She Crossed That Bridge

22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I'm sorry . . .

GER and I climbed out of the car. My dad winked at me before he took off kaya napangiti na lang din ako.

Si dad ang naghatid sa 'min dahil grounded si Ger for the whole week. He's also not allowed to use his car, kaya talagang kailangan kaming ihatid ni dad.

With jaw clenched and forehead creased, Ger walked in the hallway, not minding all the girls who drooled over him. I cringed at the thought. What's so special about my brother? Bakit ba lahat sila pinagnanasaan siya?

"See ya later, sis," Ger said lazily, giving me a quick kiss on my forehead before he went to the other direction of the hallway.

This was my brother's last year in Kyll High, and so is the whole P5. It's exactly why I'm so excited for next year.

Today's just another normal day at Kyll High.

It still made me sad whenever the thought of Helix not being here comes into my mind.

It would be really nice to see him around every day. But because he's sick, seeing him at school was implausible.

We've been dating for a month already, and still nobody knows about it. That's the cutest thing I've ever experienced; dating a popular guy without the entire school knowing about it. Tulad nga ng palagi kong sinasabi, the last thing I wanted was the attention of all the students. P5 lang ang nakaaalam ng tungkol sa 'min ni Helix. Buti na nga lang ay hindi sila madaldal. They never talked about it.

"Movie night?" Kath asked, shoving her books to the locker.

"Sorry, I can't," I said.

She frowned and rolled her eyes a few seconds later. "You don't have time for me anymore. This is so annoying! Miss ko na ang best friend ko!"

Naglalambing na naman si bruha.

I let out a small laugh and pinched her nose. "You don't have cancer, Kath. You should be grateful for that."

***

SLOWLY, the doorknob turned and the door creaked open. Helix peeked his head in my direction so I immediately flashed him a smile.

"Hi, baby," I greeted him.

He pushed the door wider. "Hey," he greeted me back with a soft kiss on my lips.

Grabe, buti na lang mahilig sa kiss 'tong si Helix. Kahit hindi ko siya nakikita sa school, sulit naman kapag binibisita ko siya rito sa bahay nila. Nakaaadik kasi talaga 'yong halik niya. Nakalulunod talaga.

"Why are you wearing a cap?" natatawang tanong ko. Ang cute niya kasi. I just found it weird. Naka-cap siya eh nandito lang naman siya sa kuwarto niya. Unusual of him.

There's an uneasy silence as I entered his room.

Bakit ang tahimik niya yata bigla?

I halted when I found ten pieces of caps laid on his bed with different brands and colors. I shot him a questioning look. "What's with the obsession with these?" natatawang sabi ko pa ulit pero bigla niya akong tiningnan nang seryoso.

"You really think this is fun for me, huh," he said impatiently. I was surprised with the sudden change in his mood.

"I was just asking, baby. Why are you getting mad?" gulat na sabi ko.

"You weren't just asking. You were laughing at me when nothing's funny at all!" He snapped.

My eyes widened with his high tone of voice. He's . . . mad, and probably disappointed. Hindi ko inaasahang sisigawan niya ako. Pero bakit siya nagkakaganito?

A few seconds later, he suddenly took the cap off his head. Agad akong napatakip ng bibig ko nang makita ko ang ulo niya.

Para akong binagsakan ng semento sa dibdib ko dahil sa biglaang pagsikip nito.

"H-helix, I'm sorry," gulat na sabi ko. Hindi ko talaga alam na 'yon pala ang dahilan kung bakit ang dami niyang cap.

He didn't speak. Instead, he just laughed and cried at the same time. How was that even possible? Laughing while tears were rolling down his cheeks.

Nanatili lang akong nakatitig sa kanya habang umiiyak siya roon sa kama niya.

Ang bigat sa loob kong panoorin siyang ganito.

He didn't just lose some hair. He's actually . . . bald.

~

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