"Yohan!"

Napangiti ako sa pag-tawag ng isang lalake sa pangalan niya. Ano ba yan! Pangalan niya palang kinikilig na ako.

He was in front of me right now, walking towards the HUMSS building. Hindi ko naman siya ini-stalk! Promise, naka-sabay ko lang siya, hehe.

The first time I saw him was at the waiting area of our school nung first day. Hinihintay ko no'n si Mon dahil hindi ko pa alam kung saan yung room namin. Kung nawala kami, edi okay lang kasi dalawang tanga naman kami no'n.

While I was waiting for Mon, bigla nalang siyang pumasok sa buhay ko. Char!

The moment I saw his dimples at siyempre yung height niya, ayun, nahulog na ako. Ang tangkad niya kasi! I don't usually like moreno guys but he was so cute tapos tuwing nagsa-smile pa siya nahihimatay nalang ako bigla.

Every morning I would look forward to seeing him, sabay kasi lagi kaming nakakadating sa school. Minsan, nauuna naman ako pero makikita ko pa rin naman siya nun, naglalakad kasi siya mula sa sakayan.

One time, muntikan ko na siyang pasabayin, hehe.

Wala pa rin akong ginagawa para mapansin niya ako though. Ngiti lang niya sapat na, masaya na ako buong araw!

May malawak na ngiti sa aking labi habang pumupunta ako sa upuan ko, sa tabi ni Mon. By the look on my face, mukhang alam na niya ang ibubungad ko sa kanya-

"Nakita mo nanaman yung lalake?" Tanong niya, nakataas ang isang kilay kaya napatili ako at hinampas ko ang braso niya.

"Oo beh! Putangina ang pogi pogi pogi!" Kinikilig kong pag-kwento before groaning at the memory of him. "Yung dimples niya gago!" I gushed once more.

Na-realize ko nalang na hinahampas ko na pala siya nang bigla siyang mag-"aray".

"Why don't you just talk to him??" Naiinis na sabi niya while she rubbed on her arm, making me frown.

"Ayaw ko nga, baka ma-reject pa ako." Saad ko, but a smile made its way to my face. Add ko kaya sa Facebook?

She shrugged. "Tumatagal daw pag yung babae nagfi-first move." Saad niya, making me raise my brow. Is that so...

"Kahit na. What if studies first pala siya diba?" I pointed out. Mukhang matalino kasi, I also found out na siya pala yung President ngayon sa student council.

"Jasmine!" Biglang pag-tawag ni Mon sa bagong kaibigan namin. We managed to get close to her dahil sa likod namin siya nakaupo. "Nagka-jowa na ba yung SC President natin?" Tanong ni Mon, making my eyes widen.

Babaeng 'to! Baka ma-expose ako.

Jasmine thought for a second and she slowly nodded. "Oo? Meron pa yata siyang jowa? Hindi ko sure. First love kasi niya yung girl eh. Why?" Pabalik na tanong ni Jasmine but I frowned at her answer.

"Crush mo, Mon?" Jasmine asked with a teasing grin.

Umiling si Mon kaagad at tinuro niya ako, hinampas ko tuloy siya. "Hoy!"

Jasmine laughed at the both of us, making me frown. "May jowa na talaga?" Tanong ko, nadi-dismaya.

"Hindi raw sure, 'wag ka muna magmukmok diyan." Pag-comfort ni Mon sa akin, comfort ba yun?

"I haven't seen them together in a long time. Wala na rin silang pictures together, baka hindi na sila, beh!" Pag-tuloy ni Jasmine and I wondered why I was feeling this way in the first place, I felt so relieved.

Wala naman akong balak jowain! Kaloka.

Pero I couldn't help but get curious, ilang taon kaya sila nung ex niya? Baka five years? Kung five years ay baka humimlay nalang ako.

My thoughts were cut off by our adviser walking inside the classroom. Natahimik tuloy bigla ang lahat and some rushed to their seats, kasama dun si Jasmine.

"Good Morning, Ma'am." We all greeted.

Nginitian niya kami bago niya tinignan si Justin na kakapasok palang. Wow first time ma-late, medyo late.

"Justin, two lines." Utos ni Ma'am bago siya lumabas at kaagad yun naintindihan ni Tin.

Like last week, pina-linya ulit kami ni Justin sa labas. When he was sure that the lines are straight, naglakad na kaming lahat pababa.

Pumunta kami sa quadrangle where all of the students were. Yung mga grade 12 nasa likod ng batch namin at siyempre, agad kong hinanap ang matangkad na pogi na crush na crush ko.

I pursed my lips when I didn't see him on the crowd. But I did see a couple of the volleyball players I played against last year. Isa talaga sa dahilan kung bakit ako nag-transfer dito ay yung volleyball team nila, they were so good at playing. Magaling din yung coach.

Someone in front cleared their throat at napangiti ako nang makita ko si Kuya Yohan na nakahawak sa mic. Sana naging mic nalang ako.

"Good Morning, students. We will now be starting our morning assembly, so please settle down." He said in a low voice and I almost swooned when he gave the crowd a faint smile.

Nag-focus na ako sa harap at siyempre siya lang ang tinitignan ko habang naga-assembly kami. Napapakagat pa ako ng labi dahil nakikisabay siya sa pag-sayaw ng mga in-charge sa morning exercise.

After a few announcements, nabuhayan na ang lahat, lalo na ako nang mag-salita na siya ulit. "You may now start heading to your respective classrooms. Governors, please take charge of your batch. Thank you."

I think first time kong marinig ang boses niya that morning, and I think gusto ko nang patulugin niya ako gabi-gabi.

"Wala na, buo na araw ko..." I said to myself before sighing, napalingin tuloy sa akin si Jasmine, nakataas ang kilay. I grinned before sticking my tongue out at her.

I let out a groan nang makalabas na ang subject teacher namin sa Philosophy. She announced that we will be having a quiz daw on Friday eh kakasimula palang niya mag-discuss.

Sa tabi ko, naka-simangot si Mon habang sinusulat niya ang quiz dun sa schedule niya, mariin din akong napapikit when I saw the other subject on the list.

Pre-calculus, putangina.

We only had until the end of the day to finish the seatwork she gave us kaya inaya ko nang mag library si Mon after namin mag-lunch. Bilisan nalang siguro naming kumain para may oras pa kami.

When the bell rang, tumayo na kaagad kami and we got our binders and yellow pads.

Since we were new, nakikitabi pa kami sa ibang tables tuwing kumakain, may iba kasing mga grupo yung mga kaibigan namin sa classroom, but we didn't mind. At least nakaalis na kami dun sa toxic na school namin dati.

Buti nga, pumapayag pa si Mon na samahan ako eh, she hates going to the cafeteria yata and much rather sleep inside the classroom.

"Nagdala kang lunch?" Tanong ni Mon sa akin at umiling ako. Sabi ko kila mama bibili nalang akong lunch sa canteen, dagdag allowance!

She saved a seat for the both of us habang bumibili ako ng pagkain... Wow may burger steak sila! "Dalawa po nitong burger steak..." I said before looking up. Nagulat ako nang makita si Kuya Yohan, nakangiti sa akin habang hawak-hawak ang plato ko.

His family catered for the school???

My heart started beating faster at the sight of him, at lalo lang itong bumilis nang ma-realize kong nakangiti pala siya sa akin. NAKANGITI SIYA SA AKIN!

Both of his dimples were showing and I didn't know how to calm myself down.

"Yun lang ba?" He asked when he saw I wasn't talking anymore.

"T-tapos sinigang... po." Nauutal na sagot ko. Sinigang? Gusto ko ng sinigang?? It was my first time being this nervous in front of someone, hindi ko bagay! Umayos ka, Riley!

Napakunot ang noo niya sa pinili ko pero nilagay naman niya sa isang lalagyanan ang sinigang. Sinigang tapos burger steak??

Mukhang gulong-gulo pa rin siya but he was giving me an amused expression. "Para po sa kaibigan ko." Biglang pagpapaliwanag ko, making him chuckle and nod.

Putanginang bibig ka, tumahimik ka na!

Dali-dali kong binigay sa kanya ang pera bago ko kinuha ang mga pagkain ko mula sa kanyang kamay. Buti nalang ay sakto ang bayad na binigay ko, I didn't have to wait for change.

Nakangiti ako habang naglalakad ako papunta kay Mon who was reading her book. After placing down my food, I engulfed her to a hug. "Tulungan mo akong kumain, please."

Napakunot ang noo niya nang makita ang mga pagkain na dala-dala ko. "Dalawang ulam? Are you hungry?"

"Mukhang masarap yung nagtitinda- ay yung sinigang beh. Gusto ko lang tikman pero hindi ko pala maubos, tulungan mo ako please." I begged as I sat beside her, inalog-alog ko pa siya, making her roll her eyes at me.

Hinila niya ang sinigang papalapit sa kanya and gave it a taste. "Uy, it's good." Saad niya bago siya humigop muli ng sabaw. "Penge kanin."

I looked at her with amusement in my eyes as she put some of the food on top of the rice. Akala ko bang hindi na gutom 'to??

I tried their cooking as well and it was good! Masarap din yung burger steak nila at masarap din naman siya sa may kanin na may sabaw.

As I ate, tinitignan ko lang kung saan siya nagtitinda. Since he was the President, everyone knew him. Lahat ng mga taong bumibili sa kanya nakikipag-small talk and it did seem like he was close to all of them. He treated everyone so warmly and I just found myself smiling as I looked at him.

Buti nalang busy kumakain yung babaeng nasa tabi ko para mapansin ako.

All of the little kids buying had smiles on their faces as they talked to him too, yung iba parang dati niya pa kilala dahil nakikipag-apir siya at fist-bump.

"Uyy! Francis, ikaw pala yan!" I overheard him saying as another kid walked up to him. They started talking about... Basketball? Nagje-gesture kasi siya bigla ng pagsho-shoot. Ang cute.

Matalino, masipag, mabait, approachable, at siyempre, gwapo. Everything about him felt so attractive. Ibang-iba sa iba kong mga nagustohan na puro pagpapa-pogi lang ang alam.

Hay Kuya Yohan...

After a while, umalis din siya para kumain. But to my delight, malapit lang ang inupuan niya. His friends were sitting close to where we were and they all greeted him nung lumapit na siya sa kanila.

"Riles, I'm done eating." Sabi ni Mon mula sa tabi ko, taking my attention away from Kuya Yo. Wew may nickname na kaagad. "Tara library." Pag-aya niya kaya tumango na ako.

Yung plato binalik na namin dun sa nanay ni kuya Yohan, sayang umupo na siya. Nang mabalik na namin, we headed to the library upstairs.

We scanned our IDs before taking a seat kung saan malayo yung aircon, ang lamig kasi sa loob. Next time, magdadala na ako ng jacket. Pati yung classroom namin ang lamig sa loob, nakikihiram nalang tuloy kami ni Mon ng mga jacket sa mga kaklase namin, share pa kami dun.

We opened our notes at nagsimula na kami sa pagsasagot. Naramdaman ko agad ang pagkirot ng ulo ko nang makita ang unang problem. Tangina bakit ibang iba sa tinuro???

I groaned and rested my head on the table, parang ayaw ko na sa STEM. I wasn't even sure I wanted to become a doctor in the first place, it was my parents' choice for me.

Almost all of the members of my family are doctors. Sa pamilya ko, kung hindi ka medical strand you're... Less. That's why they were so harsh on my mother when she chose to marry someone she loved. Nagustohan lang naman nila si Papa nang mapatunayan niya ang sarili niya as a professor.

Dahil sa expectations ng lola't lolo ko sa kanya, napasa na rin ang expectations na yun sa akin. And I got her, I really saw what she was coming from. Since I was a kid, exposed na ako sa ideya ng pagiging doktor, but... I saw how unhappy she was.

And I saw how it ruined their relationship.

I guess it was too late when I realized how difficult it was going to be. Just thinking about how long it was going to take me... Ang bigat.

Mariin kong pinikit ang mata ko before sitting up again. Walang mangyayari at walang mararating kung magmumukmok lang ako dito.

I stared at the problem for a good five minutes before I figured out where to start. Whenever Mon and I would do activities, napagdesisyunan naming 'wag muna magturuan hanggang sa hindi pa namin natatapos.

Kung hindi naman namin matapos agad, we'd continue later kung may free time sa klase.

After checking the first problem, naging madali naman nang sagutin ang iba because I was starting to get a hang of it. Yung iba kinailangan nga lang ng mas maraming brain cells, ang hirap intindihin ng mga tanong!

Dalawa nalang ang kailangan naming sagutan nang maubos na ang oras namin and I heard Mon groan from beside me nang mag-ring na ang first bell.

The librarian was also asking the students to leave kaya tumakbo na kami papunta sa classroom namin, baka sakaling magkaroon pa kami ng oras para sagutan ang dalawa.

But, ugh. Ang layo ng building! Nang makarating kami sa classroom, hingal na hingal na kami but we still had a few minutes left so we used that time to check our answers.

May masayang ngiti sa aming mga labi nang makitang magka-pareho ang sagot naming dalawa. Nakipag-apir ako sa kanya before we started answering the last two.

The teacher was late so we were able to answer the second to the last item, pero by the last one-

"Good Afternoon, class. I apologize for being late." Greeted our next subject teacher as she walked to the desk.

I bit my lip to stop myself from groaning at tinago ko nalang yung mga gamit ko before standing up with the others to greet her.

Hindi ko matuloy yung last number because nag-discuss si ma'am, I had to take notes and I kept wondering when I was able to continue.

For the next two hours, I was just listening and writing information. Minsan, nagre-recite din. I was glad when my teachers started to remember my name, it means I'm impressing them with my answers enough for them to notice me.

We did introduce ourselves nung first day, but I didn't really expect all of them to remember each one. Ang dami kaya nilang tinuturo, so it was really a big deal tuwing natatandaan ka nila.

Maagang nag-dismiss yung advisor namin because they had a meeting kaya agad kaming nakalabas ng classroom.

Mon had to clean so I waited for her outside at tinuloy ko na rin doon ang pagsosolve. Napakamot nalang ako sa ulo ko dahil kahit kung anong isulat ko, hindi tama yung nagiging sagot ko, making me groan.

"Mon." Nakasimangot na saad ko nang makalabas na siya ng classroom, when she saw me, napasimangot din siya.

"Mahirap?" Tanong niya before lending out her hand. Nakaupo na kasi ako sa sahig, wala namang maupuan sa labas eh.

I took her hand and she helped me stand up. Kinuha na rin niya yung bag ko while I dusted myself off.

Habang naglalakad kami, I just stared at the problem. Hindi ko maintindihan!

Mon and I decided to head to the gym where some of the basketball players were training. Umupo kami dun sa bleachers at nilabas na ni Mon yung mga gamit niya.

When she started on the last one, napakamot na rin siya sa ulo. 'The hell' I heard her mutter to herself, making me smile. The hell, indeed.

After a few minutes, ginulo-gulo na niya yung buhok niya. "Riles, okay na 'to!" She said, giving up. Ilang minuto nalang at magdi-dismissal na.

"Gaga, hanggang five pa 'to, ituloy mo!" I said, as I looked at the time, may isang oras pa naman kami.

"May pupuntahan pa kami nila Dad, I can't stay." Pagra-rason niya, making me frown.

In the end, she just sticked to the answer she got at pinasa na niya yun sa faculty, leaving me at the gym.

Nagi-guilty pa siya dahil hindi niya ako mahintay pero ayos lang naman yun. Ugh, bakit kasi ang hirap nito! Last na oh.

I looked at the numbers for a good minute, tinignan ko na rin yung solution ko to see what I did wrong pero wala talaga akong mahanap.

Huminga ako nang malalim before looking away from my pad paper. Minasahe ko muna ko ang ulo ko while I looked at the court and my breath hitched when I saw kuya Yohan on the other side.

When he saw me staring back at him, he smiled before looking away. What the hell. I didn't know what was wrong with my heart but it starts racing whenever I see him smile.

Akala ko bang happy crush lang, Riley??

Bago pa ako mahimatay dito, nag-focus na ulit ako sa papel ko even though it was impossible. He was standing right there! Tatapusin ko na 'to para may time pa akong tignan siya, hindi ko kasi alam kung kailan tumitigil sa pagpa-practice yung mga basketball players nami-

"Hey." A familiar voice said kaya nagulat ako. Napalingon ako sa kumausap sa akin and my eyes widened when I saw who it was. "Do you need help?"

Yes, I can't breath kailangan ko ng mouth to mouth. Char!

My lips instantly formed a smile when I saw his warm ones. "U-uh... Medyo po." Pag-amin ko, making him chuckle.

He sat beside me and I caught a whiff of his cologne. Puta, yes, hindi siya amoy Axe body spray.

Napakagat ako ng labi when he titled his head closer to me para maintindihan niya yung question, ginilid ko na ang papel para makita niya nang maayos.

"Oh..." He whispered. "Mrs. Greg?" Tanong niya and I nodded in response, still biting my lip kasi kanina ko pa gustong ngumiti, baka mag-mukha akong tanga.

Nagulat ako nang simulan niya akong turuan kung paano gawin yung last na item.

"Hmm... Galing ah." Pag-compliment niya nang makita ang ibang mga solutions ko, making me grin.

Tinignan niya ulit ang solution ko sa last part at napakunot din ang noo niya. Oh diba!

"Nakalimutan mong ipag-add 'to..." He explained as he pointed to my solution. Ahh.. Puta.

"Kaya pala..." I trailed as I scratched my head. Nakakahiya, yun lang pala! "Thank you po!" I exclaimed.

Ang talino! Akala ko bang HUMSS siya??

Baka STEM yung ex niya.

"Oh, I'm Yohan pala." Pagpapakilala niya sa sarili before laughing. "Sorry, I noticed you and your friend were struggling, kanina pa."

So kanina pa siya nakatingin sa akin??? Hehe.

"Ikaw yung... President diba?" Tanong ko, trying to prolong our conversation. Aba aba kahit limang oras pa kami mag-usap dito! Kahit sa kanya na ako umuwi, eme.

He nodded his head, still wearing that smile. "And your name is-"

"Yohan!" Pag-tawag sa kanya nung coach ng basketball team, cutting off what he was about to say. Naglalaro ba siya? Hindi naman siya naka-PE though.

"Uh... I have to go." Pagpapaalam niya sa akin and I suppressed the frown that begged to come out.

"Okay.." Sabi ko, sounding a bit disappointed. "Thank you po ulit, Kuya Yohan!" Pagpapasalamat ko muli, making his eyebrows furrow.

"Kuya?" He asked with an amused expression.

"Mas matanda po kayo sa akin." I said in a 'duh' tone, kaya napangiti siya ulit. Yie, napangiti ko na!

"Drop the Kuya, pati na rin yung po. I'm not that old, miss." He said before walking away, nagmamadali dahil mukhang may importanteng sasabihin sa kanya yung coach.

To my demise, lumabas sila kaya hindi ko na muli siya nakita. I started to fix my things bago ako bumaba ng bleachers and when I made it to the floor, I heard someone yelling: "Miss!"

Napalingon ako sa mga naglalaro ng basketball and my eyes widened when I saw the ball flying to my direction.

I shielded my face with my arms and waited for a blow but it never happened. Narinig kong bumaba ang bola though.

Nang buksan ko na ang mata ko, I saw Yohan blocking the ball with his body. Yung likod niya ang natamaan ng bola and he slightly winced from the pain.

Lumaki muli ang mata ko, ngayon ay sa pag-aalala.

Bumuntong hininga siya bago niya nilingon ang mga naglalaro, his smile had faded away at mukhang galit siya.

"GUYS, STOP PLAYING AROUND!" His voice boomed inside the court and the basketball players bowed their heads dahil napagsabihan sila.

One of the players approached the both of us and retrieved the ball from Yohan. "Sorry, miss." Sabi niya sa akin, siya siguro ang nakatapon ng bola.

Nginitian ko lang siya, saying "It's okay." Kaya nginitian niya ako pabalik bago siya bumalik sa iba. Nagsimula na silang mag-training ulit at nagulat ulit ako nang biglang humarap sa akin si Yohan.

"Okay ka lang?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya and I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling. Putangina beh.

"I should be the one asking you that!" I exclaimed, making him chuckle as he rubbed on the spot the ball hit. I grabbed his arm, ignoring the tingles that I felt, before turning him around.

"Saan masakit?" Tanong ko pero pilit siyang humarap sa akin.

"I'm okay, hindi naman magiging pasa yun." Saad niya, making me frown. Hindi ko alam kung gaano ba kabilis ang bola, but it sounded like it hurt when it hit him.

"'Wag ka nang mag-alala miss, you should go to the faculty, baka hindi na tanggapin yung papel mo." Pag-remind niya at dun ko palang naalala na may kailangan pa pala ako ipasa.

I looked at my watch and my breath hitched when I saw that I only had ten minutes left to get to the faculty room.

When I looked up, I saw Yohan with his usual smile on his face. "I'll see you around." Bati niya and even though I didn't want to leave yet, nginitian ko siya bago ako tumakbo paalis.

My heart was beating so fast at hindi ko alam kung dahil ba yun sa pag-takbo ko o kung dahil nanaman ba sa kanya.

He was the president, baka talagang friendly lang siya kahit kanino. He was inclusive and that's why everyone likes him.

I never thought we'd have some kind of interaction and I never thought anyone would ever make me feel this way.

Liking him is easy dahil wala ka namang hindi magugustohan, but he would never notice me. Isa lang naman ako sa maraming humahanga sa kanya, but in a way, I didn't mind.

But how can he make my heart go crazy in just a week?

Sign na ba 'to? Is this my go signal? I've never pursued anyone in my life, they were never worth it. I would get in a lot of trouble kapag nalaman ng mga magulang ko na nasa iba ang pokus ko.

But what was the harm in pursuing him? Right now, he was worth all of the trouble I was going to get into. At kahit wala man akong makuha pabalik, I was okay with it.

Lord, kung nakaabot po ako in time, ibig sabihin no'n lalandi na po ako. Baka siya na po talaga, ibinigay niyo na po please.

I was panting when I made it to the faculty room at nakita ko sa labas si Ma'am. May mga estudyanteng nagpa-pasa sa kanya kaya nakampante ako.

I walked up to her and handed her my paper at biglang napataas ang kilay niya. She looked at her watch and I prayed that I wasn't late.

"Hm... Muntikan na." Nakangiting saad niya before taking my paper. Ay hindi ako natutuwa, ma'am!

Napalingon siya sa mga estudyanteng tumakbo papalapit sa faculty room. Tinaasan niya ang mga yun ng kilay, like what she did to me. "One minute late, you'll be having a separate seat work tomorrow." Sabi niya before getting inside.

The other students groaned from beside me and I let out a sigh of relief.

Kuya Yohan, here I come.

Masaya akong naglakad papunta sa bahay namin before opening the door leading to the inside. As usual, madilim sa loob at konti lang ang mga bukas na ilaw.

I already expected my mom and dad to not be home at this time but to my surprise, they were. Narinig ko ang mga boses nila sa dining area kaya pumunta muna ako roon para batiin sila.

"Oh, you're home." Sabi ni mama nang makita akong papasok ng dining area. Nagmano ako sa kanilang dalawa, nakangiti pa rin dahil naalala ko nanaman ang nangyari kanina.

"Good evening po." Pag-bati ko at nginitian naman nila ako.

"Magbihis ka na, nak. We haven't had dinner in a while." Saad ni papa and I nodded my head before heading upstairs. Habang paakyat ako, I heard them bickering again, making me sigh.

Minsan na nga lang kaming magkakasama.

Like I had expected, tahimik lang kaming tatlo habang kumakain and it feels like I'm still alone but the difference was, there was tension.

I cleared my throat, trying to think of something to say. Nabibingi na ako! Before a word could get out of my mouth, inunahan na ako ni mama.

"How's your grades, Riley?" Tanong niya saakin, looking up from her food as she wiped her mouth with the napkin.

"Matataas naman po, ma." Sagot ko sa kanya. "Medyo nahihirapan nga lang po dun sa Pre-cal, but I'm getting high marks." Pag-amin ko.

"That's good, nak. Just don't get distracted, you need to focus on school para naman makapasok ka sa University." She said at tumango-tango lang ako.

"And remember anak-"

"Yes, pa. Bawal muna jowa hanggang mag-college." Pagtuloy ko sa sasabihin niya. Tuwing nagkikita kami, they always reminded me of this, tumatak na tuloy yun sa utak ko.

I was sure they would find me someone to date. Ayaw nilang magaya ako sa kanila eh. But I wanted to date someone I liked, and not some thirty year old man who's a doctor in our hospital.

I always thought that they would stand up for me when it came to situations like that, na-experience na nila eh. I just didn't realize that they were like my grandparents too.

Pagkatapos kong kumain, umakyat na kaagad ako, excusing myself dahil hindi ko na kaya ang katahimikan nila. Parang nag-aaway sila gamit ang mga mata!

"Oh, come on, Reneé! Tungkol nanaman ba 'to sa mga magulang mo??" I heard my father exclaim in frustration habang paakyat ako sa aking kwarto.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako dahil bumibigat nanaman ang pakiramdam ng aking dibdib. I made my way towards my shelf where I kept my journal.

When things felt heavy, I would write my thoughts. Ayaw ko namang istorbohin ang bestfriend ko. I knew she was going through a lot as well, kahit na hindi niya yun sinasabi sa akin.

I would fill this journal with the happy things that happened on bad days, para naman nararamdaman ko ang saya na naramdaman ko noon.

Today, I wrote about him. And a smile crept up to my lips when I remembered those moments. Wala pa man, napapasaya na niya ako.

'For the first time in my life, may nagustohan na akong hindi malandi looool. Siguro magugustohan siya nila mama. He has a lot of potential! Maybe they'll trust him with me.

Pero ang piling ko, ako nililigawan teh??

Speaking of ligaw, gawin ko kaya?? hihi. Ligaw na hindi ko ire-reveal sarili ko gano'n. Maybe I'll reveal myself when he graduates. Bawal pa akong magka-jowa eh, but I don't want to talk about that!

Magga-graduate na pala siya in a few months :(( Siguro hindi na ako magpapalipas pa ng oras, no??

Well, the thought of him eased my mind in an instant. The effect he already had on me... Gosh.

He's a good thing. And I could already tell that he deserved the world. He made other people feel so happy, he deserved that happiness too.

Kaya ibibigay ko sa kanya yun! Kahit katiting lang na ngiti ang ambag ko sa buhay niya, ayos na yun.

Ang dami nang taong nagpapasaya sa kanya. I doubt something like this would even mean something to him, but I was still going to do it nonetheless.

I got a piece of colored paper from my shelf at nagsimula na ako sa pagsusulat.

Dear Kuya Yohan,

I hope this letter doesn't freak you out, mabait akong tao promise! I'm just one of your many admirers. I hope you're reading this letter, but at the same time, sana hindi rin? Ay basta!

Ang galing niyo pong sumayaw nung assembly!! Pwede ka na pong sumali dun sa dance troop, no doubt.

But being the president really suits you. You're kind, funny, and very wise. Baka yun ang dahilan kung bakit gustong gusto kita.

I was drawn to you the moment I saw you and yes, this is a confession! Crush na crush na crush na crush na crush na po kita :((

I hope that smile of yours never fades at kung mangyari man yun, I hope my letterSss (Yes everyday 'to no, pati weekends gagawan kita bleh) would help you smile a bit :))

Ang piling ko para sabihin 'to but, look forward to my letters every day! hihi. Bawal mag cancel sa subscription na 'to. Only 1k a month <33 Charot hehe.

Nagmamahal sa'yo nang sobra sobra,
Raya <33

It was already so late at night pero dinesignan ko pa yung envelope at yung mismong papel ng mga stickers stickers, nilagyan ko na rin ng stamp yun para mukhang sosyal, 'di diba??

When I was done designing nilagay ko na yun sa bag ko para hindi ko makalimutang dalhin.

Now, I just have to find a way to give this to him without him seeing me...

___________________________

Riley Janine ⇾ Ri Ja ⇾ Raya

Hope you liked the first chapter <33

(Thoughts?)