Chapter 2.1:

I am secretly a strong shipper of romance… in novels. In reality, I have a faint belief with it. Maybe because the love that I witnessed is from my parents. Ang pag-ibig na maraming kapintasan sa simula pa lang. Simula noong masaksihan ko kung paanong lumabas si Papa sa pinto ng bahay namin, dala ang kaniyang mga bagahe at gamit, naging mababaw sa akin ang sinasabi nilang pagmamahal. To me, it’s the call for chaos. That’s why I swore to myself to never engage myself to the flaw of life. Romantic love, particularly, isn’t part of my comfort zone.

But something happened in our 9^th grade that caused a ruckus in my heart. All because of that stupid play.

"Si Sebi po!"

Namimilog ang matang nag-angat ako ng tingin noong banggitin ang aking pangalan! Everyone even cheered in agreement.

Ma'am Dessie, our English teacher, smiled at me. "Would you like to take the role, Ms. Velasco?"

Naghiyawan ang lahat sa panghihikayat na tanggapin ko ang role sa isang dula na ipinahayag kanina. Hindi ko alam kung tatanggapin ko ba o hindi. Noong last year kasi, ako ang gumanap sa isang dula para sa school namin. Ako ang bidang babae kaya kampante silang isalang ako ngayon dito. Sa huli, tumango na lang ako sa pagpayag. Mas lalong lumakas ang hiyawan ng lahat dahil sa tuwa. Mayroon pang mga hinampas-hampas ang kanilang mga lamesa para mag-ingay.

"Settle down, guys. Settle down," mahinhin na saway ni Ma'am Dessie. "Who would you like to recommend for the role of Denver?"

I will play the role of Princess Genevieve. The royal one who seeks freedom and love and found those in the arms of a commoner, Denver.

Malakas na tumawa si Atticus at Renz habang nagbubulungan, dahilan para lumingon sa kanila ang lahat. Lumipat naman ang paningin ko kay Rafael na naka-ubob lang at tila walang pakialam sa mga nangyayari sa paligid. Atticus suddenly stood up from his seat while chuckling, nakikipaghampasan pa kay Renz. Biglang umayos ng upo si Rafael at kinunutan sila ng noo dahil sa ingay. Agad naman akong nag-iwas ng tingin noong mapapalingon na siya sa direksyon ko.

"Si Rafael po, Ma'am!" Atticus announced. I almost fell from my seat! "Rafael Alfonzo for the role of Denver Buenaventura!"

My eyes grew big and my mouth hanged open while everyone cheered in approval. Nagtayuan pa ang iba habang tuwang-tuwang pumapalakpak!

“I second the motion!”

When I looked back, Rafael was listening to whatever Atticus is whispering to him while looking at me menacingly. Umiling ako sa kaniya, ipinapahiwatig na ‘wag niyang kuhanin ang role. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili ko kung bakit ako natataranta!

Para akong binagsakan ng langit noong tumango na si Rafael at tumayo pa sa kaniyang upuan. Para kaming dinagsa ng bagyo sa sobrang gulo at ingay ng lahat! He even fixed his polo while walking towards me, not tearing his eyes away from mine.

He stopped in front of me and offered his hand, he pouted to stifle his smile.

"Come now, my princess," he said, earning another batch of screams from everyone. Kahit si Ma'am Dessie ay natatawa na lang.

Umismid ako at tumayo mag-isa. I heard him laughed but later on followed me in front.

Binigay sa amin ni Ma'am Dessie ang aming script na limang minuto lamang naming babasahin at sasaulohin bago sumalang. Rafael whistled and snickered while reading the script, earning my attention. Katabi ko lang siya at kanina lamang ay seryosong nagbabasa, ngayon ay tumatawa na.

"Bakit?" kuryoso kong tanong at lumapit pa para silipin ang kaniyang tinatawanan.

Dalawang beses siyang napalingon sa akin at ngumisi. He then puckered his lips to point at my script so my eyes drifted there. Itinuro niya ang isang maikling paragraph kung saan nandoon ang gagawin. I huffed when I read the kissing part!

Nakalimutan ko na may kiss nga pala!

"No," agad kong sabi at umiling. "We can skip that."

"You'll ruin the whole story, Siorse," aniya. "It's emphasized."

"We won't kiss, Rafael."

"Kunwari lang. Sundin na natin yung script. Masisira yung story."

I grunted and went to Ma'am Dessie to tell my concern. Hell no, I won't do that with Rafael! Baka bigla siyang saniban ng kawalanghiyaan niya at totohanin ang halik! I won't get my first kiss just like that. Sa dami ko ng novels na nabasa, marami na akong hangad para sa unang halik ko.

"Ma'am, can we change this part of the scene?"

Sinuot muna ni Ma'am Dessie ang kaniyang salamin bago kinuha ang script sa akin.

Ayon sa script, aksidente akong matatapilok at babagsak kay Rafael, kung saan maglalapat ang aming mga labi para sa halik. Iniisip ko pa lang, kinikilabutan na ako.

"You can't skip this, Ms. Velasco. It's an important scene in the story since this is where they'll finally end their misunderstanding." She explained it all thoroughly again, like she didn't discuss it a while ago. "You still have 2 minutes left. You can kiss his cheeks instead or turn your back from your classmates so you can fake the kiss."

I bit my lower lip and nodded.

"Rafael," I called him as I approach. Hindi ako nag-aangat ng tingin at kunwaring focus na focus sa script ko. "Pagkasambot mo sa akin, iikot mo agad ako. Tapos doon na lang tayo kunwari mag ki-kiss."

"Kunwari?" I can hear humor within his voice.

I glared at him and hit him with the script I was holding. "Edi yung sahig ang halikan mo kung gusto mong totohanan, gago."

He smirked boyishly. "Fine, sauluhin mo na. Gagalingan ko mamaya."

So, I did and forced myself to not get distracted by him. Napapakinggan ko pa rin ang mahihina niyang tawa habang nagbabasa, siguro ay nahihiwagaan sa mga salitang sasabihin namin.

We will act the scene where we have a huge misunderstanding and Rafael, as Denver, will try to explain to me as Princess Genevieve. Matatapos iyon sa kissing scene dahil ayon sa libro, nagtalik na sila sa gubat.

Pumuwesto na ako kung saan namin na pag-usapan ni Rafael. Some of my classmates took out their phones to film it. Nakita ko pa si Rein na nangunguna na at tatawa-tawa pa.

"Go bebe ko!"

"Lights, camera, action!"

I started walking in a fast pace while Rafael is trying to catch up with me.

"Genevieve!"

"Enough with your insignificant lies, Denver!" I shouted; my voice quivered. "I won't have faith in you any longer!"

"Let me explain!" He grabbed my arm and made me face him. Hindi ko ipinahalata ang gulat ko dahil namangha sa galing ng pag-arte niya. His eyes grew gentle as he tries to catch my sight. "Look at me..."

Iniwas ko lalo ang tingin ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kumakabog ang puso ko. Lalo na noong bumaba na ang hawak niya sa akin at pinagsiklop ang aming mga kamay!

"I love you."

I got distracted a bit with how low his voice was, it sounded so genuine and true. Magaling pala siya sa ganito! I waited for him to say my name as Genevieve, but I think he forgot. Kaya mabilis akong sumunod ayon sa script.

"Liar!"

"Please, look at me," he whispered and touched my cheeks softly. Inihaharap ang mukha ko sa kaniya. I hissed and took a step back, ngunit agad rin kaming nagkalapit muli noong humakbang siya papalapit. "Let's fix this misunderstanding, I can't lose you. I won't lose you again!"

I looked at him with teary eyes. Kita ko ang manghang sumasayaw sa kaniyang mga mata habang pinapanood ako. A ghost of a smile is forming on his lips.

"You already did." My voice broke. "You are to marry another woman!"

"I will not!" aniya. "I only belong to you!"

"Do you expect me to watch you be wedded somebody else instead?"

"It’s a misunderstanding, please–"

"Because I won't! I will not once!" My tears fell down. I heard my classmates' gasps in amusement. "I can't watch the man I love marry another woman!"

His eyes grew big and muttered, "You love me?"

I pursed my lips. God, this is cringey.

Hindi kasi alam ni Denver na mahal din siya ni Genevieve at sa parteng ito, na amin iyon ng babae dahil sa bugso ng damdamin. Tumalikod ako para tumakas ngunit mabilis siyang naka-ikot sa aking unahan at hinarangan ako. I glared at him. He was already wearing his smile and trying to catch my eyes again.

I walked away once more. Genevieve was already getting swayed by his words. Kaya pinili niyang talikuran ito at tumakas. Kinakabahan ako dahil ito na 'yong part na matatapilok ako.

Noong makita ko na nakadaan na sa gilid ko si Rafael ay nagkunwari na akong matutumba. I panicked when his hand almost slipped, failing to do what we planned! Muntikan na akong mahulog ngunit agad niyang nailagay ang kaniyang kamay sa likod ko at inalalayan. Mabilis niya akong naiikot patalikod pagkatapos.

And then the next thing I knew, Rafael's lips were already touching mine!