Beneath The Clandestine Paradise (Chaotic Series #3)

Kabanata 32

Beneath The Clandestine Paradise

Kabanata 32

Simula nang nangyari sa amin ni Harvelyn, hindi ko na pinilit ang sarili ko. She hates me, then I'll be okay with that. Ayokong dagdagan pa lalo ang galit niya sa akin kaya hindi ko na rin siya papansinin. Unless there's necessary to.

"Rems, ang tagal!" reklamo ni Yary.

"Hindi ko makita ang sapatos ko! Wait!" Rems' yell echoed upstairs.

"My god! Napakaburara talaga! Use another one, then!" si Kristina.

Nakaupo kaming tatlo sa sofa habang hinihintay ang pagbaba ni Rems. Habang hinihintay ang problemadang kapatid, nag-text sa akin si Amores. I already saved his number yesterday.

Amores (classmate):

Morning :)

Napataas ang kilay ko sa text niya. Is it a text to all or what? Uso pa ba ang group message? 'Diba hindi na?

Ako:

Morning!

Maya-maya, patakbo nang bumaba si Rems. Sumenyas siya sa aming sandali lang at tumungo sa kitchen. Pagbalik niya, nilalagay niya sa bag ang kinuha niyang nilagang mga saging. Tumayo na kaming tatlo.

"Why did you bring that?" Kris asked.

"Para may kakainin ako sa loob ng classroom. Nagsasawa na 'ko sa tinapay."

Inside the van on our way to the university, I received another text from Amores.

Amores (classmate):

Take care on your way to school. See you.

Pagkarating ko ng university ay palaisipan sa akin ang dalawang text ni Amores. He doesn't need to text me. Alright, as a friend, he can, but if it's like this, it feels a bit strange to me.

Wala pa sina Griffin at Gela sa classroom kaya wala akong kausap. I always come early to school. Minsan ay tatlo o lima pa lang kami sa loob.

"Hi, Arie!" Mariz, our Class President greeted me.

"Hi!" I greeted back as gaily as her.

"May assignment ka na kay Ma'am Fuentabella?"

"Yup!"

I sat down and signed in to Facebook and Messenger. I'm not really active on these social media platforms. My classmates in Manila who became my friends know that I only use Instagram, so they reach out to me there if they want to send me a message. We converse in just one app.

Now I have to revive my Facebook because I need to be active on Messenger. Sabi ni Griffin ay meron kaming group chat at doon sila nag-uusap-usap tungkol sa report. My Facebook is very private and they can't add me directly. I need to send them a request so they can add me.

I searched for Griffin Russel Devlin. Griffin Devlin lang ang lumabas. I sent him a friend request. His profile picture was of him in Carlton Gardens in Australia. He's half-Australian and half-Filipino. He told me he studied there when he was in Elementary.

Humalimuyak ang matapang na pabango. Bahagyang umuyog ang upuan ko nang may umupo sa tabi ko. And I already familiarized that scent.

"Morning," Grim greeted me. His voice was a bit hoarse.

I stopped. Luminga ako at siya pa lang ang pang-anim na pumasok. Wala pa ang kambal niya?

"What are you up to?"

Here he goes again. Talking even though it's not necessary.

"Wala naman," sagot ko pa rin dahil nakokosensiya akong pagmukhain siyang mukhang tanga.