Kabanata 5

I was playing with Issie, Iscalade's black and tan Pomeranian puppy. It was so cute while it was circling around. It leans towards my leg and showed affection by looking up towards my direction. My heart melted at the sight of the dog so I decided to sat down and let Issie snuggle with me.

"He likes you." Iscalade says, crouching down next to us.

"Really?"

I can't help but smile while Issie was putting his paw into my palm. The puppy was very active and friendly, lalo tuloy akong natuwa sa kanya. I've always wanted to have a dog but my parents are not into pets.

"Yeah, mana sa may-ari." Iscalade commented, wiggling his eyebrows while wearing a sly grin.

"That's right, parehas kayong friendly."

I averted my gaze and went back on cuddling with Issie. The puppy was undeniably soft so hugging it brings warmth in my heart. I saw how Iscalade pursed his lips and gradually puts his arms across his chest. Malalim ang iniisip habang ang tanaw ay nasa aming dalawa ni Issie.

"Issie, paranas naman."

"Gusto mo rin yakapin si Issie?"

My gaze pivoted towards him and he lifted an eyebrow.

"Hindi si Issie..."

He groaned before standing. Sinundan ko lamang siya ng tingin habang sinisiksik ni Issie ang mukha niya sa leeg ko. I wonder what he meant by saying that, I have a feeling about it but that won't be the case. Iscalade flirts with almost everyone. Halata naman dahil mukhang hindi siya seryoso sa mga banat n'ya.

Hanggang ngayon ay nagtataka ako kung bakit n'ya ako nilalapitan. I felt guilty because I liked his friend. Hindi ko naman intensyon na kaibiganin siya upang mapalapit kay Sarathiel. I met him first before I met my crush, it was just a mere coincidence. That's what I kept on telling myself. That's what it is and I will never use someone for my own benefit. That is just cruel, to offer fake feelings just so you can gain something.

"Hey, Philo..."

My gaze flew towards him. A flash of light greets me, I almost close my eyes because of it. I look upon it and realized that he took a picture of us.

"Can I use this picture? Issie looks cute in it."

Lumapit sa akin si Iscalade at pinakita ang nakuha niyang larawan. He was certainly right, Issie looks cute in it because he was looking at the camera. Samantalang ako ay mukhang nagulat. I can feel my cheeks becoming red.

"Can I?" he uttered, it was almost a whisper but I can hear Iscalade's breathing and it felt hot.

I nodded as I brought my attention back to Issie who was snuggling with me.

"Sure."

Hinatid ako ni Iscalade pabalik sa bahay, luckily Mommy and Daddy were not home. I didn't want to hear any sermons because I was already tired.

Pagdating sa kwarto ko ay agad na tiningnan ko ang mga notifications sa phone ko. It was surprisingly a lot because of a tagged photo. It was the cover picture of Iscalade which consists of me and Issie. The photo that he took when we were at their house.

My lips parted when I saw how the reactions increases per minute, from hundreds to thousands. I decided to stalk him a bit because of it. Iscalade has a lot of followers and friends, napuno na nga ang capacity na five thousand sa friend list n'ya. Bukod doon ay may mga nagpapa-add pa sa kan'ya.

I was scrolling through his feed when my eyes widened because I saw Sarathiel on his friend list.

I decided to check upon it too, his profile was very private. Iilan lang ang picture niya, madalas ay mga tagged pictures lang. His friend list didn't even exceed to a thousand.

I was contemplating if I should add him or not but fate leads me on clicking add as friend, hope finds a way into my heart. Sana makita at i-accept niya. I bit the insides of my cheeks. I could mentally hear Paulene cheering for me because I did such a risky move. Adding someone who really have no connections with you.

Dumagsa ang mga nag-add saakin bigla. Most of them came from Iscalade's followers. Some even messaged me with messages such as sana all, hope all, and naol philo.

I decided to check the comments.

Amadeus Montejo ✨ m a g a l i n g k a t a l a g a , l o d i ✨

Sachael Limcuando May hollow blocks kayo?

Caecelius Mercierro Speed ka talaga, Iscalade.

Giorgion San Pedro Siya ba 'yung kinukwento mong Marjorie nung isang araw 'tol?

I frowned upon seeing the comment that gathered a lot of reactions. Hindi naman Marjorie ang pangalan ko. I decided to clear things out to avoid confusion, I replied to Giorgion's comment.

Philomena Valderama Hindi po ako si Marjorie.

A few minutes passed when another one commented in the thread of Giorgion's comment.

Iscalade Altreano GAGIO WALA AKONG KILALANG MARJORIE

Giorgion San Pedro Iba pala? Baka 'yong Kei? Sino ba? Mukhang sa labas tayo matutulog ngayon ah.

I decided to close all tabs and prepared myself a hot bath. After feeling refreshed, I decided to review for our post test, mas gumagana kasi ang sipag ko tuwing gabi. It is as if there's a switch that tells me to move every nerve I have for my studies. Siguro ay ang lamig at lamikmik ng gabi ang nagsisilbing motibasyon ko para makapag-aral nang mabuti.

Agad akong pumunta sa pwesto ko, I decided to use my pastel highlighters to highlight the information that I already know and I don't need to thoroughly review again.

"Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media." I read as the highlighter paved a smooth line of pastel green color in each word that I've read. "The word Media alludes to various means of communication such as television, newspaper, radio, internet and magazines."

I started writing on my notes to recall if I still know the previous lessons in Media and Information Literacy, it is mostly called as MIL. Marami kaming binabasa rito, kadalasan ay nadadawit ang iba't ibang uri ng gamit ng media sa ating kasalukuyan.

"Information Literacy is the skill that allows an individual to recognize when information is needed and how he will be able to access, locate, evaluate and use it effectively." I used another highlighter to mark that since I can already say it without stuttering.

Ang gawain ni Miss Alcazar na aming MIL Professor, she always starts the class by letting us recite the previous lessons. Madalas kahit no'ng summative pa ang discussion na 'yon, she still asks a question regarding that lesson. It leaves us with no choice but to always review previous lessons, kaya naman ngayon ay halos kabisado ko na pati capitalization ng bawat salita sa kan'yang mga lesson.

Nag-unat ako nang mapagtanto na halos nasa unang lesson pa lang ako. I looked at my notes, mas marami pa ang kailangan kong bigyan ng pansin. The MIL subject has a lot of terms and that's the reason even if this is just a core subject, it's not that easy. Most core subjects or the 'minor' subjects require most of the work. Madalas ay groupings pa ang mga gawain dito.

Dinapuan na rin ako ng antok nang umabot ako sa pinakahuling nabigay na discussion, I decided to finally give in and give myself a rest.

✿✿✿

"Sumabay ka na lang sa amin, please?"

Iscalade was walking backwards, making his pace of walking ahead to us. Tumingin ako kay Paulene na kanina pa nakakunot ang noo habang pinagmamasdan si Iscalade. Umawang ang labi ni Pau at bumulong sa akin.

"Sa'yo ba 'to? Kung oo, hindi ko ia-add to cart."

My forehead creased because I wasn't aware of the term. Ano ba ang tinatanong ni Pau? Sinong add to cart? Si Iscalade? Hindi naman siya nagbebenta.

"Please, Philo." Iscalade clasp his hands together and looks at me pleadingly.

I look at Paulene and she only smiled, seemingly knowing I'm torn between her and him. She nods her head as she walks away, leaving me with Iscalade. Iscalade showed gratitude by bowing down to Pau, he even bid her goodbye with a flying kiss.

"Bakit po ba gusto mo ako makasabay?" I asked, matching the pace of his walk.

He finally turns around, napansin ko ang bahagyang pagbagal ng kanyang hakbang. He has long legs and he's really tall. He was probably being considerate of the fact that my steps were slow.

"I want you to know my friends."

Namilog ang mga mata ko habang unti-unting umaawang ang labi sa gulat. I was trying to repeat what he just said in my mind. He was inviting me to go eat with his friends? Nakaramdam ako ng init sa aking mga pisngi.

I awkwardly glanced at Iscalade. He's friends with Sarathiel. Kasama kaya siya? Does he eat with them too? I started fidgeting my fingers. Probably yes or not, why am I acting like this?

"I don't think I'm comfortable with..." boys. No, I'm not comfortable with people generally.

I looked at Iscalade once again and I saw how his face softens. He looks like a disappointed puppy, it reminds me of Issie somehow.

"It's okay, doon tayo sa komportable ka. You want me to get your friend back? Para may kasabay ka kumain?" mahinahon na tanong ni Iscalade.

I couldn't provide an answer but I've realized why people flock around him. He was an extrovert who knows how to handle the crowd.

Noong una ay akala ko dahil sa angking kakisigan n'ya. Attractive people do tend to get attention the most. Hindi naman ako bulag para hindi makita ang mukha ni Iscalade. He didn't look rough nor did he look soft. He looks like that an F boy you keep on avoiding but his face pulls you in. Even if you didn't want to like him, you'll end up liking him because he's funny and knows how to pamper your feelings.

"No, let's eat together po." I gave in. Ilang minuto lang naman siguro 'yon.

His smile widens and he uttered 'yes' silently while animatedly punching the air.

Napangiti na rin ako.

See? He's got the charms. Telling him no is almost impossible.

As we were approaching a table, my heart was acting out of the ordinary again. I saw a familiar person in his hoodie with three other guys around him. Matagal ko 'yata silang natitigan dahil nagtama ang mga paningin namin. His gaze didn't last longer than a second but the feeling he gave me lingered into my mind.

Masama ba kung iisipin ko na kasabay ko siyang kumain? Well, magkasabay naman talaga kami. I bit my lower lip to suppressed my giddiness.

"Guys, may ipapakilala ako sa inyo---" Iscalade was cut off.

"Kilala na namin siya, ilang linggo mo na siyang bukambibig." His friend pointed out, giving me a small smile. He looks kind and friendly.

"Pero hanggang kwento lang 'yon! This is her in flesh! Ang ganda niya 'no? Di kinaya ng mga crush n'yo."

Iscalade animatedly showed me off, like the Will Smith tada meme. It earned him laughter from his friends.

"Mayabang, wala namang label." His friend says, removing his earphones.

"Inggit ka, Sach? Paano pa kaya kapag may label na?" aroganteng sabi ni Iscalade.

He pulled a chair for me so that I could sit beside him. Umupo naman ako at agad na tiningnan ang nasa harapan ko. It was Sarathiel who was busy with his phone. I could feel my heart fluttering inside my chest. He didn't even spare me a glance. Parang ang hirap naman kuhanin ng atensyon n'ya. He looks up to me and his brown eyes made me hold my breath.

"Gusto mo?" he asked, his tone was flat.

Oh my goodness, he's talking to me.

I wanna faint. I wanna jump in joy. It feels like my favorite teacher noticed me. That kind of feeling was something that makes you feel giddy, it makes you feel special.

I wasn't able to respond and I took a quick glimpse at Iscalade for some help. He knows how to answer this type of questions, of course. He knows how to get along with people, lalo na siguro sa kaibigan n'ya.

The giddiness I feel immediately evaporated when I saw his expression.

Iscalade looks hurt but he averted his gaze. The way his stare lingers at my face made me feel guilty. All the guilt blooms into my heart as I watch him forcing a quick laughter.

Does he already know?

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

this one was accidentally deleted, I'm sorry for the inconvenience!