal Mr. del Sol. Go back to your classroom now."

"Thank you again ma'am."

Lumabas ng opisina si Blyther na mas magaan ang pakiramdam.