Minjeong's

"Okay ka na ba?" After nila malaman ang nangyari, we were told to rest in our rooms na lang. Our friends accompanied us hanggang sa makapasok kami sa kwarto. Nobody spoke a word except no'ng aalis na sila. Words of goodbyes and assurances ang natanggap namin; 'you're safe now,' 'hindi n'yo na s'ya makikita ulit,' and 'just message us and we'll be right here kaagad.' I'm glad they said those words because I couldn't bring myself to say it to her.

Okay naman na ako ngayon pero I'm not sure about her.

"I'm okay. Paano tayo magdi-dinner?" Right, hindi pa kami kumakain. Na-postpone rin ang announcement ng winners dahil sa nangyari sa'min. There were other victims from our group, but they couldn't say anything dahil nasa rule naman na kailangan mahawakan kami no'ng Hunter para mataya. Kaya siguro hayok sila sa paghabol. They didn't specify siguro sa Hunters na bawal hawakan sa parts na obviously, off limits. Pero sino bang mag-eexpect na they will touch the students in places na hindi p'wede? Wala kasi it's common sense na hindi tama ang mang bastos.

Nakakainis pero nangyari na. Hindi rin naman guaranteed ang safety if women ang ni-hire nila to be the hunters.

"Ipadala na lang natin dito kung ayaw mong bumaba." I can ask Ryujin and the others to bring us food and water. Papayag naman mga teachers na mag-stay na lang kami dito.

"Kaya ko naman. I'm just...:

"Ako na lang kukuha. You can stay here—"

"No! I–ano, sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I'll go with you na lang." She stood up, nagsuot ng jacket at sandals.

She then looked at me, her eyes full of courage but they can be deceiving. Her stance was a little cowered, arms raised higher than usual as if she wants to wrap herself in it. I know she's still shaken up by what happened. She's afraid, but she also wants to overcome her fear.

Whenever our eyes meet, I feel like I can never look at her for a long time. In short, nawawala ako sa sarili. I'll look away quickly na parang nahuli akong nagnanakaw ng tingin.

I wore my shoes and went to the door to open it.

Nasa labas na ako waiting for her to get out pero nakatayo lang s'ya sa may pinto at nakatingin sa mga paa n'ya.

"Tara na?" She didn't respond but I heard her whisper something after a few seconds.

"Ano? Hindi ko narinig." Inulit n'ya pero ang hina talaga.

"Ha?" Lumapit ako ng konti. Nararamdaman ko na naman pag-atake ng puso ko.

"Can you hold my hand?" She asked in a very low tone while looking away. Pinipigilan kong ngumiti pero ayaw sumunod ng mga labi ko.

Tumalikod na lang ako kasi hindi ko na s'ya kayang harapin kapag ganito. I reached behind me for her hand. Ang tagal naman humawak shet BILISAN MO NAMAN.

Inhale,

Exhale,

Inhale,

Exhale.

Kailangan kong kumalma. Paano kumalma when you're anticipating something even though you know what's gonna happen?

"Thank you." Then I felt her hand slipping between mine. For someone so tall, or taller than me, her hands were small. Napunta ata lahat sa height, hahaha.

Not that it's a flaw or anything, it's actually cute.

I like how it fits in mine.

Ay.

AYY???

Erase, erase. Wala 'yon. Kabag lang.

Pagpasok namin ng cafeteria, tahimik lang silang kumakain. Some were standing kasi tapos na, some just began eating dinner. Tunog lang ng cooking ang maririnig mo at quiet chit-chatting ng mga estudyante.

Kukuha na kami ng tray when we heard a snap. A camera snap.

Hindi ko napansin na our friends were also here.

"I guess okay na talaga kayong dalawa?"

"Not fighting anymore?"

"Favorite trope ko 'to, enemies to lovers."

Our friends' comments made her remove our linked arms. Kumuha na s'ya ng food while I glared muna sa mga friends ko.

"Hey, sorry sobra sila mang-asar."

"It's fine." She mumbled.

Paakyat na kami ulit. They gave us lunchboxes para mas madali dalhin. I have them on my right hand, her hand in my left hand, and water naman sa kan'ya. My friends insisted na ako ang magdala ng food namin for some reason. Alagaan ko raw si Turtleneck, 'wag ko raw pababayaan. Parang tanga ang mga pota eh tinatago ko nga kilig ko.

They don't have to tell me what I've been doing in the first place—ano nga ba ginagawa ko? At bakit?

The realization hits me like a bullet. The urge to hit my head was strong kaya unconsciously nataas ko halfway 'yung left hand ko, completely forgetting that I was holding her hand. I can be forgetful sometimes. Nagulat tuloy s'ya.

"Sorry! May naalala lang ako, haha. Nalimutan ko 'yung kamay mo." Bumitaw s'ya bigla.

Hala ka, hahaha. Bakit ako nalungkot?

"Sorry, nahihirapan ka siguro." Say no? Say no!

"Ahh, hindi naman." I looked down at my hand, the warmth slowly disappearing.

But I don't want her to think that I like her naman.

...

...

...

Wait.

...

I like her? MINJEONG ANO KA NA?

"Winter?"

"Ha?" Hakdog ka Minjeong anong I like her?

"'Yung susi?" Nasa harap na pala kami ng room namin. Tangina ng utak ko lumilipad na naman.

"You okay?" She asked worriedly looking at me intently. I can only ask... why can't we stop ourselves from blushing?

"May lagnat ka ba?" She then fixed my hair to the side and put her palm over my forehead.

My insides are going wild with how near we are.

"A-ahhhmmm, okay lang ako. Ano, madali lang akong lamigin kaya ano, parang ang init ko pero ano, normal naman 'yun." Nice one. Hindi ka nga kinakabahan, Minjeong.

"You sure?" I'm a er for tones that makes me feel loved and cared for and she's using that tone right now. HAY, pigilan n'yo ako.

I nodded tapos binigay ko na 'yung susi para mabuksan na n'ya kaagad 'yung pinto because I don't know how much more can my heart take before it explodes.

I don't want that to happen because once it does, I won't be able to control my emotions anymore.
 

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