Chapter 26

BAVI'S POV

I pursed my lips, trying to hide the smile because of her sweet voice.

"When are you coming here? I miss you, Bavi," the woman said on the other line.

A smile automatically lit up my face. I couldn't hide it any longer.

"I miss you, too. Don't worry, I'm coming home in 3 days, okay? I love you," I said, assuring her. A little more of sweet words then she ended the call.

Keeping my phone inside my pocket, I stretched my arms that gave me a little relieved at my back.

It was another tiring day lalo na as a Department's President.

"Bavi!"

Napalingon ako sa aking likuran nang may tumawag sa aking pangalan.

Napangiti ako nang makita ko siyang tumatakbo na parang sabik na sabik sa akin. Namulsa ako habang pinanonood ko siyang makalapit sa akin.

"You can just walk towards me, Ssaya," I uttered and gave her a look.

She's Ssaya, my classmate and one of my closest friends na nakilala ko rito sa school.

"Are you free? Tara, kain tayo? Gutom na ako e," aniya habang sapo ang kaniyang dibdib.

"Uh, sure. Saan mo gusto?" tanong ko.

"Libre mo?"

Nagliwanag ang kaniyang mukha. Basta talaga libre ay palaging pumapalakpak ang kaniyang tainga.

"When did I say that? No." Umiling ako dahilan para simangutan niya ako.

"Ssaya! Tawag ka ni Miss Ferrer! Office! Now na!"

Parang gumuho ang kaniyang mundo dahil sa kaniyang narinig.

Student Assistant kasi Ssaya kaya madalas ay makatira-tira na siya sa opisina ng mga professors.

"Pagod na ako. Gutom na ako. Hindi pa ba ubos ang utos niya?" reklamo niya habang pinaiikot ang kaniyang daliri sa kaniyang sentido.

"You should go. I'll treat you after your work. Fighting!"

Sinamaan niya lamang ako ng tingin bago niya ako tinalikuran. Nagdadabog siyang naglakad paalis kaya hindi ko napigilang hindi mapabungisngis.

"I'm rooting for you, Ssaya!" sigaw ko pa pero tanging dirty finger lang ang itinugon niya sa akin. Napailing na lamang ako't napangiti.

Where to go? What to do?

Ah. I should do my report for tomorrow.

Pipihit na sana ako upang bumalik sa classroom nang mapansin kong may commotion sa may hindi kalayuan mula sa kinatatayuan ko ngayon.

As curiousity filled my system, I walked towards them at ganoon na lamang ang gulat ko at pag-aalala nang makita kong nasa sahig si Mexico at pinagtutulungan ng isang outsider at tatlo pang babae na rito rin napasok.

"Per favore, basta!" Please, enough!

I assumed, I was there right in time bago pa muling sugurin si Mexico ng isang hindi ko kilalang babae.

"Smettila, per favore!" Stop this, please! pigil ko sa kanila.

Their eyes grew bigger, jaw dropped.

"Oh, wow! Sino 'to, Mexico? Isa rin ba ito sa mga hinuhuthutan mo?" she fumed, trying to look behind me to see Mexico.

Hindi ko pa alam kung ano'ng nangyayari pero hindi ito tama.

That's below the belt.

"Stop insulting Mexico, okay? If you don't have any respect, just... just don't speak."

I tried to make myself calm before I turned to Mexico.

"B-Bavi," she mumbled right after she saw me.

It was the second time I saw her crying, and was the second time as well I felt hurt just by seeing her looking at me as if she was asking me to help her.

"B-Bavi..." she uttered for the second time. Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang kamay.

"Are you okay? Come with me."

Pero bago ko ilayo si Mexico ay nilingon ko iyong apat.

"I'm telling you all for the third time. Please stop. Stop hurting her."

And they didn't dare to speak.

Dinala ko si Mexico sa labas ng school, hanggang sa makarating kami sa parking, at sa loob ng aking sasakyan.

For a couple of minutes, I let her cried. Ayaw din kasi niyang paawat.

"Do you want another box of tissue, Mexico?" I offered.

Halos naubos na niya kasi iyong isang kahon na nasa sasakyan ko dahil sa kaiiyak niya.

"Okay na ako," tugon niya sa akin sa kabila ng kaniyang mga paghikbi.

"Okay? Is that the real meaning of okay? You're crying and has swollen cheek?" tanong ko kaya napatingin siya sa akin.

"Your whole face is red. Paano na lang kung umalis na ako? Hindi pa kayo magkaayos ni Byeongyun. Sino na lang ang magtatanggol sa iyo kapag hindi mo kayang ipagtanggol ang sarili mo?"

Makaraan ang ilang segundong katahimikan ay muli akong nagsalita.

"Mexico, I hate to see you like this. Please tell me if you need my help because I'm willing to give you a hand anytime, okay?" sambit ko.

"One more thing, huwag kang mahihiya sa akin. I know, wala pa tayong isang linggong magkakilala, but you know how much you mean to me."

Nakarinig ako ng isang malakas na singhot mula sa kaniya, but I refrained myself from laughing.

"You're leaving?" she asked. "How can I ask for help if you're leaving me?"

I let out a sigh. Instead of giving her an answer, I threw another question.

"Mexico, what happened?"

Walang pag-aalinlangan niya akong sinagot. Doon na siya nagkuwento sa akin. From his Father and his job, to Miho and Soobin.

"Is there any other way I can help you other than giving you the Bavi's power hug?" I politely asked, the reason why I saw her smiled.

"Bavi!" aniya sabay takip sa kaniyang mukha. "Sorry, nakita mo na naman akong umiiyak."

"Don't say that. It's not your fault. Pero sana next time, huwag mong hayaang maliitin ka nila. Yeah, you're a cute-sized woman, pero alam kong kaya mo pa ring ipagtanggol ang sarili mo," sambit ko pero binato niya ako ng tissue na kaniyang nilukot.

Natawa ako.

"Sige na. Ako na ang maliit!" She pouted.

"I'm glad you're aware—"

"Bavi!"

"I'm just kidding! Haha!"

We laughed in chorus for a couple of seconds before I stared at her.

"Mexico, I'm worried," seryoso kong sabi.

"Worried?" nakakunot na noo niyang tanong.

I nodded.

"I'm worried about you."

She looked surprised, but she managed to compose herself immediately.

"Alam mo, Bavi? Kung wala ka lang girlfriend, baka inisip ko na may gusto ka sa akin."

I was muted for awhile habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Pero agad siyang napapitlag nang bigla akong tumawa nang malakas.

"I like the confidence, Mexico! Haha!"

Ngumuso siya bago niya ako muling binato ng nilukot niyang tissue.

"Ikaw kasi, napaka-caring mo. Kung hindi ko lang alam ang kuwento mo, malamang iniisip ko na talagang nilalandi mo ako at may gusto ka sa akin. Pero alam mo, thankful ako na isa ka talagang mabuting tao."

Unti-unti ay sumeryoso na ulit ako.

"Mexico? Mexico, I'm leaving... three days from now, for good. I'll be going back to Italy."

Napabuntong-hininga siya.

"Seryoso na ba... talaga? Aalis ka na?"

Ngumiti ako nang mabakas ko sa kaniyang boses ang lungkot.

"Yeah. That's for sure.  But I'll give you a call or a mail when I get there. I'll be sure to get in touch with you as much as possible."

Hindi na nagsalita pa si Mexico.

"It's Saturday tommorow, may meeting ang lahat ng professor. Out of town. Meaning, no classes. Why don't you visit Byeongyun at his place? Talk to him para maalis na iyang guilt na nararamdaman mo. Kahit hindi ko pa siya nami-meet, he's the only person I could trust in taking care of you before I leave Philippines."

Just as I held her shoulder, I added, "We have until Monday morning before my flight. Let me meet him. I wanted to make sure that you, my little sister would be just fine in the hands of that Korean guy."