Chapter Six

“Excuse me?!” I heaved a very heavy sigh and my chest is pounding so hard out of frustration that I have towards this person. He always appear out of nowhere and then do silly things coincidentally... or it was coincidence at all.

Lumingon ang iilan sa mga estudyanteng narito sa cafeteria sa kinaroroonan ko since I began shouting for of course, they don't know who. I can feel their eyes darted at me and that rude ass guy stopped from walking and in a split second, it was like a miracle of the heavens when the rude ass turn around. Wala siyang sinabi, as I had anticipated. Nung tiningnan ko siyang mariin sa mukha, blanko at walang emosyon roon. As if he was a soulless.

“How dare you walk away like that?”

He raised his brows and began pacing towards me. Ganoon pa rin ang ekspresyonh ipinapakita. Kung sana lang kaya kong ibato sa kaniya iyong vending machine sa di kalayuan ngunit alam ko namang imposible iyon. Though, not in my mind.

“Alright. I'm sorry.”

“What now?”

He shrugged. “Ano ba ang inaasahan mong nararapat kong gawin?”

I can hear classmates whispering around us, but I didn't even glance their way. Right now, all I can think about is the rude ass in front of me. I gritted my teeth from behind my lips, hardly managing to keep my eyes from rolling. He's such a jerk. Hindi siya pangit, I could tell that because he's kinda attractive but if you'll look into his personality, sobrang pangit. Never attractive at all. So this is how real guys looks and acts like. His personality triumphs over his appearance. Pumangit tuloy siya sa paningin ko. Really unattractive for acting in ways that may make my blood boil.

Inirapan ko si Ryden. “Have you even realize what you did to me?”

Nagkibit-balikat ulit siya. “Fine.” At may kung ano siyang kinuha sa kaniyang bulsa. Just when I realized it was a pale blue handkerchief. He then handed it to me. “Wala na akong maisip na iba pang pwedeng gawing solusyon sa problema mo. Sorry ulit.” He paused for a second as he look straight in my eyes. “I'm going.” I don't know if I'm just hallucinating things but I kinda saw him flashing a slight smirk and then turn back around to walk away. that's just when I've got to breath as in a real breathing. It was like the heavens have been stopping me for breathing when he was around.

Thankfully, the students in this school quickly returned to their own worlds and pretended that no such incident had occurred. Sana lang ay walang nakapag-video nuon because it would be the end of me. Despite the fact that I done nothing wrong, alam kong later on, I'd regret what I did kasi sobrang nakakahiya ang sumigaw na napapaligiran ka ng maraming tao.

He handed me a handkerchief, and I just rolled my eyes and stared at it. It remained on the palms of my hands. It remained on the top of my hand; I dared not touch it.

“Oh em gee! What the hell was that, Aye? Oh my, That really happened —what a scene!” Oh yes, out of nowhere, Arin suddenly popped up like a mushroom.

“Goodness, Arin nakakahiya!”

Tumawa si Arin at hinila ako pabalik sa aking upuan. “Talaga! But whoncares, atleast napansin ka niya—and oh shit, binigyan ka pa ng panyo!”

“Bakit? Don't tell me it's romantic again?”

Yet there was a ghost of smile hidden in her face. “Hindi ko naman sinabi.” She said meaningfully. “But it could be.”

“Oh, come on, Arin. Walang naka-romantic doon. was a realistic emotion I felt. Meeting new guy and getting pissed at him. No new, so not romantic.”

“Okay, fine!” she rested. “Now I think kailangan na nating pumunta sa CR kasi mukha kanang katawa-tawa na colorful girl dahil sa natapon na coke. And—oh, hindi pa ako nakapag-order.”

“What? Hindi ka pa naka-order? Eh bakit ang tagal mo doon?”

She sighed and then pulled me up and held my arms and then walked me to the CR located in the long side of the counter. We walked so fast and then when we got ourselves inside, she then sighed and a hand on her chest. “HE'S here.” Hin-ighlight niya pa ang pronoun na kaniyang binigkas.

I raised a brow and immediately get it. Okay, “He-who-you-always-wanna-talk-about?”

She nods. Fine, I won't ask questions. Kasi, hahaba lang ang usapan at narinig ko naman na halos ang mga salita niya about him kasi paulit-ulit nalang.

“So, mabalik tayo sa nangyari sa iyo. Come on, Aye! I never expected that for all people here in the campus you'd ran to that Ryden at hindi ko naisip na ganito ang mangyayari! How bad but still good.” At nag-thumbs up siya.

“Arin, him handing me his handkerchief wouldn't cover up that he's still rude. Have you heard on the way he talks to me? Kung hindi ko siya tinawag at sinigawan, aalis lang siya at iiwan ako roon na parang walang nangyari. So no, I won't say that recently's moment is good. It's merely bad. Nothing more, nothing less.”

She shrugged. Sa tingin ko'y hindi pa rin kumbinsido. “Okay, sabi mo eh.”

A few minutes later, we both found ourselves talking to random things inside the CR while we're infront the mirror. Dalawang buwan rin ang dumaan dahil sa summer vacation kaya naman wala pang laman ang locker ko. After the school year ended last year, I gathered my things that have been put inside there especially my currently-reading books that time. Siyempre, ayaw ko namang iwanan ang mga gamit ko rito, yet locked, still not safe, even though it's guarded. Kaya naman wala akong ibang option para magbihis ng damit.  If it wasn't first day of school then might as well it would just be fine since Arin would always bring extra clothes, except now.

“So, ano nang gagawin natin ngayon?”

“I guess we have to call Ash. Oh goodness that asshole, ni hindi ko man lang alam saan siya hahanapin ngayon.” Arin picked up his phone and immediately dialed Ash's number. Kaunting sandali lang ay sinagot naman kaagad nito ang tawag ni Arin. Thankfully.

“Nasaan ka ba?.. Ah-uh... bilhan mo si Aye ng shirt... we'll tell you once your here. Narito kami ngayon sa CR dito sa cafeteria... my god Ash, kahit ano nalang bilhin mo basta sasakto sa pinsan natin! ... Okay fine, a shirt will do you ass head!” Then, Arin ended the call.

“Thanks, Rin. Uhm, where was he by the way?”

“Kasama na naman ang tropa niya.” She shrugged. “Much better than dating random girls. Kawawa naman ang mga iyon, they're settling for Ash' bare minimums.”

“Sana lang, magbago na siya.” I sighed.

It was extremely dull to wait there for more than thirty minutes. Nag-uusap lamang kami ng mga random na mga bagay that has nothing to do with our lives. Hindi rin namin maiwasang pag-usapan ang buhay ng ibang tao but doesn't mean we're backstabbing them. If that bothers you, nag-uusap lang naman kami tungkol roon sa nangyari sa aming classmate last year and how a random man on TikTok claimed to have become wealthy by simply playing a random game from the Google Playstore. Lumipas ang ilang minuto ay finally, dumating rin si Ash na may bitbit na paperbag.

It was as if the heaven opened the gates for me when I saw Ash' face and him bringing a paper bag with a known brand printed on it. Isang simpleng black shirt lamang iyon na may printang brand nito. Though it was so simple-looking, hindi na'ko nagreklamo kasi first of all the thing that's in my mind right now is how to get out of this CR and to look myself well and proper again without stain on my dress. Atleast di'ba, hindi ko na kailangan pang maglakad-lakad pa sa labas na may dumi sa damit. It wasn't even like I was being bought by an overpriced book with not-so-good writing style and enabler characters within it so I wouldn't complain.

All throughout that time, Ash stayed with us until I've got to finish cleaning up myself and after I retouched my looks. Most especially my lips and eyelashes.

“It's almost ten, I think we should go to the auditorium right now or else we'll be late.”

“Woah,” muttered Arin. “Hindi ko naman naisip na may plano ka palang pumunta roon, Ashton.”

“Tsk, ako pa? Siyempre hindi. May nakita lang akong magandang babae doon kanina. Baka lang, may chance ako.” He winked.

“Come on, Ash. Hindi naman siguro pwede na i-date mo lahat ng babaeng sa tingin mo maganda. You should find a true love that would stay until you're hair turns gray. You're being so worldly.”

“Come on, Aye. You can't just jump from one book to another just to fill the longing of romance within you. Dapat maghanap ka ng true love, iyong totoong nag-e-exist at mananatili sa iyo sa mga totoong pangyayari sa buhay mo. Hindi iyong fae males. You're being too fictional.”

I presse my lips a line because of course, that what he just said was an attack of a dagger it hits me so hard!

“Come on, guys. Hindi naman siguro pwedeng magtatalo lang kayong dalawa rito sa loob, di'ba? not when I'm feeling so hungry again at nangangailangan na talaga ako ng pagkain. Ang mabuti pa, we should find food that could fill the starving tummy I have. Okay?!”

Kaya naman, we all get outside that area and did just like Arin suggested us to do. Malapit nang magsimula ang orientation kaya naman nagtake-out na lang kami ng makakain namin habang naroon kami sa loob ng auditorium. When we're pacing towards the building, the rude ass flashed in my mind again and I hope on not to see him again or even just ran into him. That would the most unfortunate thing for me. I just hope that I won't see him here and oh, of course I won't. Napakalaki ng lugar na ito at crowded pa. It would be impossible if I'd still see him here and if ever I will, I would probably notice it because the students would most likely to gossip about it and turn their heads towards him but now, there's no such thing happening so I expect that he isn't around which is good. Naupo kami sa loob and out of boredom, I just picked up my book which is the Unlively Heart because I feel like, I've got to start reading it.

Hindi ko pa natapos basahin ang introduction nuong story and I know it would take time before I get there. Though through how the author narrated the beginning of it, I already had the hint on what the plot of it will be about. Ang prologue pa lang ang nabasa ko which is nasimulan ko a week ago lang wherein nag-focus iyon sa climax ng story and left a cliff-hanging words that of course, para ma-hook ang readers at ipagpatuloy ang pagbabasa nito. That is what impresses the most. I'm so intrigued for the whole plot and how would the main character would handle the challenges in there.

My two cousins beside me were both busied themselves on their cellphones and there's no need for me to read their minds as if I'm reading a random characters’ point of view just like what I'm doing, for me not to read how they feel. Sobrang halata naman na nabo-bored na sila at ganoon rin naman ako. Sino ba namang hindi? The rules they're informing us is still the same on what they've taught us years ago. Lalo na tungkol sa campus roles at ang kanilang hina-higlight ay ang bullying na hindi dapat mangyari sa loob ng campus.

So, let's get back to what I am reading. It was about a character named Chester who had a high school sweetheart named Solari. Chester is a type of a man na palaging pinaprioritize ang kaniyang studies and he was even the editor in chief in their school paper. Palaging pambato sa debates, though sabi rito ay math ang favorite subject niya at pambato rin sa mga math quiz bees. Everyone at school loved him for also, being so humble on everyone and how he teaches his fellow writers on their papers. Calm and excellent. Iyan ang tingin sa kaniya ng mga estudyante especially room sa mga naa-attract sa kaniya. Sino na namang hindi? A guy who's academically active and never drag his fellows down is the sluttiest thing I could think of a man. I seldomly get interested in men but when they're smart especially when they're so good about something I don't, math in particular, I get so impressed.

When Chester was in high school, he met a girl who always has bad records at school. She was Chester's classmate and there was one time that this girl was caught cheating on their preliminary exam. Muntikan nang ma-expell ang babae nuong mangyari iyon pero buti nalang, the school principal and the professor had forgiven her for what she did. Another thing happened, this girl was caught by Chester smoking together with her friends after class. Of course,  Chester tried to lecture him about their behavior but the girl ended up get annoyed at sabay suntok nito kay Chester. If you're asking who the girl is and there was someone in your mind, okay fine, you're right. She's named Solari. Medyo absurd ang first meet nila ngunit nuong binasa ko na ay napa-impress ako. This is a new trope and I've never read something like this before.

Hindi ko pa rin alam kung paano magti-twist ang events dito sa story and I'm still the first pages of the story and I've still have a lot in my cup. Ang tanging mapi-predict ko lang ay eventually, Chester and Ryle will soon fall inlove and the thing that I need to find out now is how come their relationship would befell just like on what I've read on the prologue? “I don't know.” I shrugged in myself and closed the book and leaned properly in my seat.