Chapter 4

All throughout the weekend, hindi ako mapakali. Palagi kong iniisip kung anong mangyayari pagbalik ko ng school after going out on a date with Noah. Gwen immediately came to our house last week just to listen every thing that happened on that date. She was very jealous. I can justify that dahil mukhang magkakapasa ako sa bawat paghahampas na ginagawa niya sa akin. Kinikilig lang daw siya sa amin but I know, deep inside, gusto niyang siya iyon.

And what made me crazy, Noah posted a picture of us from our date on his Instagram that gained over million likes and thousands of comments which some are very hurtful to call for.

Pero hindi 'ko na lang pinansin 'yong mga negative comments o kaya mga pag-mention sa akin. Noah give me some advice that I shouldn't dwell with those people who emitting negative vibes because that will only react to my mood. Makakasira 'yon so for being fair, Noah turned off the comments on his posts so there will be minimal comments to it.

Ang sabi pa sa post niya, "Meet Tate and she's gorgeous. Our date was so great, I don't want to end it right away. She's very nice to me, she's quiet shy but I like that to a girl. Who I am doesn't build a wall between us, we immediately get comfortable with each other. But I bet I'll take her out on a date again. ;) PS. Don't message her. She needs privacy too, thank you!"

Though people didn't listen to his postscript message and they still come at me to ask some weird questions. Hindi naman ako nag-entertain ng mga message, gaya ng advice ni Gwen na 'wag akong magbubukas. Sabihan na akong snob, 'wag lang akong makisawsaw dahil hindi malayong mangyaring gagawan nila ng issue 'yon.

Paparazzi are attention seekers. Gusto nila laging may chismis kaya lagi sila nakaabang sa mga personality na gusto nilang kuhaan ng interview. But that's their job but sometimes they are causing too much trouble that it costs someone else's private life.

Sinabihan na rin ako ni Gwen na paghandaan ko ang pagpasok ko sa school kasi for sure, tatapunan na naman ako ng mga mata ng mga insekurada. But who cares? Sanay na naman ako sa mga pang-aasar nila lalo na kapag examinations at ako lagi ang nakakakuha ng high score, they would definitely keep an eye on me. Akala nila nangdadaya. Uso kaya 'yong mag-aral ng matino at 'wag pakialamanan ang buhay ng ibang tao. Pero baka wala sa dictionary ng mga loka-loka 'yon, kiber na ang buhay.

"Nasaan ka na ba, Tate?" Tanong ni Gwen. Tumawag pa kay aga-aga.

"I'm on the way to school na. Bakit napatawag ka pa?" 

"Girl, 'wag kang magugulat mamaya. Basta, prepare yourself because you won't have a normal day anymore. I'm just saying baka kasi magkulong ka mamaya sa cubicle ng CR e. See you later, I love you, girl!" She hung up the call and it brought confusion in my head. Kung ang tinutukoy niya ay ang insecure sassy girls na pinapangunahan ni Cirie, hindi ako papataob sa kanya.

Nakarating ako ng school ng fifteen minutes bago magsimula ang klase. Nagmadali na rin ako sa paglalakad kaya ng makapasok ako ng building, it's like I've entered a new world. Nasa gilid ng hallway ang mga student at nagsimula silang magbulungan at ang iba pa ay pinicturan ako. But of course, I became generous to them by sharing a good smile to their cameras. Nang marating ko ang dulo ng hallway, hinatak na ako palayo sa mga estudyante at nang kilalanin ko 'yong humatak sa akin ay si Gwen lang pala.

"See, what I'm talking about?"

"You never said anything but prepare myself," sagot ko sa kanya. "But you know what? I'm liking the attention. Ano na kayang iniisip nila sa akin ngayon 'no?"

Gwen hummed, "They are all jealous of you. Kahit nga 'yong bakla nating classmate ay super inggit sa inyong dalawa ni Noah. Anyway, we have to go to class now bago pa tayo abutan ng bell dito."

Hinigit ako ni Gwen papasok sa loob ng homeroom namin. Even inside our classroom, pinag-uusapan pa rin ako. Sanay naman ako sa ganitong routine pero pinagchi-chismisan nila hindi dahil nakaperfect ako sa exam kung hindi ay ang nakipag-date ako sa Noah Beckon. They made it look like big deal, para sa akin naman, normal na date lang 'yon at si Noah na mismo ang nagsabi sa akin. But he made it special for me pero hindi naman kailangan maging laman ng tabloid ang pagmumukha namin at topic ng mga chismis nila.

"Don't mind them, Tate. Huhupa rin 'yang mga usapan nila." Gwen made me assured kaya naman hindi ko pinansin kahit na mukha na nila akong papatayin sa mga tingin nila sa akin.

Dumating ang teacher namin, hindi pa rin tumitigil ang ilan sa pagchi-chismisan. Kahit nag-quiz na kami at hindi ko na-perfect 'yon dahil sobra akong distracted sa mga bulungan nila. I've already had enough for the day, hanggang saan pa ba aabot 'to? Feeling ko, mali 'yong pagpunta ko sa date with Noah and that he shouldn't posted it. Pero ano pa nga bang magagawa 'ko?

Kahit namna tanggalin niya iyon, people already saved it at for sure, kahit saan ako magpunta, hindi na rin ako makakawala sa paparazzi's.

And as I expected, pati sa cafeteria ay hindi ako tinigilan ng mga mata ng chismosa. I told to Gwen na sa iba na lang kami kakain but I think she also likes the attention. I gave up when she pulled me and we lined up to get our food. Tinatabunan ko na lang ng buhok ko ang mukha ko para walang makapansin sa akin but hell no, they still do able to find me.

Nang maghahanap kami ng table ni Gwen, we were looking for vacants ng may tumawag sa pangalan ko sa gawing kaliwa ng cafeteria.

They are all girls and they are waving at me. Napakunot-noo naman ako dahil hindi 'ko naman close at nakakausap ang mga 'yon. So weird that their wanting attention now.

"Join us here, Tate!" pagtawag pa ng isang blondina.

Siniko naman ako ni Gwen at nauna na siyang maglakad bago pa ako magbigay ng desisyon. Sinundan ko siya papunta sa table at binigyan nila kami ng space para makaupo kaming dalawa ni Gwen. Seeing their faces, alam ko na kaagad na may silang ibang bagay. I'm just gonna eat my lunch here and if they want to leech out some information from me, pwes hindi mangyayari 'yon.

What happened on the date will stay between me and Noah. I don't want everybody to know what happened. Ayos na 'yong nabasa nila sa post ni Noah, but on my end, I would just zipped my mouth hangga't sa magmakaawa sila. Even magmakaawa, the hell na sasabihin ko.

"Thanks for having us, though may vacant tables naman kaming nakita ro'n." pagturo ko pa sa table na hindi naman kalayuan sa kinauupuan namin ngayon.

They giggled at us. "No, that's okay, Tate. We're happy to have you here?"

Umangat ang kilay ko. I know their intention. Nangangamoy plastik. "Really? Anyway, thanks."

Magsisimula pa lang akong kumain, binungaran agad ako ng tanong at halatang hindi na rin nakatiis. "So how was you date with Noah?" She asked they were all hopeful that they will get an answer from me pero ngumiti na lang ako.

Lumingon ako kay Gwen at nang mag-usap ang mga mata namin. She already knows what to do.

"You know guys, Noah said to Tate kasi na 'wag na lang magsasalita about their date. That they should keep it private for themselves. At nabasa niyo rin naman siguro 'yong post ni Noah sa Instagram 'di ba? He was also asking for privacy and we all should give it to Tate, right besty?" She looked at me and I just gave her a nod.

"Yup, she's right. As much as I want too, I also respect Noah's privacy din naman. So I guess it's fair, right? Let's just eat our lunch at baka sa susunod meron ulit siya date contest and might be one of you could be the next me."

They squeal out of excitement. Napangiwi na lang ako dahil sobrang OA naman nila. They are looking at Noah's picture now and I guess that might be their lunch now. 

Nagmadali na rin akong kumain. Hinintay ko lang saglit si Gwen at umalis na kami sa table nila. Pinakisamahan lang namin sila dahil ayaw naman namin na ma-offend sila sa pagiging secretive namin but on the end, privacy rin naman iyon so kiber ba nila.

We're on our way out of the cafeteria pero kung minamalas-malas ka nga naman, nakasalubong pa namin ang bruhang si Cirie.

She stopped us from leaving the cafeteria. Nakuha niya pa akong tarayan at saka pumeywang sa harapan ko. Hindi ba niya naiisip na if she started a commotion with me, mas lalong matutuon ang atensyon sa aming dalawa. And I don't even like that kind of situation. Ayoko ng away, umiiwas ako sa gulo kaya hangga't maaari, ayaw na ayaw kong makasalamuha si Cirie. She always hated my guts and for being smart-ass. Ganda lang kasi meron siya, kaya niyang ipagmalaki pero sobrang attitude naman si inday, nakakaloka.

"So... Tatiana." She started.

I'm already wasted of seeing her. "Excuse us, Cirie. Babalik na kami sa room."

"No, kinakausap pa kita at kapag kinakausap kita, hindi mo ako pwedeng talikuran." Mataray nitong sagot sakin.

E di hinarap ko siya. "So, okay. I'm here. What do you want to talk about?"

"Just because you had a date with Noah Beckon, magiging popular ka na? You're just a lucky-picked girl. I'm sure Noah didn't even liked the time being with you. Nakakaubos ka kasi ng oras."

Natawa naman ako sa sinabi. "If nakakaubos pala ako ng oras. Why are you talking to me? Bakit mas pinagtutuunan mo ng pansin ang bawat galaw ko? Do I threaten you in some ways, ha, Cirie? But just remember, wala akong ginagawa sa 'yo and you're the one who keeps taunting me. And always remember, marami ng matang nakatingin sa akin ngayon and you don't want to mess with them."

She made a little gasped. Napangisi naman ako kasi feeling ko nagwagi ako para iparamdam sa kanyang nauungusan ko siya sa popularity which in my case, wala naman akong pakialam.

"Let's go, Gwen. Her time is precious, she doesn't need to waste her time on me."

Her jaw dropped when I pulled Gwen out of the scene. Naglakad naman kami palabas ng cafeteria and still there are eyes on me. Hindi 'ko na lang pinasin, kahit hindi naman ako nagpapansin, papansinin pa rin ako.

"How did you manage to do that on Ciried?" Gwen wondered.

I laughed, "Well, first of all, that's being courageous but I know she'll do more para mag-stay pa rin siya sa top spot. I'm not even competing with her. Super delirious lang si ate me."

While we're heading back to our homeroom, nakarinig naman kami ng tilian ng mga babae at bakla sa hallway. Nang silipin namin kung anong nangyayari, nanlaki na lang ang mata ko ng makita ko si Noah. Pinapalibutan na siya ng mga babaeng estudyante na gustong magpa-pciture sa kanya. He gives some photo-op pero nang makita na niya ako, agad niyang nilayasan 'yong mga babae.

His smiles widen ng magtama ang mga mata namin. 

How is he in school? Why Noah's here?!

Oh, shit. This wasn't part of the date, right? Oh my goodness.