Kiss Me, Cole (Part 1) [IN EDITING ]

Cole (22)

"I have a feeling that you don't like me, Cole Orizaga."

Christoff Varias is grinning at me when he said that understatement of the year. I just looked at him and continued to towel my hair dry.

Kaming dalawa na lang ang naiwan sa locker room. Nauna na ang mga kaklase namin, kasama na roon si Theo, na umalis papunta sa kani-kanilang mga elective classes. Magkaklase kami ng lalaking ito at nagpaabiso na ang teacher namin na liliban siya ngayong araw so we can spend the hour however we want.

In the shower, I chose to take my time. Varias must have thought that waiting for me to irritate me to death was a wonderful way to spend his free time.

"I wonder why," dagdag niya pa.

I ignored that as well and proceeded to the lockers. Nakasandig siya sa saktong locker ko.

"Move," matigas kong utos. "Nakaharang ka."

With that happy grin still on his face, he moved to allow me to pass and continued to stare at me. I'm ignoring him, but he refuses to go away. He persisted to yap at me.

"Dahil ba ito kay Anna?"

I had had enough. Why can't he just shut up and go his own way? Padabog kong isinara ang pinto ng metal locker at sinimaan siya ng tingin.

"What do you want, Varias?"

Kumibit-balikat lang siya.

"Nothing much really. I'm just curious as to why you don't like me."

I just don't like this guy. I hate him.

He is turning out to be the bane of my existense here in Florentine High. Oh, the things I want to do to him.

I want to put his head on a stick, dunk it in a bucket of soap, and use it to clean the school hallways.

I'd like to sever his hands and use them for soccer practice.

I want to take his eyes out and use them for target shooting and literal bullseye.

And, his dimples. Don't even get me started on those blasted things. I want to take a bread knife to his fucking face and carve them off.

Want. Want. Want.

Puro ako want pero wala naman akong nagagawa kundi ang manood at magngitngit. This turd had Orianna hanging on his every word, mesmerized by his, as my kiska refers to them, cute dimples.

Nakakasuka.

"The world likes you enough. Why does it matter to you if I don't? Are you that greedy for attention?"

Mahina siyang tumawa. "Bro, may pakiramdam akong nakasalalay sa'yo ang itatagal ko sa mundong ibabaw."

Ngumisi rin ako sa kanya but the mirth isn't reaching my eyes. Coldly, I said, "You're not worth any time in jail. Rest easy."

"I might not be worth anything to you but Orianna does."

Tumalim na ang pagkakatingin ko sa kanya na mas lalong ikinalapad ng kanyang ngisi.

"Got your attention, huh?" May himig ng panunukso sa boses niya. "Let me ask you this, Orizaga: is she yours?"

My eyes continued to bore into his but I didn't answer.

He continued smiling at me wickedly. "No? Then, bro, i-ayon ang selos sa antas nang pagkatorpe. Kung walang sinasabi, huwag magalit dahil wala kang karapatan. Stop punishing me because of how she feels about me. I may retaliate. Also, I didn't ask her to like me, but now that she does, I want you to know that I appreciate it. You had a whole year to tell her, but you didn't. Your loss is my gain."