No, yet I fall (Complete✔️)

Kabanata 22

NYIF 22: Period

"Ang tagal mo."

Zale look so pissed. Nakapamewang ito habang ang nakatingin sa relo niya na mukhang binibilang kung ilang oras niya na ako hinihintay.

I frown. "Hello, I'm a girl" I said, like this is a enough valid reason to explain my tardiness.

He squinted. "I am too." he pointed himself.

I rolled my eyes. "No. I'm real and you're not."

His lips parted and his jaw dropped. Napahawak pa siya sa kanyang dibdib na para bang nasaktan sa sinabi ko. He silently gasped, and I want to smack his face for overeacting.

"Nakakasakit 'yun ah." he sounded offended.

I just shrug. I won't babysit him, just because he is offended by my words. It's the truth and he have to accept it. Atsaka, ito lang din naman ang daan ko para makabayad siya sa lahat ng sakit na ibinigay niya sa akin at paulit-ulit niyang ibibigay pa.

I love him, I know.

But sometimes, I have to wake up and stop dreaming.

If I failed, before. This time I won't.

Nilagpasan ko siya at binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan sa likuran niya. Umuna ako sa pagpasok, dahilan upang ako na ang nakaupo sa upuan niya at siya sa akin.

He followed after a few seconds. He closed the door.

"Tara na po, Manong Lyle." I instructed.

"Wow. Sa'yo itong kotse? Sayo? Kung makautos 'to." he sarcastically said. "Nakakahiya naman sayo."

I rolled my eyes. "Dinala mo ba ang pinadala sayo ni Carrie." I change the topic, but knowing him, he won't buy this trick of mine.

"Yes." he replied. "Knowing that gay--"

"Like you?" ani ko sabay tingin sa kanya.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Yes, like me." he said doubtly on my actions. "Like me." he repeated like, he is now more serious.

I nodded.

He keep silent. Hindi na niya ipinagpatuloy pa ang dapat niyang sasabihin. I keep looking out the window but I can sense his intense glare at me. It was like a laser buring into my thin skin.

Nakakailang.

"What?" I uttered looking at him.

He look at me seriously like I am some a puzzle that he needs to solve.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Ano?" waiting for him to say something.

Umiling siya at umayos ng pagkakaupo bago lumingon sa labas ng bintana. What? That's it? He won't tell me the reason why he's staring at me like I am some fucking prey? Isn't that's rude?

Wala kaming imik, hanggan nang marating namin ang school. Bumaba ako sa kotse, ganoon rin siya. Kinuha niya muna ang mga pinamili nilang bandana ni Carrie kahapon bago sumabay sa akin sa paglalakad.

We are both wearing a white shirt and a faded jeans. Iyon kasi ang dapat naming suotin para sa gaganapin na presentation mamaya. I could sense him looking at me from time to time, and if I caught him, he would just look away.

"There you are!" sigaw ni Carrie ng makapasok kami ni Zale sa classroom. Our classmates glance at us. Yumakap si Carrie sa amin dalawa ni Zale bago lumingon sa plastic na bitbit ng katabi ko.

"Wala ka bang naiwan?" paninigurado ni Carrie habang binibilang ang bandana.

"Yes."

"Good." maikli nitong ani. He clapped his hands and looks to our fellow classmates as he shouted some announcements. "Ang mga tapos nang magpaganda kahit hindi naman talaga gaganda, sumama sa akin."