Not Now But Forever

Chapter 11

Dale flooded me with messages. I've decided to just ignore it.

Dale: Where are u?
     
          Are u home?

         Charm

        Please message me when u're home

        I'm worried

I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko. Ilang minuto akong napatunganga, nakatingala lang sa ceiling ko.

I typed a message with my heart saying a loud bang bang.

Me: Yes I'm home. Sinundo ako ni kuya

I turned off my mobile data. Hindi ko alam kung nakailang gulong ba ako bago nakatulog. Nagising na lang ako sa ingay ni mama.

"Aba,  Charmylle! Alas onse na! Wala ka bang balak pumasok?" Singhal ni mama sa akin.

Sandali kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko bago bumangon. Naligo ako at saka kumain na ng lunch. Lutang pa rin.

My friends are giggling dahil confident daw sila na makakasagot sila. I shrugged my shoulders. Sana all.

Prof gave us one piece of coupon bond. I let out a deep sigh bago nagsimulang sagutan iyon. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba dahil hindi naman nacheck ni Dale ang mga sagot ko. Bahala na nga!

"San ka?" I asked Rose packing her things. Nagmamadali ata.

"I asked Dale to have snacks with me. Pang thank you lang kasi nasagutan ko lahat eh" She shyly told me. I nodded.

I saw how Jerard eyed me. Kunot noo ko itong tiningnan.

"You have a problem, Charm?" He asked me. I shook my head, confused.

"Wala naman, bakit?" He shrugged his shoulders.

Nauna na akong umuwi sa kanila. Hindi ko alam. Masyadong mabigat lang ang nararamdaman ko.

I did my usual stuff. Hindi na rin ako minemessage pa ni Dale. Mukhang okay na naman kasi ang kung anong meron sa kanila ni Rose eh.

I did my usual stuff. Papasok sa school, makikipagkwentuhan, uuwi. Madalas din na wala si Rose.

Kinakabahan ako ng pumasok si Sir sa room namin. He eyed us and started distributing our papers.

Halos malukot ko ang papel ko ng makitang isa lang ang tama ko. Five points lang iyon! Putangina!

Si Rose ang highest sa amin. She got fifteen. Tatlo ang tamang sagot out of ten.

"I'll be giving a long quiz next meeting. Please study your notes, kung hindi ay uulit kayo sa subject na 'to," He warned us.

Walang gana akong tumayo sa aking upuan at saka naglakad na palabas. I told my friends na may pupuntahan pa ako kaya mauna na ako.

Pumunta ako sa library para maghiram ng mga libro sa calculus. Tangina, ang hirap talaga eh! Bwisit!

Right after borrowing a book, I went home. I need to double time with my studies lalo na dahil next meeting agad ang long quiz. Kailangan kong bumawi.

Napatigil ako sa pag-aaral nang marinig ang katok ni mama.

"May bisita ka sa labas," Walang ganang wika ni Mama sa akin.

Confused, I went outside my room only to see Dale silently sitting on our couch.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I asked  while walking near him.

"Rose told me you failed your quiz. I'm going to teach you. You have long quiz on Wednesday diba?" He asked me.

I rolled my eyes and motioned him to go inside my room. Nang hindi pa rin ito tumatayo ay tinaasan ko ito ng kilay.

"Why are we going inside your room?" He slowly asked me.

"Doon tayo mag-aaral bakit?" I squinted my eyes on him.

"Why not here?" He shot back.

"Why not there?" I scoffed. "Unless pinagiisipan mo ko ng masama? Hindi kita irarape ha!" I told him as a matter of fact.

He rolled my eyes, "Magpaparape na lang nga ako sa pangit pa, lugi!" He mocked me sarcastically.

Sinapak ko naman ito sa balikat niya. We went inside out room to study. Maaga pa naman kasi. It's six in the evening.

Dale was busy scanning my notes. Kunot noo niya itong tiningnan, "Next time, fix your handwriting." He warned me.

"Dito ka na kumain." I told him. Hindi na rin naman siya umangal, walang hiya talaga.

Nung tinawag na kami ni Mama ay lumabas na kami para kumain. Nandoon na rin si Papa at Kuya. Pinanlakihan naman ako ng mata ni Kuya.

"Si Dale ho, tutor ko sa calculus." Walang gana kong paliwanag sa kanila.

"Ay buti naman at tinuturuan mo tong anak ko!" Papa gladly told Dale. I rolled my eyes.

"No problem po." Magalang nitong saad. Ang plastik!

"Hindi mo naman ba nililigawan tong anak ko, Dale?" Mama asked out of the blue.

Halos mabilaukan ako sa sarili kong laway.

"Ma!" Inis kong saad sa kanya.

"Hindi naman yan liligawan ni Dale, Mama. Ang dungis kaya niyan!" Kuya Bright said.

"Ang pogi mo, kuya! Nakakahiya!" I mocked him.

Inawat kami ni Papa dahil nakakahiya daw sa bisita. Naku, Papa!  Kung alam mo lang eh walang hiya to si Dale!

After eating, balik ulit kami sa pag-aaral ni Dale. He looked serious while teaching me.

"You should have teach Rose." I said in a low voice. Akala ko ay hindi niya iyon maririnig.

"You need this more." He said not tearing up his sight on my answers.

"Kailangan din naman to ni -" He cut me off.

"I want to teach you." He said while looking at me with intense eyes.

I gulped and nodded. Nang mag alas otso na ay nagpaalam na rin naman si Dale.

Hinatid ko ito hanggang sa labas ng bahay namin.

"Tuturuan mo na rin ba si Rose?" Fuck! I don't even know why I keep on mentioning about Rose! She's my friend!

"Uuwi na ako, Charm." He said with amusement in his eyes.

I nodded and pursed my lips. Nakahinga ako dun ng maluwag ah!

"I'll see you tomorrow. I'm going to teach you again so you won't fail."

Narinig ko na naman ang puso ko. Halos gusto na nitong lumabas sa loob ko. I wonder if Dale can hear my loud heartbeat. I hope not.

I nodded at him, "Sige. Ingat." I shyly told him.

He nodded and looked at me, "Goodnight, Charm."

"Goodnight."