Every Bad Thing

Chapter Nine

Nang matapos ang klase ay agad akong nagpaalam na pumunta ng library. Wala ang teacher namin para sa huling subject kaya dinala ko na ang bag ko.

I left my bag at an available locker outside the library. I just brought my wallet, phone, pen, and pad paper with me. Pagkapasok ko ay nakita agad ang ilang mga tao sa loob. Hindi pa lalampas ng twenty, but I was expecting to see less.

I looked for a vacant table and found Silas with other familiar faces. Familiar lang dahil hindi ko alam ang mga pangalan. He's not really talking to them. May binabasa lang siyang libro na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

Why are they here? It's Thursday... Oh. Library period nga pala nila ng ganitong oras. Pero aalis din silang lahat maya-maya, panigurado. It's nearing the time for the next subject.

I didn't bother calling for his attention. He's what distracted me from doing my project in the first place, not that I'm blaming him for my lack of responsibleness. Just saying.

Doon ako sa malayong table pumwesto. I was able to sit in peace. Sinimulan kong tingnan ang pad paper. I wrote the format and what will be the contents of the research paper there. May naisip na rin akong topic.

Napasimangot ako habang nakatingin sa napakaraming gagawin. And it's due tomorrow! Matatapos ko ba? Fuck. Nararamdaman ko na kakatulugan ko lang ito mamaya kapag ginawa ko sa bahay.

Huminga ako nang malalim at nagdasal para biyayaan ng kasipagan. Tumayo ako at pumunta na sa shelves para maghanap ng references para sa paper ko.

It took me thirty minutes to find decent books to work on. Buhat-buhat ang nakapakaraming libro ay bumalik ako sa aking table.

Napahinto agad ako sa paglalakad nang makita si Silas na nakaupo sa tabi ng kinauupuan ko kanina. His eyes were on top of the table.

Binabasa niya ang notes ko roon. I know this even from a far, because that's the only available reading material there.

Napangiti ako. He must have known that I was in the library. Unless... He mistook me with another girl. The bitter thought didn't sit well. I'd like to think that it's the former.

Baka mapadala pa ako ng wala sa oras sa discipline's office sa oras na nagkatotoo ang pangalawa. No one will approve of that I'll do if ever that really happened.

With a smile, I resumed with my steps. Inilapag ko ang mga libro sa ibabaw ng lamesa at agad naman umangat ang ulo ni Silas at napatingin sa akin.

"Hi." matamis na bati ko at umupo sa tabi niya. "You knew I was here or..."

You thought someone else was here. Nag-angat ako ng kilay. Ayaw kong ituloy. I don't wanna sound bitter. Lalo na at alam kong marami na ang umaaligid sa kanya.

Especially that Francheska Ramirez who'd been spending a lot of time with Silas. Sa kasamaang palad, madalas silang nagiging groupmates. Which means, spending more time together.

Napansin ko ang pagdilim ng buong mukha ni Silas. Kumuyom ang panga niya at mukhang may naisip na hindi maganda. "I overheard... some boys saying that you were here."

"Boys who?" mala-inosenteng tanong ko at lumingon sa paligid para hanapin ang tinutukoy niya.

"You're so damn good at making me..." he murmured under his breath. It made me turn my head to him. May binulong siya na mas mahina kaya hindi ko narinig.