Waving my White Flag

Chapter 5

"Klenth." Monteverde warned.

"My phone was missing last friday." he replied. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag ng malaman na hindi siya yun. "I was trying to locate it but it wasn't working because they might have turned it off." he explained.

"Then who?" singhal ni Tonette and she even stood up. Mas walang patience ang babaeng ito but I was touched that she cared for me that much. I saw in my peripheral vision that Klenth was looking at me. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya.

"What do you feel?" tanong niya. Napataas naman ang kilay ko sa tanong niya. "Umm, when you were ra..." he trembled. I swallow the lump in my throat.

"It's all done. I'm doing just fine." yun na lang ang sinabi ko at nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

"Heather." he called me.

"Stop saying you're fine. What do you exactly feel? Anong masakit? Natatandaan mo ba ang mukha nila? Where is that place?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong. I can feel that my eyes are now bloodshot.

"Klenth." iyak ko. I can't stop my tears anymore. Mabilis naman niyang hinila ang upuan ko palapit sa kanya at niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit.

"You must be scared, princess." he said while caressing my back. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to look for you. I'm sorry that I didn't know." he added. I was just crying in his arms. I miss him so damn much. His warm hug sends me peace.

"Do you want me to move in your pad so I can watch over you?" it touched my heart but I just shook my head.

"I want to be alone, Klenth." sabi ko.

"I'll send and fetch you then." he offered. "So I know you go home safe." he added. I was a little guilty that I lied. I was just almost raped.

"In that case, gusto ko pa ring magalit ka sa'kin. I deserve it, Klenth." mahinang sabi ko. Sapat lang para marinig niya.

"Shhhh, stop saying nonsense. Magpinsan tayo. Bestfriend kita. Iintindihin na muna kita ngayon." he said. I bit my lower lip so they can't hear my sob. "Shhhh, tahan na princess. Kuya Klenth was here." he said that made my heart melt.

The long drama was over. Nandito kami ngayon sa cafeteria. Kumalma na din si Tonette. Tahimik din ang ilan.

"So what are you doing here pala?" tanong ko kay Tonette. Muli niyang tingnan si Klenth.

"Sorry. Masakit ba yung suntok ko?" tanong niya. Umiling lang si Klenth pero parang ang lalim ng iniisip niya. Hindi ko alam kung iniinda ba niya ang suntok sa kanya ni Tonette or what. I just can't explain.

"Hindi ba yun yung nagbigay ng papel?" tanong ni Shai habang nakatingin sa likod. Napalingon naman ako. It was him. Mabilis naman akong tumayo pero pinigilan ako ni Shai.

Mabilis na tumayo sina Klenth at Tonette. Napa-iling ako ng hablutin ni Klenth ang jacket niya at sapilitang pinatayo. His friends were flabbergasted. Hinawakan niya sa magkabilang braso at humarap sila kay Tonette. Napahawak naman ako sa ulo ko. Their duo isn't that good. It's scary.

Sunod-sunod ang suntok ni Tonette na parang punching bag yung lalaki. I'm fuming mad with him too so I just let them do the rest. Nilabas ko ang cellphone ko. I will try to tract Klenth's phone. Alam kong nandito lang yun. Kung ginamit niya yun kaninang umaga, ibig sabihin nasa campus pa yun. I tried to hack it using my phone but it just didn't work.

"Dinala na siguro yun sa morgue." sabi ni Tonette that made me look at her. Napatingin din ako sa mga nakasuot ng PPE.

"Kulang pa yun." Klenth said.