Bygone Memories of Yesterday (Affliction Series #2) ✔

Chapter 5

Late ako ng ilang minuto sa usual time ng pagpasok ko sa school. I slept late so I woke up late. If it weren’t for Mommy, malamang isang oras akong late.

Kung bakit ba naman kasi nakalimutan kong i-on ang alarm bago matulog kagabi.

I halted when I saw a commotion happening in one of the classrooms na daraanan ko.

A guy, holding a bouquet of roses is outside the classroom together with his friends, wherein one of them is playing the guitar.
They are serenading the girl in the doorway. Napangiti ako sa nasaksihan.

How endearing.

“Good morning.”

Napaigtad ako nang may bumulong malapit sa tainga ko. Nilingon ko ang mapangahas at mas lalong bumilis ang tahip ng aking dibdib nang makita si Neus.

“Morning,” I greeted back while clutching my chest.

“Did I surprise you?” natatawa niyang tanong.

“K-Konti ...”

He smirked and stood close to me. Our arms, almost touching.

Napapansin ko nitong mga nakaraang araw, napapadalas ang pagngiti niya. He’s friendlier than before. Hindi ko naman magawang magreklamo dahil mas gusto ko ang pakikitungo niya sa ‘kin ngayon kaysa noon.

“Do you like sweet guys?” he suddenly asked. My eyes remained on the group of boys serenading to hide my bewildered reaction.

Wala akong maisagot. It’s my first time being asked that kind of question. Kahit ako, hindi ko iyon naitanong sa sarili ko. Ngayon lang.
I was too focused on my goal which is to not disappoint my parents and maintain my school performance, that I have forgotten that I’m a teen. At parte ng pagiging dalaga ang magkaroon ng tipo ng lalaki, magkaroon ng crush, magkagusto sa iba, makaramdam ng kilig, at kung ano-ano pa.

“You don’t have to think about it too much. I’m just asking. This is not a recitation, Anj,” boses iyon ni Neus na pumukaw sa naglalaro kong isip.

“Ngayon lang kasi ako naka-encounter ng ganiyang tanong,” I confessed.

Hinarap niya ako kaya hinarap ko rin siya.

“For real?”

I nodded. “Now that you’ve asked, napaisip ako. Do I like sweet guys? A sweet guy would be nice. Pero hindi gano’n ka-sweet.” Sinulyapan ko ang mga lalaki. “Masyadong nakaka-attract ng atensyon.”

“You’re saying that, yet you’re popular.” Nagpamulsa siya.

“That’s the thing.” Umiling ako. “I never wanted any of this. Ang tanging gusto ko lang ay ibigay ang best ko para matuwa sa ‘kin ang parents ko. But then, the more I gain achievements, the more I get recognized. Until many students and teachers knows me. Hindi na lang magulang ko ang kailangan kong ma-impress. Pati na rin ang mga taong may expectations sa ‘kin.”

Sadly, that’s how my mind works. I feel responsible when people get disappointed in me. Sinisisi ko ang sarili ko at napupuno ang utak ko ng what-ifs.

It’s not a good mindset — letting people’s expectations rule you. As much as I want to break free, hindi ko alam kung paano at saan magsisimula.

“Angelique, that’s not a good way of thinking,” he said worriedly.

“I know. I’m in the process of fixing it.” I smiled to give assurance.

“Do not let other people’s expectations get to you. That’s your life, you do what you want to do. At mas mabuting gawin mo na ‘yon ngayon bago mo pa pagsisihan in the near future.”