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Chapter 43

Break

"Alam mo ba na kapag binalikad mo si Robin, kapitbahay mo na siya?"

Agad akong nag-angat nang tingin nang marinig si Jax. When I saw his face, I held my chest and cried harder.

Pumaluhod siya sa gilid ko.

"I got it wrong. My formula is wrong," I said and my tears were all over my face.

He immediately stood up and wrapped me with his arms. He bent over because I was sitting.

"What will I do now?" I cried over his shoulder.

If I won't be able to comeback next semester, I will have to wait for another semester again. It'll be a new school year by then.

"Shh," Jax said while stroking my hair. "We'll figure it out together. 'Wag kang mag-alala ha."

I calmed down and Jax keeped asking me if I want a milktea.

"Gusto mo ng milktea? Padamihan ko ng pearls? Isang galon, gusto mo?"

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti roon. "I'm okay now..." I told him.

I have a lot of things to do kaya dapat may limit lang ang pag breakdown. Next time, I'll schedule it na.

I'll review hard today to ace the exams tomorrow. Hindi na talaga ako pwedeng magkamali bukas. I still have a shot, right? Prof. Somero said that I can only afford to have 5 mistakes. 5 pa lang naman ang nawala kong points, ang kailangan ko lang gawin ay galingan bukas pati sa susunod na araw para hindi na ako magkamali.

I will do everything that I could. I will give it my all. Like the Gonzalez family motto, our best always.

"Cali!" I heard Xuri's voice.

I turned my head and I saw her with Gelo and Grant.

"G-Guys? What are you doing?" I asked confused.

Ang dami kasi nilang dalang books. At saka sobrang nakakapagtaka na kasama nila si Grant? I mean, kung si Xuri at Gelo ay armalite, si Grant naman 'yong silencer!

"We will review all together!" Xuri said and sat beside me.

I was immediately touched by it. "Aw, thank you, guys!"

"Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit hinatak pa ni Xuriella si Grant! Natutulog 'yong tao!" natatawang sabi ni Gelo.

Well, lagi naman talagang tulog si Grant. He likes sleep too much!

"Madaming alam 'yan si Grant! He can help Cali!" Xuri reasoned out.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang tumayo si Jax na akala mo kung sinong naaragabyado. "Madami rin akong alam!" giit niya.

"Sana all maraming alam!" si Chance iyon at nakiupo rin sa table namin.

Napatayo na naman si Jaxith. "Inimbita n'yo rin 'yan?"

"Nope!" Xuri and Gelo were both quick to answer.

"Not in a million years..." Grant answered, looking bored and irritated.

"Aba! Inimbita ko sarili ko, baket?" si Chance iyon.

"Fine! Tara na... Let's review all together for Cali!" sabi pa ni Xuri.

We're all making our own reviewer when Prof. Somero suddenly sat with us.

"Basahin n'yo 'tong maigi ha. Galingan n'yo," aniya at may inabot sa aming folder.

Sabay-sabay naming tinignan iyon and it was a very detailed written reviewer.

"Sige, mauna na ako..." sabi ni Prof. Somero at nagpaalam na.

"Thank you, Sir!" pahabol pa namin.

Professor Somero is like our big brother in the academy. He's really kind and looks out for us.

"Kung hindi lang natin Prof. si Sir, crush ko na rin siya!" ani Xuriella.

Napailing na lang ako roon at bahagyang natawa. Well, Prof. Somero is really good looking but he's way beyond our age!

"Lahat naman crush mo!" hirit naman ni Gelo.

"Oo, ikaw lang hindi!" sagot pa ni Xuri.

"Mapanakit 'to, ah! Pag ako naging crush mo, iiyak ka!"

"Ayie!" biro ni Chance.

"Ew!" sabay naman na sabi no'ng dalawa.

Natawa naman kami sa kanila. What are the possibilities that the two find sparks with each other? They both like handsome men... With muscles to be exact!

I highlighted some of the key words and all the important terminologies in my book. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit natatawa si Grant na siyang nasa harapan ko.

My forehead creased. "What's so funny?"

"Libro 'yan? 'Kala ko coloring book," aniya.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Excuse me?!"

"Excuse her!" ani Jax at nagpamaywang pa. "Ganda kaya ng may color! Pakita mo kung gaano kaganda, Cal."

Kinuha ni Jax iyong book ko para ipagmalaki iyon pero sabay kaming nagulat nang maihagis niya ito.

Jax covered his mouth. "'Ket naman ganyan, Cali? May kulay lahat?" bulong niya sa akin na parang naipahiya ko pa siya.

"Lahat important, eh!" I reasoned out.

I need to highlight what's important. Halos lahat importante kaya lahat nalagyan ko, like duh!

"Do this instead," Grant said and showed me his book.

Ang linis noon... Tapos iba't-iba rin yung highlighter na gamit niya. May description din per color.

"This will help you recognize key points and their significance," Grant explained. "You may decide to emphasize a sentence or word that sums up an important idea, quotations, statistics, and specialized terms."

"What?" Jax asked like he was so invested.

"You may—"

"Ever!" Jax shouted.

Gelo and Xuri laughed so hard. Muntik pa kaming masita ng librarian pero itong si Jax biglang tumayo at kunwaring sinesermunan kami.

"Bawal maingay dito, ah..." he said like he's the best Master Sergeant ever existed.

Akala mo naman talaga!

Jax and I asked each other some questions. Effective din kasi 'yong gano'n minsan, para sure rin na kabisado mo na.

Xuri were looking at us intently. "When kaya?" bulong niya.

"Tanungan din tayo!" banat naman ni Chance.

I skipped dinner because I really wanted to spend my time reviewing. Trigo was done, but I still have to face Algeb. If I did not do any good tomorrow, it's over for me.

I hate that I am so grade conscious. Pero hindi na lang kasi iyon 'yon, I also want to be with my friends, to be with Jax, and I want Prof. Somero as the Class Adviser too. I miss my room, the Pad building, the greenhouse, the special library, and all the facilities that were exclusive to Star Sapphire Class. I want everything back. I want it back.

To be in Class B is not really bad. The room was actually fine, the schedule and all the other stuff were fine.... I just don't like the people I'm with in that class.

Chance and his tropapeeps were the best. But Violet and the girls? They are the worst, you know? I don't want to be associated with them no matter how many times they tried to apologize to me. I know it wasn't sincere anyway. Sigurado akong napipilitan lang sila dahil kay Chance.

Nagulat ako nang biglang may kumakatok sa room ko. I looked at the clock and I immediately panicked. 2am na! Sino pa ang kakatok sa room ko in this hour?!

"Ahh!" I screamed and hide below my comforter.

"C-Cal? Ako 'to! Hindi ako multo!"

When I heard Jaxith's voice, my heart calmed right away. Mabilis akong tumayo para mapagbuksan siya ng pinto. Why would he knock at my door in this hour? Gosh! I got so scared!

"Ang gwapo ko namang multo!" bungad niya pagbukas ko ng pintuan.

Kunot noo ko siyang tinignan. "What are you doing here? It's gabi na!"

He's wearing a pajama set and a very fluffy slippers.

Hinila ko siya sa loob ng room ko. Pag nakita siya ng CCTV at pati na rin ng guards na nag-roround, we'll be in trouble! Sa layo ng the Pad sa Kashmir building, mayayari talaga kami pareho!

"It's umaga na, ghorl!" aniya at parang nagagalit. "Bakit gising ka pa? Your light is very visible from the CCTV camera."

Umuwang ang bibig ko. "And why are you looking at the cameras at 2am?!"

"Nagising ako sa tawag ni Mama, may pina-check lang sa 'kin... Tapos na curious ako sa room mo kaya tinignan ko 'yong hallway at nakita kong kwarto mo lang ang may ilaw pa."

I pouted at him. "I'm still reviewing..."

Jax took a deep breath. "I know how important the exams are, but your health is important too, Calixta. Importante ka rin."

"I-I know... It's just that I don't have enough time to review."

"Then we'll make time," aniya sa mahinang boses kaya hindi ko masyadong narinig iyon.

"Huh?"

"Ang sabi ko, matulog ka na. 'Wag kang mag-alala, okay?" Jax said. "Hindi ako aalis dito hangga't hindi ka nahiga, sige ka."

My eyes widened because of his banta.

I rolled my eyes at him and quickly jumped onto my bed. "Fine! I'll sleep na, okay..."

"Promise?"

"Promise nga..."

Tumango-tango siya. "Goodnight, Cal... 'Wag kang mag-alala bukas," aniya sabay talikod.

Aalis na siya ng gano'n gano'n na lang? Sayang naman ang trinavel niya from the Pad!

I crossed my arms. "Walang good night kiss?"

"Harujusko!" aniya at dali-daling tumakbo sa pintuan.

What's wrong with him? Kiss lang eh, super damot naman! Tomorrow, we better set some rules. He should kiss me more often! May mag-girlfriend and boyfriend ba na hindi nag-kikiss?

Bago pa ako mahiga ay tumunog pa ang pgone ko kaya tinignan ko muna iyon.

Jax Periera: Good night, Cali. I love you!

Jax Pereira: MWUAHUGSZX!

It left a smile on my lips before sleeping. He's so out of this world.

My nerves were kicking in the moment our Proctor distributed the test papers. I was holding on my pen very tight. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali kahit isa. There's no room for mistakes.

I was about to start writing answers on my booklet when I felt water from above. Lumakas iyon lalo kaya nagtilian ang mga estudyante, kahit ako ay napatili na rin. It was the fire sprinklers!

"Oh no, my hair!" I said in panic and tried to cover my head using my Channel bag.

Students were already panicking. Basang-basa na ang buhok ko kaya naman napatayo na rin ako. Pati ang test papers, basang-basa na rin!

What's happening? Is there a fire? Oh my gosh!

Everyone was guided to the gymnasium. It was announced that there might be a system failure because there's no fire reported. Almost every classrooms were wet!

"Due to the incident, we must move the remaining exams by next week. All the test papers and booklets were soaked in water. The faculty needs to prepare it all again," the Headmistress said. "And this incident may have shocked some of you, so please take the time to rest."

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matuwa dahil I now have lots of time to study or hindi kasi mapo-prolong pa ang agony ko kakaisip about the exams.

Nonetheless, I need time. Blessings in disguise na rin siguro ang system failure.

"Nasaan kaya si Jax?" I asked myself.

Hindi ko siya nakita sa gym kanina. Even si Chance, wala rin.

Thank the heavens dahil hindi nadamay ang personal rooms namin sa system failure no'ng fire sprinklers. I'll make iyak kung mabasa ang mga things ko inside my room!

Jax and I spent all the vacant days reviewing. Tapos pagdating ng weekends, kahit malayo kami ni Jax sa isa't-isa, sabay pa rin kaming nag-rereview. He's very persistent on helping me with everything.

Jax sent me a questionnaire. This was a part of our review. Nang masagutan ko lahat iyon, I took a picture of my answers and sent it to him right away.

Jax Pereira: Yung answer ng number 3 is {x | x ≠ 1}

Jax Pereira: Mali rin yung sagot mo sa number 8. 16 is 8% of x.

Jax Pereira: Yan lang naman tapos very good ka na po sa lahat! :)

Jax Pereira: Sa comprog? Okay ka na sa codes o nalilito pa ng konti? Call ako?

I smiled while looking at my phone screen. Find someone na kaya kang reviewhin at girlfrienin, they say...

It was already Monday and I was waiting for Jax sa lib. Dala ko rin ang lahat ng books ko. This is the last day of review. Bukas na iyong reschedule ng exam.

"Cali!" Xuri called.

"Xuri, Gelo!" I called my best friends and waived at them.

"Did you see Jax? May review kasi kami with Prof. Somero. Huli na 'yong ngayon pero kahit isa wala siyang inattendan."

"What?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Xuri. Jax never mentioned it to me... Bakit siya hindi uma-attend? Don't tell me na para masamahan niya ako sa pag-rereview?

"Bawas points din 'yun sa attendance. Alam niya naman siguro na points matter?" si Gelo naman.

"S-Sige. I'll tell it to him pagdating niya. We're supposed to meet here," I told them.

Nagpaalam na ang mga kaibigan pero ang labis na pagtataka ay hindi na nawala sa akin. Bumibigat ang dibdib ko. Bakit hindi siya pumupunta? Prof. Somero's reviews are very crucial. Talagang tinututukan niya ang Star Sapphire Class para maganda ang maging resulta ng exams.

Hindi maganda na hindi siya pumupunta roon lalo na at para lang masamahan ako. Ayaw ko rin na nababawasan siya ng puntos ng dahil sa akin.

"Cali! Start na tayo!" masiglang sabi ni Jax pagdating sa table.

Malungkot ko siyang tinignan. "Xuri said that you have a review with Prof. Somero. You should go there Jax... You know how important that is."

"Hindi na. Okay na 'ko. Saka mag-rereview naman tayo–"

"Mas importante 'yun!" agap ko.

"Pero okay naman ako na tayo na lang dalawa ang–"

"No! I-I can't review with you today... Actually may review kami ng Class B," pagdadahilan ko.

I really don't want to lie, but he can't be like this. I won't let him be like this.

Hindi dapat ako ang inuuna niya, kung 'di ang sarili niya. He should prioritize his self and his goals... Not me. Kasi maiintindihan ko naman iyon.

Nang makita ko si Chance na naglalakad ay nakakita ako ng opportunity.

"Chance!" I called. "Start na ba ng review? Sa room 306, right? Let's go na ba?"

Kitang-kita ang pagkalito ni Chance pero mabilis siyang nakabawi. "A-Ah, oo! May review nga pala... Tara na!"

"Umm... Mauuna na ako, Jax. Punta ka na sa review n'yo," I said and immediately took my books.

"O-Okay," Jax said in defeat.

Lumabas ako ng library na kasama si Chance. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang naiiyak ako.

"Okay ka lang?" Chance asked. He looked so worried.

"I hate lying," I said in a small voice.

Chance suddenly stopped walking and faced me. He held both of my shoulders.

"Eh, 'di hindi tayo magsisinungaling!" aniya at malaking ngumiti. "Mag-rereview tayong Class B sa room 306!"

Agad niyang tinawag ang mga tropa niya habang nanatiling nakakunot ang noo ko.

"Paulo, tawagin mo sina Lowell! Mag-rereview tayo!" aniya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Pau. "Weh? Akala ko ba stock knowledge na lang?"

"Wala, na out of stock! Tara na at mag-review!" ani Chance at hinatak si Paulo na halatang ayaw pero wala naman nang choice.

In an instant, may review na nga kami. At sa Room 306 din.

After the exams, I can say na sobrang naging helpful na na-move nga iyon. I took a long deep breath. Waiting for the results was nerve wracking!

Nakatutok lang ako sa phone ko kasama ng Class B na nag-aantay din sa results nila.

"Meron na!" Malone shouted.

My hands were literally shaking while logging in. Una kong chineck iyong sa algeb at nanlumo agad ako. I got 1 item wrong. 1 item! Just 1! 1 mistake that can lose my spot in Star Sapphire Class!

I closed my phone and walked out of the room.

I need to be calm... It's okay, right? It's okay. It should be okay. 1 point lang naman. Baka makapasok pa rin ako? Kung hindi naman, okay lang din. Di bali, may next semester pa naman, eh. Gagalingan ko na lang. Gagalingan ko na lang ulit!

"Cal!" I heard Jax's voice.

Agad akong lumingon at nakita ko siyang hingal na hingal akong hinahabol.

He's looking at me with pity in his eyes. And I don't want that.

I forced a smile as I tried so hard to hold my tears. "Have you seen mine? Isa lang naman 'yun... Baka may chance pa. Kung wala naman, okay lang din. It's okay. It's fine... Kaya ko naman maghintay ng isa pang semester..."

Makakapasok na ako sa susunod! Kaya ko pa naman mag-intay... Okay lang.

Jax didn't say a word. He just closed the distance between us as he enveloped me in tight hug.

Kaya gusto kong mapag-isa in times like this... Mas naiiyak kasi ako pag may nag-cocomfort sa 'kin. I looked like such a cry baby tuloy!

Despite the heavy feeling, I pushed myself to review for the last day of exams. Bukas na ang huli at kailangan ko pa ring gawin ang best ko.

"Ito iyong reviewer na binigay ni Prof. Somero," Jax said and handed me a clear folder.

Agad kong nakita ang pangalan ni Jax. Sa kanya ito, siya dapat ang mag-review nito. Why is he giving it to me?

"I already highlighted the important parts. Basahan mo na lang ng paulit-ulit para–"

"That's yours... Why are you giving it to me?"

Jax looked at me with such caring eyes. "Gusto kong basahin mo... You know how Prof. Somero is. Sobrang detailed at talagang makakabisado mo agad."

"Then you read it," I said.

Ayan na naman siya.

"Okay na ako–"

"I don't want it, Jax. I'm good... Please stop putting my needs before you."

The last day of exams made me feel really anxious. Lalo na nang matapos na iyon. I know I did good in the last two subjects, but I'm still worrying with that 1 mistake I've made.

"Cali!" Claire called. Her voice echoed at the hallway.

Agad akong napahinto sa paglalakad at nilingon siya. After the incident inside the cafeteria, ngayon na lang kami ulit mag-uusap. What does she wants from me now?

I was so shocked when she throw some papers on my face.

"Ganyan ka na ba talaga ka-selfish? Hindi ka makabalik sa Star Sapphire Class kaya pinilit mo si Jax na gawin 'yan?!"

I was taken aback. I don't know what she's talking about! Mabilis kong kinuha iyong mga papel at nakitang mga test papers iyon ni Jax. It was from the last two subjects for today's exam and... What the hell?

It was almost blank! Halos walang sagot at iyong iba, kahit may sagot ay halatang hindi pinag-isipan! What's this? Why is he doing this?

"Napaka selfish mo, Cali! You're dragging him down! You don't deserve someone like him!"

Claire left me there and I still can't recover from everything. Ni hindi ako makagalaw, pakiramdam ko nanigas ang mga tuhod ko.

I looked at the test papers again and my tears started to fall one by one.

My chest tightened. Why? Why is he doing this?

"Cal, kanina pa kita hinahanap..."

Nang marinig ko ang boses ni Jax ay agad ko siyang hinarap. Mas lalo akong naiyak at hindi na ma-control ang nararamdaman ngayon.

I felt betrayed.

"What's this, Jax?" I asked him.

Agad siyang natigilan nang makita iyong mga papel na hawak ko.

"What's this?!" I shouted.

Kitang-kita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya.

"Cali..." napapaos niyang tawag sa akin.

"You're purposely failing?"

Jax tried to reach me but I immediately stepped back.

"Hindi naman sa ganoon, Cal. Natakot kasi ako na–"

"Let's break-up," I said, not letting him finish. "And I am serious this time."

I dont want to be a burden to him. I dont want to be the one to pull him down. I dont want him to be a slacker because of me. I want him to achieve his dreams. I want him to show his Dad the best version of him.

"'W-Wag naman ganyan, Cali. 'Wag naman, please... Ayoko," Jax pleaded, I can hear the pain in his voice.

I'm hurting. He's hurting.

Kitang-kita ko ang pagsusumamo sa mga mata niya.

I tried so hard to compose myself. Kailangan kong gawin 'to. Kailangan.

"I don't want to do anything with you anymore, Jax. Break na tayo," I said very clear as I turned my back on him. "You disgust me."