Professor's Pet Series: Quinn Ellis

XXII. Death and An Epiphany

Hinihingal kong binuksan ang pinto ng music lab. Gulat at sabay pang napatingin sa akin sina Eli at Kenny na parehong busy sa mga phones nila.

"What's up? You look like you've seen a ghost." Kenny asked, snickering.

"Hindi lang nakakita, hinabol pa." Habol hiningang sagot ko saka sumalampak ng upo sa tabi nila.

"Don't tell me it's Miss D? Kung ganoon naman ka-ganda at ka-sexy ang multong makikita ko, magpapahabol talaga ako hanggang kwarto." Natatawang sabi ni Eli na umiral na naman ang kamanyakan.

"You're such a fucking perv, El. Isumbong kaya kita." Pagbabanta ni Kenny, dahilan para mabilis na itikom ni Eli ang bibig.

"Seriously, dolls. That woman's so intense." I said, shaking my head as I recall our interactions a while ago. Kung magiging ganoon siya lagi tuwing tutorial session namin, baka atakihin na ako sa puso.

And, then, there's the fact that she seemed to really know Miss Mendez personally. I don't think nagkataon lang din na siya ang pumalit dito for the rest of the semester. I think it's on purpose. And, whatever that purpose might be, I no longer want to dwell on it.

I need to keep reminding myself that I'm moving forward, and, in order for me to do that, kailangan kong pilitin na huwag paapekto sa mga bagay na alam kong may kinalaman sa kanya.

Ilang sandali pa ay nagyaya na rin akong umuwi dahil gumagabi na. Nasa tapat na kami ng student's council office ng may marinig kaming mga boses.

"No, Madison. Just.. stop. You're just wasting your time. You can't talk me out of it, it's too late now." Medyo muffled man dahil sarado ang pinto, but, the voice distinctively belongs to Kelsey.

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo at sinadya pa naming bagalan ang paglalakad, naghihintay sa kung anong isasagot nung Madison na kausap ni Kelsey. At, ng wala na kaming marinig, ang ginawa ba naman nina Eli at Kenny ay lumapit sa nakasaradong pinto ng office saka idinikit nila ang kanilang mga tenga.

"Goodness, you two. I didn't know na Marites na pala ang second name nyong dalawa." Gigil na sambit ko bago sila iniwan at naglakad na palayo.

"Hey, wait up. Don't act like you're not as nosy. And, besides, that sounds like a lover's quarrel to me." Sabi ni Eli matapos nilang makahabol sa paglalakad ko.

"True. And, that sounded like Kelsey, right? Are you not even in the slightest curious who this Madison is?" Usisa pa ni Kenny. I just shook my head at them.

"No, and, it's none of our business, bitches." Iyon lang ang sinabi ko bago mabilis na sumakay na sa kotse ko at nagmaneho pauwi.

But, on the drive home, I admit, the Marites in me was intrigued, too. Although, Kelsey and I haven't been close enough to get to the point where we divulged our secrets to each other. Kaya kung sino man ang kausap niya should not matter to me, not when I'm keeping a lot of secrets from her, myself.

All I know is that she's a good person, and, a reliable friend. Only time will tell kung lumalim man ang kung anong mayroon kami. Basta sa ngayon kontento na ako sa kung ano man ang namamagitan sa amin.

I slept fitfully, masyadong maraming bumabagabag sa isip ko, and, I can't make sense of them all. It didn't help waking up with this strange feeling in my gut. I only ever felt this once before, at, hindi maganda ang naging ibig sabihin. I suddenly dreaded going to school.

Wala sa sarili akong naglalakad patungo sa classroom ng matanaw ko sina Eli, Kenny, at Kelsey sa hallway. They're quietly talking to themselves. Tumahimik sila ng makalapit na ako, at sabay-sabay nila akong binalingan. I felt a sense of dèjá vu. Parang bumalik ulit sa ala-ala ko 'yong gabing iyon sa function hall when they announced a surprise engagement. When Miss Mendez broke my heart into tiny pieces.