After You (Rewriting Fate Series #1)

Kabanata 4

"So ayon lang 'yung points na gusto kong i-emphasize.. I sincerely hope you'd cooperate with me. After all, we're a team," Carmaine precided the meeting since she's the SSG President. Shaun is the Vice President and Alexis was supposed to be the Secretary.. but unfortunately I replaced her.

Kaya ang posisyon ko ngayon ay tagasulat sa whiteboard. I have never been a Secretary my entire life. Hindi ko alam kung pasado ba itong sulat-kamay ko sa pagiging Secretary though I'm aware that this position isn't all about penmanships.

I sighed out of frustration.

Pansin kong minsan ay napapatingin si Shaun sa gawi ko. After our awkward staring contest a while ago, hindi ko na sinubukan pang makipagtitigan sa kanya.

They must be very close.. He and Alexis.

Siguro ay apektado 'rin siya sa pagkawala ni Alexis sa posisyon.. and I am to be blamed. Nakakahiya.

"That's all for today. Magpapatawag ako ulit ng meeting kapag nirelease na ang meal stubs mula sa DSC.." nagsitayuan ang mga tao at kanya-kanya nang umalis.. leaving me, Carmaine, Shaun and Alexis.

She must be waiting for him.

Tumikhim ako at nagpakunwaring abala sa paglilinis ng kamay na ngayon ay may tinta pa ng whiteboard marker. Pinalis ko iyon gamit ang aking panyo.

"Uhm, una na ako.. Salamat Carmaine!" hindi ko sila binalingan. Though I know that Shaun's eyes are still on me. Alexis is still on her seat.

"Ms. Sevilla.. Tama ba?" si Alexis na ngayon ay nakatayo at naglalakad papunta sa gawi ko. I can't see clearly her emotions. She's very difficult to read.

"A-ah.. Opo. Bakit?" I forced myself to smile. I convinced myself that her presence right now is not bother to me. Pero sa totoo lang, napakabilis ng tibok ng puso ko ngayon.

"K-kung sakali na.. hindi mo gusto ang posisyon, you can back out. I'm willing to accept the position again," may emosyong pagsusumamo sa kanyang mga mata. I hate seeing her like this because of me.

I hate how she begs for the opportunity that was already given to her at the very first place. Ako 'yung nang-aagaw. This is not me.

"Alexis, hindi ko kailanman ginusto ito. We can talk to Carmaine right now if you want. I know you deserve the position," I gave her an assuring smile. I don't want her to worry. Now that she has given me a way to straight things up, I will.

I searched for Carmaine inside but she's nowhere to be found. Tanging si Shaun na lamang na nakapamulsa at tiim-bagang na nakatingin sa gawi namin ang natira.

Seeing us three in the same room makes me suffocate. May nararamdaman akong pait sa kailaliman ng aking puso.

"S-siguro bukas.. I'll fix this. I'll make sure you'll have your position back again," sabi ko sa kanya as I forced my smile to her. Mabilis kong tinahak ang labas para makaalis sa masikip na silid.

Hindi ko makalma ang sarili at panay tingin lang ako sa malayo. May parte sa akin na gustong bagalan ang paglalakad. Pero sa tuwing naiisip ko kung bakit ko naman gagawin iyon ay tinutulak lang ng isip kong bilisan ang pag-alis sa lugar at hindi na lumingon pabalik.

Good thing when I stepped outside the schoolgate is the familiar Chevy which awaits for my presence. Halos patakbo akong tinungo ang sasakyan. Mary Khae opened the car for me, and inside was Dien and Mich who are currently waving for me.

Pagkapasok ko ay sinara agad ni Khae ang pinto.

"What took you so long?" pag-uusisa ni Mich na ngayon ay pumapapak ng french fries.