Chapter 31
"I'm sorry, Gomez. You heard me right."
I could only stare at her.
And then, like a cruel twist of fate, Ate's words came crashing back into my mind:
"Cynthia isn’t the type of person who says ‘sorry.’ Even when it’s her fault, she rarely apologizes—unless that person is special to her."
“W-why? I-I mean—”
“Sylvia! At Ms. Sanchez! We’re about to have our section shot na po!” one of my classmates suddenly called out, snapping me out of whatever trance I was in.
Ms. Sanchez didn’t even flinch. She just turned away and walked off as if she hadn’t said anything at all. While I… I was stuck there, completely frozen, trying to process everything. Did she mean it? Was she serious? I hate how one word from her can mess me up like this.
I clenched my jaw, frustrated at myself. But before I could stop myself, my feet were already moving.
“Wait for me, Miss!” I called out, hurrying to catch up. I didn’t even know why—why I was chasing after her, why I needed to hear it again.
I reached her side. “Do you really mean it?” I asked, my voice low but persistent. I needed her to confirm it. I needed clarity, but of course, she made it difficult.
“You know what? Just never mind,” she said, brushing it off like it was nothing. Again.
Napahinto ako sandali, then followed after her again. “After saying that, babawiin mo agad? That’s not fair, ah,”
She stopped walking. Slowly, she turned to look at me, her stare cold but curious. “When did you become this noisy, Gomez?”
I held her gaze. “Since the day I met you,” I answered plainly but I mean it.
She didn’t react. Instead, she just turned her back on me and continued walking, like that conversation didn’t even happen. Typical. And here I was, stuck following her around again.
By the time I realized it, we were already at the photo area where the whole section was gathered.
“Grabe, dito pa talaga kayo nag landian,” Cecilia whispered beside me as I stepped into line. Her tone was teasing. But before I can even respond, the photographer called me.
“Sylvia, can you move beside Ms. Dizon? Hindi ka kita masyado sa picture,” the photographer called out, motioning for me to adjust.
I forced myself to move. I stepped away from Cecilia and stood next to Ms. Dizon. She smiled at me. It wasn’t the friendly kind of smile. It was something else—something that made me feel… uneasy.
“Okay, perfect! You two look perfect together,” the photographer said, clearly amused. Napasinghap ako nang marinig ko ‘yon. My classmates started screaming and teasing us from the sidelines.
“Alright, everyone! 1… 2… 3… smile!” the photographer counted off, and I did what I was told. I smiled. A small, polite one.
Then, I felt it. A hand sliding around my waist. Firm. Controlling. Pulling me closer.
I stiffened instantly.
“Move closer, honey. I don’t bite,” Ms. Dizon murmured, her voice soft but unsettling. She chuckled right after, as if this was all just a joke.
I forced another smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. My body was tense. Her hand on me felt wrong. Someone like her wasn’t supposed to touch me like that.
I wanted to step away, but I couldn’t. Not with everyone watching. So I stayed still. Silent. Pretending like everything was fine.
"Wait," Ms. Sanchez suddenly said, her voice cutting through the air with quiet authority. It wasn’t loud, but it was enough to make everyone stop moving. Parang biglang bumagal lahat, and just like that, all eyes were on her.
She took a slow, deliberate step forward, arms crossed over her chest, her gaze sweeping across the group.
But when her eyes landed on Ms.
Dizon’s hand holding my waist, something flickered in her expression.
It was quick, but it was there—a sharpness, a tightening of her jaw that was gone before anyone else could notice.
"Is it really necessary for everyone to be standing this close?" she asked, her tone smooth and composed, but there was an edge to it—controlled, but pointed. "I understand the idea of closeness, of wanting to show unity. But there’s a fine line between looking connected and looking suffocated."
She took another step forward, tilting her head ever so slightly.
"From where I’m standing, this looks unnatural. Forced. And frankly, a little desperate." She paused for a moment, letting those words hang in the air, heavy but subtle.
"We’re not trying to make it seem like you’re clinging to each other for dear life. We’re aiming for something dignified. Balanced."
May sinabi pa siya after that, pero hindi ko masyadong marinig. Her eyes flickered to me, lingering a little too long, before she turned to the photographer.
"Let’s give everyone room to breathe," she continued. "Physical proximity doesn’t always translate to connection. Sometimes, the most powerful presence is the one that stands confidently on its own."
The photographer nodded immediately. "You’re right, Miss Sanchez. Huwag natin i-compress lahat. Let’s spread them out a little para mas natural ang dating."
Ms. Dizon’s fingers slipped away from my arm, her hand falling to her side like she suddenly realized something. She shifted back, creating space between us, though she didn’t say anything. Ako rin, gumalaw ng kaunti, adjusting my position as the others around us did the same.
"That’s much better," she said, her voice softer now, but still carrying that quiet command. "Let’s keep it composed. We don’t need to hold on so tightly to be seen."
Napatingin ako sa kanya, and for a second, it felt like she was saying something else entirely.
I wasn’t really paying much attention earlier. Everything felt like it was moving too fast—especially during the pictorial. The photographer kept clicking his camera non-stop. Mabilis lang din naman natapos, and before I knew it, the day was halfway over.
After lunch, we didn’t do much—more photos, then bonding with everyone. It was chill, and for the most part, tahimik lang ako, just watching everyone have fun. We planned to stay until later tonight anyway, so no rush to go home.
Now it was almost sunset. The sky was a deep orange fading into purple, and I found myself sitting quietly on one of the benches, just staring at it. Ang peaceful ng vibe, and I was kind of enjoying being alone with my thoughts… until Mark ruined the silence.
“Okay! Okay! Everyone!” he shouted all of a sudden. Napatingin kami lahat sa kanya, even the professors stopped what they were doing.
“Let’s play a game!” he announced, voice loud and excited. “Truth or Dare! Walang aayaw, ha?”
I could already hear the whispers and giggles from my classmates. Halos lahat mukhang game na game. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to join, but I knew there was no way I could get out of it.
“Miss Sanchez, Miss Gomez, Miss Dizon, and Miss Martinez! Sali po kayo! Dapat kasama kayo!” Mark shouted at the professors like he owned the place.
Ate gave him that signature eyebrow raise, but Ms. Martinez was already laughing as she pulled the others in. “Walang KJ ngayon ah,” Ms. Martinez said, shaking her head.
Ms.
Flores wasn’t around, though.
The photographer mentioned kanina na she had to leave dahil may urgent emergency.
I didn’t think much of it, but if I’m being honest, I did notice something weird between her and Eliana.
Parang may something…
pero baka imagination ko lang.
I didn’t wanna assume anything.
Anyway, we all gathered outside around a big table, sitting in a circle while we waited for dinner.
“So, paano kung hindi nila kayang sagutin kapag Truth ang pinili?” RJ asked, curious as always.
“They get a penalty,” Mark answered quickly, smirking. “Game?”
“Game!” halos sabay-sabay nilang sagot. Some of them even clapped their hands like this was the highlight of their day.
“Okay, spinning the bottle now!” Mark said, and he gave it a strong spin. All of us leaned in, watching it go round and round, waiting for it to slow down. The energy suddenly felt intense, like we were all holding our breath.
“Who’s the lucky person?” Mark teased, grinning as he waited for the bottle to stop.
Then it did.
“Ha?! Ba’t ako?!” Sofia blurted out, her eyes wide in shock. The bottle was pointing directly at her. She was one of the smartest in our class, usually quiet, but now she looked like she wanted to sink into the ground.
“Wow, ikaw talaga ang lucky person tonight,” Mark said, chuckling.
“Okay, who wants to ask her a question?” he continued, glancing around.
“Me!” Sam immediately raised her hand, grinning mischievously.
“Do you like someone here? As in, someone who’s literally here right now,” Sam asked, like it was the most casual thing in the world.
She didn’t answer right away. Her eyes were darting around, as if she was trying to figure out what to say—or whether she should say anything at all. The silence stretched longer than expected, and people were starting to chant, “Answer! Answer!”
Sofia took a breath. Then, slowly, her eyes met mine.
And suddenly, I had this bad feeling in my gut.
“Sylvia,” she said. Plain and simple. Like she was just stating a fact.
For a few seconds, no one said anything.
Then everyone exploded. “WHAT?!” halos sabay-sabay nilang sigaw. Some were laughing, others were already screaming like they were watching a teleserye. Kinsley was practically shoving me at this point.
“Teh! OMG! Ikaw daw!” she squealed, grinning like this was the juiciest tea of her life.
Marco suddenly chimed in, “Taken na 'yan by Ms. Dizon!” and everyone laughed even louder.
"Okay! Next!" Mark exclaimed, spinning the bottle again like nothing had happened.
The energy in the room was still electric, the excitement palpable. Lahat kami ay nag-aabang kung sino ang matatapatan ng bote this time. Then, it finally stopped—pointing directly at Ms. Dizon.
Everyone erupted in loud cheers.
"Dare na, Miss! Para may thrill!" someone from the group shouted, and the others quickly joined in, chanting for her to choose "Dare."
"Okay, honey. Dare."
I suddenly felt uneasy. I had a bad feeling about this.
"I'll give the dare!" one of my classmates eagerly volunteered, and everyone immediately agreed.
"I dare you to kiss the side of the lips of the person you find attractive in this circle."
Louder cheers and teasing filled the room. My heartbeat quickened.
I lowered my head, trying to distract myself. I didn’t want to assume anything, but my gut was telling me something I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.
Then, I heard footsteps approaching.
"Honey, can I?"
I stiffened. The voice was soft but clear, even through the noise. I slowly lifted my gaze—and there she was, Ms. Dizon, standing right in front of me.
Her eyes held a gentle expression, but I could see a flicker of hesitation in them.
"W-what?" I stammered, my throat suddenly dry.
"Can I have your permission, honey?" she asked again. Her voice was softer this time, almost as if she was giving me a way out. "It’s okay if you don’t want to, honey. I’ll just take the punishment instead."
She smiled briefly before stepping back, about to change her decision.
"Can I just take the punishment?" she asked again, this time directing it to the rest of the group.
"Okay, Miss! We have punishment cards here. Just pick one!" another classmate said, handing her the pile of cards.
She nodded and reached for one. The moment she read it, her entire posture shifted—she gulped hard, hesitation clear in her expression.
"Ano nabunot mo, Miss? Read it out loud po!" my classmate prompted eagerly.
Ms. Dizon hesitated before finally reading it. "Dance seductively to a sexy song in front of everyone."
For a brief second, everything went silent. Then, the room exploded into excited cheers and teasing shouts.
"WHOOO! GO, MISS!"
"SEXY TIME! LET'S GO!"
Some of them were already scrolling through their phones, looking for a song to play.
But as I watched Ms. Dizon, I could see how uncomfortable she was. She wasn’t saying anything, but her body language spoke volumes. She was trying to act normal, trying to smile, but I knew she didn’t want to do this.
Her outfit was already showy. The thought of her dancing like that in front of everyone made something twist in my stomach.
"Wait."
It was almost a whisper, but I made sure to say it loud enough for everyone to hear.
The room fell silent once again, and all eyes turned to me—including Ate and Ms. Sanchez.
Ms. Sanchez's gaze was different. Cold. Piercing. Almost... furious.
I ignored the sudden tension and turned back to Ms. Dizon.
"Please do the dare, Miss. Instead of this punishment."
A hushed murmur spread across the room.
There was nothing wrong with what I did, right? I just didn’t want her to dance like that when it was obvious she didn’t want to.
"It's okay, honey," she reassured me, though her voice was slightly uncertain. "I can do the punishmen—"
"Please, do the dare, Miss," I interrupted firmly.
I stood up and walked towards her. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"Are you sure, hon?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
"I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t sure, Miss," I answered, my tone unwavering.
And just like that, the entire room burst into chaos.
"OMG!!! KINIKILIG AKO!!!"
"KENEKELEG EKE!!! SHIP!!!"
"BAGAY NA BAGAY KAYO!"
The teasing was relentless.
I barely paid attention to them. My focus was on Ms. Dizon, who remained silent, her eyes searching mine for any sign of doubt.
Then, slowly, she leaned in.
It was brief—just the soft press of her lips on the side of mine. It barely lasted a second, yet I could feel the warmth of her lips lingering on my skin.
The room exploded once again.
"HOYYYYY!!!!!!!! AYOKOO NAAAA"
"SObrANG KILIG, PUTA!"
"THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT EVER!"
As soon as she pulled away, Ms. Dizon smiled softly at me. "Thank you, hon."
I forced a smile and quickly returned to my seat, my mind spinning.
I turned to look at Kinsley, and she was already looking at me—her smile was there, but it was... bitter.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I just didn't want her to dance."
She shook her head, still smiling. "Ano ba, okay lang. Salamat for doing that for her."
But before I could say anything else, Mark clapped his hands loudly.
"Okay, let’s spin the bottle for the last time! Since dumating na ‘yung pagkain, this will be our final round!"
The room was still buzzing with energy as the bottle was spun once more.
I wasn’t paying attention. My gaze instinctively drifted to Ms. Sanchez.
She was staring at the bottle as it spun, her expression unreadable. But her eyes—her eyes held something dark.
The bottle slowed down.
It stopped.
"Sylvia, it's you."
I barely registered Mark’s words. My entire body froze when I saw Ms. Sanchez raise her hand.
"I'll ask the question," she announced.
And just like that, the entire room fell silent.
Her gaze met mine, cold and unwavering.
I felt my breath hitch.
"Okay, Miss! Gora po!" a classmate piped up, trying to break the tension.
"Alright, then." She leaned forward slightly, voice steady, deliberate.
"Is it normal," she started, "for someone to tell a person they like them but then flirt with someone else?"
"Ay, may hugot!" someone teased, but their voice was distant, muffled under the pounding in my chest.
I swallowed hard.
She wasn’t asking a random question.
This was for me.
This was about what just happened.
About Ms. Dizon.
"Of course not, Miss. If you like someone already, why would you flirt with someone else?" I answered her confidently, my tone firm and unwavering.
She tilted her head slightly, studying me. "Hm, okay. I just know someone like that."
"Okay, nice game everyone! Let's eat!" Mark suddenly announced, breaking the tension. The atmosphere immediately shifted as everyone cheered and started heading toward the food.
People eagerly lined up, chatting and laughing as they filled their plates. Pero kahit gutom ako kanina, bigla na lang akong nawalan ng gana. My thoughts were too occupied with everything that had happened.
I let out a deep sigh and glanced around, trying to distract myself. Pero may isang bagay—or rather, isang tao—ang napansin kong wala roon.
Where is Ms. Sanchez?
After that game, hindi ko na siya nakita. She didn’t follow us inside, and now that I think about it, she looked a little off earlier.
"You’re not eating?" Ate asked as she approached me, holding a plate full of food.
I shook my head. "I'm not hungry, Ate."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Kanina ka pa hindi kumakain, baka mahilo ka mamaya."
"I'm fine," I reassured her, but my mind was still elsewhere. "Btw, nakita mo si Ms. Sanchez?"
She pursed her lips, thinking for a moment. "I don't know. She seemed not okay earlier."
Should I check on her?
Nagpaalam na muna ako kay Ate bago siya iniwan at mabilis na lumabas.
Something inside me told me I needed to find her.
I looked around and started walking, searching for her. It was already 8:00 PM, walang masyadong tao dito, halos kami na lang ang natitira. The cold breeze sent shivers down my spine, buti na lang may dala akong extra jacket.
But I couldn't seem to find her. Kung saan-saan na ako napadpad, pero wala talaga siya kahit saan. My chest tightened as nervousness started creeping in.What if something bad happened to her? She was alone. It was late. And knowing her, she wouldn't even care about the dangers around her.
Napabilis ang lakad ko, my heart pounding with every step. My mind raced with a hundred worst-case scenarios. Where could she be?
And then, finally, I saw her.
She was sitting alone on the sand, malayo sa lugar namin.
The soft glow of the moonlight reflected on the water, illuminating her delicate figure.
Her long hair flowed with the wind, and she just sat there, staring at the endless horizon.
Parang may malalim siyang iniisip.
Walang emosyon ang mukha niya—just pure silence, like she was lost in another world.
Napabuntong-hininga ako bago dahan-dahang lumapit sa kanya. I took off my jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders.
She flinched at my touch and turned around abruptly, her eyes wide with surprise. Then, as if realizing what I did, she quickly removed the jacket and pushed it back toward me.
"Please keep it on, Miss. Masyadong malamig dito," I said softly, my voice calm yet firm.
Her brows furrowed as she crossed her arms. "Who do you think you are?" she snapped, irritation evident in her voice.
I let out a small sigh. "Ako lang 'to, si Sylvia na mahal na mahal ka."
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh, shut up. Can you just go away, Gomez?"
I sat beside her, keeping a respectful distance. "It's dangerous here, Miss. Masyado ka nang malayo sa lugar natin at ikaw lang mag-isa rito." I glanced at her sleeveless top and sighed again. "And please, put this jacket on you. Don’t be stubborn, Miss."
She hesitated this time but didn’t push the jacket away again. Akala ko okay na, but then she spoke.
"Why do you keep bothering me? Can you just stay away from my life, Gomez?"
Her words stung, but I didn't let it show. "I don’t want to, Miss. Kahit ayaw mo sa akin, I'll stay by your side kahit ipagtabuyan mo pa ako." I looked at her, waiting for her to meet my gaze, but she refused.
"Can you stop the act, Gomez? Just stay by Seinna’s side." She finally turned to look at me, her eyes momentarily locking with mine before she looked away again.
"Are you jealous?" I asked, smirking slightly.
She let out a dry laugh. "And why would I be? I literally hate you."
I chuckled. "What's funny, Gomez?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You're adorable, alam mo ba 'yon?" I said, smiling at her.
She scoffed. "You surely say that to all of your chicks."
I feigned shock. "Hindi kaya! You're the only one I like."
She rolled her eyes again, but this time, there was something different in her expression.
"Please stay away from me, Gomez. Stop with your games already." Her tone had changed, and there was something raw in her voice.
I frowned. "I'm not playing games, Miss. Hindi man kita kailanman tinuring na parang laro lamang. Please stop saying that."
"I hate you, Gomez."
Napakagat-labi ako. Masakit marinig, pero I still smiled. "Mahal pa rin kita."
She clenched her jaw. "I don’t care about your feelings."
"That’s okay, Miss. Ako lang naman ang may kailangan magmahal."
"You’re an idiot."
"I know."
"I will never like you."
"Pero gusto pa rin kita."
Napasinghap siya, but she quickly covered it up by scoffing. "You’re wasting your time, Gomez. You should just go back to Seinna and leave me alone."
I shook my head. "Ayoko, Miss. Hindi ako aalis sa tabi mo."
Her face twisted in frustration. "Why do you keep doing this? Why won’t you just leave me alone? I don't want you, Gomez."
"Pero gusto pa rin kita," I repeated, my voice steady.
"You're impossible."
I grinned. "And yet, andito ka pa rin, Miss."
She glared at me. "Stop smiling, you look stupid.
"Basta nakikita kita, Miss, okay lang akong magmukhang tanga."
Napairap siya. "What do you even see in me, Gomez? I’m mean to you, I push you away, I insult you every chance I get. You’re so damn persistent and I don’t even know why."
"Kasi mahal kita, Miss."
"I don't need your love."
"Pero kailangan kita. "
Her breath hitched. She stared at me, eyes burning with something I couldn’t quite name. Ang dami niyang gustong sabihin, pero hindi niya masabi.
I took a deep breath. "You can keep pushing me away, Miss. You can tell me you hate me a thousand times, insult me all you want—pero hinding-hindi ko titigilan ang pagmamahal sa'yo."
"You’re making things difficult."
"Ikaw ang nagpapahirap sa sarili mo, Miss. Just let me love you."
"I don’t want to."
"Pero kailangan mo."
She clenched her fists. "I hate you."
I smiled. "Mahal pa rin kita."
"I don’t want to see you."
"Pero gusto pa rin kitang makita.
"I will never love you back, Gomez."
"That’s okay. I love you enough for the both of us."
Her jaw clenched. "The audacity for you to say that? Stop saying you like me when you have the nerve to flirt with Seinna in front of me."
I shook my head. "I'm not flirting with her or with anyone else, Miss. I just did that earlier because—"
"Stop making excuses. I don’t want to hear it, Gomez. It’s all useless. I don’t even care." She cut me off, her voice sharp. "And can you go away? I want my alone time back. You're giving me a headache."
I sighed, frustration filling my chest. "Why are you acting like that, Miss? It’s confusing me."
She shot me a glare. "Acting like what?"
I held her gaze. "Acting like you want me sometimes."
She scoffed. "Want you? You’re making things up in your head. Stop being delusional, you're the problem here, Gomez."
Hindi ako agad naka-sagot. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I'm always the problem. Sorry." I forced a small smile. "I'll just go, Miss. But I'll be watching you from afar, okay? Just making sure you're safe."
I was about to stand up when suddenly, she grabbed my wrist.
I froze.
Nagtagpo ang aming mga mata, and my breath hitched at how close our faces were.
"Miss..." I whispered, my pulse racing. My eyes flickered to her lips for a second before I forced myself to look back at her eyes.
She was still holding my hand tightly, her grip firm, almost desperate.
"Please let me go before I do something stupid, Miss," I murmured.
She didn’t say anything.
And then, she did something that caught me completely off guard.
She kissed me.
She kissed me!
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko, stunned. I didn’t respond at first, too shocked to process what was happening. But her lips—soft, warm, lingering—sent a shiver down my spine.
I could feel her hot breath, the slight tremble in her hold. She wasn’t pulling away.
Slowly, my eyes fluttered shut.
For once, I didn’t know what to do.