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Kinakabahan si George. Her hands were sweating and hindi niya rin alam kung pano haharapin si Dos after that whole fiasco under the bleachers. One, she's still embarrassed after crying—like ugly crying, in front of him. Then when he said that banat to her, she was so shocked that she pushed him and ran away. Gumawa na lang siya ng excuse para payagan siya ng teachers na makauwi agad. And for the rest of the week ay pinagtaguan niya ito.

How do you face the guy you like who somewhat confessed his feelings to you ba? This was all new to her kaya she's so confused. Does that mean they're dating? Or is he courting her na ba? She had no idea. Even if her mom si supportive, she didn't want her dad to be disappointed in her.

Pero ngayon, wala na siyang kawala. It was Friday and that means they have their weekly student council meeting. Napahinga siya ng malalim.

Okay, G. You can do this. It's just Dos. You're bound to bump into each other naman talaga so you have to face him head on. You've got this—

"Ouch—" She gasped as she saw who she literally bumped into. "D-Dos!"

Napatingin ito sa kanya. Beside him stood River who smiled at her.

"Hi George!" bati nito. "Ako ba, walang greeting?"

She blinked first before what he said sunk in. "O-Oh! Hi River."

"Ay bakit ga'non? Hindi kasing enthusiastic nung kay Dos," he joked before turning back towards his cousin. "I'll see you guys inside."

Hindi na nakasagot si Dos when River immediately went inside the SC Room after patting the former's shoulder. Napalunok siya. What should she say ba? Hello? How are you? Minamahal din kita?

"D-Dos—"

When Dos turned to her, she literally felt shivers down her spine. He had this blank expression on his face and his eyes were so empty that it scared her.

"Go ahead inside," anito. His voice was as cold as winter. Her heart sank. "We have a lot of work to do."

Hindi pa man siya nakakapag-react ay tinalikuran na siya agad nito. Tuloy, she was left alone sa may hallway kaya she was had no other choice but to follow him inside.

The rest of the meeting was so awkward na when Dos told them to do the proposals, she excused herself and went straight to the library. Doon na lang niya gagawin her tasks para hindi siya mailang. It was so embarrassing on her part.

"George?"

Nagulat siya nang bigla ay makita si Jarvis na nakatayo sa may harap ng table that she was occupying. He had science books in his arms na mukhang kakakuha lang from the shelves.

"Hey," she greeted back with a smile. "Homework?"

He nodded in response. "Ikaw din?"

"Student council works," sagot niya pagkatapos umiling.

"Then why are you here?" Nagtatakang tanong nito. "Not that it's not allowed or anything but, shouldn't you be in the SC Room?"

"I uh... I just don't vibe with the place lang," she answered while smiling awkwardly. "You know, with Ate Claudette and all."

"Oh. I see..." Tumango-tango ito. Then bigla nitong nilapag ang dalang mga libro sa harap niya. "Can you watch these for me? Kunin ko lang yung iba kong gamit."

Shocked, she just nodded. Did Jarvis just invite himself to join her sa table? How sweet naman. She's alone kasi and it's like no one wanted to join her there. She could use some company.

"I hope you don't mind me joining you," ani Jarvis when he returned. Napatingin nanaman ako sa kanya and goodness, he looked so handsome in his specs. Also, his dimples were showing urging her to poke it. But she won't do that kasi he might think she's a total creep or something. "Malungkot kasi magtrabaho mag-isa. I need some company."

"No, it's okay," she answered and smiled back. "I also need some company rin eh."

"Great!" He exclaimed. It was a bit toned down kaya hindi ito napagalitan ng librarian nor did it caught the other students' attention.

She then turned her attention towards her laptop as Jarvis also started to flip through his book. But instead of doing her supposed work, her mind drifted elsewhere.

Ever since that day under the bleachers, it was like her life suddenly became a mess. Hindi niya kasi alam kung pano kokompruntahin si Addy about what she found out and she's afraid that would ruin their friendship.

But was there any friendship to begin with? Hindi niya na sure if totoo ba talaga yung concern and care na pinakita sa kanya noon nito. It's like she suddenly developed this weird trust issues. Hindi niya makausap si Lia about it dahil alam niya kung ano ang pwede gawin nito kay Addy. Lia was spiteful. And she's not afraid to fight when the need arises. Kaya nga natatakot siyang magkaron ng confrontation because she'd rather lose that spot in PA Club than lose a friend. Whether she was genuine to her or not, she still considered her as a friend.

Siguro it was a full ten minutes of nothing but silence when Jarvis suddenly heaved a sigh and leaned towards her. Napatingin tuloy siya dito.

"Is there something bothering you?" Bigla nitong tanong. Of course she was shocked when he said that. Was she that obvious?

"Huh? Ah, no naman..." It came out as a whisper pero Jarvis was able to catch it as he gently closed his book and pushed it aside.

"You can tell me." Jarvis smiled—a comforting one. His eyes showed sincerity and it made her feel like she could talk to him about anything. So she did.

Kinwento niya dito ang ginawa ni Addy. At least the version she heard from under the bleachers. She tried her best not to make it sound that awful but the fading smile and furrowed brows on Jarvis face tells her otherwise.

"You do know that what she did to you meant she doesn't consider you as her friend, right?" he said with a straight face. Dahil 'don, hindi niya napigilan makagat ang pang-ibabang labi. "Based on your reaction, I think you're still in denial. I'll give that to you, George. It's not easy finding out that someone close to you betrayed you."

"Yes—"

"But also keep in mind that she betrayed you," dugtong agad nito. "Hindi gawain ng isang kaibigan 'yon whether her jealousy towards you is valid or not. You shouldn't associate yourself with those types of people because they'll just bring you down when you can soar high."

She was left dumbfounded at nakatingin lang dito. Parang biglang nag-loading yung brain niya the way Jarvis explained his view on her situation.

"I get your point naman," she said when she was able to absorb what he just said. "But it's hard to let go of someone you've grown really attached to. Whether she considers me as a friend or not isn't important to me kasi para sa'kin she's my friend. Is that bad ba?"

"Nope." Jarvis chuckled as he shook his head. "But you should know your worth as a person. Hindi mo deserve 'yung ginawa sa'yo nung Addy."

Napabuntong-hininga siya't napa-salumbaba sa mesa. Siguro nga Jarvis is right. She's still in the phase where she's trying her best to justify things para hindi masakit. Siguro nga it's best if she try to keep her distance na lang from Addy para na rin sa peace of mind niya.

"You're precious, George," maya-maya ay biglang sambit ni Jarvis. "Maybe that's why Dos is so fond of you."

That instantly took her mind off the Addy thing.

Dos? Fond of her?

"To bully siguro oo," she scoffed rolling her eyes. Natawa naman doon ang lalaki. Even his laugh is so handsome. Fudge.

"That too but he tends to do that all the time," he said while still chuckling. "But you're the only girl he's ever mentioned while smiling. I guess that says a lot."

Napatingin iya dito and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, right. He's smiling kasi he's thinking of ways on how to torture me or something. He's so evil."

"He is," Jarvis agreed. "But he wouldn't run home to get his guitar and perform in front of a few hundred students. Not even to us. You're special to him, George."

"Pfft," aniya sabay irap. "If I'm so special, then why is he so cold and rude to me? Kakaiba naman his way of making a girl feel special ha. Your cousin is so weird talaga—"

"You pushed me away and avoided me after I told you that I like you. How else do you think I should react?"

She immediately froze. Doon niya lang din na-realize that Jarvis was already grinning. Dahan-dahan siyang napatingin sa likuran niya and there he was. Dos Montecillo a.k.a Mr. President, standing with his arms folded and piercing gaze.

"I-Is it time to pass the reports na ba?" She tried to avoid his question and tried her best to act natural. "I'm not done with my report pa eh. I'll just send it na lang later through email—"

Napasinghap niya when Dos leaned in—caging her in between his body, the chair and the table. His one arm was propped on the edge of the table while the other was on the backrest of her seat.

Judging by how his eyebrows raised, it seems like he's not letting her off the hook that easily.

"I-I... I..."

Napalunok siya. Dos looked really scary. Her heart din was beating so loudly—hindi niya alam kung dahil ba 'yon sa presence nito or because she's intimidated by him.

He did not wait for her to answer. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the library.

"What the—where are you taking me ba?!"

He didn't answer and just continued pulling her as they walked on the hallway. There weren't any students kaya no one was there to help her. Dos only let her go when they reached an empty classroom.

"What is wrong with you—"

"You avoided me, Georgina," he cut her off while looking directly at her. "So tell me, bakit parang ikaw pa 'tong galit?"

"I'm not mad kaya," she immediately denied. "I was simply just making a point. Duh."

"And what point is that?"

"That you don't like me," she said rolling her eyes. This made Dos' eyebrows furrow.

"Sinabi kong gusto kita, remember? You even pushed me," he said sounding irritated. Bakit ba siya naiinis? Kung may dapat mainis, it was her. Not him. Ang annoying.

"As if you mean it," she retorted. "You always tease me kaya. How else do you think I should react?"

Ginaya niya pa 'yung line nito that made one corner of Dos' lip slightly rise.

"What?" she challenged him. "Fawn over you? Be grateful that the great Dos Montecillo said that he likes me? Malay ko ba if you were just joking. You always do that. You say things that'll make my heart skip tapos you'll go, 'pfft'. Or scoff. Or tease me."

Dos' expression suddenly reverted back to a serious one. "I don't joke."

"No kaya!" He voice suddenly raised. She couldn't help it eh. "You tease me. A lot. Kaya it's so confusing for me! You do sweet stuff then maya maya you're either grumpy nanaman or you're making fun of me. I'm only fourteen, Dos! I don't know this stuff! It's my first time liking someone—"

She gasped and immediately covered her mouth when she realized what she just blurted out.

"You like me?"

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata while still covering her mouth with both her hands. She's so tactless! How does she take that back now?

"Ulitin mo ang sinabi mo, Georgina."

Dos took a step towards her so she took one back.

"W-What are you talking about? Wala akong sinabi—"

Her attempt at playing dumb ultimately failed when as she took a step back ay ang pintuan na ng classroom ang sumampa sa kanyang likuran. She was cornered. Lika a small mouse and Dos was the cat who's somewhat ready to claw her or something.

"Say it, Georgina," he demanded. Nagulat pa siya when he propped one arm sa may gilid niya. "Kung hindi, hahalikan talaga kita."

"What?! You pervert—" She gasped when Dos unceremoniously leaned in closer.

"Isa."

She felt her heart beating twice as fast as before. She can also feel all sorts of knots forming inside her tummy. Impit pa siyang napatili when Dos leaned in again.

"Dalawa."

What should she do? Why is he doing this? Ano bang trip nito sa buhay?!

"Tat—"

"I like you, okay?!" she blurted out with her eyes closed and he face facing away. "I like you too and it's scaring me 'coz you might not mean what you said..."

Her last sentence came out as a whisper. There. She said it. She ready na for his punch line or something. Handa na siya sa line na 'pfft' plus the teasing.

"Pfft."

"See? You're doing it again—"

Her eyes grew wide as she felt his soft lips on hers. Suddenly, everything fell silent except for the loud beating of her heart. Then he flasher her his familiar grin.

"Now, do you think I'm still joking, baby?"

Oh. My. God! Dos just kissed me!

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