Once In A Lifetime

"Shut up, will you?!" Hinablot ko ang libro na hawak ng isang estudyante at buong lakas na isinampal iyon kay Felicity.

Napa-sandal sya sa kanyang locker at sapo ang pisngi. I heard her talking shits about my mom and I didn't hesitate to slap her face.

Namumula ang pisngi niya at galit na tumingin sa akin. "You fucking bitch!" Akmang sasabunutan ako ni Felicity nang may humawak sa kanyang dalawang braso, pinipigilan syang hablutin ang buhok ko.

"Damn cat fights." A familliar voice interrupted our war.

Napa-singhap ang mga estudyante na nanonood sa away namin ni Felicity dahil sa umawat sa amin.

It was Cosmo, the most genius student in Red International School. Laman lagi ng mga quiz bee, at kung ano-ano pa mang competitions.

Natigilan at kumalma na si Felicity at nakita ko ang pamumula ng pisngi nya. Is it because of the slap or because Cosmo is holding her arm? Just by thinking the latter made me cringe.

Is this the guy that every students look up to? I did not know him, I just heard students talking about him. How genius he is, how handsome he is but I refuse to give my care.

"Tsk." I rolled my eyes at akmang aalis na ngunit nag salita pa si Cosmo, hindi pa rin binibitawan ang braso ni Felicity.

"Give me my book, miss."

I felt my cheeks burning. My trembling hands give the book to Cosmo.

Oh my god! I just slapped Felicity by his book, and it was The Revised Penal Code! Imagine how thick that book is!

My eyes widened in realization and looked at Felicity's swollen cheek. Uh-oh. I'm sure na mag papasa iyan bukas.

"Tsk." Cosmo blurted and walked away to us. Sinundan sya nang tingin ni Felicity at kulang nalang ay mag hugis puso ang kanyang mga mata.

"Oh my gosh, he's so handsome talaga!"

"Oo nga ang bango pa!"

Puri ng mga babae sa kanya.

Tinalikuran ko na si Felicity at inilagay ang kamay sa bulsa ng aking skirt kung nasaan ang ballpen ko at pinag laruan ito.

I went to the garden since I still have 10 minutes left. Nang dahil kay Felicity ay nasira ang dapat na pagkain ko ng lunch.

I'm a grade 12 student, and my strand is ABM. I'm honestly stupid in math, but I guess, I can do it.

I fished out my phone in my pocket. Binuksan ko ang F******k App, I searched Cosmo's account.

Cosmo Klaus E. Buenaventura.

I clicked his profile picture, naka-itim sya dito at naka-ripped jeans at masungit na naka-tingin sa camera. Despite of his cold face, he looks so undeniably handsome.

He looks like a korean model in here, nasa 1.5k ang likes nito at mahigit 3k ang comments. He's not just famous here in school, maging sa social media ay sikat rin siya.

I scrolled down to his account, tahimik iyon at halos mga tagged photos mula sa kanyang pamilya ang makikita mo sa timeline niya.

I scrolled, and scrolled, until the bell rang. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat, oh my god! I literally wasted my 10 minutes just for a stalk?!

"Whoa, are you interested on Cosmo?"  Muntik nang mahulog ang cellphone ko dahil sa gulat.

It was August fucking Gomez.

"You scared me!" Inis na hinampas ko siya, at binatukan.

He's still wearing his jersey, he's an athlete here in Red International School.

Umupo siya sa tabi ko at pawis na pawid siya, kinuha ko ang hanky ko sa bulsa at iniabot ito sa kaniya.

"Thanks," he said as he wiped the sweat on his forehead.

"Wanna do a deal again?" I smiled evily.

This is our hobby, ang pagka-tuwaan ang nararamdaman ng iba, but only for the people who deserves it. I do the directing while August is the actor, Andie, his brother is just the cheerer of the group and he is my bestfriend.

Some girls that are passing by at our bech was stealing glances on August, he is known as the playboy here in Red International School.

My phone beeped, and Andie texted me.

Calculus is about to start, go here now!

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat dahil nalimutan ko na may quiz nga pala sa calculus at hindi pa ako nakakapag-review.

"Run faster!" Sigaw ni August, I didn't mind him and just kept on running like there's no tomorrow.

"Damn it!" Inis na tumakbo na ako patungo sa room namin. Wirdong naka-tingin sa akin ng mga ka-school mates ko.

Ms. Jennalyn will kill me if I'm late in her class.

Hinihingal akong napa-upo sa designated seat plan namin, mabuti nalang at wala pa ang teacher namin kung hindi ay baka hindi na ako papasukin pa.

"Where have you been?" Tanong ni Andie, ny bestfriend. It was Ander, but he preffered to be called as Andrea. Yes, he is gay, and I love him because he is true to himself.

Siya at si August lang ang kaibigan ko sa malaking paaralan na ito.

Our school was so freaking big, and no one wants to be friends with us and neither I.

"Garden, my god! Muntik na ako ma-late!" Sagot ko kay Andie at hinawi ko ang aking buhok dahil sa pawis na dumidikit sa aking leeg.

"Here." Inabot sa akin ni Andie ang isang scrunchie. Dalawang taon na mula nang maging mag kaibigan kami.

He knows that I always lost my schrunchie everywhere that's why lagi syang may reserba para sa akin.

"Thanks, Andie." That's my nickname for him. Maarte lamang nitong itinaas ang hinliliit nya, and I saw how he pouted his lips like a duck.

"Welcome, dear." Aniya at dumating na si Ms. Jennalyn, our teacher in calculus. She's strict, but she's good at teaching. Mula high school ay sa kanya lamang ako natuto sa calculus. Kung hindi nakaka-antok, ay wala namang pumapasok sa utak ko. But she's different. I learned a lot of things, thanks to her.

"Friend, pa-share ng sagot ha." Mahina ngunit maarte na bulong ni Andie.

I gave him a okay sign and winked at him.

Ms. Jennalyn gave out the questionnaire, nang maka-rating ito sa akin ay mabilis kong sinagutan ang aking pangalan, at ang date. I started looking at the given problems.

Holy cow. What the hell is this?! Naituro ba ito?

Naramdaman ko ang mahinang pag sipa ni Andie sa paa ko.

"Ano na?" Langgam lang ata ang makaka-rinig sa sobrang hina ng boses nya.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nag focus sa sasagutan. Okay, Devyn Amelie. You can do it!

Kasalanan to ni Cosmo! Dahil sa kanya ay hindi ako nakapag-review!

Like a bulb, I suddenly remember the formula that we were expected to use.

Ten minutes then I'm done. Si Andie naman ay pasimpleng kumokopya sa test paper ko.

"Five minutes left, finish or not, pass your papers in front later." Pagpapa-alala ni Ms. Jennalyn. Andie started to panic dahil nasa number 6 pa lang sya at 1 to 10 ang given problems.

Narinig ko ang protesta ng mga kaklase ko maging ni Andie. "Kung bakit ba kasi ang bagal mo mag sagot eh!" Mahinang pagsisi nito sa akin.

I just chuckled and looked at the window. Napa-tulala lang ako sa kawalan at biglang pumasok sa utak ko ang detalye ng mukha ni Cosmo.

Brown clear eyes, pointed nose, sharp jaw, kissable red lips, and greek like facial features. The best part of his face are his eyes.

Gulat akong napag-igtad sa kinauupuan nang tapikin ni Ms. Jennalyn ang white board gamit ang kanyang marker.

"Time's up. Pass your papers infront." She said in a very teacher like.

She's in her mid 20's, she's always wearing red lipstick na bagay naman sa kanya, and lastly. She loves Taylor Swift.

How do I know that she's a swiftie? Well, I heard her singing.

We checked each others paper. Sa room namin ay iba-iba ang lahi ng mga tao. There's chinese, korean, american, and any other race.

I heard that Cosmo's father has a Korean and American genes, while her mom is a pure Filipino. That explains Cosmo's complexion.

Dito ay kahit hindi ka interesado kay Cosmo, ay magiging kuryoso ka sa kaniyamg buhay dahil iyon lagi ang pinag uusapan ng kababaihan at madalas iyong marinig.

"Teh, buti naman at gumana nang maayos yang turnilyo sa utak mo. Akala ko talaga wala tayong maisasagot, eh." Inilagay pa ni Andie ang kanyang test paper sa dibdib at dinama ito.

Fortunately, we got 38/40 nabawasan lamang ng 2 points dahil walang unit ang sagot ko, na ginaya ni Andie.

"So, that's the students who passed the test. For those who did not. Do not hesitate to ask me some questions about our----"

Sara opened the door in our room, it's the disciplinarian here in school. Lahat sila ay tumahimik ay umayos ng upo dahil sa takot nila kay Mrs. Feracundo.

"I apologize for interrupting your preach, Ms. Jennalyn. I am here to summon Ms. Devyn Corazon in the dean's office." Said by the old, big glasses, and old-fassioned woman in her 60's, Mrs. Feracundo.

Nagtatakang napatingin sa akin si Ms. Jennalyn, maging si Andie.

"Girl, what did you do?" Kinakabahang bulong ni Andie sa akin. I have an idea why they want me in the dean's office.