Chapter 3

I was so torn on what to do. Feeling ko kapag hindi ko kinita si Bryce, gugulpihin ako no'n. But I don't have to follow what he asks me to do. Ano bang kailangan niya at hindi na lang niya sabihin sa akin thru message?

Bakit kailangan niya pang makipagkita sa akin in person? Nakakaloka.

Sa huling banda, I decided to go to my next class and ignore what would happen with Bryce later. Kung ano man talaga ang binabalak niya, bahala na siya sa buhay niya.

I walked into my class just like the normal days I had. Habang nagdidiscuss ang professor namin, I somehow saw someone peeking through the glass window of the door and then I saw Bryce there.

Nanigas ang buo kong katawan. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. For pete's sake, I tried ignoring his presence, but I know he was waiting for me to get out of the class and face him. But I wouldn't do that. Kritikal ngayon ang grades ko, if I wouldn't able to submit all the things I need, baka hindi pa ako magkaroon ng latin honors and that's suck.

And it's been twenty minutes, bahagya akong nakahiga nang maluwag nang wala nang dumudungaw sa pinto. Alam kong hindi lang ako ang nakakapansin sa kanya ro'n. This whole class absolutely know Bryce Hallson and his reputation. I don't like to be around him, that's why ignoring him is my best solution.

Baka gusto ka no'n tirahin?

It was what Ruth wrote on a piece of paper and hand it over to me for me to read. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. Mabilis kong nilukot ang kapirasong papel na 'yon at sinilid sa bulsa ko.

I looked at Ruth and rolled my eyes at her. Napahagikgik pa siya dahilan para tawagin siya ng prof namin to answer the question she's been asking on the class. Good thing for Ruth, kahit gaga, nasagot ang tanong ng terror prof namin.

But as soon as the class ended, I was hoping not to see anyone familiar outside of the class, but I was so wrong.

Hindi pa man kami nakakalabas, I was hearing voices calling Bryce's name. At that point, ayoko nang lumabas ng room namin. Pero nasita lang kami no'ng prof namin dahil kaming dalawa na lang ni Ruth ang naiwan sa loob at hindi pa lumalabas.

So we had no choice, but to get out.

At sa hindi inaasahan, Bryce couldn't be seen out of nowhere.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag doon. Pansin naman iyon ni Ruth kaya naman nagbalak na kaming umalis. But Ruth has something else to do kaya naman naiwan akong mag-isa.

I have no other plans, but to go back home and take some rests. But as I was heading out of the campus, someone just come at me and it's the person that I don't wanna even see.

"Bryce," usal ko saka ako napalunok ng laway.

"You're avoiding me," matigas na tugon nito. Nakatitig ito sa akin na para bang may gagawin masama sa akin. "And I know you've read my message earlier. So, why didn't you come?"

"I have a class," simple kong sagot sa kanya. "And it seems like you haven't, but that's not how it works, Bryce."

"You could've just say," he responded. "I've waited, you know?"

Nanliit ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. "Wait... paano mo nalaman na iyon ang class ko? Hindi ko sinabi 'yon. Hindi tayo magkaklase o kung ano man. Stalker lang?"

Napangisi naman ito. "I asked some people, so don't get your hopes up. I'm not your stalker."

"Okay... then I'll go..."

But then he just grabbed me by my arm. At that point, nanigas ang katawan ko na para bang naging estatwa. I really don't want to face him. Baka kung ano pa ang mangyari.

"I know your secret," usal nito.

Bahagya akong natawa at napailing sa sinabi niya. "Okay ka lang, Bryce?"

"I'm not joking..."

I tried shoving his hand off of my arm, but it didn't work.

"I know you're gay," aniya.

Biglang nanlambot ang legs ko nang sabihin niya iyon. Namintig talaga ang tainga ko. Hindi lang ako nagbigay ng reaksyon sa sinabi niya at nanatiling kalmado ang mukha ko.

"Weh?" pabiro kong sagot.

"Don't deny it," pagpupumilit pa nito. "I wouldn't even hurt you, just like what I said. I need your help."

At this moment, hinarap ko na siya at pinilit kong alisin ang kamay niya sa braso ko. I quickly remove his hand, thankfully.

"First of all, I'm not gay... and we're not even close to begin with. You can find someone else to help you, your girlfriend—oh... ex na pala. Well, good luck to that."

Mabilis ko siyang tinalikuran at naglakad ako nang super bilis. Hindi ako lumingon sa likod para silipin kung sumunod ba siya sa akin. All I care is that I get out of that place immediately.

Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag nang makarating ako sa apartment ko. Mabilis akong pumasok sa loob at sinara ang pinto. I didn't bother texting Ruth as I was still sweating this one out.

Hindi ko inaasahan na magkakausap kami ulit ni Bryce. I'm not even imaging we would, pero kung ano man ang help na kailangan niya sa akin. I'm not the right person for it.

Pero... paano niya nalaman?

I've been so secretive about who I am for the past years, at hindi pwedeng malaman ng isang Bryce Hallson ang kasarian ko or my life would instantly turn into hell. And what does he after?

Or maybe I'm his next target? Ngayong nalaman na niya, he could harm me in any way he can. At hindi ko iyon papayagan. At kung may mangyari mang masama sa akin, Ruth knows that.

But for now, I need to stay away from him... or else, I'll be doomed.