"I promise..."

***

Napalingon ako nang bumukas ang pinto ng meeting room. Bumungad sa paningin ko si Savior na kasalukuyang nakapako ang tingin kay Felix. His black orbs are throwing sharp stare on Felix's hand that are currently grabbing mine.

"Oh, if it's not Mr. Ramirez. May naiwan ka ba kaya ka bumalik?" Felix asked with his irritating sarcastic tone. Hindi niya pa rin binibitawan ang kamay ko kaya lumapit si Savior at tinanggal ang kamay ni Felix.

Bakas ang gulat sa mukha niya. Maybe, this us the first time that someone syood against the president.

Felix chuckled. "Calm down bro, are you guys dating?"

"No." I saw Savior looked at me when he heard my response.

"Then stay out of this, Mr. Ramirez," dagdag ni Felix at sinamaan ng tingin si Savior.

There is a sudden unfamiliar tension between the two of them. They were looking at each other with their deadly gazes. Para bang anumang oras ay magsusuntukan ang dalawa.

"Kiiro wants you to let go of him earlier. What you did is harassment, Felix," Savior stated with a tone of annoyance. Then he gently held my hand and guided me to go behind him.

"I like your guts, Ramirez. But he is not yours."

"Yet," Savior added. Hindi na siya hinintay pang sumagot si Felix at agad niiya akong hinila palabas ng meeting room. Before we walked away, I looked back and saw Felix winked at me. Gosh, is he that persistent?

We were walked downstairs but he's still not letting go of my hand. Gusto kong bawiin ang kamay ko pero sa nakita kong ekspresyon niya kanina, alam kong galit siya. Idagdag ko pa ang mga nasabi ko sa kaniya noong nakaraan na alam kong nakatapak sa ego niya.

Hindi ko napansin na nasa tapat na pala ako ng classroom ko. He let go of my hand and was about to walk away when he turned to me.

"Kiiro, after class, meet me at the rooftop. Hihintayin kita," aniya at naglakad paalis. Hindi man lang niya ako hinayaang sumagot dahil nag-dire-diretso agad siya papasok ng roon nila.

After class? Sa rooftop? Bakit?

I can't tell if he's mad or not. When he told me that, his face doesn't show any expression. Akala ko tipikal na tao lang si Savior, pero sa mga nakikita ko, napakahirap basahin ng mga nasa utak niyo. His words amd actions are unpredictable.

It took me seconds before I entered the classroom. Walang professor noong mga oras na iyon at walang ginagawa ang nga kaklase ko kaya nakahinga ako nang maluwag. Ayoko kasi na maghabol  ng lessons dahil pakiramdam ko, walang pumapasok na knowledge ko kapag gano'n.

Pasimple akong sumilip sa upuan ni Amber, I caught her taking notes. Knowing how persistent she is, I'm sure that she's already studying the lessons earlier that we missed.

Lalabas sana ako para pumunta ng locker room nang biglang bumukas ang pinto sa unahan. Inuluwa nito ang isang lalaki. Maybe he's on his mid 40's but he still look young. He wears a gray fitted vest with white inner long sleeve polo. All I can do is to guess the colors base on their shades because obviousl, I can't see colors with these glasses.

He walk straight to the teacher's table in front and fixed his maroon neck tie before putting his folders down. He stared to the whole class with his intimidating eyes. It is like he's judging all of us with his gaze.

"Where's your president?" His deep baritone voice echoed in the four corners of our classroom.

Some of my classmates turned their heads to me. I gathered my courage and raised my hand.

"Stand up, will you?" After saying that phrase, my legs moved on its own.

Nanatili akong nakatayo habang direktang nakatingin sa kaniya. Ilang segundo niya akong tinignan, mula ulo hanggang paa at para bang binabasa ang buong pagkatao ko. He's looking at me intently with his arms crossed on his chest, making his toned biceps curve.

I don't like him. There's something off. Bakit ba lahat ng mga bago kong nakikilala, ganito ang mga ugali.

"Name."

"E-Eh?" I stuttered. What did he say? Is he asking for my name? Well, obviously it doesn't sound like a question to me.

"Do I have to repeat myself? What's your name?" he asked then his brows furrowed. Such a short tempered man.

"Sorry sir, your tone doesn't sound like your asking," I answered with respect but I admit, I was kind of sarcastic. Some of my classmates gasped upon hearing my response. Even him, the guy in front. Tumaas ang kilay niya na para bang nakarinig ng mga salitang hindi kapani-paniwala.

The man in front loosen his tie. His lips curved into a smirk and chuckled sarcastically.

"I like your guts, kid. Take your seat," he said.

I sat on my chair without looking away. Nanatiling nakapako ang tingin ko sa kaniya. I can't read his attitude. I don't know if he's kind or what. Usually,  I can see a person's core in a glance. Support it with how they behave and such. But this man is different.

Inalis niya ang tingin niya sa akin at naging seryoso muli ang mukha. "Moving on. I am (name ni prof), your substitute teacher for General Chemistry."

Rinig sa buong klase ang gulat ng mga kaklase ko. Some of them gasped. Substitute teacher? What about Ms. Saavedra?

"Ms. Saavedra is currently on leave. Further information are confidential," he uttered wuth authority. 

Natahimik ang klase ng biglang nagsulat si (name) sa glass board. "Let's move on, I hate wasting time."

***

Natapos ang lahat ng klase pero wala pa rin akong naririnig na balita kung anong nangyari kay Ms. Saavedra. I should be hearing dome rumours on my classmates but there is none.

What happened to her? Is it that urgent? Wala man lang siyang abiso, even in our group chats.

Hindi kaya na-aksidente siya? Or something worst happened?

I sighed heavily. Like I always do, dumaan muna ako sa locker bago umuwi. Iniwan ko doon lahat ng gamit ko. Tomorrow is Saturday, walang pasok at wala naman akong pending tasks kaya inuwan ko na lahat. I just took my shoulder bag with me, doon ko nilagay ang wallet at cellphone ko.

Matapos no'n ay dire-diretso akong naglakad papunta sa parking lot ng school. It's already 5 PM and the sun was about to set. Siguro napakaganda tignan ng paglubog ng araw lalo na at katapat mismo nito ang Criston University.

I sighed in disappointment, I wanted to see the sunset again. But I can't. Because of this damn phobia!

Pagsakay ko ng kotse ay bumungad agad sa akin ang ngiti ni mom. "Hi, honey!"

"How's your school?" dagdag niya at sinimulang paandarin ang kotse.

"Okay naman po." I lied. But it's better than telling her that a creepy guy grabbed my hand in a room and Savior saved me from him then my favorite teacher was replaced by a stubborn buff professor.

"Buti naman," sagot niya at nag-focud sa pag-da-drive.

Wait, speaking of Savior. Parang may sinabi siya sa akin kanina. I think it's something important but I forgot about it.

Papalayo na sa school ang kotse na sinasakyan ko nanh biglang maalala ko ang mga sinabi ni Savior kanina bago ako pumasok ng room.

"Kiiro, after class, meet me at the rooftop. Hihintayin kita." Sh*t! How come I forgot about that?!

"Mom, wait, baba po muna ako, I forgot something," agad na pagpigil ko kay mom.

"Anong nakalimutan mo? Wala namang pasok bukas, sa lunes mo na kunin," sagot niya pero hindi ako nagpatinag.

"Uhm, it's... It's something important, I need that for my project na deadline po sa Monday," sabi ko at ngumiti.

I lied, again.

"Okay, basta bilisna mo lang. Do you want me to drive you back? Medyo malayo na rin kasi.

"No po, I'll be back agad. Just wait here mom, thank you!" I told her and gave her a kiss in her cheek.

Hindi ko na siya hinintay na mag-react, agad akong lumabas ng kotse at tumakbo pabalik ng school. How come I forgot about him?

I loosened my tie and ran as fast as I can. Gusto ko sananh tanggalin ang salamin ko kasi nakakaabala ito sa pagtakbo ko, but I can't afford to have panic attack today.

It took me minutes to reach the school's gate. I stopped and bretahe heavily. It's quite some time since I last run like that. Amd what's hilarious id I did it for a man.

Ilang segundo akong huminto para huminga bago tumakbo ulit papasok ng school. I rushed towards the senior high school building and climbed upstairs. May ibang estudyante akong nakakasalubong na pauwi pa lang.

What if Savior went home? Hinintay niya kaya ako?

It took me minutes to reach the rooftop. Pagkabukas ko nang pinto ay agad kong nilibot ang paningin ko. I tried to look for every corner but I found none. Napahawak ako sa tuhod ko habang hinahabol ang hininga.

"He left. Why did I ever thought that he's waiting for me? Or am I just late?" mahinang bulong ko sa sarili.

"Just right in time, Kiiro." I looked back when I heard his voice.

"Savior." He smiled when he heard me calling his name. The moment his smile showed up, a gust of wind blew his hair and the reflection of the golden sunset emphasizes his gorgeous features.

The light from the setting sun reflected on his eyes as he said the words that made my heart skip a beat. "Kiiro, let's be friends."