Cursed Kiss (Curse #1)

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Cold 

My mind is like a coil of messy thread. Idagdag pa na sinabihan na akong pumasok. My mother proposed the idea na sinang-ayunan naman ng lahat.

Maging si Papa ay ganoon rin ang naisip, I think my hunch is right. Nasaktan ko nga si Papa sa ginawa kong paglaban laban sa ate ko. I never had the chance to talk to my sister again. Pagkatapos ng nangyari ay madali pa la siyang umalis lulan ng eroplano papuntang Maynila. As if she didn't let me have the chance to talk to her... and apologize.

Rahim can drive the car to university, pero ang problema ay si Mama. She doesn't want Rahim to overwork himself, lalo pa't hindi pa masyadong naghihilom ang daplis ni Rahim sa braso. Mama's boy talaga. Ang resulta, si Papa ang mag-da-drive.

"Yung baon mo, nak," Mom handed him his lunch, lovingly. "Remember to not overwork yourself. Hindi pa magaling ang sugat mo," she kissed him in his cheek at wala akong nakitang senyales ng pag-angal galing kay Rahim.

Ako wala akong lunch, ayos lang may pera naman ako para pumunta sa cafeteria. Ayos lang naman. Ayos lang talaga.

Ako? Hindi man ako nadaplisan pero para akong napaparalisa. Ayokong kumilos, kung kailan ayaw ko pang pumasok ay doon lang ako pinayagan. Mabuti na lang at nagtatanong ako kay Lau ng mga gagawin at mga task na na-miss ko habang grounded ako.

Tahimik lang si Papa habang nagmamaneho papuntang eskwelahan. Nasa harapan si Kuya habang narito naman ako sa backseat katabi si Lian. Ihahatid rin kasi si Lian sa school.

Mahigit isang linggo na rin mula noong nag-away kami ni Deo. Talaga namang hindi niya ako pinauwi hanggat hindi kami bati kaya napilitan akong makipagbati

My phone beeped and I peeked at it immediately. Nakita ko si Deo iyon. 'Good morning, headed to the campus?'

Ibinalik ko ang telepono sa bulsa ng tote bag. I am mentally exhausted by everything. Halos isang linggo na rin akong tila paralisa sa loob ng kwarto matapos ang araw na iyon.

Hindi ako magsisinungaling sa sarili ko. I've been thinking about distancing from Deo for a while. To focus on myself while he focuses on himself as well.

Pero hindi ako sigurado kung iyon nga lang ba talaga ang dahilan kung bakit gusto kong umiwas.

"We're here."

The moment the car was parked in front of the gate I fixed my tote bag and held the iPad on my right hand, then agad akong bumaba. Hindi ko na hinitay si Kuya. I didn't even bid my father goodbye too. Naiinis ako, nagugugluhan. I am walking but it feels like I cannot move. I am mentally, emotionally exhausted by everything that surrounds me.

"Noella!" Rahim tried to catch up to me and allowed me to be shaded with the umbrella. Pinadala yan ni Mama sa kanya kasi ayaw non na mainitan ang Unico hijo niya.

"Don't bother me, Rahim," I said as I walked faster.

"Sumilong ka nga sa payong. Mainit na, ano ba?!" asik niya.

"Hindi ako nangingitim, kaya wala ring saysay."

"Ano ba? Stop that attitude, Noella."

Hindi ko mapigilan. I'm drained. I want peace and quiet. I just want to sleep by the beach or somewhere far away from the mess! I am losing my mind and I can't tell anyone about what I am feeling because I don't want to burden anyone!

I walked faster and left him in the quadrangle to go to our college.

I entered the room. Everyone went silent the moment they saw me. Para bang hindi nila inaasahan ang pagdating ko. I didn't mind them and went directly to my seat while my eyes are on my iPad.