AM I THAT careless of the people around me?
That question suddenly crossed my mind as I descried Rayden sitting on one of the classroom tables while chatting with his group of friends. The group was the same group that I encountered at the restaurant yesterday.
Ni hindi ko man lang sila napansin noong klase namin kahapon. I was aware that he was in the same grade as mine, yet didn't remember it as soon as I got into class. What are the odds, really? Hindi rin naman sila gumawa ng kung anumang bagay na kaakit-akit ng atensyon. They were kinda noisy, but everyone else was too. So, who would've thought?
I almost jumped out of my seat when someone tapped my forehead. Naupo si Rayden, ang may kagagawan nito, sa aking mesa. He beamed, trying to josh me at the same time.
"Good morning," pagbati niya.
I stared at him with boredom. Does he plan to ruin my morning by trying to emphasize my forehead? Well, he has to try harder.
"Ang aga-aga, ang sungit-sungit," bulong niya. He sulked as if I did something to disappoint him.
"Close ba tayo?" I spatted at him. I didn't care if I was being offensive. He was irritating.
He was taken aback for a while, making his gaze turn away from me. Ngunit hindi katagalan, siya'y muling tumingin at ngumiti sa akin.
"Maybe soon," tugon niya. It made me sneer. Inilayo ko sa kanya ang aking ulo nang sinimulan niyang guluhin ang aking buhok. Bakit ba ang kulit nito?!
Buti na lang at dumating na ang homeroom teacher namin, kaya't ang lahat ay nakampante sa kani-kanilang upuan. Nang ilibot ko ang aking paningin sa silid, natigil ang aking mata kay Yrishi na nasa kabilang gilid ng silid. A joshing smile curved on her lips.
"Anong sabi?" she mouthed.
I sneered. "Asa," I mouthed back.
Kumunot ang noo niya dahil dito. Muli pa sana niya akong kukulitin nang dumaan ang guro sa kanyang harapan, dahilan upang siya'y umayos ng upo. Natawa ako ng mahina.
I IDLY PLAYED my pen in between my fingers as the only teacher who began the class introduction with a lesson today discussed. Gusto kong magsulat. By magsulat, I meant is to write a story. I'd rather do my hobby than listen to an entrepreneurship lesson. Interesado lang ako sa subjects na magagamit ko sa pag-a-abogado. Apparently, that isn't an inch close to those.
Nabalik ako sa ulirat nang may kumalabit mula sa aking likod. I stealthily glanced behind over my shoulder to whoever it was. Bumungad sa akin ang nakangiting si Naiya, ang isa sa mga kaibigan ni Rayden. She was lending me a piece of paper. Kahit na nagtataka, pasimple ko itong kinuha at binuklat.
Pogi ko :)
- Rayden
O...kay?
Kunot-noo akong sumulyap sa pwesto ni Rayden. There, I saw him smiling widely at me. Hindi ko ito tinugunan at muling bumaling sa harap. I heard a restrained cackle from behind, ngunit binelawala ko na lang ito. Nang mabasang muli ang papel, napa-iling na lang ako at inipit ito sa loob ng mga pahina ng aking libro.
He's so... proud and random. Oo, may hitsura siya. But he didn't have to brag about it! He should've kept that to himself instead.
COPING ANOTHER hour of monotony was a no-no for me, so I made an excuse to make it out of this room. Agad kong kinuha ang aking tumbler at lumabas upang punan itong muli. Yrishi insisted to come, but I refused. Baka mapag-initan lang kami ng aming guro.
BINABASA MO ANG
Epiphany (Un/Requited Series #1)
Romance/əˈpifənē/ noun • an experience of a sudden and striking realization. In the stage of senior high school, Iraen Aritza struggles to conquer the challenges adulting brings. With her very mature mindset, she takes familial and emotional breakthroughs...
