Before Anything Else (Absinthe Series 2)

Kabanata 5

Kabanata 5

Before Anything Else

I haven't seen Nixon ever since that night. Kapag uwian naman ay hindi ko na naaabutan ang pagdaan ng kaniyang kotse dahil maaga akong umuuwi. Our discussion for the debate ended in the afternoon of Fridday so technically kapag uwian na ay hindi na ako nagtatagal sa school.

Saturday came and Kazuna visited me in the condo. Namasyal kaming tatlo ni Everly sa mall at sinundo naman kami ni Faigel dahil nag-aalalang baka hindi kami makauwi nang maayos. Kazuna stayed in our condo. Magkatabi kami sa pagtulog at si Faigel naman ay sa sofa. We had our cousin's bonding later that evening.

Noong Sunday naman, they both went home. Sinabi sa akin ni Faigel na siya na lang ang maghahatid kay Kazuna pauwi dahil alam niyang kailangan kong pag-aralan ang para sa debate. I stayed inside my room busy discussing our matters with my group. Online discussion lang kasi busy din sa mga pamilya nila.

"Forah! Wake your ass up! We're gonna be late!" Everly banged my bedroom door so loud that the neighbors could almost hear it. I squeezed my eyes shot as I felt the wave of pain on my back. Nakatulog ako kagabi sa upuan at nang maalimpungatan ay lumipat sa higaan.

I got up and reached for my phone. Ilang ulit itong tumunog hanggang sa makita ko ang pangalan ni Elize.

"Hello?" I held my back. Damn, ang sakit.

"Forah! Nasaan ka na?" I heard Elize"s frantic voice on the other line.

"Uhm, nasa condo pa ako?"

"Oh my gosh! The debate will start in fifteen minutes. Nandito na yung mga guest!" Napatayo ako at ininda ang sumasakit na likod. Still holding the phone in my hand and pressing the loud speaker, I went to my cabinet and picked up my newly ironed uniform.

"Sige na Forah! I'll have to find Josh pa. Hurry up please!" Elize said and before I could utter a word, the line went off. Napabuntong-hininga ako at patakbong pumasok ng banyo. Pinagsabay ko nalang angpagsasabon at pagshashampoo para mas madali akong matapos. I wrapped the towel around my body and went out of the bathroom.

Wala pang limang minuto ay tapos na ako sa pag-aayos. My elbow length hair was neatly combed and placed on both my shoulders. Naglagay ako ng kaunting lip gloss para magkakulay ang namumutla kong labi bago ko kinuha ang aking bag at lumabas ng aking kwarto.

Everly was already in table, eating. Nagmamadali kong kinuha ang pandesal na nandoon at kinain ito nang walang palaman. Everly was just staring at me and I couldn't help but widen my eyes at her. Nagkibit balikat lang naman siya.

"I'm heading out first. Malalate na ako sa debate!" sabi ko at humalik sa kaniyang pisngi. I head towards the front door and opened it. Walang katao-tao sa hallway kaya mabilis akong nakatakbo sa papasarang elevator. I immediately got in before it finally closed. Isang malalim na paghinga ang aking ginawa habang hawak ko ang aking dibdib.

"Thank heavens." I muttered.

"Glad to see you here." My body bolted when I heard a raspy voice from behind. Sapo ko ang aking dibdib at lumakas ang kabog nito sa di malamang dahilan. I turned my head and surprised to see Nixon leaning on the elevator wall, his eyes dancing with amusement as he stared at me. He eyes me from head to toe and then smirked. Hindi ko maiwasang punahin ang kaniyang ayos ngayon.

How could this guy looked so strikingly handsome with just a white uniform and black pants? I mean, most guys at school are good looking but I don't think they matched the level of this handsome jerk.

"Done checking me out?" I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard his voice again. Sobrang lapit na nito at hindi ko man lang namalayan na ipinapantay niya na pala sa akin ang kaniyang mukha.