Cursed Kiss (Curse #1)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Upbringing

I don't know what magic or spell Rahim casted that Jiro suddenly became silent. Only three days have passed and I haven't heard any students talking about it.

"Anong ginawa mo?" baling ko kay Rahim nang mapansin na biglang lumihis ng daan si Jiro nang makita kaming dalawa.

"We just talked," he shrugged and fixed his glasses. "I even wanted him to apologize to you but it seems that pride and ego are in the way."

"You haven't done anything bad, right?" I asked, a bit anxious.

"I don't do bad things, Noella," he defended himself. "Pumasok ka na nga sa klase mo, at wag ka nang malikot."

"Excuse me? Hindi ako malikot," I've been prim and proper all my life! "Don't perceive it na parang kasalanan ko kung bakit may ganon akong manliligaw, hindi ko naman siya gaanong kilala dati bago ko bigyan ng permiso."

"Partly... If you were just heartless enough to reject him in the way he truly deserves hindi na dapat umabot sa ganoon ang sitwasyon. Dapat dati pa lang ay sinampal mo na para gumising sa katotohanan na wala siyang maaasahan sayo." He explained. "At hindi naman iyon ang ibig kong sabihin sa salitang wag kang malikot. Ang ibig kong sabihin wag kang lumabas ng university. Don't even try to speak with that Hiñago ever again. Wag kang mag-lunch sa labas at baka may madamay na naman," he reprimanded.

"Hindi talaga!" I tightened my grip on the strap of my sling bag and marched my way to my first class in the lecture hall. May nakalimutan akong sabihin sa kanya kaya kahit labag sa loob ko ay bumalik ako sa yapak ko. "T-Thank you pa rin," sabi ko bago tumakbo.

During lunch. Claire was chuckling at Jang's stories. Sumabay si Jang sa amin dahil wala siyang gaanong kakilala sa university. They were talking about our childhood memories, na for some reasons, blurred na sa utak ko.

"How could you say na feeling diwata ako?" O raised my brow at him.

"You always wear that flower crown na gawa ni Dondon," he replied. "Nagmumukhang engkanto si Dondon at Rahim sa kasusunod sayo."

"So I heard my name," biglang sabi ng nasa likuran namin.

Napalingon kami sa likuran at nakitang si Kuya iyon kasama si Deo. Masama ang tingin kay Jang. My attention darted to Doni who gave me a subtle greeting just using his eyebrows and smile. Bakit magkasama sila?

"Can we join?" Deo asked.

Napansin ko ang pag-arko ng kilay ni Satari kay Deo. But I nodded at him and tapped the seat beside me. Uupo na sana siya sa tabi ko pero inunahan siya ni Rahim. Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang kapatid ko at inirapan. Pero, tinaasan lang rin niya ako ng kilay.

In the end, Deo sat beside Satari. In front of me.

"I thought that Jiro is the only one who's threatened..." pasaring niya.

"Shut up," Rahim glared at him. Si Rahim na ngayon ay napapagitnaan namin ni Jang.

"Anong ginagawa niyong dalawa rito?" I asked.

"I don't know about him," Rahim shrugged. "But I'm here, keeping my eyes on you."

"Naghahanap lang ng kasama," Deo shrugged and began to eat.

Tumawa si Claire. "Hanep ano? Pag-kumakain ba kailangan by pair?"

Deo scoffed. "Kayo nga kumakain by group."

Natawa si Jang at nilingon si Claire. "E di barado ka ngayon?"

Umirap si Claire. "Yun na yon?"

"Why aren't you joining the others, Deo?" Satari asked.