Highschool Crush Life [fin❤]

[19] - "That's not the issue here."

NOON.

Napalaki ang aking mga mata while reading the article. At malapit nang lumuwa ang mga ito matapos ko makita ang aking pangalan kasabay ang mga add-on pictures nito.

Sht! Isang napakalutong na Sht ang makakain ng kung sinumang hinayupak na nagsulat at nagpost nito.

Inexamine ko ang papel. Walang nakasulat na credits or nakalagay na pangalan ng nagsulat kaya medyo nahirapan ako sa pagtuntun ng writer.

Kaya hinablot ko ito mula sa Bulletin Board and marched right inside the classroom. I need all the help I could get.

Hinanap ko ang CU Kickers.

Nakita ko naman sina Angelo at Harry kasama ang iba pa nilang kateam of our year. Mukhang nagmemeeting sila. Napakaserious kasi ng kanilang mga mukha. Para silang namatayan na ewan.

Tumikhim ako to get their attention. All eyes were on me. I slapped the paper on the table with intensity. "What the hell is this?"

Walang sumagot. Lahat sila nakayuko at nakatutok sa papel.

"So you've heard." Tumayo si Angelo mula sa kanyang pagkaka-upo at tiningnan ako sa mata. "And you're back." He smiled.

"And so?" Kunot noo ko siyang tinanong. "That's not the issue here."

He shrugged his shoulders and dropped his smile. "Partly. Why were you absent?" He pryed.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "I don't have the liberty to explain anything to you. And you don't have the authority to force me to."

"Fine. Whatever." He pocketed his hands at umupo na ulit.

"Barado ka pala, Insan." I heard somebody scoff.

"Oi." May kinulbit akong isang player na kasama rin sa kumpulan. "Who wrote this?"

Sumulyap muna siya sa likod ko. Maybe asking for permission kung dapat niya bang sagutin yung tanong. He sighed.

It took him seconds to utter the hatred name.

"It's Chloe."

Hindi na ako nagulat.

NGAYON.

"(Ambrosia Mandolin B. Yap! Where in the world are you?! Kanina pa ang uwian niyo, 'di ba?!)" My mother gushed. She answered on the first ring. Very predictable.

"Mom..." I monotoned my voice.

"(Oh Golly! Don't tell me may nakaharutan kana?!)" She shrieked. "(When will we meet him, sweety?)" Excited niyang tanong. "(Kayo na ba ni Rap? Since kelan lang? Have you been keeping secrets from me, Ambrosia Mandolin?)" She bombarded me with such nonsensical questions.

"Mom!" Nilaksan ko na ang boses ko. Oh my God! What is she saying!?

"(Yes?)" She innocently asked. "(Oh I'm sorry. I forgot to remind you... please use protection. I want apo after your wedding not before it, okay? Mabigat kasi sa katawan magmarch ng aisle, Nak, paglumulobo ang tyan. Di rin maganda tingnan.)" She giggled. "(I think they're selling those 'rubber-thingys' na on vending machines, tulad nga nung nasa alley ng London...)"

Kahit na kilalang kilala ko na ang sarili kong Mommy nagulat pa rin ako sa sinuggest niya. "Mom!"

"(Ay, Nak, you're not coming home tonight, right? Uhmmm... Oh!)" She giggled. "(Your dad's here. Keep safe, Ambrosia Mandolin. My baby's growing up.)"

And then she hung up. I slumped on Jade's bed at hinilamos ang aking mga palad.

"O." May itinapon sa aking pair of jammies and underwear si Jade. "Di ko pa yan nagagamit. Nakapaalam ka na ba?"

Napabuntong hininga ulit ako. "Kung alam mo lang."