SEVEN AND ARROW (Montana Series 2 | BXB)

24: Meraki

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The words came from Maureen's mouth felt like I was shrinking, questioning my sense of self-worth. She used my miserable life and pulled it as an arrow aimed to destroy me. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit may mga tulad niya dito sa mundo.

"Seven," someone called me as I tried to calm myself at the rooftop. Hindi ako pumasok ng first period matapos ang naging paguusap namin ni Maureen.

"What are you doing here, Colton?" I asked.

He went near me. "I heard what happened between you and Maureen."

"Alam mo rin ba na siya ang nagpakalat ng maling balita tungkol sa'kin?" tanong ko. "She even dragged you and my friend to worsen the issue."

"I'm sorry about that," he said.

"Bakit ikaw ang humihingi ng tawad?" inis kong tanong. "Isa ka rin sa biktima niya. She's your girlfriend, yet she did this to you. You should confront her and tell her to stop this nonsense."

He lowered his head. "To be honest, I don't know how to handle all the people around me. I just want to stay around them and let them do what they want. Pakiramdam ko ay kapag kinontra ko sila ay iiwan nila ako."

"Bakit ba takot kang maiwan ng mga taong hindi ka naman tinatrato ng maayos? Let them leave because they don't deserve you."

"It's not that simple, Seven," he said. "Araw-araw akong namamalimos ng pagmamahal, pero si Maureen lang ang nagparamdam sa'kin ng pagmamahal na hinahanap ko. Not even my friends nor my family could give the same love and care that Maureen is giving me."

Colton struggled to maintain a calm face, but the agony in his voice was screaming. He spoke flatly, but each word sent me great sorrow.

"I'm sorry, Colton, but you should see your own worth first before asking love from other people."

He stared at me, long and hard. "I'll get there, I just don't know when."

"You'll never get there, unless you free yourself from someone like Maureen."

Hindi siya nakapagsalita sa aking sinabi at binigyan lamang niya ako ng malalim na paghinga. He's a nice person, and I didn't know why he's so desperate to beg for love from other people.

"And by the way, Colton, mag-iwasan muna tayo. Huwag na nating bigyan pa ng rason ang iba para lalo nila tayong pagusapan. The issue about the blind item would surely die over time."

He nodded slowly. "Okay, I understand. I'll also try to talk to Maureen. We're not sure if she's really the one who spread the news, but I'll try my best to find out."

"Thank you, Colton," I said, forcing a smile.

After our conversation, I went to our classroom to attend the second period. I tried ignoring the stares and whispers of other students and continued throughout the day. Ramdam ko ang pagaalala nina Maze at Audrey, ngunit mas ramdam ko ang inis nila dahil sa nangyari.

"Sugo ata ng kadiliman ang babaeng 'yon," sabi ni Maze habang papunta kami sa parking lot ng school.

"At anak ng demonyo," dagdag pa ni Audrey.

"Demonyo pero idol mo," sarkastikong bato ni Maze kay Audrey.

"I'm not the issue here, Maze," she said. "Hindi ko naman alam na gano'n pala ang ugali ng Maureen na 'yon."

"Kahit gaano pa kaganda ang suot niya ay hindi pa rin niya maitatago ang totoo niyang ugali," saad ko.

A fancy outfit might cover up someone's flaws, but their unpleasant behavior would definitely be seen eventually. Sana lang ay makita rin ng ibang estudyante kung anong nakikita namin kay Maureen.