Paris was not satisfied with Jasmine's answer when he confronted her. Gusto man niya itong kausapin, pero hindi naman siya makalapit dito sa personal. Hindi kasi ito namamansin. Lampasan ang tingin nito sa kanya sa hallways.

Wala rin naman syang mapagtanungan dahil wala siyang ka-close na kaibigan nito. Dagdag pa na parang mainit ang dugo sa kanya ng buong klase nito.

So he turned to Facebook to seek answers. He added Jasmine as friend a few days ago. In-accept naman nito agad ang request niya. Kapag china-chat niya ito, nakikipag-usap naman ito. Nakikipag-interact ito sa comment box. Nagla-like ito ng status nya. Sa personal lang talaga ito ilag.

He looked at her profile picture, pabalik ang ginawa niyang pagtingin sa album nito. Nagulat sya nang makita ang kauna-unahan nitong picture. Jasmine had braces and she looked awful in them. Buhaghag din ang buhok nito, medyo mataba tapos ay medyo maitim.

She was right. He'd definitely not notice her with that appearance.

Tiningnan niya ang timeline nito. He looked at her old posts. Something caught his eye. It was two years ago.

Sabi nila, magpakatotoo ka lang. Let people see you for who you are so they could like you for who you are. So, I am finally going to tell him. Good luck to me!

It has one like and a comment 'Good luck, Jas!'

May isang post sa taas noon, from a guy named Adrian. Hindi ka mapapansin non, sabi nito. Huwag kang nega! kumento naman ni Jasmine. Adrian's comment made his eyebrow raise. Hindi ako nega. Nagsasabi lang ng totoo. Pangit mo kasi.

On a post above that, dated a few days later, her tone was very angry.

I was wrong. People can't accept you for who you are.

Then, there's the next one that has his name on it.

I thought you were different, Paris. Nabulagan lang pala ako dahil gusto kita. Ang superficial mo!

Pilit niyang inaalala ang mga nangyari noong panahon na iyon. Ano nga ba ang nangyari? He couldn't remember insignificant faces. Maybe she's one of those girls who confessed to him before. Pero hindi talaga niya maalala.

Binasa niya yung comments. Mukhang suportado ito ng mga kaklase.

Issa: Okay lang yan, Beb. Lalaki lang yan.

Rose: Bata ka pa naman, Jas.

Adrian: Sabi ko sayo e. Ayaw sa pangit nun.

Jasmine: Wow, salamat Adrian ha!

Adrian: Nagsasabi lang naman ako ng totoo. Sinabihan na kita di ba? O, anong napala mo? Tigas kasi ng ulo mo e.

Zanjo: Tama si Adrian. Buti nga sayo. Ayaw mo kasing makinig.

Jasmine: Kuya! :'(

Wow. So ganoon pala sya kasama dati? Hindi naman kasi sya ganoon mag-isip e. Ayaw lang niya na pilitin ang sariling gustuhin ang isang tao dahil lang sa gusto siya nito. Kumbaga, hindi naman niya sila pinilit na magkagusto sa kanya. Dahil lang namimili sya ng taong gugustuhin, naging masama na siya sa paningin nila?

E ano pala ang dapat ay ginawa niya? Hindi naman niya pwedeng gustuhin lahat. Saka may magagawa ba sila kung talagang ayaw niya?

Naiiling na lamang siya habang tinitingnan ang timeline ni Jasmine. After a few months na na-reject niya ito, nagtanggal na ito ng braces. And then, weeks after that, nagpa-ayos naman ito ng buhok. Habang nagiging recent yung mga status ni Jasmine, unti-unti rin itong gumaganda. Not that she's ugly to begin with. Hindi naman ito kaitiman. Hindi rin katabaan. She would have been cute, kung nagustuhan lang nito ang sarili. Siguro dahil na rin sa nireject niya ito kaya bumaba ang tingin nito sa sarili.

He sent her a message before going offline.

Jasmine Manalang

Paris: Hey, I'm sorry for what I did before. Sorry sa pagiging inconsiderate at superficial. But you must know that it's not enough to just be yourself, because people will never stop wanting to tweak you. Remember to always be your best self.

I know you might not forgive me and if you're planning on getting revenge, then I won't stop you. But I can't take back the rejection I gave you years ago. Think of it this way, if not for that, will you strive to look better? Hindi, di ba? You could have become complacent.

I'm not trying to preach you or anything. I just want to let you know that things aren't always as bad as they seem. Try to look on the brighter side of life.

*Jasmine Manalang saw this*

He waited for her reply, pero hanggang seen lang siya. Kaya nag-type siya ng panibagong message.

*Sorry, your message cannot be sent. You don't have permission to contact this user.*

Napamulagat siya. Bakit biglang ganun? Kanina lang, okay a? Lumabas siya ng kwarto at kumatok sa kwarto ng kapatid.

"Frances!" tawag niya.

"Why?" tanong ng kapatid nang pagbuksan siya nito ng pintuan.

"Pahiram ng tab mo."

"May tab kang iyo a!"

"I need your account."

"Sa Facebook?" Nang tumango siya ay kumunot ang noo nito. "Bakit?"

"Basta."

Frances sighed, retrieved the tab from her room and handed it to him. "Don't post anything ha."

"May isi-search lang naman ako," sagot niya.

He searched Jasmine's name. Existing pa rin naman ang account nito. So, naka-block nga siya. Simangot niyang ibinalik kay Frances ang tablet nito. Well, there goes his way of contacting her. Kung siguro ay hindi na niya ito pinakialaman, sana ay kakausapin pa rin siya nito, kahit sa Facebook lang.

Maybe it's time to talk to her in person. But how?

--

From: Jeremy

Hi Iya. Can we talk during lunch? Last na to. Thanks.

Napakunot ang noo ni Iya nang mabasa ang message ni Jeremy. Iba ang tono ng text nito. Parang namamaalam. Last na 'to. What was that about?

To: Jeremy

Okay. San mo gustong magkita?

From: Jeremy

Sunduin na lang kita sa school nyo. Dun ako pupwesto sa tapat ng RANDS.

To: Jeremy

Sure. I'll see you later.

Nang mag-lunch, nag-text ulit siya kay Ken na hindi siya rito sasabay. He replied Jeremy? via text. She had no choice but to confirm.

From: Twin

Napapadalas naman yata?

To: Twin

Last na raw e. Usap lang kami saglit.

Dumiretso sya sa labas ng school, sa tapat ng RANDS at hinanap si Jeremy. Wala syang nakitang naka-uniform na pang-STI. Tinawagan na lang niya ito para mas madali.

"Hello? Asan ka?" tanong niya rito.

"Kita na kita. Wait lang."

Tinapos nito ang tawag. Sya naman ay naghintay. Maya-maya ay may tumapik sa balikat niya. Paglingon niya, isang lalaking naka-sunglasses, face mask at hoodie ang nasa likuran niya.

"Jeremy? Bakit ganyan ang getup mo?"

Pansin din niyang hindi ito naka-uniform.

"Pwede bang sa ibang lugar tayo mag-usap?"

"O, sige."

Pumunta sila sa isang kainan sa hindi kalayuan. Sa may sulok ito naupo. They asked for the menu and ordered food before settling. He then removed his face mask, hoodie and sunglasses.

Nagulat sya nang makitang puro pasa ito sa mukha.

"What happened to you?"

She reached out to touch the bruises on his face.

"Someone beat me up," he answered, wincing.

"Sino?"

"Manliligaw mo yata. Tall guy, shoulder-length hair."

Hanson.

"Bakit daw?" tanong niya, trying to keep her cool. Lalo siyang nabwisit. Alam niyang galit ito, pero wala naman yata itong karapatan na mambugbog ng ibang tao, lalo na yung wala namang ginagawang masama rito.

"He told me to stay away from you. So this is probably the last time that I will contact you. I like you, Iya, but I love my life. Sana hindi mo isiping naduduwag ako. Alam mo naman siguro na inaasahan ako ng pamilya ko. I can't afford to put my life at risk."

"I-I understand. I'm sorry, Jeremy."

Pilit itong ngumiti. "It's okay. Maybe, someday, we'll be friends again."

--

Hiyang-hiya sya kay Jeremy dahil nadamay pa ito. Kung tutuusin, nauna naman ito kay Hanson. And she likes Jeremy. May karapatan itong magalit kay Hans, and to even press charges against him, but Jeremy chose to stay away.

Naiintindihan naman niya. Bukod sa mabait ito at ayaw ng gulo, alam din nitong maimpluwensya ang pamilya ni Hanson. They even own a building, for chrissake!

Kaya sya na lang ang gumawa ng aksyon. Tutal naman ay kilala ng pamilya nito ang pamilya niya. And she's sure that he can't do any harm towards her and her family. May laban siya kay Hanson, at iyon ang pinanghahawakan niya.

Bago magsimula ang susunod na klase ay kinumpronta niya ito. And he didn't even deny her accusations.

"Nagsumbong sya sa 'yo?" He scoffed. "Bakla nga."

"How dare you threaten him! Akala mo kung sino ka!"

"I gave him several chances to fight back. Kasalanan ko bang duwag sya?"

"At sya pa ang duwag ngayon?" Pinamay-awangan niya ito. "Akala mo ba magugustuhan kita dahil sa ginawa mo? Well, newsflash Hanson, it only made me hate you more!"

Tumawa ito.

"Bakit? Akala mo ba ginawa ko yun para magustuhan mo 'ko? Newsflash, Iya, you're not worth the effort."

"Then why did you do it, huh? Pampalipas-oras, ganun? Wala ka lang magawa? Can't pick someone your own size?" When he didn't answer, she continued, "Kung tutuusin, mas lalaki pa nga sa 'yo si Jeremy e. Wala ka namang ibang ginawa kundi magpagwapo at i-bully ang mga taong mas mahina sa 'yo. How pathetic."

And once again, she left him dumbfounded.