#TheRebel'sRival

Note: Hello guys! Pahapyaw lang ang gagawin kong reference sa Good Night Enemy and Attack of the Fckboys na scenes. Hindi ko na iuungkat ang about sa kanila para wag na masyadong humaba ang story haha.

To those who haven't read Good Night Enemy and Attack of the fuckboys: HINDI MO SILA KAILANGANG BASAHIN para lang maintindihan ang story na ito. However, you will encounter spoilers about those stories here haha :) 

January 26

6:30 AM

Momkuno:

good morning baby

mommy loves u so much

"Whatever." I gagged and turned my phone down. I raised my feet on the chair and chowed down to Silver's specialty—Instant noodles.

"Your Mom again?" Silver asked as and sipped the noodles straight from her own bowl.

"What's new?" I chuckled sarcastically and just shrugged.

"And your pissed because?" She asked, wiping the edge of her lips.

"I'm not Pissed. I'm just annoyed." 

Oo nga at sanay ako na laging nagse-send ng message si Mama sa akin, minsan nga nagvi-videochat pa, pero parang iba kasi ngayon. Mula nang bumalik ako sa Filimon Heights at umalis naman siya patungo sa kung saang lumalop ng mundo, araw-araw na siya kung mag-message at minsan three times a day pa. Ano bang nakain niya?

"Mas dumalas messages niya. Kaka-badtrip." I hissed and rolled my eyes.

"Di ka pa ba sanay sa daily messages niya?" 

"Naging three times a day na." Nawalan ako bigla ng ganang kumain kaya tinapon ko na lang sa lababo ang natitirang laman ng bowl  ko. "Ugh! Kailan ba babalik ang kakambal mo?"

"Miss mo na agad si Slade?" Tanong ni Silver kaya mabilis ko siyang nilingon at sinamaan ng tingin habang nakasandal sa kitchen counter.

"I miss his cooking." I clarified. "I'm so sick of cup noodles and fastfood! Ya feel me?"

"I feel ya..." Silver sighed as she pursed her lips nonchalantly. That was her way of pouting whenever she's bummed out. 

"Ano ba kasing nangyari dun?" usisa ko.

"Emergency something," Silver just shrugged and threw what's left on her bowl down the sink.

"By the way, I'll be watching Sawyer's game tonight. Nagtatampo si Gago kasi di raw ako nanonood ng games niya. Wanna come with?" Pag-yayaya ko pero mabilis siyang umiling.

"Don't worry the guys won't be there," habol ko agad. Silver finds the guys annoying, I can't blame her though. 

"Nah, I can't go. I have exams to study for. Don't you have exams?" tanong pabalik ni Silver sa akin.

"I don't know." Natawa na lang ako. "And who cares? At the end of the day, Grades won't measure my intelligence."

"But Grades reflect your self-discipline," giit agad ni Silver. "Come on Rei, maraming mga kabataan ngayon na hindi makapag-aral dahil sa hirap ng buhay tapos ikaw—"

"I know. Kaya nga pumapasok pa rin ako diba?" katwiran ko agad. Hindi ko napigilang matawa. Kung may pangangaralan si Silver, dapat ang kakambal niya. Mas malala ang isang 'yon sa akin eh. 

"Reika, I'm serious. At least show some effort naman. Don't just settle on the passing grade when we all know you can do so much better. Look I'm not asking you to be an over-achiever, all I'm saying is that put a little effort." Silver spoke flatly but she still manage to sound authoritative. 

I really don't like it when people nag but for some reason, I can't really hate her. And surprisingly, I'm not even pissed. Maybe because I always knew Silver was just looking out for me. Like what family does. 

Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Silver at napansin ko ang kanyang pag-ismid.

"What happened?" I got curious.

"Someone just posted a list of fckboys to avoid."

"Buti nga sa kanila, exposed!" Natawa na lang ako. Tiyak andiyan si Haji at Cohen.

"Kasali sina Magno, Jethro, at Sawyer sa listahan." Agad naglaho ang ngiti sa mukha dahil sa narinig. Sawyer used to mess around but he stopped that now. Jethro is too serious to fool around as well. And I'm pretty sure my cousin isn't a fckboy.

****

I found myself paying attention to class and it wasn't that bad. When it was time for a pop quiz, I didn't even had to look on Braylee's paper because I already know what the answer is. As our scores were being recorded, everyone was shocked upon hearing mine. It wasn't a perfect score but I was one of those with the highest.

"Hindi ako nangopya." Depensa ko agad nang tiningnan ako ng prof nang kakaiba. Nagtawanan naman ang lahat.

"Uy inspired." Pang-aasar sa akin ni Braylee kaya napaismid ako.

Silver's right though... it does feel a little fulfilling. My efforts paid off.

Before I could even dismiss Braylee's accusations, bigla na lang tumunog ang cellphone ko. It was from an unknown number but upon reading the message, my jaw dropped.

Unknown:

It's Riley. Can I ask for a favor?

And just like that, my mind and heart went haywire. I became nervous all of a sudden but I tried to hide it off with my words. 

You:

Ew parasite

lumalapit lang pag may kailangan

Riley:

Loka sigi naaa

I found myself smiling, imagining him whining like a cute little gay kid. His thick eyebrows must be close together again as his cute lips form into his feline-like pout. Cute! 

 "Sa ginagawa mong 'yan wala ka na ring pinagkaiba sa mga taong hindi tanggap ang pagkatao ni Riley." Slade's words suddenly assaulted my fantasy.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes shut, trying to compose myself with the truth. I have to stop my feelings. It's not healthy anymore.

Riley:

It's for Braylee 

Please?

Napatingin ako kay Braylee na pangiti-ngiti habang nakikinig sa professor namin.

Nakakainggit si Braylee. Kung tutuusin kasi ako dapat ang nasa posisyon niya, hindi bilang girlfriend ngunit bilang best friend. Before they met, ako 'yung best friend eh. Ako 'yung laging nasa tabi. Ako yung karamay niya at lagi niyang dinadamayan. Ako 'yung kaibigan at kasangga sa lahat ng bagay.

"Everything okay Rei?" Braylee asked, gone was the smile on her face.  She even looked worried.

I sighed and shook my head.

I may envy Braylee but I really can't hold it against her. After all, mukhang hindi nga nila alam na kilala namin ni Riley ang isa't isa. Mukhang ni minsan hindi nga ata ako na kwento ni Riley sa kanila. And besides, I love Braylee. How can I even hate a girl with a heart like hers?

"Is it about the projects?" tanong niya.

"Projects?" I asked, completely oblivious.

Braylee sighed and smiled. "Gusto mo tayo ang partner sa projects? Mukhang wala ka namang partner eh hehe. Kung okay lang sa'yo syempre? pero kung ayaw mo akong partner, okay lang din hehe."

God, she's even too shy to ask me to be her partner!

"How about we make the projects together?" Pagyayaya ko na lang. 

"Like a sleepover?" Namilog ang mga mata ni Braylee sa tuwa. If she was an emoji, she'd be the one with hearts for eyes.

"Of course." I chuckled. "Kailan ka pwede?"

"On the 29th." She beamed. "Let's make all of our projects para ubos lahat ng problema."

The professor suddenly cleared his throat kaya naman mabilis kaming tumahimik ni Braylee at nagbalik ng tingin sa board. 

Habang nagsasalita si Prof, pa simple naman akong nagtipa ng reply para kay Riley.

Reika:

Anything for bubbles powerpuff

why?

Riley:

It's her birthday on the 28th 

there will be a party tomorrow night

Salubong ganern

Reika:

tapos?

Riley:

close kayo ni slade diba?

we want wave syndicate to play kaso indefinite leave daw si slade

ayaw din nila mag-play without slade

Reika:

and u want me to?

Riley:

what happened to slade? can't he come back earlier

Reika:

emergency idk

Riley:

Please convince him to play just for tomorrow

for braylee lang please

Reika:

Will try

Riley:

make sure please

Reika:

Wowwww! demanding hahaha

Riley: 

btch just do it

Reika:

GUSTO MO MASAPAK?

Riley:

Ughhhhhh

Reika:

Ng Halik?

Riley:

KADIRI KA BWISIT

Reika:

Hahahaha chill 

naka move on na ako sa'yo

Riley:

GOOD!

Reika:

GOODER!!!

Riley: 

GOODEST!!!

Reika:

Hahahaha pogi mo pa rin

Riley:

BWISIT KA!!!

Reika:

Joke lang gago

bwisit ka rin

****

Sumapit na ang gabi pero hindi ko pa rin nakakausap si Slade. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulang humingi ng pabor. Baka mamaya gamitin pa niya ang pabor laban sa akin. Ulol pa naman ang isang 'yon.

"Hoy! Kanina ka pa tulala!" Bulalas ni Sawyer at hinagis pa sa akin ang mabaho niyang polo.

"Pangit ka pa rin." Umingos na lang ako at isinilid ang polo niya sa kanyang duffel bag habang siya naman nagbibihis ng soccer uniform niya. Nang ang khaki pants na ang kanyang huhubarin, tumalikod na ako, baka mamaya akalain pa akong manyakis ng makakakita sa amin. Yuck! 

"Damn! Hindi ka ba talaga attracted sa abs ko?" Pang-aasar ni Sawyer at ipinatong pa sa ulo ko ang khaki pants niya. Senyales iyon na tapos na siyang magbihis kaya naman at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Crush mo di attracted sa'yo." Ganti ko dahilan para agad maglaho ang ngiti sa mukha niya.

"By the way, do you have any idea who could've hacked the city and campus page just to post that list?" Sawyer asked all of a sudden kaya bigla kong naisip ang Akila Theta Sorority. Iyon lang naman ang grupo sa campus namin na kayang gumawa ng ganun lalo't feminist ang karamihan sa myembro. 

"Akila Theta Sorority, I guess." I shrugged, wasn't so sure either. "Stacy and Piper are both geniuses so it could be either the to of them."

Tumango si Sawyer at kinuha ang cellphone niya. Habang nagtitipa siya sa screen, doon ko lang napagtanto ang kamalian ng sinabi ko.

"Sawyer! Anong ginawa mo?!" Bulalas ko at sumilip agad sa cellphone niya.

"Don't worry. I won't tell them you snitched. I told the guys I blackmailed you into telling me their names." Aniya pa kaya napasinghap ako sa gulat.

Damn it! What the hell have I done?!

***

Hindi ako mapalagay habang nanonood ng laro ni Soccer match nina Sawyer. I felt guilty for giving up Stacy and Piper's names lalo pa't kasama ko ito sa bleachers. To ease my tension, ngumuya na lang ako ng chewing gum. 

Sakto namang bigla akong nakatanggap ng message mula kay Slade.

Villafranca #2:

Miss me? hahaha

Reika:

Sino ka nga ulit?

Villafranca #2:

Do u really have to bully me all the time?

Reika:

It's my duty

Villafranca #2:

How's it going?

Reika:

Horrible

Villafranca #2:

Why? You okay?

Reika:

I feel so guilty

Villafranca #2:

Marunong ka pala nun?

bakit?

Reika:

I think I accidentally pushed Stacy and Piper on their graves

A list of fuckboys came out and because of me, akala ng fckboys sila ang may kasalanan

Villafranca #2:

Tell Apollo. He'll protect Piper.

My bandmate's dating stacy too so for sure she'll be fine

Reika:

Thanks

Slade:

you okay?

Reika:

Btw, kelan ka babalik?

Slade:

I knew it! U missed me hahaha

Reika:

Yuck

kadiri ka

we miss real food huhu

Slade:

instant noodles gaming again?

Reika:

Yuhhh

Slade:

Still sorting things out with Uncle

Reika:

Can you be here tomorrow?

Slade:

You miss me that much? hahaha

Reika:

No.. I just want to ask for a favor hehe

Slade:

Sure

bring it

Reika:

It's braylee's birthday tomorrow and we need wave syndicate to play

Slade:

I'll be there

Reika:

What's the catch?

Slade:

No catch

we're friends

Reika:

Eww

Slade:

I think it should be "thank u slade. gwapo mo slade"

Reika:

Hindi ka pangit slade

Slade:

I guess i can live with that

Reika:

thank you slade

Slade:

im really sorry 

Reika:

For what?

what the hell did you do?

Slade:

wrong sent hahaha

▬ end of 22▬