Small Gestures

Good afternoon

Hi! Ako nga pala si 'Rico' but you may call me 'Ric' just for short, I'm 17 and I'm what they call a "Torpe."

If you ask me, I'm a sucker for love... Don't ask me why tho! I'm just not good at impressing girls, so therefore, I'm not that popular towards them.

(Oh teka! porket torpe ang bida ay ibig sabihin pangit na yung kwento? Just take a relax and read it calmly, shall we? c;)

<Thursday, June 20, 2024, 3:43PM>

The rain drops falls onto the window of the car. It was raining hard again, and its freaking cold.

I'm also sitting with my cousin Dianne on the backseat. she's a nice and beautiful girl but with a slight attitude on her.

"Bwisit na traffic toh." Palihim na napipikon na bulong ng aking ama.

Me and Dianne ignored it and continued to mind our own business. Although we're stucked on the highway for an hour now, I cannot get rid of my eye on this girl on the other side of the car, she looks pretty.. especially her eyes and her blonde hair.

**tap, tap** I felt a touch on the fabric of my hoodie on my shoulder.

"Ganda noh?" Dianne said with a playful tone.

"Ha? Sino?" I said, acting innocent.

"yung tinitignan mo. Baka matunaw yan."
She said, followed by a scoff and a playful laugh.

"Tigil-tigilan mo nga ako." Napipikon at nahihiya kong sinabi.

Alam ko naman sa sarili ko na wala akong chance na makausap siya o maging kaibigan siya. I always have low expectations on myself when it comes to girls.

I felt another touch on my thighs and it's Dianne's right hand laying on it.

"Alam mo pogi ka naman eh... Torpe ka
lang."

She said to me with her eyes brows raised like parang naaawa siya.

I squinted my eye and took some seconds to respond

"I know.. mahiyain lang ako."

I can feel her hands gently squeezing my thighs and I don't feel any sign of uncomfortable feelings. It's like normal nalang yung sakin.

Dianne scoffs once again and smiles at me. She removed her hand and puts her headphones back in then starts scrolling on her phone.

I turned my face to the window of the car again and my eyes searches for that girl again. Unfortunately, nauna na kami dahil the traffic is slowly moving, but the cars are not moving simultaneously.

<4:28PM>

we finally got home and I straightly went to my room, carrying the things we bought from our trip.

"Another collection ko nanaman ng books!"

Oh? Di ko ba nabanggit? I'm a book-worm. I love reading books, especially the romance-comedy novels.

My phone vibrated **buzz, buzz**

Someone is calling on my phone. I picked it up and sees Tessa's name.

Tessa is a girl, shes also my classmate, the only one who understands me the most among all my classmates. She's also my best friend.

"Yo. Sup?"

"Uyy, Ric! I'm on my way to your house right now. Dumating na yung parcel na inaantay atin!"

She said as I hear the background noises of the vehicles on the phone.

"Ahh, Talaga?! I'll be waiting on my room. Pasok ka nalang andiyan naman sina tatay."

I said, smiling and excitingly waits for her.

"Oh, sige na!"

She hunged up the call and proceeds to go to my house.