Chapter 14
I kept watching her while she carefully put medicine on my cuts. May kung anong kakaibang pakiramdam na bumalot sa akin habang nakatitig lang ako sa mukha niya. Her brows were slightly furrowed, lips pursed in concentration, as if treating my wounds was some kind of surgery.
Tahimik lang siya, at doon ko mas napansin ang mga detalyeng dati ko lang hinahayaang lumampas. The soft way the clinic light hit her cheek, casting a delicate shadow down to her jawline. Yung pilik-mata niyang mahaba, na tuwing makita ko ay parang inaambahan ang puso ko.
I said quietly, barely above a whisper, “I didn’t know you were so pretty up close.”
Wala. As expected. She didn’t even blink. Parang hindi niya ako narinig. O baka ayaw lang niya pansinin.
“Ako nalang kasi, Ms.,” tuloy ko habang inaabot ang ngiti sa kanya. “I’ll treat you better than your boyfriend.”
I like teasing her just to see how she’d react. Minsan feeling ko sinusubukan ko lang talaga ang pasensiya niya. At eto nga—hindi pa man lumilipas ang dalawang segundo, bumwelta agad siya.
“He’s way better than you,” she said, firm, matalim, parang sinampal ako ng masarap na pagkain tapos walang kanin.
‘Yan. Ganyan siya magaling. ‘Pag tungkol sa boyfriend niya, automatic ang pansin. Parang button na pinipindot ko para lang siya mag-function.
“Aminin mo na kasi,” pang-asar ko pa, this time mas malambing ang tono ko, parang kinukulit lang na bata.
"You're disgusting," sagot niya, rolling her eyes. Pero pansin ko ‘yung dulo ng bibig niya, parang pinipigil ang ngiti.
"Malinis pa 'ko sa manilis, Ms.," sagot ko sabay wink, proud pa.
Umiling lang siya.
Pero kahit sinabihan niya ako ng ‘disgusting’, hindi niya binawi ang kamay ko.
She stayed close, gently placing the bandage over my injured finger.
Her touch was slow, careful, at may kung anong lamig sa palad niya na mas lalong nagpapabilis sa tibok ng puso ko.
She pressed the bandage down like sealing something important.
She stood up and turned away, putting the ointment and cotton back in the cabinet.
"Get out," she muttered, not even looking at me.
"Let me help you," alok ko, half-standing, pero di niya ako nilingon.
"I never need your help. Now get out," ulit niya, this time mas madiin, parang may galit na nahalong inis.
Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. “Okay na po, Dragon Queen,” bulong ko, more to myself than to her, habang paalis na. Lumabas na rin ako bago pa siya sumabog. Malay ko bang may lahi siyang dragon—ako pa ‘yung nauusok.
Paglabas ko sa building, sinilip ko ang paligid. Tahimik na. Wala nang ibang estudyante. It was already 7 PM. The whole campus had that eerie stillness.
Pero imbes na umuwi, I found myself leaning against the side of the building, checking my phone, scrolling aimlessly.
May maliit na bahagi sa’kin na ayaw pang umalis.
Wala naman akong obligasyon, pero gusto ko lang…
maghintay.
Para siguraduhin na okay siya.
Baka may mangyari, baka mapaano siya.
Ewan.
Hindi ko rin alam kung anong iniisip ko.
After a few minutes, lumabas na rin si Ms. Sanchez. She looked surprised to see me still there.
"Why are you still here?" tanong niya, kunot ang noo.
"Waiting for you, Miss," sagot ko casually, acting like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Just go home," she said, brushing past me as if I were air.
"I will," sabi ko, tumapat sa tabi niya habang naglalakad siya, “but let me make sure you get to your car safely.”
Hindi siya sumagot.
Of course.
Ganyan naman siya.
Pero kahit wala siyang tugon, hindi niya rin ako pinigilan.
Tumabi lang siya sa akin habang tahimik kaming naglakad sa may pathway ng university.
The streetlights flickered above us, casting soft orange glows on the pavement.
Her shadow merged with mine as we walked.
Medyo corny, pero ang ganda niyang tingnan sa ilalim ng ilaw.
“Do you love Theo that much?” tanong ko, breaking the silence habang nasa gitna kami ng bakanteng daan.
Tahimik siya. For once, she didn’t snap. She didn’t roll her eyes or call me disgusting. She just kept walking, her eyes on the path ahead. Her silence felt louder than a scream.
"I love him more than anyone," she answered immediately.
"I'm way better than him, Ms.," I said, smirking confidently while we continued walking side by side.
She stopped in her tracks, turned slightly, and looked at me with that familiar sharp glare—the one that always feels like it cuts straight to the bone.
"I didn't ask," she replied coldly, her voice like ice. "And I don't care because, to me, no one is better than him."
I laughed a little, trying to hide the sting of her words behind a cocky grin. "Pag talaga tungkol sa kanya, doon mo lang ako pinapansin," I said, half-joking, half-hurt.
"So you'll know that no matter what you do, you'll never have a chance with me. I'll tell you every day how much I dislike and hate you," she added.
Oof. That one landed.
But I didn’t flinch. I refused to. "It's okay. I'll also tell you every day how much I like and love you," I replied with the same teasing tone, though my chest felt a little tighter.
"You're making me want to throw up," she spat, her lip curling.
"Throw up in my mouth," I replied teasingly.
"Disgusting! Just get away from me!" she shouted, her voice sharp and rising with each word. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, either from anger or embarrassment—probably both.
There it was, the infamous dragon side of Ms. Sanchez, the one only I seemed to summon with ease.
"Relax, I'm going," I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. "Drive carefully, Ms!" I added with a cheeky grin before turning on my heel and walking away, her silence trailing behind me like smoke.
As I reached the parking lot and opened the door to my car, I chuckled to myself. "She's really fun to tease," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I started the engine. Even when she was breathing fire, she was still ridiculously beautiful. Or maybe because she was breathing fire.
I drove home with one hand lazily resting on the wheel, the other playing with the bandage she had carefully wrapped around my finger. Every time I looked at it, I remembered how soft her touch had been, how focused she was—like I mattered, even if it was just for that moment. Damn.
Pagkarating ko sa bahay, agad akong sinalubong ng mga ingay mula sa loob. Mukhang nandito nanaman ang buong baranggay a.k.a. mga pinsan ko. I sighed, rubbing my temples. Hindi pa nga ako nakakabawi sa pagod, tapos eto nanaman sila.
"Hiii, Viaaa!" sigaw agad ni Avery mula sa sofa, kumakain pa ng chichirya na parang wala nang bukas.
"Why are you here?" tanong ko, diretso ang lakad, hindi na nag-abala pang ngumiti.
"Ang sungit naman neto, bawal ba?" sagot niya, sabay tapon ng throw pillow sa akin.
"Feeling close ka nanaman," irap ko bago tuluyang pumasok sa sala.
"Dinner na raw tayo, bilisan niyo, tinatawag na tayo ni Lola," sabi ni Madelyn habang sumisilip mula sa kusina, may hawak na serving tray.
Tumango ako at sinunod sila papunta sa dining area.
"Ba't ngayon ka lang? Nag-bar ka nanaman?" tanong ni Luke, lumitaw mula sa hagdanan habang nagte-text pa. Hindi man lang tumingin.
"No, nag-practice ako para sa event namin," sagot ko, iniwasang tumaas ang boses kahit inis na ‘ko.
"Weh, joke," sabat nito, as usual hindi mawawala ang asar-talo mode niya.
Hindi ko na lang pinansin. Sanay na ako sa banter nila, pero tonight, I just wasn't in the mood. Gusto ko nalang kumain at mawala sa mundo kahit sandali.
Pag-upo namin sa dining table, andun na si Lola sa pwesto niya, pinapanood kaming lahat na parang general sa army.
“Let’s have dinner, kayo nalang hinihintay,” sabi niya habang hinahati ang tinola sa mga bowl.
Nagsimula kaming kumain. Kakaiba—walang masyadong kwentuhan, wala yung usual tawanan at kalokohan. Tahimik. Pero hindi rin ako makapagpahinga. Not with Lola’s eagle eyes scanning my every move.
"Why did you come home so late?" tanong niya habang ngumunguya ng dahan-dahan, parang iniintay ang sagot ko na may kasamang pagsabog.
"I had practice for the contest next week at the university, La," sagot ko, trying to sound calm kahit kinakabahan. Lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko, ewan ko ba.
She narrowed her eyes at me, then shifted her gaze to my sister. "Is that true, Athena?"
"Yes, La. We have competitions at other universities, and Sylvia was chosen for the singing contest," sagot ni Athena, as calm and collected as ever.
Lola finally nodded, satisfied. “Good. Don’t spend your time at bars, Sylvia. That’s not where your future is.”
Hindi ako sumagot. Kasi kung magsasalita ako, baka masabi ko pa ‘yung totoo. Baka mapaamin pa ako. Kaya tumahimik na lang ako at tinutok ang mata sa kanin ko.
"Bar pa more," bulong ni Avery sa tabi ko. Bigla kong tiningnan nang masama, at inirapan siya.
Nagtagal ang hapunan ng mga kalahating oras. Tahimik lang kaming lahat. After kumain, agad akong lumabas ng bahay at dumiretso sa likod para mag-yosi.
Kinuha ko ang lighter sa bulsa ko at sinindihan ang sigarilyo. Inhales. Exhales. Tapos, inulit. Sa bawat buga, parang naaalis ang tension sa katawan ko. Kahit sandali lang.
I was in the middle of my second stick when I heard the familiar sound of footsteps behind me.
“Smoking again?” tanong ni Athena, arms crossed habang nakatingin sa akin na parang ina niya ako.
“Mhm,” sagot ko habang tinatapik-tapik ang abo ng sigarilyo sa paso.
“When will you stop that bad habit?” she asked. Her voice was flat, but I could hear the edge building up. Kilala ko siya—pag ganyan ang tono niya, galit na 'yan pero may self-control pa.
"Until I die, Ate," sagot ko, sarcastic at medyo defensive.
"Keep saying that, and I will literally end you right now," she replied, rolling her eyes.
I laughed, taking another puff. "Eto lang naman ang nagpapakalma sa'kin eh. Unless… pagbawalan ako ni Ms. Sanchez."
Athena raised a brow.
“Kapag siya nagsabi, titigil na ako.”
“Wala kang pag-asa dyan,” she said bluntly, like it was the most obvious truth in the world. Walang ka-hesitation-hesitation. Real talk queen.
"I'll make her fall in love with me," I declared, trying to sound more confident than I actually felt.
"She has a boyfriend, and she's straight," sagot niya, deadpan as ever.
"People can change, Ate," I said, this time a little softer. It wasn't just a joke anymore. Somehow, I meant it.
"That's your choice," she said with a sigh. "Play your game until you can't. Just don't be surprised if you lose in the end."
I blew out smoke slowly, letting her words sink in. "I never lose my games, Ate."
She looked at me for a moment, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. Then she smirked. “You said people change.”
I glanced at her sideways. “Did you come out here just to annoy me?”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe I care. Get inside later and stop smoking. You reek.”
She turned and walked away, her words still hanging in the air. Naiwan ako doon, nakatitig sa madilim na langit, iniisip kung bakit nga ba si Ms. Sanchez pa. At kung hanggang saan ko kayang itaya ang laro ko.
Losing my own game? Funny, I thought.
I never lose in my own game.
I leaned against the cold rail of our veranda, a faint smirk playing on my lips while the smoke from my cigarette danced in the quiet evening air.
The stars were faint tonight, barely visible, like the way I tried to hide certain truths from myself.
But just like the stars, they were still there—just waiting to be acknowledged.
I was the master of it.
Playing with people, reading them, twisting them around my finger—it was second nature. I knew when to pull away and when to push harder. I knew how to catch attention without trying, how to make people want me, even when I barely gave them anything. That’s how it always worked.
And no one ever defeated me in that game.
No one. Until… maybe now?
But would she change everything?
I scoffed under my breath and took another drag. The smoke burned my throat a little, but I liked that. It kept me grounded, reminded me I was still in control of something—even if everything else was slowly slipping through cracks I refused to admit were forming.
I don't like her at all.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. Over and over again like a mantra. Like if I repeated it enough times, it would become the truth. But truth had a funny way of sneaking up on you in silence, and before you knew it, you were wrapped in it like vines.
Maybe that’s what this was—me trying to untangle something that had already begun to strangle me.
I don't like her, yeah.
I just found her interesting.
That’s all it is. She’s interesting. That sharp tongue, the way her eyes narrow when she's annoyed, how her voice raises just a bit when she's flustered. She's the type of girl who walks with her chin held high, like she's too good for attention—but still aware that she gets it anyway.
It wasn’t the usual.
And I liked that.
I liked the chase.
The way she wasn’t like some girl who’s easy to get.
Most people folded after a few compliments. After some teasing, a wink, a smile. They tripped over themselves trying to keep up with me. But her?
She snapped back.
She didn’t care.
She didn’t fall for the same tricks. Hell, sometimes she didn’t even flinch when I touched her, or when I whispered something in that low voice I knew messed people up.
I liked her because she’s hard to get.
And maybe that’s all it was.
A challenge. A puzzle. Another game I was meant to win. Another trophy I could keep in the shelf of my pride. But something about her made me second guess it all. Was this really just a game?
Or was I already playing on unfamiliar ground?
I leaned back, exhaled one last time, and stared at the stars above.
And I wonder, If I could keep playing games with her.
If she would finally bend to me.
What would it look like? Her giving in. Her voice softening. Her eyes looking at me like I’m something more than just a chaos she has to deal with. Would she even allow that?
Would I?
I stared at the glowing butt of my cigarette, watching it burn out, slowly, until there was nothing left.
Funny.
Maybe that was me.
Slowly burning.
And she was the fire I couldn't stop playing with.
I dropped the stub on the floor, crushed it with my heel, and shoved my hands into my pockets.
Enough thinking for tonight. I had class tomorrow, and I didn’t want to be late.
Even if, deep down, I knew the only reason I cared about going early… was to see her.
---
"Exam nanaman bukas!" reklamo ni Kinsley sa tabi ko, halos mapunit ang papel niya sa gigil habang sinusulatan.
Nasa university na ako ngayon, at as usual, wala pa rin si Ms. Sanchez. Patapos na nga yung oras ng klase niya pero hindi pa rin siya dumarating. Tumitig ako sa pinto na para bang kusa siyang lalabas doon kung titigan ko lang nang sapat.
"Why isn't Ms. Sanchez here yet?" tanong ko, halos hindi ko namalayang lumabas sa bibig ko 'yon.
"Malay namin, mukha bang may alam kami doon," pilosopong sagot ni Cecilia habang nag-aayos ng mga notes niya. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Hindi na ako sumagot dahil alam kong lalawakan lang niya lalo 'yung argumento.
"I think she's doing something important. This isn't the first time this has happened, don't worry," dagdag ni Eliana, palaging composed at kalmado.
Tumango na lang ako. Gusto kong maniwala na tama siya, pero may parte sa’kin na naiinip na. Worried? Maybe. Or baka namimiss ko lang ‘yung pagiging dragon ni Ms. Sanchez sa klase.
Or maybe it was just her.
"Wait... don't tell me you like Ms. Sanchez?" bulong ni Kinsley mula sa gilid ko, halatang nagpipigil ng tili. Lumingon agad sina Cecilia at Eliana.
"So?" sagot ko, sabay taas ng kilay. I wasn't even trying to hide it.
"Nababaliw ka na ba?" sabay-sabay nilang tanong, parang naka-choir practice lang. Halatang gulat na gulat talaga sila. Para bang sinabi kong alien ako.
"No," tipid kong sagot, bagamat halatang pilit ‘yung pagtanggi.
"Literal na may boyfriend pa 'yung target mo, wala kang pag-asa diyan kaya tantanan mo na," sabat ni Kinsley, para bang binabasag na niya agad ang daydream ko. Pero sanay na ko. I've heard this speech more than I can count.
Gosh, why do they keep saying I don't have a chance with her? They act like love is a logic puzzle. If I listened to them, wala na agad. Eh, saan pa napunta 'yung idea ng miracles? Of people changing?
"Nothing can stop me," sagot ko na may bahid ng hamon sa boses ko.
"Sure, sabi mo 'yan eh. Baka ikaw pa ang masaktan sa huli, ha," banta ni Cecilia, sabay kindat na parang may alam siyang hindi ko alam. Inirapan ko siya.
"I know how to play my game."
"Kaya pala lumipat ka rito dahil sa kanya, akala ko dahil sa amin. Nakakasakit ka," dagdag pa ni Kinsley habang kunwaring umiiyak.
Napatawa na lang ako. She wasn't entirely wrong.
"I'll be right back, I'm just going to the restroom," sabi ko, sabay tayo. Tumango sila, busy na ulit sa notes nila.
Pero hindi naman talaga ako pupunta sa CR. I had somewhere else in mind. Somewhere... more important.
Tahimik akong naglakad sa hallway, pinapakinggan lang ang tunog ng heels ng ibang estudyante at ang kaluskos ng papel sa paligid. Medyo malamig sa corridor, pero hindi 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit nanlalamig ang palad ko. I was getting closer to the faculty room.
Maybe she's there.
Pagdating ko sa harap ng pinto, kumatok ako. Tatlong beses. Walang sumagot.
I looked around the hallway. Wala ring ibang teacher sa paligid. Medyo tatawag na sana ako pabalik when—
*THUD!*
Isang malakas na tunog ng pagbagsak ng mga libro mula sa loob.
Kasunod no'n ay isang "Agh! Ouch!" mula sa pamilyar na boses.
Agad akong tumakbo papasok, hindi na naghintay ng sagot. Bumungad sa akin si Ms. Dizon, nakaupo sa sahig, surrounded by scattered books and folders.
"Miss! Are you okay?" tanong ko agad, halos dumulas pa sa pagmamadaling lumapit.
Nagulat siya pagkakita sa akin. "What are you doing here, honey?" tanong niya, nilalapit ang kamay sa paang natamaan ng libro.
"I'm looking for Ms. Sanchez. I thought she might be here. But what happened, Miss?" I asked again, worried na worried na ako.
"I was reaching for some books, honey, and I couldn’t reach them. They fell on my feet, but I’m okay," sagot niya, pero halata sa mukha niyang nasaktan talaga siya.
"Let me help you up, Ms.," I offered, quickly extending my hand.
"Thank you, honey," she said gently, tinanggap ang kamay ko habang dahan-dahan kong inangat siya.
"Can you walk?" tanong ko habang nakahawak pa rin sa siko niya.
"Mhm, you can stop holding me, honey. Thank you," sagot niya, medyo tumatawa pa. Pero nung inalis ko na ang suporta ko, bigla siyang natisod.
"Miss!" sigaw ko habang agad kong sinalo siya—this time, hindi kamay kundi ang baywang niya ang nahawakan ko. Mahigpit ang pagkakayakap ko para lang hindi siya tuluyang bumagsak.
She looked up at me, both of us frozen in the moment.
I could feel her breathing quicken, and mine wasn’t doing any better. Our eyes locked, and for a second, the world felt... too quiet.
And then—
*CLICK.*
Bumukas ang pinto.
And there she was.
Ms. Sanchez.
Standing there in the doorway, one hand still on the knob, her eyes locked onto mine... and to my arms, which were still wrapped around Ms. Dizon’s waist.
Her expression was unreadable. Walang galit, pero walang ngiti. Just those sharp eyes watching silently.
Parang napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko.
'Yung tingin niya ay parang mangangain ng buhay na tao.