Polarized Antagonism

51:

Cameron

Naomi told me to wait for her in the lobby after class. May gusto daw siyang sabihin sa akin. 40 minutes na akong naghihitay sa kaniya dito pero wala pa rin siya hanggang ngayon.

Maybe she's got called by a teacher or something. Kaunti na lang ang mga students na nakikita ko ngayon dahil malapit na mag six o'clock.

I feel pissed that my Mom won't let me drive again after what happened but I'm glad that I got my car from the impound although kailangan pa siyang dalhin sa casa para ayusin.

It's a luxury car so it's gonna take long before they finish the job.

That car was my Mom's gift the summer before I started senior highschool. She bought me an 8 million peso car but won't let me buy my own pinball machine.

But now that I don't have any car with me and people in our house won't let me drive not even the Cadillac, or the Lexus, Lucia offered na sabay na daw kaming pumasok at umuwi.

Which is a win-win situation for me. She's actually a decent driver. Tahimik lang siya at nakatingin sa kalsada. I took advantage of the whole drive from our house school just to look at her.

I just realized recently that she's pretty.

I like how her nose scrunches up when there's traffic. I like how she hums an Ariana Grande song kahit na iba yung music sa radio. Hindi kami aalis sa bahay kapag hindi pa ako nagseseatbelt. Sometimes, i was doing it on purpose para lang siya yung maglagay nun sa akin.

Pero siyempre, nag-aaway pa rin kaming dalawa. Minsan kasi pag-gusto ko mag drive thru sa Mcdo or sa Starbucks, hindi niya ako pinapayagan dahil daw malalate kami.

Our school is like a 20 minute drive from our house and we always arrived 30 minutes early before class starts.

Speaking of Lucia, I'll go text her na hindi niya na ako kailangan sunduin. Baka kasi tumagal yung usapan namin ni Naomi, and I don't want her to wait up on me.

As I was sending the message to Lucia, nakita ko si Naomi na naglalakad sa labas ng mag-isa.

I thought we are supposed to meet here?

Tumakbo ako palabas para lapitan si Naomi. She noticed me that I was following her pero imbis na tumigil siya at harapin ako, she sprinted like the Road Runner.

Para kanina lang may sakit siya?

" Naomi! Akala ko magkikita tayo sa lobby, di ba may sasabihin ka sa akin? " i called her out.

If she's the Road Runner, then I'm Sonic the Hedgehod. Ugh. I'm such a nerd.

Basta naabutan ko siya, finally! I grabbed her shoulders at hinarap ito sa akin.

" I-i forgot you got long legs... " she held out a finger as she was catching her breath. Ano ba yan, namumula yung mukha niya sa pagod.

Kinuha ko yung bottled water ko sa bag at ibinigay ito sa kaniya. " Bakit ka ba tumatakbo? Wala ka naman utang sa akin,ah? "

Binigyan ko siya ng mga ilang minuto para maka recover. It's weird seeing Naomi like this. Para siyang may tinatago sa akin.

" Cameron.. I.. " she covered her face with her hand and just slumped her shoulders. " I'm sorry. I can't do this. "

" You can't do what? For god's sake, Naomi. Ano ba yung sasabihin mo? Is it something so trivial ba? "

Hindi siya sumagot.

" We're friends, right? You can tell me anything. " I put my hand on her shoulder and lifted her chin up. " I have not been a good friend to you, see. So, just rely on me just this once. I'll listen. "