Chapter 2
"Holy shit," I murmured through gritted teeth when I saw Andrei looked my way. Oh my gosh, nakakahiya!
Dali-dali akong umayos nang tayo at sinubukang lumayo sa lugar na 'yon kahit nahihirapan ako. Para akong pilay sa sobrang trying hard kung maglakad.
"Hey, are you okay?" I heard him asked. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Shit, totoo? Oh my God, Oh my God!
I turned my back to check if he was really there and holy oh holy crap, totoo nga!
"U-uhh.. Y-yeah," I replied. I tried to smile at him pero nagmukha lang ata itong ngiwi.
"Are you sure?" He asked again. Lord, ano po bang nagawa kong mabuti para mapansin ako ni Andrei this time?
"Nadapa lang ako kanina. Pero okay lang talaga ako. Kaya ko pa naman maglakad," I replied.
"But you look like you're not fine. Masakit ba?" Oh em! He cares for me!
"Konti lang naman," I responded. Pero ang totoo, masakit talaga. Pero kahit masakit, kering-kering ko pa ring ngumiti nang pagkalaki-laki sa kanya.
"Are you sure? I can bring you to the clinic," he stated. My jaw also dropped. He's going to bring me to the clinic? As in?
"Ha?" Was all I said. Speechless.
"I'll bring you to the clinic," he said firmly. Lumuhod siya patalikod sa akin. At hindi na magkamayaw sa pagtibok nang mabilis ang puso ko.
Nawala lahat ng hiya sa katawan ko at sumakay na ako sa likod niya. I put my arms around his neck at inilapit ko pa ang mukha ko sa kanya. Geez, he smells so good. Jusko, parang gusto ko na ata siyang pakasalan. Amoy pa lang, ulam na.
"Hold on tight," I heard him said. Kaya mas lalo ko pang inilapit ang sarili ko sa kanya.
Hindi ko na namalayang nakarating na pala kami sa clinic. Masyado akong nilamon ng imahinasyon ko.
Dahan-dahan niya akong ibinaba. Agad namang lumapit sa akin ang nurse.
"Anong nangyari, hija?" The nurse asked.
"Nabangga po ako kanina tapos unang lumanding 'yong pwet ko. Medyo masakit po ilakad," I answered.
"Nako, baka namaga na. Saan ba ang masakit?"
"Sa may balakang po. Masakit rin po 'yong pwet ko," I answered truthfully.
"Ganoon ba? Kailangan nating ipa-x-ray at baka may fractures ba. I'll call your parents ha?" She stated. I blinked twice hearing her last words. She's going to call my parents? Shit! Masyado akong nadala sa momentum at hindi ko naisip na tatawagan nila ang parents ko!
Pumunta sa isang corner ang nurse, which I guess is where the student's profiles were kept. Nako, for sure my parents will definitely leave their works to head here. Malala pa naman ang pagka-paranoid ng mga 'yon.
Hinayaan ko na lang ang nurse na tawagan ang parents ko. Para namang may magagawa pa ako para pigilan siya.
I stifled a sigh watching the nurse as she calls my parents.
"Any problem?" I heard Andrei asked. Crap, nakalimutan ko naman ang presence niya. How could you, Lei?
"Ayaw ko kasing mag-alala ang parents ko. Level 100 pa naman ang pagka-paranoid nila," I replied. I heard him chuckle. Gods, ang sarap pakinggan 'non.
"Of course mag-aalala ang mga 'yon. Ganun naman talaga ang mga magulang. It's because they care," he responded.
Eh ikaw, Andrei? Do you care about me? I wanted to ask. Pero ang ambisyosa ko naman.
I just smiled genuinely at him. Wala na akong maisagot eh. And besides, I'm talking to a debater. Kung sasagot man ako, for sure he always has something to say at talo lang ako sa huli. Hindi pa naman ako smart talker gaya niya. Hay, ang perfect niya talaga sa paningin ko. Gwapo, matalino, at mabait siya. Feeling ko rin mayaman sila! Doctor tatay nito eh, saka Architect ang nanay. Alam ko kasi inalam ko.
"Anyway, I'm going. May class pa kasi ako. And I guess I'm already late," he murmured. Darn, ako rin!
"Hala, sorry. Na-late ka tuloy dahil sa akin," I said.
"It's okay. Ikaw? Saan ang klase mo? Baka pwede kong daanan and I'll just excuse you," he stated. And my world just fell. He really doesn't recognize me. Sakit naman 'non.
"Actually, we're classmates," I replied and he stared at me shockingly.
"Seriously? How come I didn't notice you?" He rebutted.
Eh kasi lahat ng atensyon mo ay nasa girlfriend mong si Katrina na iniwan ka lang, I wanted to say. Pero ang insensitive ko naman kung sasabihin ko 'yon.
"Hindi ko alam. Siguro kasi hindi naman ako ganun ka-noticeable. You know, I'm just an average girl," I responded.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he muttered. "But at least now, I already noticed you. What's your name, by the way?"
"Anne Lei Agustin," I said. I was shocked when he offered his hand for shake hands and so I took it.
"I'm Andrei Joseph del Fuerto," he said while shaking my hands. Grabe, ang lambot ng kamay niya. Parang ayaw ko nang bitawan.
"I know. Sino naman ang hindi makakakilala sayo 'no?" I said, faking a chuckle.
"I'm really sorry about it."
"Okay lang.Sige na, baka mas lalo ka pang ma-late," I grumbled and he nodded.
"I'll just tell our teacher about what happened to you," he mumbled before finally leaving me. Pero kahit umalis na siya, hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang ngiti sa labi ko. Eh kasi naman, finally, may interaction na kami. He finally recognized me! At mukhang magiging close pa kami!
"Ikaw lang ata ang na-clinic na todo ang ngiti," I heard the nurse commented. She's smiling teasingly at me. "Boyfriend mo na ba si Andrei?" She queried. See? Even the nurse knows him.
"Hindi po. Pero feeling ko papunta na dun," I said, grinning.
"Nako, wag mag-expect o mag-assume para iwas sakit," she stated. I almost raised a brow at her pero pinigilan ko. Grabe naman, sakit agad? Di ba pwedeng sakyan niya muna ang imagination ko? Nakakasikip sa dibdib.
"Hindi naman talaga maiiwasan ang pain eh. Mag-assume man ako o hindi, masasaktan at masasaktan pa rin ako. You know, being in love doesn't mean happiness all the time. You can't guarantee being saved from the pain. Parte ng buhay eh. Pero in fairness naman nurse ha? Dahil sa nangyari sa akin, napansin niya na ako. Who knows? Baka ito na ang simula ng love story namin," I rebutted.
"Hay nako, ewan ko sayong bata ka," she blurted out. "By the way, papunta na nga pala ang parents mo dito. I already told them what happened to you," she stated and gah, oo nga pala. I better prepare myself sa ka-OAhan ng parents ko.
