Her Scars

*Charm's POV*

There is a reason God limits our days.

Why?

To make each one precious.

I was rereading my favorite line from my favorite book The Timekeeper by Mitch Albom. Hinihintay ko lang si Theia matapos sa banyo then I'll take a bath as well.

It's friday and our last day in school.

Yayain ko nalang siya mag out of town tutal we still have a week before the ball para naman makapag relax din siya.

I've been hearing her cough twice now. Pero nung tuloy tuloy na, umupo ako agad.

"Bessy??"

Hindi siya sumagot.

O_____O

"Theia??" Tumayo na ko at kinatok ko siya. I didn't stop knocking. "Ayos ka lang ba??"

"Yep?" Sagot niya.

I sighed.

Akala ko kung ano nang nangyari sa kanya.

"What happened?" Tanong ko. "Are you okay??"

"Okay lang. Nagmumog lang ako."

Nakaupo lang ako habang hinihintay siya lumabas sa banyo. Kumuha ako ng tubig at inabot sa kanya.

"Are you really okay?"

Tumango naman siya. "Nilalamig lang siguro ako."

"Ano yan?"

There's a mark on both her wrist.

Medyo namumula pa. Ngayon ko lang nakita 'to. I reached out and touched her.

"Aray.." She flinched.

"Theia, saan galing yan?" I asked. "Wala pa yan kahapon nung pumunta tayo sa school ah."

She ignored my question and slowly removed my hand.

"Sa---"

"Don't tell me sa banyo yan." Sabi ko. "Wala akong nakikitang gamit sa loob na makakagawa niyan sa'yo."

"..."

"Ano ba talagang nangyari kahapon? Bakit ba ayaw mo sabihin sa'kin??"

"Having amnesia doesn't give him the right to hurt you."

That's what Ry said before he left yesterday.

"Did he hurt you???"

Hindi ko na kailangan sabihin yung pangalan para malaman niya kung sino yung tinutukoy ko.

"He did, didn't he??"

Hindi siya nakasagot.

"Oh, god.."

So, it's true.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tanong ko. "Dahil ayaw mong sabihin ko kay Kuya?? Do you think I wouldn't tell him??"

"Charm.." Naluluha na siya.

"Bakit ba lahat nalang kailangan mo itago??" Sabi ko. "Alam ko na wala akong masyadong magawa para sa'yo but I'm still your bestfriend. Pati ba naman yung damayan ka, ipagkakait mo pa sa'kin??"

"Charm, that's not true.."

"I know you love him pero hindi yun dahilan para hayaan siyang saktan ka ng ganyan." I told her. "You can't even take the emotional pain anymore, Theia. How dare he give you those scars??"

Naiiyak ako. Naaawa ako sa kanya lalo.

You're risking your own life just to be with him.

Isn't that enough reason para tumigil ka na??

***

"Okay, class. You can continue what you were doing after this announcement." Ms. Ces came inside the room. "Settle down everyone."

Free period kasi kaya maingay.

I was sitting beside Erica. Yung boys naman nasa likod tinutulungan yung iba na nagpapractice ng sayaw.

Theia didn't go to school.

She didn't stop coughing even after we ate breakfast. Mukha din siyang nahihirapan huminga. Kuya suggested na wag muna siya umalis sa bahay just in case lumala yung nararamdaman niya.

I didn't tell him what happened.

Kahit nagalit ako sa ginawa niya, I can't see her brother getting mad at her too. Lalo na't mas malala magalit si Kuya.

And judging from Nathan's face, halatang naiganti siya ni Ry kahapon.

He did a great job. Tutal hindi ko naman kayang sapakin si Nathan.

"I have great news today." Ms. Ces said. "All from our guest."

"Huh?"

"Guest?"

"Sino kaya?"

There were low murmurs around the room.

"I know lahat kayo curious na makilala kung sino ang ating sponsor."

Oo nga. Yung Okada.

Ms. Ces winked at me. Bigla ding hinawakan ni Erica yung kamay ko at ngumiti sa'kin.

"Please welcome our beloved student/classmate who came back from US and our sponsor for booking Okada---"

No way.

"Gabriel Sy."

It's really him.

Everyone clapped their hands except sa'kin.

He was smiling when he came in.

He looked happy and I'm not.

Nagtatampo parin ako sa kanya.

I haven't heard anything from him even after Theia's message. Ni hindi manlang nag-text o tumawag.

Magiging single na ba ako ngayon?

"Ayan na si lovey!" Sigaw ni George. Isa sa mga beki naming kaklase. "Ibalik ang lovey love team!"

Everyone laughed and chorused. "AYIIEEEEEE."

Kahit si Ms. Ces sumali. Nahiya tuloy ako bigla.

Gab caught my eyes.

Sinamaan ko nga ng tingin. Hindi niya dapat makita na kinikilig ako. I'm still mad at him.

Lumaki naman lalo yung ngiti niya.

^________^

=_______=

How dare you use your smile on me, Sy.

Magtutuos tayo mamaya.

"It's so good to see you all." His smile was from ear to ear. "Like what you heard from Ms. Ces, we will have our ball on Okada Manila's Grand Ballroom. I really wanted to end this school year with wonderful memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives."

I admit. My lovey's really good at speech.

"The food and venue are all settled." He continued. "You only need to think about one thing. Yourself. Masks will be provided and sent to you the day before the ball so no one will know who's who."

Masquerade nga pala yung nanalo sa boto.

"I forgot to tell you, class." Sabi ni Ms. Ces. "Your partner for the dance will be anonymous."

Huh?

"Anonymous?"

Paano na? What about Theia and Nathan??

She nodded. "A circle will each be formed by both girls and boys. Everyone will walk on that circle and when the music stops, the person in front of you is going to be your partner."

"You can't let anyone know who you are until we announce the Masquerade's king and queen." Sabi niya. "We can only take off our masks once it's announced. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am." - Everyone

Kailangan ko planuhin kung paano silang dalawa.

Wag nalang kaya? Naalala ko bigla yung nakita ko kanina.

I can't let him hurt her again.

"But how can we eat?" Lex asked.

"We will be wearing half masks which will only cover our eyes and nose." Hindi ko napansing nakatayo na si Erica sa harapan. "And invitations will also be sent out para sa lahat to ensure na walang makapasok na outsider sa hall."

"We still have one more announcement to make." Nakangiti ulit si Ms. Ces. "Please proceed, Gab."

"Thank you, Ma'am." His eyes wandered around the room. "You need to start packing your things because..."

Pabitin naman yung lovey na 'to.

"We're going on a trip guys!"

Tunog lang ng palakpakan yung naririnig ko.

"We'll be spending 3 days and 2 nights on one of our resorts in Tagaytay. It's my gift to all of you."

"Woooohhhh!!"

"Finally!!!"

Everyone looked excited. I can even hear the girls behind me talk about bikinis.

"Iba talaga si Gabriel Sy." Rinig kong sabi ng ilan.

"Iba nga talaga."

Sumakit bigla yung ulo ko.

"Thank you so much, Gab." Ms. Ces said. "And to all of you who did so much this entire school year. Class dismissed."

"Thank you, Ms. Ces! Thank you, Gab!"

"You're welcome."

As he made his way towards me, lumalapit sa kanya yung mga classmate namin to greet him.

He was still smiling. Mukha talaga siyang masaya.

I can't blame him.

Masaya din naman akong nandito na siya.

Gab opened his arms to me paghinto niya sa harapan ko.

Tumayo ako at akmang papaluin siya which made him close his eyes.

Pinigilan kong tumawa at niyakap siya. He hugged me back.

"Hindi ka na ba galit sa'kin, lovey?"

"Mamaya na ulit pagtapos kita yakapin."

He chuckled. "Okay."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too, my lovey."

"Ano tara na?" Erica asked.

"Baka langgamin tayo." Sabi naman ni Ken.

Natawa nalang kaming dalawa.

"Gab, bro."

They hugged him one by one.

"Welcome back!"

"Gab."

"Nathan."

I didn't noticed na lumapit sila sa'min. Nathan held out his hand and Gab shook it.

"Daan ako sa inyo mamaya." He said.

"Sure."

"Welcome back, Gab." Ivy smiled at him. "Tara na, babe?"

Nathan nodded and left the room with her.

"Wait lang--" Sabi ni Vin.

"Kailan pa sila naging okay?" Tanong ni Ken.

"Anong kailan pa?" Erica asked back.

"They didn't look okay in the past few days." Sagot ni Vin. "Diba, Ry?"

Ry stared at me.

Whatever happened yesterday, I'm sure that's the reason they're okay again.

******