Always the Best Friend, Never the Girlfriend

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

College. One of the most exciting thought I have been looking forward to since I graduated highschool. Naisip ko, more freedom, more time while meeting new friends and even dating some guys. cool idea, pero most unlikely in my real life. I've been in this university for 3 months now, parang wala naman masyadong happenings!

"Good morning, manong!" I greeted the security guard with a smile. He looked at me weirdly while frowning. Minsan, weird ang mga tao. Sila na ngang binati mo, sila pa ang masungit.

I continued to walk happily across the school grounds. Passing by the field while watching students on their PE class. RIIIIIIIING, RIIIIIIIIING.

Someone's calling my phone. Nakita ko ang picture at name ni Martin. I picked it up, "Oi bro!"

"Bro ka dyan?! Lalaki ka ba?!"

"Aga aga mang-asar!" I sighed. They never treated me as a girl anyway.

"Kasi naman Erick, magpakababae ka naman! Maganda ka naman, weird lang kasi you don't flaunt what you have. Yung iba nga, kahit pangit, nagfi-feeling maganda!"

I laughed, "Sira. Andito na ko sa tapat ng building natin. Wag ka na manermon dahil di ako nakikinig."

Suddenly, dumating si Martin. Tall, fair-skinned and chinito. Don't get me wrong, he's not special to me nor am I special to him. We just had this kind of barkada na majority ay lalaki at ako lang ang babae. Not that I'm flirting with their barkada, but they find me very weird, boyish but pretty daw. Charot, pambobola lang nila yun para pakopyahin ko sila ng assignment.

"Ulit-uli, wag mo kong tatawaging Erick! Kadiri baka sabihin ng iba tomboy ako!" I snapped.

"CHRISTY!" Someone from behind screamed.

I rolled my eyes. I hate that second name of mine. Kaasar! "Anong nakain niyong dalawa at ang aga niyo ko asarin? Pwede bang ibalik niyo ang tunay kong pangalang ERIN! Wag Erick, Christy or what!"

"Pangalan mo naman ang Christy ah." The guy with spiked hair and braces answered. Siya si Cesar. But most of the time, I call him Buboy. Parang Cesar Montano ang peg. Kala niya siya lang ang marunong mang-asar! Ha!

"Whatever!" Tumayo ako at pumasok na sa loob ng building. Tumawa lang silang dalawa habang nagbubungguan sa corridor. Minsan feeling ko di ko sila tunay na kaibigan pero mas ok naman sila kesa sa mga girls na nakilala ko dito sa school.

"Gino.. Gino!" I ran to one of our ka-barkada. He's very occupied with what he reads from our English class.

He's sitting on the window pane. His almost silhouette body looks very holy as the bright sunshine outside radiates from it. He slowly lifted his head and looked at me. I saw his lips curved that hot sexy smile at me. OMG, Gino, hindi ako makahinga! I died.

I was paralyzed. Smiling like a clown with puppy eyes while clasping the strap of my backpack tightly. Waaaaaa, ang gwapo ng ngiti. Para sakin ba yun?

"Cesar, Martin!" Gino run towards us then bumped past me.

I got back to my senses. I turned around. Teka nga. Dinedma ako?

Nag apir ang mga magkakabarkada. Hay, di manlang ako napansin.

Then bigla siyang lumingon sakin. And smiled, "Hey Erin, good morning!" That sweet and genuine smile.

Now, it's really for me! Erin, Erin, Erin! My soul danced in happiness.

"Oi Erin, ok ka lang ba?" He walked towards me and suddenly removed my eyeglasses. I blinked. "Pinagpapawisan na tong salamin mo. Para namang natulala ka dyan. Nagpuyat ka for English class noh?!"

I frowned. Earth calling Erin! Hinablot ko ang salamin ko. Yuck nakakahiya, nag-moist nga ang salamin ko. Whew. Bakit parang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Kaya siguro nag-moist ang salamin ko. "Inaalala ko lang yung nireview ko kagabi. Kaya natulala. Sino nga ba ang Goddess of Wisdom?"

"Athena. Basic eh. Adik nito!" Tumawa si Gino at bigla akong inakbayan. Kala mo naman guy friend niya ako kung makaakbay wala manlang kasweet-sweet sa katawan. Puro ka-brutalan!

Pumasok na kami sa classroom at pumunta na sa seating arrangements namin. Hindi naman kami seatmates na magkakabarkada. Sa bandang 4th row ako nakaupo. Habang si Gino naman sa 1st row sa aisle. Si Cesar at Martin naman nasa likod sa 5th row.

"Swerte mo talaga sa mga friends mo noh?" Someone said in a sarcastic tone. I looked up and saw Angel. One of the chicks sa class. Natulala na naman ako for some reason. Dahil sa ganda ng kilay niya. Haha. Very nicely trimmed and arched. At tinaas niya pa ang kilay niya ulit, "Sila pang mga sikat na boys sa batch ang naging friends mo!"

"Hindi ko naman sinadya 'yon." I opened my book to ignore her. Ano bang arte niya. Inggit lang siya.

"Well, di ka naman nila nakikita as a girl eh. You're treated as one of the guys. why not impress them?" She smiled at me and sat beside my seat. Tinitigan ko siya eye to eye for a few seconds.

"Impress?"

"Yeah," she began. Then she clapped her hands. "I'll teach you the basics of make up."

"No need." I half-smiled. Nang-iinsulto ba to. Di ko na kailangan ng make-up. I looked back at my book. Bwisit. Bakit siya pa ang seatmate ko for the whole semester! Please make time go faaaaast!

---------

Natapos ang first period at umalis na ang College Algebra prof. Biglang may bumato sakin ng crumpled paper galing sa harapan. I angrily looked up at the suspect. Nakita ko si Gino nakatingin sakin, smiling while pointing at the crumpled paper at my desk. 

I opened the paper...

Erin, reviewhin mo ko ng Mythology mamaya ah! During lunch break. Plssssssss! :)

Don't smile, Erin. I told myself. Okay, chill, tignan mo siya sa mata. But when I did, Gino winked at me. Oh my gosh, I panicked and pretended to arranged my chair. Ano ba yan para naman akong highschool sa crush crush na yan. When I looked at him again to say yes, he was laughing. Damn.

*--- runami :)