Chapter Four: Miss Fruit Shake

Chapter Four

It's eleven. Kanina pa ako kinakalabit ni Isaiah dahil hindi ko siya pinapansin. Math class namin ngayon at lalo lang sumasakit ang ulo ko. I don't think she likes me. Everyone hates me for good. Well, let's say except, Philip. But he wasn't around, he skipped the class after we went to school together. He took my hand and left Avis standing there. We ran together and I'm still wondering why he chose me.

I looked at Isaiah. She's wearing glasses and I don't think she has friends. Not bad, she's also good at class. She's smart and kind. I haven't seen her around the cafeteria. Perhaps, she prefers being alone?

"What do you want?" I asked and faced her. I looked at my classmates and they were all silently laughing at me. Tinuro ni Isaiah ang likod ko at doon ko nalaman na may nakadikit na papel. Kinuha ko ang papel at may nakalagay na word na Flirt.

"What the hell?" I whispered. I crumpled the paper and threw it on the floor. Nag-ring na ang bell at agad akong lumabas ng classroom. Lumakas ang tawanan nila kaya hindi na ako lumingon pabalik. I don't give attention to freaks!

Nakasalubong ko si Avis pagkababa ko ng hagdan kaya napangisi ako. Her arms were crossed and she stared at me with her friends. Magpapatuloy na sana ako maglakad pero tinulak niya ang balikat ko gamit ang isang daliri niya.

"So, I heard that you're hiding at me?" She laughed sarcastically. I closed my fist and clenched my jaw.

"Move," I stated.

"Hah?" she asked. Tinulak niya ako paatras ng hagdan kaya napaupo ako sa isang staircase.

"You're a loser." I bit my lower lip and gave him a glare. Biglang nagsilaglagan ang mga b****a sa ulo ko at nakita kong tinapon ito mula sa itaas.

"Oops, Sorry?" She faked a gasp and laughed. Kinuha niya ang b****a at pumunta siya sa harap ko.

"Honey, Stay away from Philip." Pinagpagan niya ang kwelyo ko at inayos ang ribbon ng uniform ko. "Or you will regret it," she added and gave me a smirk.

"That's it?" I hissed and raised an eyebrow. Tumayo ako at pinagpagan ang sarili ko. It wasn't his fault or mine. Why include Philip in our clash?

"So, that's all what you've got?" I smirked. Tinulak ko ang balikat niya gamit rin ang daliri ko kaya siya napaatras.

"Can't you do it alone? Nakakaawa ka," I whispered and pushed her back. I bumped his shoulder and walked away.

I reached the ground floor and immediately ran as I felt my tears flow down on my cheeks. I'm so irritated. I got out of the building and ran to the corner. I sat down and covered my eyes using my both hands.

I raised my head because I heard someone come down from the fence. Agad akong napaatras nang makita ko si Philip. He ditched our class or I don't know. Hindi naman kasi siya hinanap.

May lumapit sa aking kitten at nagtago sa palda ko. He climbed the perimeter fence for this cat? Wasn't that illegal? Saan ba siya galing?

I wiped my tears and looked away. "Can I take my Agatha back?" he asked. Napalingon ako sa kaniya at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

"Agatha?" I asked. Tinuro niya ang pusa sa palda ko kaya agad akong tumayo. Ayaw umalis ng pusa sa paa ko kaya hinila ko ang braso niya para alisin 'yon.

"Look, I'm allergic to cat's fur," I exclaimed. Kinuha niya ang pusa at saka tumawa. He stared at me and smiled.

"You're not allergic. Maarte ka lang." Hawak-hawak niya ang pusa at niyakap iyon.

"What are you doing at my spot?" he asked. Umupo siya at sumandal sa pader. Yakap-yakap niya ang pusa habang hinahaplos ang balahibo nito. Nanatili lang akong nakatayo sa harap niya kaya nagbabalak na rin akong umalis. Gosh, He looks like a gangster.

"Why are you standing there? Hindi ka ba aalis?" tanong niya kaya napatango na lang din ako. Tumalikod na ako pero nilingon ko siya ulit. Walang taong dumadaan dito at halos dulo na 'to ng building. Member ba siya ng gang at may sarili siyang tambayan?

"Staring is rude. Just stay if you want to stay or leave if you want to leave," he stated and gave me a glare. Wala akong choice kundi bumalik ulit. I have nowhere to go anyway.

Umupo ako sa tabi niya at sumandal din sa pader. "Your smell was different. Naligo ka ba?" He laughed at me. I smelled myself and sighed. Tinapunan kasi ako ng b****a ng Avis na 'yon.

"Just a small quarrel," I replied.

"Liar," he grinned. "Was it Avis?" Binigay niya ang pusa sa akin kaya wala akong choice kundi tanggapin. "Agatha likes you. She likes the smell of garbage," He laughed at me so I rolled my eyes.

"She's so weak. I think she likes you," I stated and chuckled referring to that witch.

"Well, that's what they say." He agreed to me so I nodded. "Avis isn't bad. She's popular since she's one of Anastasia's varsity players. She's also good at volleyball."

"I see,"

"And so are you." He smiled at me and stood up. Silly, How did he know that I'm a volleyball player?

"You're extraordinary." Tumayo rin ako at nagpagpag. Inamoy ko ang uniform ko at agad din itong tinanggal. Argh, My smell was awful.

"You need to change," he smirked. Kinuha niya ang panyo niya at binigay sa akin. Sinenyasan niya akong sumunod kaya sinundan ko na lang din siya. Pumasok kami sa isang room na puno ng paintings at sketches. There's also computer everywhere. It's quite small but cozy.

Naagaw ng pansin ko ang artwork na may pangalan ni Philip. "You drew that?" I asked. He nodded and put Agatha on the table. I looked at his artwork and smiled.

"You're so talented," I complimented. Binigay niya ang isang set ng uniform sa akin at nginuso ang comfort room.

"Who owns this?"

"Isaiah. She's a member of our club. You can wear that. She's kind. I'll let her know," he mentioned.

Pumunta na ako ng CR para magpalit. Buti na lang walang malagkit at puro papel lang ang laman ng b****a na 'yon. Lumabas ako ng restroom at doon ko nakita si Philip na kumakain. Right, it's lunch time.

"Maybe, I should go ahead?" Tinuro ko ang pintuan at tumango lang siya.

"You gave me noodles yesterday. I have some spare." Tinapik niya ang upuan sa tabi niya kaya pumunta ako roon. It's cute. Nakahugis na heart ang kanin ni Philip.

"Your mom did this?" I asked and poked his lunchbox.

"Yeah. Kumakain ka ba ng homemade?" Umiling ako pero unti-unti na lang din akong napatango. Kung gagawan man kasi ako ng mga yaya ko ng bento box, inorder lang din nila sa labas. I'm sick of fast food chains. They taste just the same. I want to taste different dishes.

"You can have that. Kanina mo pa tinitignan." I ate the heart-shaped rice and smiled.

"I haven't thanked you formally yet. Just so you know, I'm thankful that you helped me yesterday."

"Tss, You're so dramatic," he said and grinned at me.

"No, I want to thank you. Do you want me to grant you three wishes?" I asked.

"You're so childish." He rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Silly, I can grant your wishes. You can wish for money, a new car, new drawing materials or anything," I mentioned.

"You can't grant my wish." He shook his head and looked away.

"Bakit? Ano bang wish mo?" I asked.

"Secret." Niligpit na niya ang lunchbox niya dahil mukhang tapos na siya kumain. Tumayo siya kaya tumayo na rin ako.

"We have to go back. I finished my work here so I'm done. The lunch time was about to end. Makakakuha ka na naman ng detention." Tumango na lang ako at agad siyang sinundan palabas. Pinakawalan niya si Agatha sa campus at isinara ang pinto.

"Lastly, you have to choose a club to raise your grades. I thought you need to go back to Foster," he added. Nang makalayo na kami ay nabasa ko ang signboard na nakalagay sa taas ng room na 'yon.

Media Art Club?

What club should I get in? I just know how to play volleyball.

Nauna na si Philip sa classroom dahil sobrang bilis niya maglakad. Dumaan muna ako sa cafeteria para bumili ng fruit shake. I'm craving for sweets. Everybody was staring at me and I don't give a damn. Pumunta na ako sa counter para bumili at makabalik na sa room. Iaabot na sana sa akin ang shake pero may kumuha 'non mula sa likod ko.

"My fault, Order ka na lang bago." I blew my bangs off and gave that guy a glare. Ininom na niya ang shake ko kaya wala akong choice. I can't slap him. For sure, sa guidance office ang bagsak ko at may bago na naman akong detention. Bumili na lang ako ng bago para manahimik na siya. Argh, he ruined my day.

"My fault, I want more." I closed my fist and pushed his chest.

"Pinagtitripan mo ba ako?" Binaba niya ang dalawa kong shake at ngumiti sa akin.

"So, you're that girl? Lizette?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"You're a stalker." Binangga ko ang balikat niya at naglakad ako papalabas ng cafeteria. He's so rude. Hindi ko nga siya kilala! I was about to go back when he caught my hand and gave me money.

"The line was so long. Thanks for buying me these." Naglakad na siya papalayo dala-dala ang order kong shake. I massaged my wrist and held my forehead. Who's that jerk? He's more annoying than Azhter.

Bumalik na ako sa upuan ko at kasunod ko lang ang next teacher namin. "My uniform looks good on you," Isaiah whispered. I faced her and smiled.

"Thanks. I'll bring it back. A little accident happened."

My teacher called my name as he entered our classroom. "Kryzion, Come to my office. Students, do activity 12, page seventy-six," he reminded. Pumunta ako sa office at ipinakita ni Sir ang report card ko from Foster. Argh, fine! They were all line of seven.

"Miss Flores, you need to raise your grades to stay at Anastasia. Foster can't accept you anymore if you can't reach their ceiling grade. Your mom pleased us to accept you here. Please do your best and finish this semester," he explained. I nodded and sighed. This is my last chance or else isusunod ako ni Mommy kay Jacob.

"Lastly, Miss Flores. You need to attend your tutoring session every week. Five hours at least, one hour every after class." Napalingon ako kay Sir at napailing. What do you mean by some tutoring sessions?

"No? I don't want. I'm a busy person." I heard a familiar voice. Napalingon ako sa likod ko at pumasok si my-fault-guy na umagaw ng shake ko sa cafeteria. May kasama siyang teacher na mukhang pinakapakiusapan siya. Tss, what is he doing here?

Napatingin siya sa akin at napangisi. "So, you're now following me miss fruit shake?"

"You're calling me fruit shake?" I raised an eyebrow and hissed.

"So, Miss Flores and Mister Buenavista, Tutoring session will start next week. Lizette, come with me. Basti, consider this as your punishment. I'm expecting things from the both of you." I followed the teacher and slammed the door at my-fault-guy's face. He's my tutor? Pwede bang si Philip na lang? He knows my name. Why call me a fruit shake?

"Miss Flores, Do you want to join a club?" my teacher asked me. I nodded without hesitation since I need something to keep myself busy.

"Have you decided yet? I heard you play volleyball."

"No!" I exclaimed. "I mean. No, sir. I quit," I stated. I don't want to join Avis' volleyball team. I can join any type of club except that.

"Choose a club that fits your interest. I'm counting on you." Pumasok na kami ng room at ipinaupo na ako ni Sir pabalik sa upuan ko. I didn't hesitate to do the activity we were assigned. I really can't fail this time. I have to go back to Foster no matter what happened.

"Environmental, Baking, Journalism, Musical, Taekwondo, Tennis, Robotics are in need of members. Please coordinate with the club presidents, Lizette."

"Sir." Philip raised his hand so I looked back at him.

"Media Art Club also needs new members, just to remind y'all," he stated.