SEVEN AND ARROW (Montana Series 2 | BXB)

11: Solustrance

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It's been nearly a month already since I started living at Tita Meryl's house. Those couple of days gave me a glimpse about her and Arrow, but I felt like I still had so much more to discover. I still had so many rooms in their house I didn't get to explore.

Alam kong wala akong karapatan na manghimasok sa buhay nila, ngunit tulad ng sinabi ni Tita Meryl ay parte na ako ng pamilya nila at pamilya na rin ang turing ko sa kanila. So I thought, knowing more about my new family was the best process of adjustment that I had to do.

"That's sad," someone spoke behind me. Nasa rooftop ako habang hawak ang isang papel. It was my quiz result in Accounting.

When I turned, I saw a guy with a black hair styled in heavy brush up. It was Colton Stefano Gutierrez, the current boyfriend of Maureen.

"Ten over fifty," he said, and I was confused for what he said.

"What?" I asked.

"Your score in your quiz," he clarified while staring at the paper I was holding.

Mabilis ko namang ibinulsa ang aking papel dahil sa kahihiyan. I knew I'm not that smart, but I spent so much time and effort in studying our lessons, that's why I was frustrated and embarrassed when I failed our quiz in Accounting.

"Mr. Tor said he's the god of lightning," he said. "But for us, Mr. Tor means Mr. Torture. Mahilig siyang magpahirap ng estudyante lalo na pag alam niyang may mas magaling at matalinong estudyante kaysa sa kanya."

Colton's voice was as soft as pancake, and it contrasted his serious and wild appearance. He spoke gently, which made me comfortable.

"He's also your teacher?" I asked.

"Yes," he said and sat at the rooftop's parapet.

Akma ko siyang hahawakan, ngunit naalala kong hindi pa kami lubos na magkakilala. "Baka mahulog ka dyan," sambit ko.

He smiled at me and said, "You shouldn't be afraid of falling. Besides, it's just a three storey building, it won't kill me."

Napakunot ako ng noo sa kanyang sinabi. May halong inis at pagtataka ang aking isipan habang nakatingin sa kanyang mga ngiti.

Why do people around me talked like they're not afraid to die?

I studied Colton's face, wondering what's on his mind. The first time I saw him at the cafeteria with Maureen, I felt disgusted because of the idea that he dated Arrow's ex-girlfriend. But that was before, because I already discovered that Arrow didn't date Maureen from the first place.

"You're Arrow's fiancé, right?" he asked that made me flinch.

"Why all of you keep saying that, as if two men could marry any time?" I asked while pressing my temples.

"Why? Is it a new thing for you?" he asked. "Well, here in our school, people give respect regardless of sexuality. May mga iba pa ring tao ang mahilig mang-insulto at kumutya ng iba dahil sa sekswalidad, but there are only few here in our school."

"So you actually believe that Arrow is my fiancé?" I asked with a sharp tone.

"Yes, but base on your reaction, I think I must be mistaken."

"Yes you are. Magkasama lang kami sa iisang bahay, ngunit walang namamagitan sa'min."

"Kung gano'n ay totoo nga. Nakatira ka sa bahay nila," sambit nito na may nakakalokong ngiti.

"Your girlfriend told you that for sure," I said, staring at him long and hard.

"Maureen? Yes, you know she loves talking so avoid saying personal things to her if you're not that close to her."