Freezing His Pain (Japan Series #3)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After that day when I had an interaction with my senior named Kiko, bumulusok ang ingay ng mga pangalan namin. Apart from the fact that our pictures materialized in different group chats, our loveteam kuno escalated pretty fast due to his popularity in terms of academic attainment and family background.

Araw-araw, almusal ko ay panunukso ng mga kaklase. Every morning before our first period, Kiko and his sidekicks are loitering along the corridor of our floor, kadalasan ay mismong sa tapat pa ng classroom.

Malamang, iisipin ng iba ay naroon siya para masilayan ako. As I've mentioned, pinagpasa-pasahan ang pictures namin sa mga GC. In addition, the entire Grade 12 knows that he has a crush on me. They knew it first. Even before we met at Lomihan ni Ate Susan, they already knew. Rinig ko nga'y dati pa lang ay iniinis na ako sa kaniya. I was just clueless, oblivious to everything.

It just happened that I'm now aware of my involvement that's why I am beginning to care.

"Good morning, Soraya."

Papasok na ako ng classroom nang magsalita ang lalaking nakahilig sa pintuang nakabuyangyang. His eyes are narrower than usual since he's wearing a gargantuan smile.

As days go by, Kiko's diffidence is dissolving. Unlike the first time we met, he can now articulate a whole sentence without stuttering, confidence is also perceivable. Dinig ko sa iba ay talaga namang magaling siya magsalita at makipagsocialize, he even ran for a crucial position last year. Sadyang natotorpe lang daw sa akin.

That simple greeting was followed by shrieks of kilig from his friends behind the door and my classmates inside the room, watching us like we were sort of teleserye. My eyes almost spun.

"Morning," I greeted back simply.

Umani iyon ng mas eskandalosong pagtili mula sa mga tagasubaybay. Halos kilabutan ako.

"Soko! Soko! Soko!" Everyone chanted loudly that the students who were merely passing by the hallway are being intrigued.

Meanwhile, my forehead crinkled.

What's the ship name for today? SoKo? Oh God, yesterday it was KoYa. And the day before was SoKi. I couldn't be any more excited for them to be short of ideas.

"Ganda talaga." Malalim na napabuntong hininga ang lalaki nang iwan ko siya roon at tuloy-tuloy na pumasok ng room.

"Uy, nakatitig sa'yo." Tanya elbowed me. Saglit akong nahinto sa pagpupuwesto ng bag sa likuran ng upuan.

I intended to not dart a glance but I couldn't help it. The school bell had already rung and the seniors are still outside, waiting for... ewan!

Unti-unti akong nag-angat ng tingin at walang hirap na nagtama ang tingin namin ni Kiko na biglang napakagat-labi. Although we were significantly distant to each other, I was able to perceive how his lips turned into crimson red. He then smiled and shoved off with his friends.

"Alam mo, Viene? Ang swerte-swerte mo! Akalain mo 'yun? Crush ka ni Kiko!"

"Oo nga! Guwapo no'n, 'di ba? 'Di lang 'yon, matalino pa! Tapos sobrang yaman pa! Jusko!"

Tangang-tanga na nga ako sa sinasagutan kong problem sa Business Math, dinagdagan pa ng katangahan ng mga kagrupo ko sa activity.

I don't get it. Bakit kapag may gusto ang isang guwapong lalaki sa isang babae, swerte na kaagad ang nagugustuhan? What do people think of women? That having an attractive admirer is a blessing and a success to us? Absolutely, no. Hindi ganoon kababaw ang mga babae.

Furthermore, I have thousand admirers out there. Baka si Kiko ang swerte dahil napapansin siya ng crush niya.

"Pero ako ah, kung ako ang tatanungin as an ABM student, hindi ako papatol sa taga-STEM kahit gaano man kapogi o katalino. Aanhin ko ang knowledge niya sa Calculus? Do'n tayo sa magaling sa Accounting," ayaw paawat nitong sabi habang dire-diretso sa pagsosolve.