Chapter 14

"AYUSIN mo naman ang pag pagpag. Mukha mo pagpagin ko. Sige!" Sigaw ko kay Nathan ng makita kong parang pinaglaruan niya lang ang unan.

Bahagya naman siyang napatalon sa gulat ng biglaan kong pag sigaw. Napatawa naman ako ng mahina sa nakita.

"Bakla" I whispered. Pero narinig niya.

"What did you say?" He asked me. He stopped doing what his doing and looked at me with his raised brow.

'Ang lakas naman ng pandinig'

"Wala. Sabi ko bilisan mo" I rolled my eyes.

He shrugged his shoulders and crossed his arms in front of his chest. His one hand under his chin.

Tiningnan niya ako na para bang sinusuri

"That's not what I heard you say." he said as a matter of fact.

Edi wow!

"Eh ano pala?" I shot back. Tinigil ko muna ang pagpagpag sa unan na hawak ko. I stood up straight. Holding the pillow on my right hand.

Nakapamaywang akong humarap sa kanya.

"You said bakla ako." Diniinan niya ang pagsabi ng salitang bakla.

"So?" I mocked.

"You're sayin' I'm a gay without thinking what happened a while ago?" Nathan

I roared with laughter.

Napahawak naman siya sa sentido niya na parang problemadong problemado.

"Paulit ulit pa tayo niyan? Hahaha. Di ka pa ba nakaka move on? Kanina pa yun ah? Hours already passed nga eh diba?" Tantrum ko. I pouted cutely.

"Oo na" he chuckled.

Sana all. I hissed to myself.

We continued what we're doing. After some minutes we already finnished pulming the pillows and blankets. Kinuha ko ang isang bag na nasa loob din ng cabinet. Kumunot na naman ang noo ni Nathan.

"What's that?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes.  "You're already asking me the obvious, Nathan."

"I'm sorry, what I mean is what was that for?"

Umandar na ang pagkapilosopa ko.

"Try to chew on this. It tastes good." I mocked.

"I mean ano ang pag-gagamitan mo niyan?" He asked again.

"Babasahin ko, kita mo nga may mga letters and words oh. Kita mo?" Tinuro ko pa yung mga salita kuno. I acted like I'm reading something.

"Tsk" napakamot siya sa ulo niya.

"Oh ano? Kaya pa?" Tatawa tawa kong tanong.

Ig he can't endure me being this. Being a so called pilosopa, snobber, maldita, crazy bitch or what ever they call me and my attitude he's free to leave. I don't need someone like him. If he can't accept me paki ko! Hanapin niyo sa pluto. Hanap kayo ng rocket tas mag count off ka na agad para makaalis ka na. 'Wag ka nang babalik pa.

"Zhennaihya! What I mean is saan mo gagamitin yan? Bakita ang laking bag naman niyan. Pag pinilosopo mo pa ako ulit ihahagis na kita sa bintana." He threatened me. As if naman na threat ako. Duh!

"Wow naman! Ang galing" I clapped slowly. Slightly shaking my head.

"Sige, ibabalik ko sayo ang tanong mo. What is the use of a bag?" I shot

Kumunot man ang noo niya but he still answered my question.

"To put things inside?" He questioningly answered.

"Alam mo naman pala eh! Bakit ka pa nagtatanong? Kutusan kaya kita want mo?!" Padabog kong utas.

'Bwisit neto!'

"Oo na. Ok I'll stop." We became silent of some seconds.

"Are you gonna put this pillows and blanket inside the bag?" He asked again.

Nakakainis na siya.

"Hindi! Ikaw ang ilalagay ko sa loob ng bag! Nakakarindi ka nang pakinggan! You keep on asking things that are too obvious. I want to strangle you to death do you know that?!" Sigaw ko sa kanya out of frustration.

Imbes na mainis o magalit sa akin he laughed.

'bwisit talaga!'

He raised both his hands ng pinulot ko ang unan at akmang ihahampas sa kanya.

"I'll stop asking!" He nonchalantly said. Tumatawa pa din.

"Stop ba? Ganito?" Agad ko siyang hinampas ng unan sa braso.

"Zhen!" Parang di siya makapaniwala sa ginawa ko. His eyes widened.

"Stop sabi mo diba?" I laughed.

Unti unti niyang ibinaba ang kamay niyang nakataas kanina. Pinulot niya ang unan na nasa lapag at hinampas din ako. Muntik na akong matumba buti nalang at nakabawi ako agad.

"YOU'RE SO DEAD, LAMVOURGE!" sigaw ko at pinaghahampas siya ng unan..

Nagkatawanan kami. Our pillow fight was fun. I really enjoyed it.

***

I'm at school's pathway when someone hold my shoulder. Napatili ako sa gulat. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko.

Hinarap ko ang humawak sa balikat ko.

I saw Nathan grinning at me.

Sarkastiko akong natawa.

'pigilan niyo ako. Sasakalin ko na talaga tong hinayupak na to'

"Hey, where are you heading?" Tanong niya.

"Sa impyerno, bakit sama ka?" I grinned at him to. Fighting the urge not to smack his head of the floor.

"Want me to assist you?"

"Nope I'm good. Baka nga ikaw pa ang dapat kong iassist. Remember bago ka lang dito."

Diniin ko talaga ang pag sabi ng bago.

I surveyed him. Nakita kong nakatago sa likod niya ang isang kamay niya.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. I looked at him with curiosity. Tinuro ko ang kamay niya.

"W-what are you hiding?" I asked

Nagmaang maangan naman siya. He acted like he did not know what I am talking about.

"What? I'm hiding something? Hiding what?"

'Ang sarap niya talaga. Ang sarap niyang sapakin arggghhh!'

Tinuro ko ang kamay niya na naka tago sa likod niya.

"Ahh. That's it?" I rolled my eyes. Akmang tatalikod na ng higitin niya ang kamay ko. He slowly make me face him.

'Ano naman bang pakulo to? Gusto niya ba ng sabaw?'

"What?" I asked him with no emotion written on my face. He bowed his head a little bit.

Unti unti niyang inilahad sa harap ko ang tinatago niya kanina. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napatakip ako sa bibig ko nang mapagtanto kung ano yun....

What the F!

Kinamot niya ang ulo niya. Nahihiya.

Bahagya niyang nilayo ang tingin niya.

"I'm giving this to you. For you only. So, please accept this." He said at iminwestra ang hawak niya sa harap ko.

It's a bouquet of flowers. Pink flowers na may mga white na malilit na bilog bilog na bulaklak. I don't know what it's called. Ang ganda. I really liked the flowers.

"T-that's for me?" Tinuro ko ang sarili ko.

He just nod.

Medyo nanginginig pa ang kamay ko ng abutin ko ang bulaklak.

Gosh! Get a grip of yourself, Zhennaihya. Hindi mo first time makatanggap ng flowers! You've already received millions of it. Tapos ngayon kay Nathan manginginig nginig ka? What the hell. Susunugin talaga kita!

Nang mahawakan ko na ang bulaklak at agad ko itong nilapit sa ilong ko. Bahagya kong sinamyo ang amoy.

It smells nice. Roses smells nice.

Napangiti naman si Nathan nang makita niya ang ngiti ko sa aking labi.

He bit his lower lip while staring at my lips.

"Eto lang ba?"

"Ahh. Meron pa pala. Wait lang" he raised his palm signing for wait.

Kinalkal niya ang laman ng bag niya. His face lit up ng makita ang hinahanap niya.

Inilibas niya ang isang malaking kahon. It's not just an ordinary box. It's a ferrero rochet! Oh my Gosh!! My fave! Pagkakita ko sa ferrero na inilabas niya ay parang maging puso ang mga mata ko sa saya.

'Remember Zhen. Pakipot ka muna! Wag kang mafall agad. Araseo?' sigaw ng isip ko. Tarantado talaga.

'Oo na'

Iniwala ko ang ngiti ko. Mahirap man ay nagawa ko. Gustong gusto ko nang lamunin ang chocolate. Huhuhu! Helllpppp!

"Here. Chocolate for you. Hindi ka naman siguro allergic sa almonds or hazelnuts diba?" He asked. Trying to extract information about me.

Kuhh! Alam ko nang galawan yan. Gasgas na yan pare ko.

"Hindi, wala naman akong allergies sa hazelnuts oh kaya naman almonds" favorite ko yan gago ka!

He sighed in relief. Para siyang nabunutan ng tinik sa sinabi ko.

Tinaggap ko ang ferrero na chocolate. Naglalaway na ang bagang ko pero dapat chill lang. Huwag magpahalata.

I composed myself. "Salamat dito" malamya kong sabi.

I made it look like I have no interest with it at all.

"So, can I go now?" I asked him with a raised brow.

He smiled. Ang gwapo niya talaga. Shet! Naalala ko tuloy yung nangyari sa treehouse the day before yesterday.

Ayy, bad!

"You may go now. Take care. Don't miss your lunch okey? Eat on time. Listen to what your professor's been teaching you." He reminded me.

As if naman hindi ako nakikinig.
Kasi minsan naman talaga hindi ako nakikinig eh. Hahaha. Evil laugh.

I nod then turned my back at him. His eyes still darted on me. I walked. I spotted the trash bin on one side of the hallway. I smiled evily. Tignan natin kung hanggang saan ang kaya mo. If you really could keep up with me and my attitude. I looked back to his direction.

"Hey, Nathan." Medyo malakas na tawag ko sa kanya. Iwinagayway ko pa ang bulaklak na hawak ko sa ere. Buti nalang at iilan lang ang tao kaya wala masaydong makakakita sa gagawin ko.

"This is mine right?" I asked. He smiled then nodded.

Akin naman pala eh. So, pwede kong itapon.

His smile faded when I threw the bouquet on the top of the bin.

I smirked.

"Kaya?" I mouthed. Gumuhit ang sakit sa mata niya. Parang naguilty tuloy ako. Pero never mind the guilt.

I confidently turn my on my back again ang took three steps away from him. I saw Luna, one of my classmates in a subject na nasa gilid. Inaayos ang kanyang buhok.

I handed her the ferrero rochet then muttered.

"Ibalik mo sakin yan mamaya!" Pinanlakihan ko din siya ng mata. Kumunot naman ang noo niya. I walked again ang turned left. I hid there.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at sinilip si Nathan. I caught him staring at the bin with the flowers on it. I waited for his reaction.

He's hurt. Oo alam ko. Duh. Hindi naman ako manhid, I also have feelings you know? After seconds his expression changed. His eyes shouted determination. He breathed in and breathed out.

I saw him mutter words. Pero hindi ko alam kung ano yun. Nagtago ako ulit. I kept my calm as I remembered his sad face a while ago.

Unti unti ko siyang sinilip. Nakayuko na siya ngayon at nakita ko ang pag baba ng balikat niya.

I see him sighed. He slowly turned on his back and walked away. Pero bago pa man siya tuluyang makaalis nilingon Niya ang bulaklak na nasa basurahan at ang chocolate na nasa kay Luna bago tumalikod at tuluyang umalis.

'ayos!' sigaw ng isip ko.

Hinay hinay akong lumabas sa pinagtataguan ko. Sinilip ko ulit si Nathan. Nang makita kong pababa na siya ng hagdan ay patakbo akong lumapit sa basurahan na pinagtapunan ko ng bulaklak kanina.

I'm not that harsh naman. I still have a heart pa. Hindi din ako manhid para hindi makaramdam.

'talaga ba?' sabi ng isip ko.

Traydor talaga kahit kailan.

I slowly walked towards it nang may studyante na naka harang sa daraanan ko. They're highschool. Highschool tas nasa building ng collage. May nilalandi siguro tong mga to na college boys.

I kinda' understand them tho. Marami naman kasi talagang magaganda at gwapong boys dito sa college department. Kaya nga maraming highschool students ang naliligaw papunta dito. Including Gaeve and Juliene.

I pasted my maldita look before I marched.
I stopped then look at the girls in front of me.

Ang kapal ng mga make up nila. Gosh, girls you should know how to put proper make up.

I rolled my eyes.

I pasted a smile before I called them.

"Hello there." I called for their attention.

Napalingon naman sila sa akin. They looked at me as if they've seen an angel. I flipped my hair. Anghel naman kasi talaga ako. Actually dyosa pa nga ehh. Hahaha.

I'm a goddess, alright. No need to be flattered that much. I smirked evily with my thought.

"Y-yes po?" One girl asked me.

Siya ang may pinaka simpleng make up sa kanilang lahat.

"Can you move a little? I'll just get something over there" I pointed out on one side.

They all nod and smiled at me.

I smiled back.

They're nice naman pala. Akala ko mga maldita. Tatarayan ko na sana eh. Well, sabi nga nila don't judge a person by their makeup.

Wait!

That's my own saying pala.

They moved away from my way then I started walking.

Nang makalapit ako sa bin ay pasimple kong inilibot ang aking paningin sa paligid ko. I just want to know if someone sees me picking something up from the top of the garbage bin.

'Gosh! Ngayon lang to. Ngayon lang!' Sigaw ng isip ko.

Nang makita kong wala naman ay mabilis kong kinuha ang bulaklak sa bin at mbilis na lumayo doon.

Phew. That was close. I roamed my eyes again to look for Luna. She's already talking with her ka-MU Josh. Duhh.

Mas nauna pa ang i loveyouhan kaysa sa labelan. Mas nauna pa ang couple profile sa facebook kaysa sa label. Pinagpupuyatan pa.  Tapos maling tao naman pala ang binibigayan ng effort. Hahaha.

Taga tawa nalang ako pag hindi pa naging sila in the end of the month. Wahaha.

I tried smelling the flower. Baka naman amoy basura na tapos pinageffortan ko pang kunin.

Inilapit ko ang bulaklak sa ilong ko. It smells nice tho. Buti nalang at hindi nangamoy basura. Inayos ko ang Louis Vuitton bag ko na nakasukbit sa balikat ko. Dumadausdos na kasi pababa.

Nang makalapit na ako kay Luna ay gad ko siyang kinalabit. Napatingin naman siya sa akin.

"Oy, Zhen. Ikaw pala. Here's your chocolate. Bakit mo pala binigay sakin kanina yan? Knowing that it's your fave? Tsaka who's the guy kanina?" She asked sabay abot sa akin ng ferrero rochet ko.

My baby!

Josh greeted me.

"Hello, Zhen." Then waved at me.

"Hello, Josh." I greeted back. "Wag ka ngang tsismosa Luna. Mind your own business. Pag nagkalabel na kayo saka ko na sasabihin kung sino siya." I smirked at her. Napanguso naman siya. Napakamot naman si Clyde sa batok niya.

I tapped their shoulders then said "okey lang yan"

I don't have time to chitchat with them kaya naman agad na akong nagpaalam. It's not that I don't want to talk to them pero baka kasi bumalik si Nathan at makita akong bitbit ang bulaklak.

Lakad takbo ang ginawa ko papunta sa classroom ko.

When I got there I saw Saph leaning on her chair with her eyes closed, headphone covering her ears, hands in her leather jacket's pocket.

As usual. She did not even wear her uniform. Again. It's quite a question for me why she did not get any notice from the detention office even though she's not wearing her uniform. It's in the school's rules that you should wear proper uniform.

Oh well. Atleast hindi naman ako ang mapapagalitan. Lumapit ako sa pwesto niya. Nang makalapit ako sa kanya akma ko sanang gulatin siya at kakatukin ang mesa niya ng magsalita siya.

"Just sit already. Don't be childish." That's all she said in her usual cold voice that made me pouted.

Nagpapacute. Her eyes still closed when she talked again.

"Stop pouting. Ain't cute." She said again.

Napapadyak naman ako.

"Is it a crime to be cute? Because if it is I pledged myself as guilty, atty." I said abruptly.

"I'm not a lawyer nor a Judge." She stated factly.

That made her open her eyes. Oh! She's not weary any contact lenses today. That's odd.
Her heterochromic eyes are showing!

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko at napaatras. Itinuro ko ang mata niya.

"Y-you're not wearing any contacts? Why? You always wear one. And now why aren't you wearing one now? Naubos na ba? Pati yung liquid na parang contacts din ang purpose naubos na din? Ayy! Sana nag sabi ka. Marami akong contact lenses sa bahay. Edi sana binigay ko nalang sayo yun. Hindi ko naman need nun ehh. You need it more." Lintanya ko.

"You, finnished talking?" She asked. Looking at the blank white board.

"Yup" I cheerfully said

"Then shut up!" She said. I pressed my lips together into a thin line. As always, she want to maintain her 'peace' tss.

"Maldita" I whispered pero alam ko na narinig niya because I heard her tsked.

I pulled a chair in beside hers and seated. Inilagay ko ang bag ko sa table pati na din ang flowers ko. Nasa bag ko kasi ang chocolate.

She glanced at the flowers then looked away and closed her eyes again.

Dahil alam ko na wala naman akong mapapala kapag si Sapphire ang kasama ko I decided to tinker my phone instead. I picked it up from my bag. I loggen in into my IG account. Notification bursted out.

'Buti nalang at naka silent kung hindi nag ingay na to' I stated to myself.

I clicked the notification button and opened some of it. I was about to check my messages when something caught my attention.

NathanCL started following you.

Is it Nathan? Weh? I clicked on the notification and view the profile. It is Nathan.

His profile is in black and white. His face is fierce. He's hot. A coat is hanging on both his shoulders his one hand on the opposite side of his shoulder.

I clicked the follow back button.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa nakita kong dami ng followers niya. Is this true?

Grabe naman ata ang 704,784 na followers. Daig mo pa ang artista. Gosh. He have 44 posts. His account is public. Pero may iba siyang post na naka private.

Wala naman sigurong masama kung tignan ko ang nga posts niya diba? Titignan lang naman.

Promise. Tingin lang.

I scrolled on his timeline and I saw his newest post. It's the flowers and the chocolate he handed me minutes ago.

Really?

I read the caption.

'FLOWERS AND CHOCOLATE FOR SOMEONE'

This post of his is private pero marami nang reacts and comments.

Halos puro babae ang nag comment of course.

I read some of the sluts comment.

@NicoleG: Is that for me Nate?

@ADRNA: Who's the girl? Who's she?

@MarthaAlly: I'll wait for you baby. Mwua.

As I read the comment of this Martha girl my blood boiled.

Baby? Baby! Eh kung sapakin ko kaya yang mukha mo?

I scrolled and scrolled. Hanggang sa nakarating ako sa mga post niya last year pa.

Nagulat ako ng biglang may tumusok sa bewang ko.

"Shit ka!" Bulalas ko. Napatawa naman ang nakapag pagulat sa akin.

'Sana hindi na siya icrush back ni Earl.'

I know kung sino ang iniisip niyo. And you're right. It's Heazel.

"Bakit naka busangot yang mukha mo. Ang aga pa nga ganyan na yan." She laughingly said. Nawala ang tawa niya ng mahagip ng tingin niya ang bulaklak na nasa table.

Tinuro niya naman ito.

"Saan to galing? Ano toh?!" She exclaimed.

I looked at the flowers too..

"Tanga ka? Natural bulaklak yan!" I exclaimed.

"I know. Pero... Kanino galing?"  She asked again. Curiosity written on her face.

"Ahh. That? Hmmm. It's from... Secret" sabi ko sabay kindat sa kanya.

She rolled her eyes.

Attitude!

I felt my phone vibrated. Napatingin ako dito. Ganoon nalang ang paglaki ng mata ko nang makitang nag message si Nathan sa akin. Kinakabahan na pinindot ko ang ng notif sakin na message niya.

NathanCL: You're stalking me huh? Hahaha.

That's his message. Nanlamig naman ang mga kamay ko. What's he talking about? Paano niya nalaman? Ehh I haven't commented or like any of his posts.

Or did I? Shit!

-----------------------------
:)

~tinapon tapos pinulot ulit. Karupukan mo Zhennaihya. Hahaha

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