Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Ok class, that’s all for today,” our teacher said after the bell rung.

“Hoy, Shang, anong plano mo ngayong sembreak?” tanong ni Ashley sa akin habang nag-aayos ako ng mga gamit ko sa bag. Oo, pag-aayos na ‘yong pilit mong sinasalampak lahat ng libro para magkasya sa bag.

“Wala” wala naman talaga akong plano. Mas gugustuhin ko pang manatili at magpahinga ngayong sembreak.

“Wala as in wala?” tanong niya ulit.

“Wala nga, sa bahay nalang siguro ako” finally done arranging the things in my bag, I turned to her.

“Sabi kasi ni mommy, pwede ka daw sumama nalang saamin. Magbabakasyon kami sa probinsya ni Lolo” She looked at me as if asking me to say yes.

“Wag nalang, makakaabala pa ako sa inyo. Nakakahiya sa kanila tita” Makakaistorbo pa ako sa oras nila magpapamilya.

“No, it’s mommy who insisted. Sige na please! Mababaliw ako doon kasama ang mga kalabaw, ayaw namang sumama ni Hansel kasi pupunta sila sa states kasama ang family niya” she said. Talagang mukhang ayaw niyang walang kasama doon. Napaisip naman ako. Wala nga naman akong plano, so why not? Ang boring rin kasi sa bahay eh.

“Well, sige nalang wala rin naman akong plano” Being refreshed by the fresh air of province is nice right?

“Great! I’ll tell mom right away” Umalis na siya agad sa harap ko at mukhang tatawagan yata ang mommy niya. Napailing na lang ako. Excited na excited ah? Ilang sandali lqng pumasok naman si Hansel.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mugshot, 8:30 PM. Yeah,bye. Muah” Dinig kong sabi ni Hansel sa kausap niya sa phone. Nangingiti pa siya habang nakatitig dito. Bumaling siya sa akin ng nakangiti, malaking ngiti.

“oh, sino na naman yon?” tanong ko sa kaniya. Ngumiti naman siya ng malaki.

“Bagong kakilala lang” sabi niya.

“Bagong kakilala o bagong biktima? Hansel, mugshot? Really? Bagong kakilala sa bar agad kayo magkikita?” Nakangiti parin siya, hindi pinakinggan ang sermon ko.

“Well, what can I say? Ang dami talagang nabibihag sa Alindog ko” she said and tossed her hair.

“Yeah, right. Just be careful, baka imbis na siya ang mapahulog mo ikaw ang mahulog” I said. Not really believing my own words. I mean, ever since she never fell for someone. Not that we’re old enough and mature enough for that though.

“Yeah, right.” She rolled her eyes at me. Now, bakit nga ba ganito ang babaeng ‘to? Well, Hansel Veloso has a playboy brother. And she reasoned out with this,

“Sabi nila pag May nasaktang puso ang kapatid mong lalaki katumbas noon ang sakit na mararamdaman mo. Sa dami ng nilokong babae ng utol ko, aba mabuti nang unahan ko ang lahat ng lalaking dadaan sa buhay ko” well what a great and logical reasoning huh?

“Hey, this Sembreak anong plano mo?” tanong niya.

“Sumama ka nalang sa’kin, sa states kami ng family ko, or kung gusto mo kay Ashley ka nalang sumama, magbabakasyon daw sila sa probinsya. At! Wag na wag mong sasabihin na wag nalang ha? Hindi ako papayag na magmukmok ka lang ulit sa bahay niyo like last year, no way.” She said even before I can answer her. Just look at this girl, really.

“Actually nasabi na ni Ashley sa’kin yan kanina, sasama ako sa kanya”

“Oh! That’s great! Mabuti naman at hindi ka na nagkukulong sa bahay ninyo. Oh sh*t! May date pala ako ngayon, late na ako! Sorry girl but I need to go” sabi niya nang nahagip ng paningin niya ang wall clock sa likod ko. Dali dali siyang nag-ayos at lumabas sa room. Hay nako! ‘yong babaeng ‘yo talaga.

At dahil wala na naman akong gagawin, nagdesisyon nalang akong pumunta muna ng library para magpalipas ng oras dahil maaga pa naman.

The smell of books reached my nose as I rummaged through the book shelves. Looking for my favorite novel. Harry Potter. Call me weird but I like books more than electronic books because of it’s scent. And the feeling while turning each of it’s pages is satisfying for me. Reading good books is a relaxation for me.

When I saw the novel, it was located at the uppermost part of the shelf. Using the ladder I successfully got it.

“Natasha Kristen” that very familiar voice said. Startled and nervous, the book accidentally slipped from my hands, and fell on the person below.

“Oh, sh*t! Sorry, sorry, sorry. I’m very sorry. I-I was s—”

“Uh, It’s… it’s fine. No damage done.” he said smiling and motioning his head, pointing at the part which I suppose, the part that got hit. Got hit by the Harry Potter novel. And to make things worse, that was hard bound.

“You sure? D-don’t you need to go to the infirmary or something? To check that up? Maybe internal bleeding?” oh, goodness I’m really nervous.

Instead of answering, he just laughed at me and shook his head. As if he finds my idea silly.

“ Don’t mind it, really” he said reassuring me. His smile really gets the rational thinking of me away.

Same boy, Anthony Declaros. The Supreme Pupil Government’s President when I was in elementary. And now the SSG president. At his grade 12, STEM. Still the top 1 in his batch. He’s still handsome. Insanely handsome it should be a crime. He’s still the boy… that I’m crushing with.

But of course, I would die first before he would know it. Before anyone would know it.

“I’m really sorry” as if tired hearing of my apologies he touched my shoulders. I nearly shivered at his touch.

Goodness! How can he have this kind of effect on me?

“Hey, really. It’s fine. Just forget it” he said and smiled reassuringly. How can anyone be that perfect and kind?

“U-uhmm, what is it?” I asked.

“Hmm?”

“The thing you wanted to say to me, the reason why you called me resulting to—”

“Me getting hit by a hard bound book? Ah, yes. It’s just that my cousin, Ashley, said that you’re coming with us? On our vacation with lolo” he said… wait? What? Your coming with us? On our vacation with lolo. “US” “OUR” ibig sabihin kasama siya? Shota! Bakit hindi sinabi ni Ashley?

“Ah, yes. Ashley said tita Clarisse invited me” I said casually. Hiding the fact that I was already near hyperventilating inside. Really Ash? You really didn’t bother to tell me that my crush is coming with us?

“Oh, that’s nice. See you then” He said.

“Ah,yeah. See you nalang.”

“bye”

“bye”

Yeah, awkward.

Pagdating ko sa bahay, ang nakaparadang mga sasakyan ang unang napansin ko. Tama ba ang naiisip ko?

I excitedly rushed to the house. And truth… they’re here. I saw my parents on our living room. My father reading some papers and my mother doing some works on her laptop. I looked around. Since the house is silent, maybe the house staffs in the kitchen.

“Mom, dad” I said. Getting their attention.

“oh, you’re here” mom said while still typing something on her laptop. My father just looked at me and nod. As if greeting me.

“what time did you arrive?”

I asked, wanting to start a conversation with them.

“Around 10 in the morning? Anyway change your clothes first, you stink” mom said, dismissing me.

I just nod and went to my room. After taking a shower I went down. Dumiretso muna ako sa kitchen. Gusto kung lutuan sina mom.

“ Nay, may mga ingredients pa po ba tayo?” tanong ko kay Nanay, tulad nga ng inaasahan nasa kusina sila. Ayaw kasi ng mommy ko na nagkakalat ang mga kasambahay. Ayaw niyang makisalamuha sa kanila. Ang rason niya? Hindi ko alam.

“Oo nak, nag-grocery ako kahapon” sagot niya

“Bakit? Ano ba ang lulutuin mo?” dagdag niya

“Paborito po ni mommy ang carbonara, kaya magluluto po ako ng ganoon. Tsaka yung paborito rin po ni daddy na roasted baby back Ribs at bistek. May ingredients ok ba no’n?”

“Oo meron diyan, ikaw ang magluluto?” tanong niya

“Opo” sagot ko at kumuha na ng mga gagamitin.

“ Bakit po pala sila nandito?” tanong ko kay Nanay noong hinahalo ko na ang carbonara ng niluluto ko. Nasa loob na rin ng oven ang ribs.

“Bakit? Ayaw mo ba? Eh diba noon mo pa gustong umuwi sila?” nakangiti niyang tanong. Napatawa nalang din ako.

“Hindi naman po sa ganoon pero nakakapanibago lang po na umuwi sila kahit walang okasyon at rason” Ni hindi nga sila makauwi-uwi kahit na may mga okasyon at may mga rason para umuwi sila tapos ngayon pang wala naman talagang rason? O wala nga ba?

“Hindi ko rin alam eh, nagulat nalang kami kaninang umaga na dumating sila” sabi niya habang hinihiwa ang beef para sa bistek na gagawin ko.

“Well, baka namiss lang talaga nila ako” I joked. Since that is very impossible to happen. I'

“Mom, Dad, the dinner is ready.” Sabi ko sa kanila pagkatapos kong i-ayos ang hapag. Medyo matagal rin bago ako natapos makaluto kanina kaya alas siete na ngayon.

Tumayo naman sila at pumunta na sa dining.

“Ikaw ang nagluto?” tanong ni Dad.

“Opo” hinintay kung magkomento siya tungkol sa luto ko pero hindi naman niya ginawa. Gano'n din si mom.

“Ah, bakit nga po pala kayo umuwi?” tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa noong natapos na kaming kumain.

“Why?, Aren’t we welcome in our own house?” my mom said sarcastically.

“No, of course that’s not what I mean.” I defended. But my mom and dad ignored it. Maybe they’re avoiding my question. I just shrugged it off. Well, what’s important is that they’re here right?

“Hoy! Gagi kang Ashley ka! Bakit hindi mo sinabing kasama pala si Anthony ha?! Aba! Kung hindi niya pa ako kinausap kanina edi hindi ko pa malalaman?” salubong ko kay Ashley pagkasagot niya sa tawag ko.

“huh? Hindi naman importante yon kaya malamang hindi ko na sinabi sayo. Tsaka bakit ba galit na galit ka diyan? OA mo ha, konti nalang iisipin ko ng crush mo siya” Dahil crush ko naman talaga siya. Gagi!

“Hindi noh? Ang sa akin lang aba eh nakakahiya kaya yon. Tsaka hindi naman kami close ng pinsan mong ‘yon kaya nakakahiya.” Saad ko nalang.

“Tss, OA mo. Oh, May iba ka pa bang itinawag?” nababagot niyang tanong.

“Wala na yon lang 'ge bye” binaba ko nalang ang tawag.

Magaling pala talaga akong umarteng hindi masyadong naapektuhan pag nandiyan si Anthony since hangang ngayon wala pa namang nakaka-alam at nakakapansin na crush ko siya. Ganun talaga dapat pasimpleng landi lang. Hahaha.

And I want it to stay that way. I don’t want anyone to know that I have a crush on him. It’s just crush anyway. Just crush.

The feeling that my heart beats fast every time I know he’s near. How I get nervous around him but still want to always see him. The feeling that I’m proud of all his achievements. The feeling that my day isn’t complete if I don’t see him. Missing him every time. That is just crush. Just crush. A plain admiration. My own addiction.