A Cyclist's Diamond [Cyclist Series 1]

He was immediately called to the Principal's office the following day, along with his coach and the friends he used to pay money to.

The school didn't inform us of who told them about it, due to the fact that they also want to protect their identities. Ang bilis lang ng pangyayari. Agad na pinasesante yung coach nila dahil illegal ang ginawa niya, sa pagtanggap ng pera sa estudyante.

For Asrow and the others, they were suspended for two months and they'll be the ones who are going to clean the school after classes. Compared to the others, Asrow had it rough because he was immediately stripped off from his scholarship... and he was forced to step down from being the captain at the volleyball team.

And for the first time, I saw his father face to face... at the principal's office.

Hindi na nakaabot sa ibang estudyante yung nangyaring insidente dahil sa tatay ni Asrow. Pwede rin kasi itong makaapekto sa pagiging singer niya at baka hindi maging at ease yung ibang estudyante. Baka rin lumawak yung chismisan at baka hindi makapagpokus sa pag-aaral, lalo na yung mga malapit na mag-graduate. So, things were settled privately.

For once, I was thankful because Asrow's dad has the ability so save face for his kid... Alam 'kong mali pero... Ayoko rin naman na makitang inaapi si Asrow ng iba dahil sa nangyari. 

That'd hurt me more than anything in this world...

Or so I thought.

It was my final's week. I asked my mom and dad if I could stay at Asrow's condo for a while because I don't want to leave him all alone there. If there's a moment in his life where he needs constant and loving support, then that moment is now. 

Kahit na medyo nag-iba yung tingin nina mama at papa kay Asrow, ay pinayagan pa rin nila ako kasi naging isang malaking tulong si Asrow sa buhay namin and we owe him a lot.

"Uy kumain ka na," Pagpupumilit ko sa kanya.

I cooked him champorado this night because he wanted something hot to eat. Siya ay nakahalumbaba at nakatitig lang sa sahig, tila malalim yung iniisip. Kanina pa siyang nakaupo doon sa isang sulok at hindi pa siya nakakagalaw mula kanina pa. It's been three days since he got suspended from school and since then, he hasn't really spoken that much.

"Babe, nakulo na tiyan mo oh," I told him. "Sige na, kumain ka na kahit kaunti lang, kahit limang subo lang."

Hindi siya umimik sa sinabi ko. I frowned at his reaction. Hindi ko alam kung anu-ano yung mga nasa isip niya ngayon. Nag-usap din kasi sila ng tatay niya nung isang araw at hindi niya sinabi sa'kin kung ano sinabi niya sa kanya. 

His eyes were lifeless, as if there wasn't a soul inside his body. Ang kanyang pangingitim sa ilalim ng mata ay mas lumala, bagama't gabi-gabi siyang hindi nakakatulog ng maayos. His hair was disheveled and his palms were always cold because of sweating.

Ibinaba ko muna yung pagkain niya sa lamesa at napagpasyahan 'kong umupo sa tabi niya. "Sige, kung hindi ka kakain, hindi rin ako kakain."