Paper Memories

Chapter 28-II

Chapter 28-II

"Ate, galit ka ba sa akin?"

"I'm not mad, hinahanap ko lang si Ralph at si Ellie." Their unsent chats still bother me. Papunta na dapat ako sa klase, pero pinangunahan ako ng kutob ko, I spun around to find the two of them."Bakit mo pa ako sinusundan? Pumunta ka na sa next class natin."

But Ricos tailed me like usual." Did I do something to ruin your mood?"

"My friends arejust acting a little weird, kaya hindi mo kasalanan." Sa bawat lugar na pupuntahan ko na wala dun si Ralph o si Ellie.Kaya mas pabilis ng pabilis ang lakad ko habang si Ricos naman naman ay hindi makasabay sa akin." Parang may mali, they've been like this for a while---ever since they became so close."

"Can't you just meet them after class?" Habol ni Ricos sa akin, namumutla na siya. Now, he's just holding me back out of guilt." May importanteng lakad ba kayo?"

"He's my date tonight at our business party.

"Wait, sila Kuya Ralph at Ate Ellie naman yun hihintayin ka ni--------"

"Something is wrong with them! Out of place na ako pagkasama sila!"

"It's her, si Ate Ellie yun. Parang may pupuntahan siya." I caught a glimpse of my bestfriend at the direction Ricos is pointing at. I was about to call her, but Ellie is quick to move----yet my anxious heart beats faster because of Ricos words. I lost her. I don't where she is anymore." Maybe she knows where Kuya Ralph is! Ah! Where is she? Did we lost her?"

"Leave. I'd find them myself---you're tired.

"I-I'm still fine, hintayin po kita."

"I already told you to leave, so go. Pakiealamero!"

He was already panting in exhaustion but now he flinched because I accidentally screamed at him. Pinagtinginan pa kami ng mga ibang estudyante dahil dun at nagsimula mamasa ang mga mata ni Ricos." Y-you know I could find him for you. I c-could! I m-mean you wouldn't listen to what I'm saying earl------"

"Go to our next class! This is none of your business!." Sinabi ko na yun pero hinigit niya ang kamay ko para mapilitan akong sumama sa kanya. I couldn't force myself free because he's ridiculously much frailer and he might make a scene!" Ricos, calm down. I'm asking you a favor!"

I can't struggle, he'd get hurt." M-mahahanap ko sila Ate."

Papunta na kami sa likod ng gymnasium." I'm not asking your help!"

"You like people useful, you don't need them worthless. Alam ko kung nasaan sila." Ricos mumbled like a madman, and his skin felt so hot because of his agitation. Hindi niya ako pinapakinggan,walang students na pumupunta dito dahil sa renovation! " I wouldn't be abandoned or disliked again, you're the one in the wrong. Ikaw lang ang palaging may nakikitang mali sa iba."

"Ricos, let go! Don't make me hurt you!

"She's with Kuya Ralph, t-they're here!"

"Nobody comes here! Spare me from your delusion!" Napilitan akong pumunta dito dahil lang ayokong maeskandalo sa hysteria niya. I was trying stop myself, but in the end I snapped---I push him on the wall. He was lightweight, he was hurt easily." Mentally fucked up brats like you should be lock up!"

In the end, he end up crying." G-Gusto lang lang tumu-------"

"Sinabi ko ng hindi ko kailangan ang tulong mo!" I was trembling as I grab him by his collar.I want wipe that pitiful face off him! "Alam ko namang ang kaya mo lang gawin ay guluhin ako at ikaw pa ang magpapabiktima sa dulo."

Kaso may narinig akong sigawan.

I know who they belong to full well. I peek while hiding behind the wall, and then they were. It's as if they were hiding from peoples judgmental eyes as well. Kakarating lang nila.Napabitaw ako sa pagkakahawak kay Ricos. Napaupo siya sa sahig habang umiiyak pa rin. Para gusto niyang isumbat na tama siya. Pero paano? Paanong tama siya?

It's Ellie and Ralph, without me.

"Sheena's our friend how could you say that? You couldn't even love her back, and now you're trying to ruin her image? Ano ka pa ba, Ralph? Anong nangyayari sayo?"

"We both know she did that!"

Ellie tried to control herself; her insistence on defending me gave me a pang of guilt." Assuming is different from knowing, Ralph! Bakit ba parang gusto mong hanapan palagi siya ng mali? Ganyan ba ang sense of justice na meron ka, ang manghusga?"

"Hindi panghuhusga ang katotohanan!"

"Kakampi tayo ni Sheena! Huwag mo siya gawan ng kwento!"

"Kung kaya mong matiis siya kahit alam mo kung manira ng buhay ng iba pwes ako hindi!" I bit my own fingers as I heard him loudly say that with so much sadness and disgust. This is what they want to talk about." I love her so much but I can't be in the relationship she wanted because she makes me sick"

"You love her?" Ellie scoffs.

"I do, I do it on my own way." Ralph bellowed.

"Do you even any form of love for her at this point?! Is this what love is for you?! You're just one step closer on destroying her with your love! Why are you like this?"

"I can't be like Percival if that's what you want as well. I can't be like her boyfriend." Sagot ni Ralph na halos magpatigil sa puso ko. I hate how he compare himself to a godforsaken painting." Hindi ko kaya manood lang kung ganong klaseng tao ang nasa harap ko. Si Percival lang ang oo."

"Nobody is turning a blind eye on anything." Napaatras si Ellie. It's as if she want to run away." Walang nagbubulag-bulagan sa mga bagay naman na hindi nangyari!

Ralph scoff." Gusto bang personal na maranasan muna ang la------

I can see Ellie's tears." Walang kasalan si Sheena!"

"Kahit ikaw hindi mo maitatanggi na baka siya ay mapakana kung paano na lang mapa-expell p last year at ito namang mga panibagong issue!" Ralph grabbed my best friend by the shoulders so she couldn't run away. Ellie was startled, almost terrified by the expressions he's making." The only thing we knew about Sheena is that we don't know who she really is----but perhaps. If she has power in her hand----intellect, privilege or drugs--------she would ruin people's lives."

"Sinasbi mo to dahil lang may nahulihan ng party drugs sa kanila?"

"Of course not! I have a basis and I would find out mo------"

"Baka lang! Puro akala, you don't have a basis for it except your damn guts and mistrust for her!" Ellie retorted, my heart breaks on how she tries to defend me." Is somebody telling you all of this? I mean, just what do you want me to do? I couldn't even stop actual bad people; how else could I stop a loved one like my own best friend?!"