Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 9

"Oh my God! I'm so bored!" maarteng bulong sa akin ni Sorcha sabay ikot ng mga mata niya. Pinandilatan ko ang kaibigan. All the afternoon classes were cancelled and we were forced to attend a symposium about drug abuse and teenage pregnancy as if these dunderheads would ever listen to the speakers. Pati ako, bored na din. I stared at the lifeless speaker in front of us and sighed.

"I wish Kirby's here." Dugtong pa niya. Nang hindi ako sumagot ay bumaling sa akin ang kaibigan at nakitang nakatingin ako kina Rigor at isa niyang classmate na mukhang nalate at naghahanap ng plastic chair sa likuran. "So, naka-ilang rounds kayo?"

"Sorcha!" I quickly turned to her with widening eyes.

"Duh. Sa ngiti mong yan mukha ka talagang nadiligan kagabi, ayaw mo pang aminin."

Namula ang buong mukha ko sa sinabi niya. Late rin kaming nakapunta sa gym kaya ang mga kaklase namin, nasa unahan. Halos mga freshmen ang katabi namin ngayon.

"Tumigil ka nga. Walang nangyari sa amin, okay?" I hissed through gritted teeth.

She cocked a suspicious brow. "Are you sure?"

"Wala nga!" diin ko. I swallowed, remembering how the rest of the night went. I could still taste the brute's lips on mine and even the memory of the sensation made me shiver. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

"...Always remember to practice safe sex—"

"O, safe sex daw." She poked me and chuckled. Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang kaibigan.

"HIV and AIDS are rampant and these sexually transmitted diseases, if neglected, can be deadly." the speaker continued. 

Sorcha yawned. Naligaw na naman ang tingin ko sa likuran. I met Rigor's gaze at me. Kinakausap siya ng katabi pero hindi naman niya pinapansin.

"Lunch." He mouthed from afar.

I bit my lower lip and glanced at my phone. 11:45 am na. Papatapos na ang symposium tapos kakarating niya lang. Natawa ako nang bahagya. Salbaheng estyudante din pala ito.

Binalingan ko ulit siya at nginitian, sabay tango. Sorcha is already swearing at the speaker inside her head, I could tell by the way she's making faces and sighing out loud. The first years are obviously terrified of her. Sininghalan pa niya ang is ana naglakas loob na lingunin siya nang maingayan sa kaibigan.

"Nagugutom na ako. San tayo kakain?" she turned to me. Bigla akong kinabahan.

"Uhm.. actually—"

Naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin sabay pag-angat ng pang-aakusa sa mga mata niya. Her cat-like eyes then drifted behind me, instantly spotting Rigor. She groaned.

"You're having lunch with Forbidden Fruit?"

I pouted, then nodded shyly.

"Fine. Whatever. Ayos lang naman sa akin na itapon mo ang ilang taon nating pagkakaibigan dahil sa isang lalaki." She dramatically clutched her chest and closed her eyes.

"Umayos ka, Sorch. Hindi bagay sa iyo." I poked her head. "Itext mo nalang si Kirby. I'm sure he's just as bored right now."

She continued to rattle until the symposium finally ended. I gave myself a quick glance at my compact mirror and fixed my hair before looking for Rigor in the crowd.

"Text me after you're done with your lunch, or whatever it is." Sorcha said, waving goodbye and then disappearing into the crowd.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang hindi agad makita si Rigor. Ang dami kasing dumadaan at gumagalaw kaya mahirap siyang hanapin kahit na matangkad ang lalaki. I tip-toed to scan the crowd, and almost screamed when I felt a hand snaking to my waist.