Kabanata 12

"He's back?" Yna echoed. Tumango naman ako bilang sagot.

He didn't even text me or even notify me. Pero sino ba naman ako para hilingin na gawin n'ya 'yon? I bet he won't even talk to me in personal even if I beg him to. And honestly, I don't blame him. Hindi ko siya masisisi.

"Ano'ng balak mo?" tanong n'ya habang ang mga mata ay lumilipad patungo sa mga racks sa department store kung nasaan kami.

"Hindi ko rin alam, I might say sorry but I doubt he would listen to me. Hindi rin naman biro 'yong pinag-awayan namin."

Yna wasn't aware about the sexual abuse that Etienne went through and even I wouldn't want to know the horrors that he had to suffer against the tutor. Ellise Soteiro, the saint of all Soteiros, scratched the tutor's face based on what CL told me. Of course, the Soteiros viewed this as a scandal and they wanted to bury this in their graves. At wala rin namang magsusumbong na mga kaklase ko dahil sa takot na makabangga ang isang malaking angkan.

"Hey? I'm sure Etienne would forgive you. Mababait naman ang mga Soteiro, si CL nga no'ng natapunan ko nga ng kape 'yong assignment n'ya na due date ay kinabukasan ay siya pa ang nag-sorry dahil napaso rin ako," Yna said.

That affirmed my feelings for a bit. Totoo nga naman na mababait ang mga Soteiro. Yet, kindness is not always present when hatred reigns. At alam ko naman na hindi imposible na galit sa akin si Etienne ngayon.

I'm not gonna fool myself that I wasn't afraid of Etienne's reaction. Etienne and CL are entirely different. Lalo na ngayon na may nangyaring hindi maganda sa amin. May hidwaan sa gitna namin. At alam ko na kasalanan ko kung bakit naging gano'n.

"Papasok na ako ng UJD bukas," sabi ko kay Yna na nagbabasa sa kan'yang cellphone.

It's the start of our school year. Mas kabado pa ako kay Etienne kumpara sa mga subjects na STEM. Mas kumplikado kasi si Etienne kumpara sa mga 'yon.

Tumango lang siya.

"Hindi mo ba ako sasamahan?"

"Busy ako," she shrugged off. And I lightly smacked her on her arm.

"Bakit ba? Di ka naman mawawala roon."

"Maliit lang ba ang school grounds? As far as I know, it's huge."

"Maliit lang 'yon, 'te. Promise! Kapag nawawala ka, tawagin mo lang si map." Halakhak n'ya.

Umirap ako sa naging sagot n'ya sa akin. Fine, I'll go by myself. Ngayon ko lang napagtantuan na magkikita ulit kami. I'll see him in flesh once again. Naninikip ang aking dibdib nang maalala ko ang nagsusumamong mga mata n'ya no'ng araw na 'yon. How broken he was when he heard those words from me.

Napalunok naman ako.

Kinabukasan, maaga ako'ng naghanda para sa pasukan. I didn't get enough sleep prolly because of anticipation and my nervousness. Sinuot kong muli ang mga pearls ko. It's my way of showing my confidence. Alam ko mukhang arogante pero hindi ko talaga kayang magsuot ng mga branded; so, these pearls would do for now, just to show that I am a Reverio.

Hinatid na ako ng driver namin. Pagkababa ko pa lamang ng kotse, kitang-kita ko na dagsa ang mga tao. Ang ilan sa kanila ay nagyayakapan o di kaya'y naga-akbayan. Some looked lost, probably a freshman or a new transferee.

Napa-buntonghininga ako. Alright, Lavender. You're on your own now.

"Thank you, manong." I bid my goodbye and tightly held on my bag. Walang sumalubong sa akin o ano. Yet, the eyes were piercing through me. Alam ko naman kung bakit at hindi na ako nanibago.

"Kapatid ni Adren?"

"Reverio rin?"

"Ligawan mo na 'yan, pare."

"Dude, out of my league, pare."

"Ano'ng strand n'yan?"

"Baka ABM din."

The hallways were filled with gossips as I strutted my way out of it. Nagawa ko pang hawiin ang buhok ko dahil sa hangin. Natigilan ako nang makita ang isang malaking board kung saan may nakapaskil.

I halted and went towards it, nakipagsiksikan pa ako dahil hindi ko maiwasan ang magtaka kung anong mayroon. It looks like a directory; may mga sections, strands at year levels na nakalagay kaya naman pinagkakaguluhan ito.

Hinanap ko ang sa akin. STEM 1. Solstice Lavender Reverio. I only had to skip my name to read the person that I'm dreading for. I swallowed the forming bile on my throat.

"Etienne Nealcail Soteiro," I gradually spoke out his name.

Kaklase ko siya.

Oh my. . .

Nag-parte ang mga labi ko. Hindi makapaniwala sa nabasa.

"Can you move your finger? I can't see my name." malamig na sita sa akin. Agad ko itong nilingon upang humingi ng paumanhin ngunit nagtahip agad ang puso ko nang makita kung sino ito.

Familiar moonlight eyes, long lashes, high bridge nose and his pretty lips. Nagtaas siya sa akin ng kilay.

"E-Etienne," I stuttered because other words are not being permitted to be spoken.

Napaigtad ako dahil sa presensya n'ya. Kahit ang mga nasa paligid namin ay huminto rin dahil sa naging reaksyon ko.

Tinitigan n'ya lang ako. His grey eyes. . .how I miss those eyes. He stared at me before finally showing a small smirk on his enthralling lips.

"Ah? Wala pa nga ako'ng ginagawa," Etienne rudely sneered upon seeing my reflex. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin sa kan'ya.

His damn effect is making me lose my control. Pumikit muna ako nang mariin. I took a deep breath before facing him.

I was forming my next sentences but as soon as I elevated my head, he was nowhere to be seen. As if he vanished into thin air. Hindi ko namalayan na naka-alis na siya at hindi man lang ako hinintay.

Gosh.

I felt like I was ambushed. Wala ako'ng nagawa at natameme na lamang ako. I immediately got back on track and took a picture of my classroom's room number. Hinanap ko ito sa building ng STEM. It was easy to find it because unlike most schools, the strands are disparated to different buildings.

Nakarating ako ng classroom na halos puno na ang mga upuan. The remaining one is beside Etienne who was busy or wanted to appear busy by reading a book on a first day. Umangat ang kilay ko dahil doon. I didn't peg Etienne to be the reading type because as far as I know, he wasn't really into reading.

Guilt washed over me. Ano nga ba ang alam ko? I was always a few steps back from knowing things about Etienne even if we were close before.

Tumikhim ako bago tuluyang umupo sa tabi n'ya. He didn't acknowledge my presence and even crossed his legs. I wetted my lips before gaining the courage to at least do the first move.

"Hi. . ."

I didn't receive any response.

Of course, he would ignore me.

I didn't dwell on it that much and decided to greet some of my classmates. At karamihan nga ay mga lalaki. The girls on my current section looked like the serious types but they also smiled back at me. As a Reverio, sanay naman na ako na kakaunti lang ang nagiging malapit na kaibigan dahil nga takot din silang madikit sa akin.

Mr. Arevalo was our adviser or homeroom teacher. At kung akala ko ay nakatakas na ako sa introduction dahil senior high school na kami, he requested a short intro from every one of us. I patiently waited for my turn and composed a short introduction in my head.

"Reverio?" Mr. Arevalo called for my cue. I stood and gave a sanguine smile. Act like a Reverio, smile like everything is fine.

"Hello, my name is Solstice Lavender Reverio. I'm not particularly interesting and I aim to be a doctor someday, I would like to established a better healthcare service in our country."

"That's very impressive, Miss Reverio. Do you have any talent to share with us?"

Hindi ako agad nakapalag. Nakalimutan ko ang talent portion, wala naman kasi ako'ng gano'n. Talent ba ang manapak? Talento rin ba maituturing ang pagkimkim ng sama ng loob? I gulped and nervously chuckled. Napalingon ako kay Etienne na palihim na ngumingisi habang pinaglalaruan ang isang ballpen sa kan'yang kamay.

"Uh, ano po kasi. . ." I feebly scratched my neck. "Si Etienne po nakakaalam ng talent ko."

My eyes widened. In my panic, nabaling ko kay Etienne ang tanong at ang atensyon. Sanay kasi ako noon na siya ang sumasalo sa mga ganitong klaseng sitwasyon. It's a hard habit to get rid of and I forgot that we were not okay.

Etienne's lips slightly parted before chuckling. "Ah, right. I do know her talent po."

"And that is?"

"Magaling po mag-twerk si Lavender," isiniwalat ni Etienne.

Nalaglag ang panga ko. Ang mga walanghiya kong kaklase ay bumunghalit sa tawanan. Etienne stared at me and smiled; his smile reaching his eyes.

"Sir! Hindi ako marunong no'n!" giit ko.

"Twerk it like lave!" asar ng kaklase ko.

"Sample naman diyan!"

"Patugtog kayo, dali!"

"Sir! Wala talaga! Hindi talaga!" I blushed.

"Close 'yata kayo ni Mr. Soteiro, at mukhang nagsasabi naman siya ng totoo." Mr. Arevalo chuckled, joining the wagon.

"Etienne, magsabi ka nga ng totoo!" bumaling ako kay Etienne. He only lifted an eyebrow.

"Sir, may screenshot ako na sabi ni Lavender magtu-twerk daw siya sa mukha ko." inosenteng saad ni Etienne. He didn't even blink and playfully smirked at me.

I gritted my teeth and frustratedly slumped down on my chair. Mabuti na lamang at nakuha ni Mr. Arevalo na joke lang ito. I can't imagine myself twerking! Nilingon ko si Etienne at nakitang bumalik na naman siya sa dating gawi; he's ignoring me again.

"Okay, that's all for today. You'll meet some of your teachers tomorrow. For now, write this down, these are some of your subjects so you can also try reading in advance in your homes." bilin ni Sir Arevalo at nagsimulang magsulat sa whiteboard.

I grab my memo pad but I can't find my pen. Iisa lang ang dinala ko dahil alam ko naman na hindi pa magkakaroon ng klase ngayon. My eyebrows furrowed as I can't find my pen. Nilingon ko si Etienne at nakitang nagsusulat din siya pero nakangiti siya. My eyes deliberately saw something hanging on his collar.

My pen.

Ang gago talaga.

"Etienne." I called as soon as I spotted my pen. Paano napunta sa kan'ya 'yon? He didn't heed my call and even propped his chin on his palm as soon as he stopped writing.

"Etienne, nasa iyo 'yong ballpen ko." I said, yet he still didn't look at me. I could just take a picture of the writings in the board but my pride won't let this pass. I went near him and pulled his shirt. Sa sobrang lakas ng pwersa ko ay natanggalan ko siya ng butones.

Napalingon sa akin si Etienne. A small lazy smile gracing his ethereal face.

"Akin na," pagmamando ko. "saan na 'yong ballpen?"

"Miss Reverio? Ano'ng ginagawa mo kay Mr. Soteiro?" sita ni Sir Arevalo. Agad ako'ng natauhan at napaigtad. Lumayo ako kay Etienne at tumikhim.

"Kinuha n'ya po kasi 'yong ballpen ko, Sir."

"Nasa desk mo 'yong ballpen mo, Solstice." Ava pointed out. Napalingon ako sa lamesa ko at tama nga siya, my pen was there laying down beside my memo pad.

My lips parted. Wala 'yan kanina riyan! I was so sure of it! I saw it on Etienne's collar! My classmates had lewd thoughts being written on their faces. They probably thought I was doing something on Etienne!

'Miss Reverio, gets naman namin na gusto mo si Mr. Soteiro pero hindi ba mas maganda sana kung ipagpapaalam mo siya sa magulang n'ya?" Sir Arevalo teased. My cheeks are probably burning in crimson now.

"Hala, sir. . ." Etienne faked a gasp. "Strict po parents ko e, sorry Solstice."

Ang kapal ng mukha!

My head tilted towards his direction. Nagtangis ang aking bagang sa sobrang irita. Wala ako'ng nagawa dahil halos lahat sila ay pinagtatawanan na ako.

Simula nang araw na 'yon, lahat ng mga tao sa aming klase ay nauto ni Etienne. Lahat sila ang tingin sa akin ay patay na patay sa isang Etienne Nealcail Soteiro. Hindi nila alam na ako ang pinapatay n'ya sa atake sa puso. He's definitely not the same boy I befriended before.

He's definitely not letting this go.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪♀❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜