"How are you, Astrid?" He took a step closer and my nerves started to shake. Kailangan ko ng umalis dito dahil kahit ilang beses ko ng naimagine 'yong tagpong 'to ay nangangapa pa rin ako sa kung anong gagawin ko ngayon.

Ano nga ba talaga kasi 'yong dapat kong gawin? I feel so dumb.

I'm okay. Uh, excuse me, kailangan ko ng umalis, I still have a lot of things to do." I politely said saka ako humakbang palayo without even looking at him again. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay mapapako lang ako sa kinatatayan ko kung gagawin ko 'yon.

I sighed when I immediately saw Lorraine with Kristianna when I went downstairs.

"Where did you go? Kanina pa kita hinahanap dito!" Lorraine hissed, agad ko naman siyang hinawakan sa braso.

"Are you okay, Astrid?" Kristianna asked me, tumango ako bilang sagot.

"I'm going home."

Napatingin naman sila sa akin like I'm the most KJ person on earth. Well, hindi kasi nila alam kung bakit ako nagkakaganito ngayon kaya hindi ko naman sila masisisi.

"What the hell, Astrid? It's still early, come on, hindi na tayo minors!" Oh yeah, I know, pero ayoko na dito because I don't want to have any interactions with him again. Bumabalik 'yong lahat sa akin and I don't even know what to feel. It's already years pero naaapektuhan pa rin ako kapag naaalala ko 'yong mga nangyari dati.

"Please, gusto ko ng umuwi. You can stay here, Lorraine." She looked at me with concern in her eyes, alam naman nila na kapag sinabi kong uuwi na ako ay gagawin ko talaga 'yon.

"Okay ka lang ba talaga?"

"Yes, okay lang talaga ako."

Okay naman talaga ako, hindi ko lang inakala na sa loob ng limang taon ay ngayon ko siya makikita ulit. I just don't know what to do right now.

Pagkauwi ko ay agad akong nagtanggal ng make-up, nagshower, nagbihis, at nahiga sa kama. It was a long day at parang hindi parin nagsisink-in sa isip ko na nandito na nga siya, I don't know if he will be staying here for good but the important thing is..

He's here, he came back, he really did.

Hindi ko alam kung ano 'yong dapat kong naramdaman. But maybe it's better to just act like nothing happened, I just have to stay the same, I have to show him what I've became in the past few years, I have to show him that I'm not that weak Astrid anymore.

Like what I said a month after he left, I don't want him to regret leaving me behind.

"Bakit ka ba biglang umuwi no'ng ball? I'm really curious, Astrid." Lorraine asked me again, she's been asking for days, kinukulit pa rin ako sa dahilan kung bakit ba ako biglang umuwi.

"Wala nga. Napagod lang ako at nabored." I don't even know kung ilang beses ko na bang inulit-ulit 'yon sa kanya pero ayaw niya pa ring tanggapin. Siguro nga she's naturally makulit na talaga kaya gano'n.

She pouted and then after that ay iba nanaman ulit 'yong mood niya.

"Gosh! Pasukan na bukas! Makikita ko na 'yong pogi na nakasalubong ko sa school last time." Biglang naningkit 'yong mata ko because there's a possibility na si Samuel 'yong tinutukoy niya, but damn, nabubuang nanaman yata ako't kung anu-ano nanaman 'yong iniisip ko. Bakit naman siya mag-aaral dito? We're already 4th year college, it's very crucial to transfer kapag graduating na, kaya bakit naman niya gagawin 'yon? Siguro nga talaga hindi siya 'yon.

I shook my head.

"Imposible naman yata." I murmured to myself.

"Ano? You're saying something?" Umiling ako at tumayo.

"Matutulog na ako."

Kinaumagahan ay maaga akong nagising dahil ayokong ma-late sa first day of school, tsaka may aasikasuhin pa ako sa SC kaya kailangan din na maaga pa ako do'n para hindi magahol sa oras.

"Ang bilis mong maglakad, Astrid. Wait for me." I didn't even realize that I'm walking so fast while we're passing by the field. I turned to Lorraine na medyo patakbo pang naglakad palapit sa akin.

I was so preoccupied today. Kahit na alam kong maliit na tsansa lang ay parang takot na takot pa rin ako na makasalamuha ulit siya.

"Nagtataka na ako sayo ah, palagi kang wala sa sarili mo lately. Nako! You should share that with me lalo na kung lovelife 'yan." I glared at her, it's not lovelife nga kasi!

Tinalikuran ko nalang siya at nagpatuloy na ulit sa paglalakad.

Pagkarating ko sa SC office ay naabutan ko si Jennica at Charlie, they're watching something on the laptop.

"Oh my! Sayang hindi ako nakapunta sa concert nilang 'yan." Charlie exclaimed at parang sobrang nanghihinayang pa while Jennica is just looking at her.

They failed to notice me dahil masyado silang abala sa pinapanuod nila. They looked so shocked when I greeted them and I just chuckled with their reaction.

"Continue that." I gave them a smile bago ako maglakad papunta sa table ko.

I sighed when I realized something. When Samuel left, akala ko ay magiging mag-isa nanaman ako sa pagharap ng lahat but then I realized that I was wrong because I actually learned to open my heart for other people, I made a lot of friends.

I'm no longer that person who only have one friend, I changed.

"Hey!" I looked at Lorraine na kakapasok lang sa office. "You know Selene Gosiengfiao, right?" She asked at agad naman akong napatango, of course, kilala ko siya.

"Yes. Why?" I furrowed my brows because I sensed something.

"I saw her at the canteen, parang binubully nanaman nila Maceda at Gomez." Bigla akong naalerto dahil sa narinig ko, this school doesn't tolerate bullying! Tumayo ako.

"Feel ko lang naman. Hey! Saan ka pupunta?" She asked me pero dirediretso lang akong naglakad palabas ng office.

As the SC president, it's my duty to prevent things like that from happening. Hindi kailangang may masaktan muna bago gumawa ng aksyon, you should immediately take action habang may magagawa ka pa.

"Doing my job." I gave her a smile before going out of the office.

Pumunta ako ng canteen but I didn't saw Selene there. Paglabas ko sa kabilang door ay doon ko sila nakita, Bea Maceda and Karlen Gomez were in front of her. Tahimik akong lumapit sa kanila, napanting naman 'yong tenga ko dahil sa narinig ko. I know well na hindi gano'n ka ganda ang reputasyon ng pamilya nila Selene sa mga tao dito sa Luna del Fuego pero hindi naman niya kasalanan 'yon and she doesn't deserve this.

"Maceda, Gomez." I called them, tila nakakita naman sila ng multo when they saw me.

"Please follow me."

I lead them to the SC office, Lorraine grinned at them. Tila natutuwa pa siya na nakita sila.

"Sorry Pres."

"That girl is annoying kasi, we're ju—," I cut her off, I can't believe it, talagang magsisinungaling pa.

"I heard everything kaya malinaw sa akin. Kakausapin kayo ng guidance councilor mamaya. As for the sanction from the SC, one week community service. That's final, no more buts." I immediately left after saying that. I'm not a ruthless person, I am just doing the right thing for the students, especially for those who were violated.

"She did it again, Tiana." Humalakhak naman si Lorraine sa likuran ko. Tss, they're making fun of me again.

"I might do it to you next time." I jokingly said to them.

"We did nothing wrong, Miss President. Right, Tiana?"

Tss. Pinagtutulungan nanaman nila akong dalawa. Palibhasa nagkakasundo sila dahil parehas silang social butterfly, galing!

Hindi ko na sila pinansin pero nakasunod pa rin sila sa akin habang naglalakad ako papuntang quadrangle.

Dahil first day of school ngayon ay kalat sa quadrangle 'yong mga estudyante. Few minutes passed at tumunog na rin 'yong bell, kinuha ko na 'yong microphone and I did my usual first day of school announcements. Hindi na bago sa akin 'yon kaya natapos ko rin kaagad.

A lot of students greeted me when I went down the platform, 'yong iba ay hindi familiar sa akin that's why I assume na freshmen 'yong mga 'yon. Some even tried to talk to me, wala namang kaso sa akin 'yon kaya sinagot ko rin 'yong mga tanong nila.

"Idol ko po talaga kayo!" A cute girl said while smiling. Bahagya namang nanlaki 'yong mata ko dahil sa pagkagulat. Ako? Idol niya?

"Uh, thanks." I suddenly don't know what to say kaya 'yon nalang ang nasabi ko.

I took my phone out and looked at my schedule. I immediately got my bag from the office dahil may klase pala ako.

I'm already 4th year now, taking Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Marami ng tao pagdating ko sa room, some faces are even familiar to me dahil naging kaklase ko na sila no'ng mga nakaraang taon.

"Hi." I froze when I heard that voice, uh, yong kamukha niya. I don't know his name, basta pagkakaalam ko naging kaklase siya ni Lorraine sa isang subject last year.

"Hello." Iginala ko 'yong tingin ko sa room pero wala na talagang ibang upuan kundi sa tabi niya.

Okay, stay unbothered Astrid, kamukha lang niya pero hindi siya.

I slowly sat on the chair beside him without looking at him, I heard him chuckled pero hindi ko pa rin siya tinitingnan.

"Good morning, Miss President, sa wakas naging kaklase na rin kita ngayon." I forced myself to look at him because I don't want to be rude.

I gave him a forced smile.

"Good morning."

He smiled and put his hands on his face, nakapangalumbaba na siya ngayon habang nakatingin sa akin.

"By the way, my name is Jeremiah." He suddenly offered his hand, I awkwardly looked at it, pagkatapos ay sa kanya ulit. I suddenly got scared for a second because of what Lorraine told me but it eventually faded, lagot siya kapag ginawa niya 'yon. Kapag sabihin niyang gusto ko siya kahit hindi naman!

"I'm Julianna." We shook our hands. He smirked and didn't let go of my hand for few seconds, pero pinakawalan niya rin naman bago pa ako makapagreklamo. Ngayon ko lang mas napagmasdan 'yong mukha niya, bukod pala sa mata ay magkaiba rin sila ng kulay, this man is maybe a shade darker than him.

He's so playful. Sa unang tingin ay makikita mo na agad na medyo maloko siya.

I didn't look at his side again hanggang sa matapos 'yong class namin.

Naglalakad ako palabas ng room no'ng sumabay siya bigla sa akin, people started looking at our direction pero agad din naman nilang iniwas 'yong tingin when they saw me looking at them.

I looked at Jeremiah while furrowing my brows.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Where's Lorraine?" He smirked.

Gosh! Why is he looking for Lorraine? Parang may masama pa naman siyang balak. Even though I know where she is, umiling nalang ako. Of course, dahil 'yon sa ayaw kong ipahamak pinsan ko.

Not that I'm judging him pero mas okay pa rin na mag-ingat para makaiwas sa kapahamakan.

"Hindi ko alam eh." I tried glancing at him. He seemed creepy dahil nakadiretso 'yong tingin niya sa harapan at nakangisi pa siya.

Dahil do'n ay napatingin din ako sa harap at nanlamig naman bigla ang buong katauhan ko no'ng makita ko kung sino 'yong nakatayo sa di kalayuan sa amin.

"Oh, kilala mo?" Jeremiah asked me while still smirking at the man in front of us. Bakit kailangan pa niyang itanong?

"Uh, yeah." I tried to look at him with the same intensity, like I'm not affected by his presence at all.

Bakit nandito siya sa Harisson? Bumaba naman 'yong tingin ko sa damit niya.

H-He's wearing a uniform!

Dito na siya mag-aaral?

"Kaibigan mo?" He asked again at parang gusto ko na talagang mainis. Hindi ko alam kung likas na tsismoso ba siya o talagang inaasar niya ako, pero ngayon ko lang naman siya nakilala eh, hindi ko nga siya schoolmate dati kaya siguro likas na tsismoso lang talaga siya.

I chose not to answer his question, hindi naman kasi talaga ako sure kung kaibigan ko pa rin siya ngayon, naiisip ko palang 'yong mga pinangsasabi ko bago siya umalis ay parang wala na talaga akong karapatan kahit na mangumusta sa kanya.

"Astrid!" My head immediately turned to the direction where that voice came from, at parang gusto kong maglaho bigla dito no'ng makita ko ang accusing face ni Lorraine at ang tila shocked na mukha ni Kristianna.

"Excuse me!"

Pero may positive effect din pala dahil nakahanap ako ng excuse para makaalis. I immediately walked to their direction.

Agad naman akong hinila ng dalawa papuntang lover's lane dahil do'n lang medyo konti ang tao.

"Ikaw ha! Grabe! Bakit kasama mo 'yong dalawa?" Agad na tanong sa akin ni Lorraine, I'm already expecting that at alam kong mas lalala lang kung magsisinungaling ko.

"Classmate ko sa subject na 'yon si Jeremiah, while the other boy just suddenly showed up." Tumango naman siya at ngumiti na parang kilig na kilig.

"That boy! Crush ko 'yon! And you know what, I already know the name. Kilala pala ni Tiana 'yon!" Tiana looked at Lorraine and then sa akin nanaman, hindi naman siguro alam ni Tiana na best friends kami dati pero hindi rin ako sure do'n kaya medyo kinakabahan ako.

"Yes! Kilala ko 'yon at si Astrid, I think she know him too, same school sila dati eh." Tiana raised her left brow, I don't know if she's trying to imply something sa akin pero bahala na yan. Pero hindi ko naman kailangang magsinungaling sa parte na 'yon.

"Yeah. I know him."

Nagpakawala naman ng mababang tili si Lorraine. Seryoso ba talaga siya na crush niya si Samuel? Gosh.

"Samuel Yu daw pangalan, tama ba?" She looked at me, and she even held my hand. Geez, I really think she's serious. Wala naman sigurong masama, lalo na't alam ko na mabuting tao naman si Samuel. Pero bakit....nevermind!

"Yeah. That's his name." I suddenly want to run away because it's getting uncomfortable here. Good thing malapit na next class ko kaya may excuse na ulit akong umalis.

"Malapit na next class ko." I glanced at my watch.

"Okay! Kita tayo mamaya sa canteen ha? Magkwento ka!"

Gosh! Bakit gano'n? Bakit kasi crush niya pa 'yon?

Sinubukan ko nalang na abalahin 'yong sarili ko sa sumunod na klase para maiwasan kong isipin 'yong sitwasyon ngayon.

I'm really confused, gustuhin ko mang sabihin kay Lorraine pero sa tingin ko ay hindi makakabuti 'yon.

Pagdating ng lunch time ay pumunta ako ng canteen gaya ng pinagkasunduan namin.

I immediately saw them kaya lumapit na rin agad sa kanila. It was weird dahil nakatitig lang sa akin si Lorraine while Tiana is just looking at me with concern in her eyes.

What's wrong?

"Hi." I greeted them saka ako umupo sa bakanteng silya.

"Hindi mo naman sinasabi agad, Astrid. Sorry!" Naguluhan naman ako bigla sa sinabi ni Lorraine kaya napakunot ang noo ko.

"What?"

"Liz told us na may something pala sa inyo ni Samuel no'ng junior high school." Parang nadrain naman bigla 'yong dugo ko sa katawan dahil sa sinabi ni Tiana. Liz told them? Gosh!

"Hah? Wala!" I immediately said. Lorraine raised a brow.

"Siya pala 'yon." She gave me a knowing look. Geez! Baka kung ano isipin niya!

"Okay! Fine! We're classmates, seatmates!"

Argh. Ayokong sabihin na bestfriend ko siya! Mas okay pa na 'yong alam nila ay magkaklase kami't magkatabi sa upuan!

"Weh? Hindi kayo close?" Lumapit pa ng bahagya sa akin si Lorraine. "Kaya pala familiar siya, teka siya ba 'yon—," I immediately cut her off dahil baka may masabi pa siyang kung ano.

"We're not even close Lorraine. Stop it, it's not even funny." She raised her hands, si Tiana naman ay natawa lang.

What now?

"Okay okay! Gets ko na!"

I frustratedly looked at them. Anong ibig sabihin na gets na nila? They're giving me headache.

Argh.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag no'ng matapos na 'yong lunch time, I still have classes at magkakasunod pa 'yon kaya inabala ko nalang ulit 'yong sarili ko 'don.

After my 4:30 class ay nagpasya muna akong magtungo sa canteen para makabili ng merienda.

I just ordered chocolate cake and sundae. I sat on a two-seater table dahil 'yon lang 'yong bakante, medyo marami kasi 'yong mga estudyante ngayon sa canteen.

I started eating but I stopped midway dahil biglang may naglapag ng tray sa harap ko.

I raised my head to see kung sino 'yon at agad ko ring pinagsisihan na ginawa ko 'yon.

"Wala ng bakante, okay lang ba na dito ako maupo?" He asked me, iginala ko naman ulit 'yong paningin ko, tama nga siya, wala ng bakanteng table. As much as I don't want him to sit in front of me ay wala pa rin akong matinong rason para gawin 'yon, I will look petty if I do that.

Nakakainis, bakit kasi wala ng upuan?

"Okay lang." I said without looking at him, itinuon ko nalang ulit 'yong pansin ko sa kinakain ko.

It was only a bite left when he spoke again.

"Kumusta naman?" I didn't look at him pero wala naman akong balak na balewalain lang 'yong tanong niya.

"I'm okay. I'm doing well."

He didn't speak after that. I'm not looking at him but I can feel his gaze unto me.

Hindi ba siya galit sa akin dahil sa mga salitang binitawan ko bago siya umalis?

Bago ako umalis ay nagpasya akong dugtungan 'yong sinabi ko kanina.

"I'm a strong girl now."