Chapter Four

“I mean, he really did it? Hinablot niya yung libro sa harapan mo? OMG, wait so yung moment niyo na iyon, you watch as he pull the book and claim it as his. Then, ang lahat sa paligid niyo ay pawang nag-slowmo kasabay ng pagtunog ng musika out of nowhere. Wow, may soundtrack.”

Napailing kaagad ako nang makita ko si Arin na binibigkas na para bang damang-dama niya ang mga salita niya at nakahawak pa siya sa kaniyang dibdib. She did those things while gazing up at the ceiling and acting as though she were giving someone a fantastic narrative akin to a Disney tale. Halos masuka ako sa kaniyang mga sinasabi. Lahat sa paligid namin ay naka-slowmo and then tumunog ang soundtrack out of nowhere? Absurd. At isa pa, wala naman akong gusto sa rude na lalaking iyon.

Anyway, as the summer break is almost over, Arin and I made the decision to enroll for our senior high school at Luther International School. Napagdesisyunan ni Arin na dito magpalipas ng gabi matapos kaming maglakad-lakad kanina sa Southern Lion. There is only one week left before the school year begins. Since may website naman ang school namin, pwede lang mag-enroll through online as long as i-fill up lang ang mga information asked doon. Tinatamad na rin kasi kaming pareho na pumunta pa roon sa school namin para mag-enroll. Pareho kami ni Arin na nakatalukbong sa aming kumot kaharap ang aming laptop.

Acosta, Ayezza Nathalie C.
11-GAS

“Final na'to, ito na talaga strand ko.”

“OMG, I chose GAS din! Same tayo, ha?!”

“Depende kung hindi tayo ihiwalay ng section.” I shrugged.

“Hindi 'yan, trust me.”

After we both decided our SHS strands, We simultaneously press each button the website offers while both of us are looking at our own laptops.

“Anyway, what if taga-rito lang din yung si Mr. Hoodie Jacket? And then, magkikita kayo ulit and all the memories in that bookstore will flash since magkakasalubong kayo sa hallway. And then, liliparin ng brilyante ng hangin ang hair mo and then—wow, high school romance.”

After ko ma-click ng ilang informations ko roon sa website, I shifted my gaze. Hinarap ko si Arin. “Why is it looks like you are romanticizing our moment? Gosh, Arin hindi ko siya gusto, okay? I didn't like what he did to me kasi feeling ko pinagkait niya sa akin kanina ang soon-to-be-best friend ko!”

She sighed. “Eh kasi naman, sabi mo he's kinda cute. Siyempre hindi ko maiwasang mag-imagine!” She touched his chest with some sensual eyes staring at the ceiling. “May nararamdaman lang ako na ngayong isang taon nalang at legal age kana, soon enough I'm sure magkakaroon ka rin ng leading man mo. You know, I think you deserve it. Someone deserves to touch your lips.”

I groaned before raising an eyebrow. Touch my lips? Does she mean to kiss? Pinagmasdan ko si Arin habang sinasabi niya ang mga katagang na iyon. I don't know if it's shameful but for seventeen years of existence, wala pa talagang nakahalik sa lips ko. I know no one cares but I just think it's kinda shameful kasi some girls my age have already done so. And yes, really, all parts of my body are virgin. Even the romantic side of my heart, not even once have I experienced falling in love.

You know, books have taught me that admiration and love aren't the same thing since there are always people who keep on believing that once you become attracted to someone, you will inevitably fall in love with him. Iba ang natutunan ko sa mga librong binabasa ko. May mga sitwasyon na makakaramdam ka ng attraction towards someone at hanggang doon lang iyon at minsan naman, there is a person who you attract first and fall in love at the end. For multiple times already. That is why, I am saying that I haven't been fall in love, deeply.

“I don't need romance.”

Napatigil siya at nilipat rin ang tingin galing sa screen sa kaniyang laptop papunta sa akin. “You need romance. We all need romance, at sa sitwasyon mo, sa tingin ko'y iniiwasan mo lang iyon para walang makaka-istorbo sa oras mo kasama ang mga libro mo.”

“Oh right. You know me too well.”

“Of course, I am you're best friend cousin.” She giggles and went back her eyes to the screen.

Binalik ko ang aking atensyon sa laptop ko at pinagpatuloy ang pagta-type at pagfi-fill up sa informations na hinihingi. We're both enrolling for this year and we'll be senior high students na. Sana lang ay makakasurvive kami sa dalawang semester since I know it would be stressful. Gusto kong makapasa. I don't care if I'll experience mental breakdowns. I just want to pass. I, Arin, and Ash go to the same university but then since nag-enroll naman na si Ash last week kasama ang tropa niya, kami nalang ni Arin ang natira. We have gone wandering around the mall without even worrying that we're not enrolled yet.

“Excited na'ko sa first day of school!”

“Talaga? The last time I checked, palagi kang nagra-rant kasi sa rami ng activities natin and our teachers are giving us a hard time and now here you are.”

She rolled her eyes. “Of course, new school year means new cute freshmen na naman and might as well, transferees di'ba? Kaya nakaka-excite.”

“Hindi kaya. That would just mean, magiging busy na naman ako sa studies at wala na naman akong enough time para magbasa ng mga nasa TBR ko. Ahh, boring.”

“Stressful studies were never boring at all.” She sighed. Yeah, right. Almost forget about that.

After minutes of talking with her with I don't know, senseful topics? I and Arin were just talking about random things. Kanina, pinag-uusapan namin ang pangyayari sa akin witu that Mr. Hoodie Jacket roon sa bookstore and our topic flew to me being in love (which is nearly impossible since I think books did great for raising my standard at guys so high) and until we found ourselves talking about new school year with new freshmen and transferees. Ganoon kami for nearly an hour hanggang sa finally, natapos rin kami sa aming ginagawa.

“Finally, enrolled!”

I stretched my arms after I clicked the ‘submit all’ button and a notification immediately appeared on the screen ‘successfully done because that was quite tiring. Though medyo nalito ako sa ilang questions but what matters the most is I'm finally enrolled. “Finally,” humikab ako.

I exited my laptop and tinurn-off na rin ito. Malapit na mag-ten and I should get to sleep already. Humikab ako since malapit nang sumuko ang talukap ng mga mata ko dahil sa antok. If only my body was laying in the bed then I would sleep unknowingly.

“By the way, nahanap ko na ang IG account nuong Ryden Saldivar. What an achievement, di'ba?”

Hindi pa ba siya tapos sa lalaking iyan? “Talaga? Paano mo nahanap?”

“Nags-scroll lang ako sa Facebook account niya. Though, wala namang ibang impormasyon roon sa profile niya tungkol sa kaniyang IG account or whatever, basta it just occured to me na what if i-try kong e search sa IG ang FB name niya di'ba? and guess what, it was successful!” In-exit niya ang LIS website at pumunta roon sa Instagram app. There she typed the name of Ryden in ‘@ryden_sldvr’ and it was indeed his account.

“Is that him? Bakit naman naka-private?”

She shrugged. “Well, let's just wait hanggang sa i-accept niya ang follow request ko. Sa ganyan ba namang almost unrealistic features? Siyempre kapag ako lang rin naman ang nasa sitwasyon niya ay mas prefer ko maging private. I would cherish my handsomeness all by myself.”

“Alam mo, duda ako diyan.”

“Of course, kung ako si Ryden nga e!”

I stared at his icon again. Halata ngang siya iyon pero nung dumaan ang ilang minuto ay nagtagpo ang mga kilay ko nang ma-realize kong familiar ang kaniyang mukha na para bang nakita ko na siya somewhere. That black hoodie jacket and that deep eyes and pointed nose, I indeed have seen him personally and might as well just simply ran onto him!

Napatakip ako sa aking bibig nang mapagtanto ko ilang sandali rin ang rason kung bakit siya pamilyar na pamilyar sa akin. I have already seen him just a while ago! And we ended up just ran into each other, not simply ran because he was the one who stole that only left awesome book that was supposedly mine! Hindi ko agad iyon naisip and how the heck hindi agad!

“Oh my gosh, Arin, is this really the Ryden Saldivar?”

“Of course! ang pogi niya ‘no?”

“No—I mean—No, I can't believe this!” I stood up with my mouth falling in ajar. Did I just?! Oh, that was a hilarious coincidence! Hindi ko naman in-expect na mame-meet ko si Ryden Saldivar in that kind of hilarious situation at dahil lang rin naman iyon sa kaniya kung bakit napaka-hilarious ng pangyayaring iyon.

“Believe ang alin?”

I stared at Arin. “Thi! I mean, itong—oh my gosh, I don't know how to say it.”

I mean, it was just so hilarious. That moment with him. Akala ko'y isa lang siyang cute random guy na commoner dito sa Pilipinas who went to that bookstore to buy a book. A FREAKING AWESOME BOOK. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o hindi, hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko ba't ako nakakaramdam ng ganto. I mean, excuse me? Ryden Saldivar is a bookworm?!  Just like me!

I paced back and forth in my room because of the heart's overwhelming realization and revelation. I know, estranghero lang ako para diyan sa Ryden na iyan but maybe ganto lang talaga ang pakiramdam kapag may nakilala kang taong gusto rin magbasa ng books just like you. I know Ryden Newell is quite known for his so-called cuteness so that's what makes it extra unexpecting thought that there are also pretty guys who love books.

“Aye? C'mon, kailangan mong kumalma at i-share sa akin whatever you're thinking right now.” Tumayo si Arin sabay lapit sa akin at hinawakan ang mga kamay ko.

I sighed. “Arin, that Ryden Saldivar. Alam ko medyo nakakataea ito but this one is true. Yung Mr. Hoodie Jacket na sinasabi ko sa iyo kanina na nakita ko sa bookstore wasn't just a random guy at all. That was Ryden Saldivar!” I exclaimed.

Kagaya lang rin ng reaksyon ko kanina, Arin did the same. Her mouth as well fell ajar and both hands clasped in her mouth. “Tell me you're joking...” Tumigil siya at suminghap. “OMG, cousin! Like for real?! Nagka-romantic moment ka with one of the most hottest guy in town?! OMG, I can't believe you—tangina feeling ko malalagutan na'ko ng hininga. KAILANGAN KONG KUMALMA!”

“Alright, alright, that was indeed a moment but Arin lemme remind you again, that wasn't romantic at all.”

Just like me, she paced back and forth throughout my room and stares at me like she can't believe on what I said. “Oh my freaking gosh, Aye, hindi ko makapaniwala na isang katulad mo who kills her vacant time with books doesn't find that romantic at all. You know, dapat alam mo kung paano mag-determine whether a moment is romantic or not!”

There's no way that moment that ruined my mood got to be romantic. “That's absurd. I mean, napaka-ideal ng romance stories para magkatotoo 'no! Hindi pa natin gaanong kilala iyang Ryden Saldivar na iyan at baka pareho lang din pala sila ni Ashton. Mga dakilang playboy.

At suminghap ulit siya. “Nagjojoke-time ka ba? Ang dahilan kung bakit naging popular itong si Ryden dahil sa personality at behavior niya. Doon sa previous school niya ang sabi wala raw siyang napaiyak na babae ni-isa. He has that good boy vibes and even records. Napakalaking opposite sa pinsan natin, Aye. Ang galing di'ba? Despite sa kagwapuhan niya ay hindi niya ginagamit iyon para mag-mistreat ng mga babae at hindi umaaktong superior.”

“We wouldn't know, we never meet him personally.”

She just shrugged. “Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na for all people na hinahangaan siya, ikaw pa itong nagkaroon ng ganoong moment with him na parang k-drama lang.  I really do think that you're finally getting near to your awesome love story.”

“Arin, stop making me think like that. There's no such thing. Awesome love stories only happen in books and not the other way around.” Even my parents who I think had an awesome love romantic story for their age didn't make it til the end. Though hindi pa naman sila naghihiwalay and I don't think if they're even thinking about separating ways. Pero nase-sense ko na unti-unti silang nawawalan ng affection sa isa't-isa. Respeto na lamang sa isa't-isa ang nakakapagpanatili sa kanila sa marriage nila.

That made me realize that an awesome love story would not gonna stay forever because just like words written into the sand, it will slowly fade or might as well end fast.

“Ayokong magkaroon ng delusions sa totoong buhay, Arin. At the end of time, if I let my guard down, it would just be me who will be pitiful in the end. The more I love, the more I get hurt. So bakit ko pa hahayaan ang sarili ko na ma-involve sa mga ganoong bagay ko pwede ko namang iwasan?”

She fell silent and then shrugs. “Yeah ganoon nga. Kung sino pa iyong nagbuhos ng nararamdaman with pure intentions ay siya pang palaging nasasaktan sa huli.”

Furthermore, I think reading romantic books is just enough to feel my need to fall in love. At least I know in books, whether they end up happily or not, they once loved each other genuinely. A love that you can rarely find in real life.