The Greatest Opponent

31

"Oh, bakit parang nakakita ka ng multo?" Rica held my hand.

Umiling ako at ngumiti nalang. I tried so hard to socialize with my former classmates but then the thought of what I saw earlier was still on my mind.

"Ayos ka lang ba? Ba't para kang umiyak?" Tanong muli ni Rica.

I smiled again at her and made a look that will make her feel better.

"Uy, swimming tayo!" Anyaya ni Briella.

"Maaga tayo uuwi," Tugon ko. Napatingin sila lahat sa akin at sumimangot. Some of my friends groaned and told me I'm crazy.

Nakita ko si Frank na pumasok sa bahay na kung saan kami kanina. Naalaa ko na binalik ko pala ang phone niya roon. Walang bakas na kahit ano roon. Maybe my fingerprint but Frank is not an investigator so he would not do not.

Nataranta ako bigla nang lumabas siya. Pansin ko ang pagtingin niya sa paligid. I grabbed my friends arm and pleased them to go home.

"Ano ba 'yan, Maria. Sayang naman may swimming pa," Sabi ni Briella.

"Bumalik nalang kayo doon kung gusto niyo. Basta ako uuwi na," I told them. Tumahimik nalang sila sa byahe.

"Luh? Sino nagsabi na gusto bumalik, kayo ba 'yon?" Sabi ni Briella at tinuro ang bawat isa. Umiling sila lahat at tumahimik nalang.

My phone beeped so I checked it. Nakita ko ang message ni Frank. My mood changed into something that I don't know.

Frank:

Umuwi na kayo? Sana nag paalam muna kayo pero ingat.

I rolled my eyes and put back my phone in my bag. Ingat, huh. Ingat ampucha.

"May fishy ah," Hindi ako lumingon sa sinabi ni Briella.

I knew that she already had some clues. Isa siya sa mga kaibigan ko na mabilis maka pansin sa mga bagay bagay.

"Baka bunganga natin 'yon," Sabat naman ni Denise.

We went in to our condos and started doing our own jobs. Sila Briella at Angie ay ginagawa na ang plates nila. Sila Elvira, Jane at Raine naman ay nag-aaral. Kami naman ni Rica ay may ginagawa na para sa projects.

"Article no. 1156," I whispered. I'm reviewing some articles that were discussed to us last time.

Nawala ang atensyon ko sa pagrereview nang biglang may nag message sa akin.

Frank:

Kamusta?

I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath. Hayop naman. Can he just not text me and mind his own business. At tska bakit ba niya ako tinetext. Puwede naman niya kausapin ang future fiancè niya. I rolled my eyes.

Jaren:

Fine.

I really prayed that he won't reply anymore.

"Gising! Para kang tanga diyan," I blinked when I heard Rica. Shit. Ilang minuto ba ako nakatulala at nag overthink?

Kinaumagahan, normal day lang. We went to school and do our works. Some professors did a discussion but some did not. Tuwing walang prof, ginagawa nalang namin ang mga ibang gawin na malapit na ang deadline.