STUNNED

Chapter TWELVE

TRIGGER WARNING!
This chapter may contain: pessimism, depression, self-harming, schizophrenia, suicide, death.

*****

I'm on my way to attend my psychology class; nang bigla akong harangan ni Noah sa corridor. He was smiling from ear to ear, like an idiotic dog.

"What the hell, Noah?" inis na turan ko dito.

"Good morning, too, Ms. Miller. I am Noah Sanchez, from the BSIT department, and I'm here to escort you to the dean's office," he said, smiling and even winking at me at the end.

"Ano nanaman ba 'yon? "Buntong hininga kong sambit ngunit nagkibit-balikat lamang ito.

"I don't know; napag-utusan lang naman ako ni Neska. Pinatatawag ka daw ni Dean, A-S-A-P," sabi pa nito na madiing ini-spell pa sa akin ang huling salita.

"Okay, I got it, Noah; no need to escort me. Pumasok kana sa klase mo," giit ko na agad din niyang pinigilan.

"Ah-uh, Neska said, I have to escort you to Dean's office myself." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me down the staircase.

It seems like Noah didn't have any idea why we were both dragging in here, o baka naman ako lang. But when Dean said, "Nice to see both of you," I actually believed that we were both summoned here intentionally.

"Sorry, the feelings aren't mutual," I sarcastically said. Noah looked at me with wide eyes. Malamang pinagsasabihan ako gamit ang mga mata niya. I rolled my eyes at naupo kahit pa walang sinasabi ni dean na maupo kami.

"Well, then let's discuss the reason why I summoned both of you here," he said, ignoring my attitude.
See?

"Sir, if this is something about the old library, I'm sorry, Dean, but I know we haven't finished the cleaning, so if this is all about that, I'm really-" Noah was cut by Dean's laughter.

"Oh, it's nothing to do with that hijo. Don't worry, wala kayong ginagawang mali this time. In fact, your professors claim that I should reward both of you."

"Reward? What for? "I asked, and he laughed.

"For trying to get Mr. Marcello to join our list of sponsors. He acknowledged that you two are both outstanding students. He even requested me to thank you two on his behalf." Noah and I both know that we didn't even speak with Mr. Marcello, which is why we both appear so perplexed. We met him for the first and last time when we were taken into custody.

"He expressed his sincere apologies for misleading you two, and he was moved by your quick forgiveness. He sent you this gift as gratitude for your compassion, and he naturally sent me a gift as well. Perhaps as a way of saying "thank you" for producing such outstanding pupils." He pulls out two gifts, one of which is a rectangular box with red ribbon on top that is wrapped in black.

"Are you f*cking serious?" hindi ko napigilang sambit. Nagusot ang mukha ni dean at nabura ang kanina pang ngiting nakapinta sa labi niya.

"Watch your words kid. Hindi porke't may ginawa kang mabuti para school ay pagpapasensiyahan ko na ang ugali mo."

"Screw you, Ramirez." Tiim bagang ko sambit na lalong ikinalaki ng mata ni Noah. He even pulled me closer to him and whispered.

"Liv kalma ka lang, please?" Umikot ang dalawang mata ko.

"This is incredibly foolish. I would never, ever approach him about joining Young Ville Academy Investors. Without him, this school can continue. For what he done to us, I will never forgive him. Firstly, neither Noah nor I had nothing to do with Grace's death! This is F*cking nonsense!" walang pagtitimpi kong sambit. Kung hindi dahil kay Noah na mahigpit na hawak ang kanang balikat ko, kanina ko pa siyang nasuntok.