Chapter 7 Why Are You Worried?

MIKHAIL’S POV

I chuckled as I remember her irritated face. She’s too vulnerable, that is why I’m holding her like this. In this way, I could ensure her future and also her family’s.

“Handouts will be available on your emails this afternoon. For now, just take down some important notes so that makakasunod kayo sa discussion natin, okay ba?”

“Yes, Sir!”

“Alright. Let’s begin with Intramolecular Hemiacetal—"

Oh, shit. Why is she here? Kaka-time in ko lang, bakit nandito na sya?

“Sir, sorry na-late ako.”

“T-Take a seat, Miss Ponciano.”

Bakit hindi nalang sya nagpahinga?! Namumutla sya eh. Her eyes— they are almost fainting.

“Let’s proceed to the Intramolecular Hemiacetal formation wherein the fifth chiral carbon of your backbone structure attacks the functional group which is the first carbon of the backbone structure.”

I-I can’t focus on lecture because of her. She’s making me worry.

After an hour or two of teaching anxiously, pinabayaan ko na silang idismiss. My mind is not conditioned to lecture, and all I think about is her state. Supposedly, may quiz sila ngayon. Ang iniisip ko si Era. Hindi manlang sya dinala ng mga kaibigan nya sa infirmary. Ayun ang inaabangan kong gesture—yung pagmamalasakit.

“Hey.”

Since wala na namang tao sa room at nakasara ang pinto, minabuti kong kausapin sya habang nakaupo pa ‘ko sa desk ko, nagbi-busy-busyhan sa pag-aayos ng wire ng projector na nagamit.

“Wag ka nang magcommute. Sumabay ka na sa’kin,” I nonchalantly said, at least. But her silence and stare making me insane.

“Ayoko.”

Lumunok muna ako, pinipilit na maging matigas sa harap nya, “Goddammit. Why are you so hard-headed? Come on. I’ll wait you in the parking lot.”

“Ayoko nga, ‘di ba?”

“Era!”

Para syang nabato sa pagkakatayo. Nagulat ata sa’kin. Bakit ba? Eh napakatigas ng ulo. Nakakakulo ng dugo. Napapikit nalang ako ng mariin. Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa batang ‘to. Hindi ba nya iniisip ang sarili nya?

“A-Ano…?”

“Do what I say, okay? No buts!”

This kid is making me mad. I can’t— I cannot think straight.

Since I don’t have a class to attend after, naisipan kong pumunta sa convenience store para sana bumili ng pagkain nya. I bought her a full cream milk and a monte cristo sandwich. But the thing is, may kumakausap sa’king mga estudyante.

“Kuya, pwedeng makuha number mo?”

“Uwah! Ampogi nya, vev!”

Uhh... what am I gonna do?

“N-No, sorry.”

“Hala! May girlfriend ka na?”

A-Am I gonna say yes even if I don’t have one? Press X for yes, press O for no.

“Y-Yeah. She’s in the car, waiting for me... Y-Yeah. I have one.”

They are students for god’s sake. What the hell?! And they are wearing a high school’s uniform! What the hell happen to kids now?!

“Sir, yung sandwich nyo po.”

“T-Thanks.”

As I head back to the parking area, I could sense that they are following me. Like, three girls? I just ignore them.

“E-Era?”

Shit! Bakit nakaupo sya at nakasandal sa gulong ng kotse ko? Did she already faint?!

“Are you okay? You want me to admit you to the hospital?”

“W-Wag... ayoko...”

Inakay ko sya papasok sa kotse at nilagyan ng seatbelt. Nakapikit lang sya all the time kaya ako ang nahihirapan para sa kanya. Sinubukan kong ibigay yung sandwich pero wala naman syang gana. Ano ba naman ‘tong batang ‘to?