Sit Beside His Girlfriend

*Theia's POV*

"Class, take your respective seats please."

Naabutan ni Ms. Rita na magulo yung room. Everyone was busy reviewing. The moment she came in, nagsitayuan lahat at umupo sa kanya kanyang upuan.

"We will start your exam in 30 minutes." She said. "You still have time to review your notes. 30 minutes everyone."

I looked at the chair beside me, wala nang nakaupo. Bumalik na si Charm sa dati niyang upuan. I saw her staring at the reviewer.

***

"Time's up." The timer on her hand rang at the same time she spoke. "Please pass your papers forward."

I stapled the papers together and checked my notes. May isa o dalawang tanong na nagduda ako sa sagot ko.

"10 minutes and we'll start your next exam."

Narinig kong nagbukas yung pintuan but I was too focused on reviewing kaya hindi na ko tumingin pa.

"Can you give me an acceptable reason why you're late?"

Ayaw pa naman ni Ms. Rita ng late lalo na kapag may exam. She value time so much.

I didn't hear any response. Malamang hindi siya makapagsalita.

"Today's the first day of finals which will determine those who will graduate." She stated. "Hanggang kailan niyo ipapagpatuloy yung ugaling ganyan?"

"Sorry, Ms. Alvarez but I can't let you in."

Alvarez? Si Ivy?

I looked up and saw her standing by the door. Hindi ko napansing wala siya kanina. She looked anxious.

Ivy caught my eye and looked away.

Hindi ko maintindihan.

Para siyang.. natakot?

My eyes darted to Ry. Sigurado akong alam niyang si Ivy yung nasa harap since wala siyang katabi simula kanina but he wasn't even looking at her.

Anong nangyayari?

Ivy didn't moved.

10 minutes already passed and she's still standing there. Nakatingin na kaming lahat sa kanya. Mukhang hindi matutuloy yung exam.

"Please get out, Ivy." Sabi ni Ms. Rita. "Can't you see you're bothering my class?"

Papalapit na si Ms. Rita sa kanya nung biglang bumukas yung pinto.

"We're sorry we're late, Ma'am."

Yung boses na yun.

Boses ng taong mahal ko.

Hindi ko mapigilang tumingin sa kanya.

Pero bakit nandito siya?

Paano..?

It's Ivy.

Kaya pala ganun yung itsura niya kanina pagkakita sa'kin.

Nilingon ko si Ry.

Alam niya ba to?

But he looked surprised as well.

"Mr. Go." She frowned. "Wala akong nabalitaan na makakapasok ka ngayon."

"Sorry for the late notice, Ms. Rita." Sagot niya. "Biglaan po kasi yung paglabas ko."

"Are you well enough to attend classes?" Tanong niya. "I heard you were on a car accident, are you sure okay ka na?"

"Yes."

"Very well then." Sabi niya. "You may take your seat. Ikaw din, Ms. Alvarez."

Paalis na sana si Ivy pero pinigilan siya ni Nate.

Napansin niya sigurong dalawa lang yung empty seat. Isa sa tabi ni Ry at isa sa tabi ko.

"Is there any problem, Nathan?"

"Can I sit with Ivy instead?"

I can hear low murmurs around me.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible." Napatingin sa'kin si Ma'am. "Napagbigyan ko na kayong papasukin sa klase kahit late kayo at alam niyong dalawa kung gaano ako kahigpit pagdating sa exams. So please, umupo kayo sa tamang upuan niyo."

"But.."

"Comply with that rule or else..."

"I have amnesia." He said while staring at me. "Doesn't that count as a reason to sit beside someone I know?"

"Amnesia? Edi nakalimutan niya na si Theia?

"Diba si Theia na yung girlfriend niya?"

"Why would he want to sit with his ex?"

"Quiet."

Everyone fell silent.

"Well as much as I'm concerned Mr. Go, you're right." She nodded. "You may sit beside your girlfriend."

He was already smiling pero nawala yun agad nung nagsalita ulit si Ms. Rita.

"And that is Ms. Zamora."

"But--"

"Ms. Alvarez." She said. "You know the rules. Since you're one of the class officers, obeying wouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Of course, Ma'am."

I stared at her as she walked to her seat. Bumalik narin si Ms. Rita sa harap.

"Mr. Go, please sit down."

Naramdaman ko nalang na gumalaw yung upuan sa tabi ko. I stopped breathing. Hindi ko na siya matignan ngayong ang lapit niya na.

Nakatitig sa'kin si Charm. Sinubukan kong ngumiti para hindi siya mag-alala.

"Keep all your notes." She said. "We'll start your next examination now. Remember, no cheating."

I closed my eyes and took a deep a breath.

Kaya ko to. Kaya ko.

Kaya mo diba, Theia?

Kaya ko ba talaga?

Yung luhang pinipigilan ko kanina, nararamdaman kong lalabas na.

******

*Naomi's POV*

"Where is he? Did you find him?"

"Hindi pa, Ma. We've checked everywhere but there were no signs of him." Sagot ko. "I've already talked to security para tignan yung recording sa cctv."

"Hindi ka manlang ba niya tinawagan?" Tanong ni Papa. "Wala ba siyang iniwan na sulat o ano man na magsasabi kung saan siya pumunta?"

"But he doesn't have a phone." Sabi ko. "Wala rin po siyang iniwan na kahit ano sa room niya."

Mama doesn't look well. "Anong gagawin natin sa anak mo?"

"I'm so sorry, Ma.." I said. "I shouldn't have left him."

"Naomi, it's not your fault.."

"Ms. Naomi?" May lumapit na security sa'min. Si Paul. Yung kinausap ko kanina. "I think you need to see this."

***

"Levi, show them what we found."

We followed Paul inside their CCTV room and the guy named Levi played a video. The cctv showed two screens, the front desk and entrance of the hospital.

"We've checked every cctv recording around 7 which Ms. Naomi believed was the time when your son left the building." Sabi ni Paul. "We also verified with the front desk na walang scheduled discharge this morning except sa 70 years old na si Mr. Delgado."

"Wala naman masyadong lumabas ng ganito kaaga." Levi stated sabay gamit ng cursor para ituro yung nasa screen. "But out of all the ones who left, these two were the most suspicious."

Pagkatapos niyang magsalita, a person came out wearing a black cap.

Nakatungo siya sa cctv ng reception pero paglabas niya sa entrance, he kept looking around him na parang may hinahanap. Bigla siyang huminto nung nakababa na siya ng hagdan.

I couldn't see his face so I'm not sure if it's him. Hindi rin naman siya nakasuot ng hospital gown which made me doubt it even more. Wala siyang ibang damit sa room niya kundi yun lang.

Maya maya may sumunod sa kanyang babae. The guy followed her and they left together.

"Levi, pakibalik nga.." I said.

He rewinded the scene and played it again.

Tinitigan ko ng maigi yung babae. Walang siyang suot na kahit anong makakatakip sa mukha niya. Which made her identifiable.

"Stop." Sabi ko. "There."

Saktong pag pause ni Levi yung pagtingin niya sa cctv camera.

"Is that..?"

"Ivy.."

It's her..

Tinakas niya si Nathan..

"Do you know her?"

"Yes." Sagot ko. "She's.."

Ano nga ba siya ni Nate?

"She's one of his friends.."

"Hindi niya ba sinabi sa inyo?"

"No. Wala kaming kaalam alam sa ginawa niya.."

"Maybe you should try contacting her." Suggest ni Levi. "Baka magkasama parin sila."

"Pero bakit niya itatakas?" Tanong ni Paul.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Mama. We might have an idea kung bakit.

The door opened and a nurse came running to Paul. She whispered something to him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. We're certain it's him." Sagot nung nurse.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked.

Pati ako nacucurious na kasi mukhang hindi nila naiintindihan yung nangyayari.

"It seems like your brother is here, Ms. Naomi." Paul answered.

Bumalik siya?

We looked at her and she nodded. "He rang the nurse's button earlier para po magpakabit ng IV."

******