𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟗

       MONDAY MORNING, Mabilis na akong dumiretso sa banyo para maligo at maglinis ng katawan. I lasted for about fifteen minutes in the bathroom before I went back to my bedroom, and choose an outfit. I chose to wear a simple shirt dress and, I paired it with my pink flat shoes.

Hindi pa namin nakukuha ang mga uniform namin dahil na cancelled siya last week. But the admin assured us that we would be receiving our uniform this week and we can wear it on Wednesday.

"Mardux, Let's go?" Tanong ni beks pagkababa niya mula sa hagdan.

"Kajja!"

Mabilis kaming nagsimulang maglakad ni beks papunta sa school. Eto ang araw na kailangan namin magpresent sa mga project namin kaya hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi kabahan.

Ilang sandali lang at nakarating na kami sa school kaya dumiretso na rin kami kaagad sa classroom. Sakto naman ang pagdating namin sa classroom dahil kasunod lang pala namin ang teacher namin.

"Class! Are you ready to present your project?" Tanong ng teacher habang pinapasadahan kami ng tingin.

"Opo, Miss!"

"All right! Then, We will start now. One of the members come here in front to pick a number."

Mabilis akong napalingon sa katabi ko. "Sino ang bubunot sa ating dalawa?" Tanong ko kay Blood.

"Ikaw na."

"Sige, ako na lang." Hindi na ako nagreklamo pa dahil alam kong walang saysay ang pakikipagtalo sa kanya.

Mabilis akong lumapit sa teacher's table at bumunot ng maliit na papel mula sa kahon na dala ng teacher namin. My mouth parted in shock when I randomly picked the number 2! Jeez!

"Tayo ang pangalawang magpe-present sa harapan," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Okay."

Huminga na lang ako ng malalim saka mabilis na inalala lahat ng mga kailangan kong sabihin. Napalingon ako kay Shirley at Clint nung mabilis silang tumayo at pumunta sa harapan. Hindi ko alam na sila pala ang unang magpe-present.

''Hello, Everyone! My name is Clint Dashwood and, I will introduce you, my partner. She's Shirley Rebecca Agustin. She was born on August 11, 1997, and her mom is a pure Korean while, his dad is half Korean and half Spanish. She was born in Korea and, her mom and Mardux's Father are siblings."

Pare-pareho kaming nakikinig sa pagsasalita ni Clint sa harapan. Hindi ko mapagkakaila na pati ang boses ni Clint, maganda sa pandinig!

"One of her talents is to compose a song lyrics and, she also knows how to sing. She was 11 years old when she auditioned in a singing competition in Korea, but unfortunately, she didn't have the chance to advance to the top 10. She is also an only child and, her favorite colors are black, purple, and vivid red."

''Hello, Everyone! I'm Shirley Rebecca Agustin and, I will introduce you to my partner, Clint Dashwood. He was born on March 29, 1996, in the United Kingdom. He has dual citizenship because his mom is a pure Filipina, while his dad is half Korean and half British. He is an only child and, his parents live in the United Kingdom." Pagpapakilala ni Beks kay Clint.

"He started modeling at the age of 15. He learns to speak Tagalog because his mom teaches him. His eyes are hazel brown eyes while his hair is light blonde. That's all!''

Mabilis na nagpalakpakan ang lahat nung matapos na silang magpresent sa harapan. Mabilis na rin kaming naghanda ni Blood, dahil kami ang susunod na magpre-present.

''Hello, Everyone! My name is Mardux Hillary Ong, and we will start our presentation by sharing with you the most basic facts about my partner, Blood Jared Pemberton. He was born on December 6, 1996. His favorite colors are red and steel gray while he's 6'1 feet tall. He likes cars and his favorite brands are Ferrari and Lamborghini.'' Nagpatuloy ako sa pagsasalita habang paminsan-minsan eh, napapatingin rin ako kay blood. 

''His favorite foods are steak, pizza, nachos, Pork adobo and, Kare-Kare. Do you know that Blood has dual citizenship? He was born in New Jersey, but when he was 14 years old, they migrated here to the Philippines. So basically, his first language is English. Kaya maririnig niyo na hanggang ngayon may accent pa rin siya kung magtagalog. Blood has one older sister, Brooklynn is her name and, she's living her life in Berlin, Germany. His parents are both businessmen. His dad is half American and half Filipino. While her mom is half Korean and half American. Blood hates when someone distracts him while eating. He likes to play basketball, that's why he's the captain of our school. That's all, thank you.''

Mabilis na nagpalakpakan ang lahat nung matapos akong magsalita. Blood cleared his throat before walking in front. ''Hi, I'm Blood Jared Pemberton, 19 years old and I will be presenting the basic facts about my partner, Mardux.'' Marami ang mga pasimpleng tumili habang pinapakinggan na magsalita si Blood sa harapan.

Grabe! Sobrang lakas naman ng hatak niya sa mga babae!

''She's Mardux Hillary Ong. She was born on August 6, 1997. Both of her parents are Koreans but, her mom is half Filipino. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, but migrated here to the Philippines when she was eight years old. Her first language is Korean and, her second language is Tagalog. She can speak three languages which, are Korean, English, and Tagalog. Her favorite foods are kimbap, black bean noodles, Tocino, Baked salmon, chicken barbeque, and sisig. Her favorite colors are pink and purple. She used to work in a convenience store when she came back to Korea last year.''

''Her parents are also running their own business. They have hardware in Korea that supplies Electronic gear and things. Her height is 168cm and, her eyes are dark brown. Her natural hair color is brown and, she used to have a freckle on her nose when she was still a kid. She can't live without coffee and desserts." Mabilis na nagpalakpakan ang lahat pagkatapos namin magpresent.

I suddenly turned my sights with Blood when he reached out from my hands and intertwined it with his. Napakurap-kurap ako at nakigaya na lang ng yumukod siya sa lahat.

''Teka, yung kamay ko...'' bulong ko dahil hawak pa rin niya ang kamay ko kahit nakabalik na kami sa mga pwesto namin.

''Why don't you use a hand moisturizer? Your hands are so rough." Masungit na sabi niya at napanganga na lang ako.

"Nan neoga silh-eo!" Masama ang tingin ko sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niya.

Mabilis natapos ang klase at lunch break na. Mabilis akong humikab saka sinimulan ayusin ang mga nagulo kong gamit. Mabilis akong napalingon kay Clint nung bigla siyang tumigil sa harapan ko at ngumiti.

Ngumiti ako pabalik. "May sasabihin ka, Clint?" Tanong ko.

"Do you want to join us for Lunch? Kayong dalawa ni Shirley.''

Hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi mabigla sa sinabi niya.

''Are you serious, Clint? I like that! Tara kain!'' Biglang lumitaw si beks sa gilid ko kaya bahagya akong nagulat.

''Beks! Nakakahiya naman,'' I whispered, but she just wink at me.

"Don't worry, akong bahala sayo." She whispered.

"Mahiya ka nga."

''Che! Hehe!" Sagot niya at nanlaki ang mga singkit kong mata nung lumingon siya sa pwesto ni Blood at lakas loob na kausapin ito.

"Blood, Okay lang ba na sasabay kaming maglunch sa inyo ni Mardux?''

Mabilis kong kinurot si beks dahil sa gulat. "Are you crazy?!"

Napalingon ako kay Blood nung bigla siyang magsalita. ''Sure.'' Sure?! Pumayag ba talaga siya?

Tska bakit parang ang bait niya kapag si beks ang kausap? Pero pagdating sa akin, para siyang tigre na handa akong kainin.

"Yehey! Let's go!"

Mabilis kaming dumiretso sa cafeteria at pinagtitinginan kaagad kami or should I say, silang tatlo ang center of attraction ng lahat.

"What's your order?'' Tanong ni Clint sa amin pagkaupo na pagkaupo namin sa table nila.

''Parang gusto kong kumain ng chocolate cake at pasta! Teka, Clint diba libre mo naman ito?'' Walang hiyang tanong ni beks.

Natawa si clint. ''Yes, You can order as long as you want.''

''Nakakahiya naman sayo, eh. Pero sige! Hehe. Isang coke tapos with chicken sana yung pasta ha.''

"Copy that. How about you, young lady?" Tanong ni Clint sa'kin.

"Pasta na lang a cheesecake." 

"That's it?"

"Oo. Hindi naman ako masyadong gutom, Clint." Pagdadahilan ko kahit ang totoo, gutom na gutom ako! But I'm shy to tell him!

"All right."

Mabilis siyang pumunta sa counter kasama yung dalawa kaya naiwan kami ni beks at todo sermon ako sa kanya. Mabilis kaming nagsimulang kumain nung nakabalik na sila mula sa counter.

"Let's eat," sabi ni Lance.

Habang kumakain, hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi mapansin ang plato ni Blood. Pinaghihiwalay niya ang mga gulay sa plato niya at yung beef lang yung kinakain niya.

"Bakit hindi mo kinakain yung mga gulay?" Hindi ko na nakayanan ang hindi magtanong.

"Why do you care?" Sabi ni Blood.

"Huwag kang magsayang ng pagkain, Blood. Sobrang daming mga tao especially, ang mga bata sa kalsada na walang makain. Tapos ikaw, Hindi mo kakainin 'yang nasa plato mo? Bakit pa 'yan ang inorder mo kung hindi mo naman kakain-" Natigilan ako nung subuan ako ni Blood at halos maubo ako sa biglaan niyang pagsubo sa'kin!

 "Masyado kang maraming sinasabi. Mind your own food." He gave me a death glare.

"Peste!" Bulong ko bago uminom sa coke na binili ni Clint para sa'kin. Napalingon ako kay Clint nung bumulong siya sa'kin.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na si Blood. He hates eating vegetables."

"Bakit naman?" Bulong ko sabay tingin kay Blood na parang wala sa harapan nila.

"He's allergic to asparagus, avocado and sesame seeds." Hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi mabigla sa sinabi ni Clint tungkol kay Blood.

Suddenly, I felt the guiltiness in my chest!

Hindi na ako nagsalita simula nung malaman ko ang tungkol kay Blood. Nung matapos kaming kumain, Mabilis kong pinigilan si Blood sa akmang pag-alis.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to educate you earlier. Kung alam ko lang na allergic ka sa asparagus hindi ko na sana sinabi 'yon." Sabi ko tska mabilis na tumakbo paalis dahil nakaramdam ako ng hiya.

*****