Halaw (Writing Exercises)

AGREEMENT 5

*Jaxon*

People often forget that being an athlete is equivalent to being a persistent son of a bitch. Lauren certainly did. Did she seriously think that screening my calls and ignoring my texts will make me give up on my Lauren-tutor-me campaign? She has another think coming on.

Wala pang masyadong tao sa Dulce nang pumasok ako. Paboritong hang-out ito ng mga estudyante sa Evergeen.It has everything a college student would ever want. Sandwiches, coffee,and wifi. Not to mention na 24-hours din itong bukas.

Noong freshman pa lang ako at nagsisimula palang ang pagkakaibigan namin ng mga housemates ko, laman ako ng Dulce. Nabawasan lang ang dalas ng pagpunta ko dito nang madiscover ko ang ibang hang-outs na mas exciting pa kesa dito. At nahinto na talaga nang magsimulang magtrabaho si Lauren dito. Yes. One can say that the prickly woman drove me out of this place. Pero ito rin ang nagpabalik sa akin.

I immediately noticed the moment my schoolmates became aware of my presence. Especially the girls. They straightened up in their seat and followed my progress with their eyes. Lihim akong napangiti. Nakakataba ng pusong malaman na kahit papaano, I still got it.

Ngayon, ang taong siyang pakay ko dito is blissfully unaware that I am here. Magiliw pa itong nakangiti at nakikipagkuwentuhan sa magkasintahang nasa isang couch sa kabilang bahagi ng silid.

I slid into the couch sa likod mismo ng happy couple and waited impatiently for Lauren to notice me. And I knew the moment she finally did notice me dahil bahagya pa siyang napa-atras nang mahagip niya ako ng tingin. Kita ko sa mata niya ang pagdadalawang-isip kung lalapitan niya ba ako o ipapaubaya ang booth ko sa kasama nito. I stared at her challengingly. Daring her to run away from me.

I knew I won the battle of wills when Lauren drew herself up and walked towards me with determination.

She pasted a fake smile on her lips and asked, "Hi! Can I have your order?"

Napangisi ako. "One tutor for take out please."

Nanigas ang ngiti nito. "Sorry, sir. That's not on the menu."

"It could be if you want to."

"Seriously, LaCroix. Why don't you let me be?," pabulong niyang anas sa akin. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak nito ng ballpen.

"If you had said yes noong una pa lang, hindi na tayo aabot sa ganito," pabulong ko ring sagot.

Anger sparked in her eyes. "At kasalanan ko pa na ginugulo mo ako ngayon?"

Kibit-balikat lang ang tugon ko. Naaasar siyang tumuwid ng tayo and announced, loudly, "One iced caramel machiato coming up."

Vengeful bitch.

Ayaw ko ng mga matatamis. Dati pa. At mas sumidhi pa ang pagkadisgusto ko dito simula nang maglaro na ako ng lacrosse seriously. The sugar rush does give you a few minutes of energy but your body will bugged down after that. And she's giving me iced caramel machiato? Na may practice ako in an hour? Fuck!

Pero, nagreklamo ba ako? Of course not. I will not give her the satisfaction of knowing that she is getting to me. Besides, if it would help my cause with her, I'd gladly drown in caramel machiato. "I can't wait," sabi ko na lang, na nagngingitngit.

Isang irap lang ang binigay niya sa akin and stalked away.

Naaasar na sinundan ko siya ng tingin. With narrowed eyes, I followed her every move. Mahirap na. Baka maliban sa isang tasa ng asukal ang ilagay niya sa inumin ko ay dagdagan niya pa ng Racumin.

She began talking to another girl wearing the same uniform as she is. May kung anong inaasyos siya sa isang plato habang nakikipag-usap. Mula sa kinauupuan ko, nakita ko kung paano lumiwanag ang mukha ng babaeng kausap ni Lauren at sabay pa silang dalawa na napalingon sa akin. Lauren is smirking while the other girl looks, ummm, hungry. That hungry look makes me uncomfortable. And that smirk gives me a bad feeling.