Chapter 6

We have nowhere to go. Niyakag ako ni Bryce somewhere else matapos iyong aksident sunog sa night market kanina. People are running away rin naman since they don't wanna get trapped and get into that trouble. As we were running away, we've heard firefighter trucks heading their way to the night market's area and to my guess, some stalls of the nigh market, especially the food stalls will have to close down for the meantime.

I was the one na nag-suggest na sa apartment ko na lang pumunta dahil no choice. On the way, I was thinking of calling Ruth para may kasama ako sa apartment habang kasama ko si Bryce. But I didn't. Hind ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at pinigilan kong gawin 'yon.

I was really shaking when I put keys on the knob and push the door inside. I was having second thoughts. Kung papatuluyin ko ba siya sa loob ng unit ko o hindi. Sometimes, I really wonder what came to me at naisipan ko 'tong gawin at sa huli pagsisisihan ko naman.

"Are you with someone else? Inside your apartment?" he asked.

Nilingon ko siya saka ako umiling. "Wala naman..."

"So... what are we still doing here?" he questioned.

I didn't mind his question, so I just went inside my apartment and he followed me quickly. I didn't even invite him, he just walked in like he owns the place. Before he could notice anything, mabilis ko naman nilinis at pinagkukuha ang mga gamit ko na hindi niya dapat makita. I just threw them all sa laundry basket at saka ko na iyon aayusin once this monster's gone.

"So, this is where you live, huh?" he said, looking around like he was searching for something else.

I look at him. His eyes are all over the place. His hands are inside his pockets. I didn't even think that Bryce Hallson will ever step inside my apartment, and now he's inside trying to belittle me with his scrutinizing looks.

I just hope this semester ends quickly. Lord, hindi ko na po kinakaya 'to.

"Ano bang inaasahan mo? I'm not in any frat and live on a frat house with roommates in it. I live by myself because I can afford it."

He smirked, putting his attention on me. "So, you think us, the frat, don't have the necessity to pay our own rooms?"

I shrugged off. "I didn't say that. You concluded it like that. I didn't meant to be it that way, so that's on your thinking."

He smirked, again. "I can afford this small room," he said. I scoffed, the pride in his tone emerges. "I just like to be roommate with my bros. You wouldn't understand that. You're alone in this lonely place, that's why."

I squinted my eyes. "I guess, that's the cue. If there's nothing good coming out of your mouth, good bye."

He chuckled. "Joke lang. Ito naman hindi mabiro."

"I've got not time to joke around."

"Okay," he said, trying to sound serious. "First of all, I would like to thank you for meeting me earlier there. We could've stayed at the night market if an accident didn't happen. But as we're both here already, we might get settle into that discussion."

"Go," aniko. "Kung ano man 'yon, sabihin mo na."

"I'm going to fail my major subject if I don't pass it before the final exams," he said. "It's a research paper, and to be honest, I am really struggling with it. I already have an idea, but I don't know where to start. My professor gave me a last chance, and if I failed, I would have to repeat the subject for another semester."

"Good."

His forehead creased when I said that. "You don't understand."

"I do, actually," I said. "If you're smart enough, you'll know how to make an effort. You don't even need me."

"You're your college's cum laude, right?"

"I don't know."

"Okay, you're just pissed off of me because I know your secret and that's the reason you don't want to help me."

I scoffed and shook my head. "There's a lot of reason I don't wanna help you, Bryce. And why do you keep bringing that up? What secret are you trying to tell?"

He then nudge his head to his side, to the direction he was pertaining to, and I look at that part where I saw a male magazine just hanging out over the lamp table. Mabilis kong kinuha iyon at tinago.

"You're gay," he said.

"And so?"

"So, you're really gay?" he questioned.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. "Ano bang pakialam mo kung bakla ako o hindi? Does it really bother you? Kung iyon lang pala ang gusto mong malaman at dinadamay mo pa 'yong professor mo rito, umalis ka na lang."

I literally come over to him and pushed him, but he was sturdy. Napaurong lang siya ng kaunti, pero hindi ko na siya nagawang itulak pa.

"No, no, for real. I need your help," he said, then grabbed me by my shoulders. "Just hear me out. What you think of me. Those days are over. I just... I needed your help to get my research done."

I shoved his hands off of me at saka ako humalukipkip. I looked at him straight in the eyes. Matatalas pa ang tingin ko. 

"Iyon lang ba talaga?" tanong ko na tinanguan naman niya. "I don't know how will I help you about this. I just don't wanna associate myself with you."

"That's fair," he said. "But tell me all your conditions, I'll take it."

"Sure..." Napangisi naman ako. "Again, we cannot be seen in public, or talk either. We can only talk via chat or if time permits, some place."

"Like your place?" he asked. "You cannot stay in mine. The boys are always there."

Inirapan ko siya sa tanong na 'yon, pero hindi ko rin sinagot. "I will only help you, but I wouldn't be the one who will do your papers. I'm just your... let's say, your tutor and your my student here. And we only talk about your research and nothing else, understood?"

"Is that all?"

"If there's something I forgot, of course, I would say."

He chuckled. "Great. Deal."

He handed his hand over me to seal the deal with a handshake. Tiningnan ko pa iyon nang sandali dahil sa puntong kinamayan ko na siya, hindi ko dapat pagsisihan itong bagay na pinasok ko.

I slowly reach for his hand, but he ended grabbing mine and shakes it.

"Deal," he firmly said.

"Deal..."

He then let go of my hand and patted my shoulder. "Tomorrow, we'll talk. Thanks. See ya."

And with that, he quickly get off my house with a huge fulfilling smile on his face. Napaupo na lamang ako sa sofa saka bumagsak ang balikat ko. I thought about this and sure about the consequence, but I hope this decision wouldn't stain my name, and belittled of who I am.