Epiphany (Un/Requited Series #1)

Chapter One

I WAS quite careful about the impression I make to others all my life. I wanted them to think that I'm an approachable person when reached out to, but at the same time, a carelessly confident one. I often heard the latter. Sabi nila, dahil 'yon sa aking makapal na kilay na nagbibigay ng mataray vibes. I'm not offended though.

"Bakit ganyan ang hitsura mo?"

I rolled my eyes at Aki's foreground right after I took a step into our classroom. Hindi ko siya pinansin at pabagsak na umupo sa isa sa mga upuan dito dala ng pagod sa paglalakad. Naramdaman kong sinundan niya ako.

"Did someone ask for your number?" panimula niya. "Introduce themselves to you? Anong nangyari?!"

I groaned out of irritation. Napaka-ingay talaga nito kahit kailan. Does she expect me to flirt this early? I have no time for that.

Instead of answering my bestfriend's incessant questions, tumayo ako habang dinudukot mula sa aking bulsa ang card na ibinigay sa akin niㅡano nga ulit 'yung pangalan niya? Saglit ko lang naman siya nakausap, kaya't hindi ko ito matandaan. Basta, 'yung moreno.

"I knew it!" sigaw niya matapos na pasadahan ng tingin ang card. "Your charms are irresistible! Magkaibigan nga tayo." She winked at me.

Napabungisngis at napa-iling na lang ako. Hinalungkat ko ang aking bag upang uminom ng tubig habang patuloy siya sa pagdada. Ako 'yung natutuyuan ng lalamunan sa kanya e.

"It's a modeling agency," pagsisinungaling ko upang matigil siya sa kanyang pang-aasar. This will go round and round the whole day.

"Modeling agency, maniwala. Ni wala ngang company na nakalagay dito, at handwritten pa!" Hindi naalis ang kanyang titig sa papel. Siya'y napakunot ng noo. "Pero hindi nga lang gaano kaganda ang sulat niya. But I bet naman gwapo siya, 'di ba?"

I shrugged. I didn't want to comment.

She scoffed. "Grabe, Iraen! Ang taas ng standards, ha!" Isinigaw pa niya 'yon habang tumitingala sa isang imaginary building.

I laughed at how high-spirited she was. Pagdating talaga sa ganito e.

I sat beside Aki, who was now watching a Japanese animated series she was currently going crazy over at. Nakinood na lamang ako kahit hindi ko maintindihan ang kanilang sinasabi hangga't hindi binabasa ang subtitles. She could understand it without that though, Japanese blood runs in her veins.

"Where's Yrishi, anyway?" tanong ko.

"Bumili lang ng yogurt milk," tugon niya sa kabila ng pagkagat ng chocolate. Her eyes were still set on the show. "You know her and her cravings."

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako kahit na alam kong hindi niya ito napansin.

Aki, Yrishi and I have been friends since second year of highschool. Hanggang ngayon na kami'y nasa isang panibagong eskwelahan ay magkakasama pa rin kami. They decided to take a path on STEM though, while I took HUMMS.

Actually, my girl friends were pleading me to take the same path as theirs. Para magkakasama at best friend goals, rason nila. I didn't let them stumble my decision though. No one must hinder those, not even them. I don't want to do something that I don't really want to do and regret it in the end. It always must never be that way.

"Sumagi na ba sa isip mong mag-switch ng strand? Baka naman, Iraen," bungad ni Yrishi pagkapasok na pagkapasok sa silid.

I let out a heavy sigh. Speaking of.

"Good morning," bati ko sa kanya, ignoring her remark.

Kagaya ng ginawa ko pagkapasok na pagkapasok ng classroom, pabagsak na umupo si Yrishi sa aking tabi. She let out a light chuckle.