Perfect Rival

Chapter Twelve

We stopped at a 7/11 store. Alas dose na ng madaling araw. May mga students pa na hindi nakakauwi.

I guess it's okay to stay here inside. Medyo nagustuhan ko ang ambiance ngayon ng store kasi madaling araw at halos walang tao....kung mayro'n man ay kapwa students lang namin na pagod na rin kaya tahimik lang. It's also cold, that's why I like it.

"I heard somewhere na may namatay daw during the....event?" mahinang tanong ni Cairo.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. I am looking at the beverages section nang lumapit siya sa akin at binulong iyon.

"What?! Where did you get that information?" madiin kong tanong.

"I don't know! Kumakalat lang. It was posted on Facebook. There is a student from our school na namatay.....though the reason why she was dead is unclear everyone assume na namatay siya during the event..."

Suminghap ako. That's a very big scandal. Wala namang nagbalita sa amin na namatay....pero may isang student nga na sinugod sa clinic dahil nahimatay.

Hindi na niya ulit ginatungan ang topic na iyon pero nag-stay pa rin do'n ang utak ko. Kung may namatay man.....napakalaking eskandalo no'n sa school namin! The school is to blame!

Naupo kami sa stool. He decided to open more conversation. Tumatango-tango lang naman ako sa pinagsasabi niya.

"Ikaw lang mag-isa? Where's Marlie?" pukaw ni Cairo sa atensyon ko.

I looked at him. "Well...umalis na siya. I'll text her pala, thanks for reminding me."

Nilabas ko ang phone ko at nag compose ng message for Marlie.

Adira:

Where are you? Nasa airport ka na?

Na seen agad iyon ni Marlie. She immediately replied.

Marlie: Yeah! You? How about you? Nakauwi ka na ba? Ba't gising ka pa?

"Cairo.... let's take a picture?"

"Hmm?"

He looks shock. "For what?"

"Well, I'll send it to Marlie. Kung okay lang naman sa'yo, of course..."

I want to update Marlie of course, pero parang gusto ko makita niya na with picture parang mukhang friendly. I don't know if that makes sense. He look hesitant at first but still nodded after.

"Hmmm. Okay then."

I put my palms on the side of my face and smiled. I angled my camera so he can fit.

"Thanks!"

"Can I see the picture?" he asked.

Tumango ako. "Sure."

Kinuha niya iyon. He looks satisfied and smiled after.

"Can you send me that? Please?"

"You won't post it, right?" tanong ko.

Umiling siya. "I'll just keep it."

Tumango ako at isinend sa kaniya iyon. He looked at me again and cleared his throat.

Marlie:

OMG?? HAHAHAHAHA! Sige enjoy kayo!

Kumunot ang noo ko sa reply ni Marlie.

"I'm sorry again, mayor...."

"Mayor? We are not inside the classroom right now. You can call me by my name," sabi ko.