The Boy Who Wouldn't Give Up
1125 Words
SHE CLENCHED her fists tightly and gritted her teeth. My lips curved in victory.
“Oh, did I hit a nerve?” I spoke again and chuckled. Bago pa siya magsalita muli, Jessica stepped in and dragged me out of the situation kasi alam niya kung ano ang ending kapag nagpatuloy — catfight.
“Tara na, Bessy. Don't waste your time dealing with that girl. Baka ma-late lang din tayo.”
We left Penelope with her minions behind and proceeded to our classroom. As soon as we entered the room, we walked up to our seats. Sobrang ingay ng klase at sobrang g**o ng classroom. ‘Yung ingay, okay pa tutal, wala namang teachers pero 'yung classroom? Kung titignan mo ngayon, parang patapos na ang araw.
Nagkalat ang mga papel at notebooks, may mga chalks din sa lapag na durog-durog at disorganized din ang mga upuan. Parang hindi ako nasa classroom ng college. Parang nasa kindergarten classroom ako.
Inilapag ko ang mga gamit ko sa upuan, at ganon rin ang ginawa ni bessy na nakaupo lang sa tabi ko. Habang wala pa ang teacher, nagchikahan na muna kaming dalawa ni bessy. Napahinto kami saglit nang maramdaman namin ang paglapit ng isang lalaki na naka-upo sa likod ko.
His name is Brandon Orland.
We attended the same class, but we never talked. I was convinced that he was the quiet type, but I wasn’t sure if he was a snob or unfriendly. Minsan, nakikita ko na may mga kasama siya pero minsan naman ay wala. Other than that, wala na akong alam tungkol sa kanya. Jessica was friends with him, but I never tried befriending that guy.
He looked kind and he’s hot with his auburn skin fade hairstyle and his pointed brown eyes. He got this bad boy baby face look, but I couldn’t feel that bad boy vibes from him. ‘Yung gupit niya ngayon ay isa sa mga kilalang men hairstyle this 2014. Pero kahit na he’s cute, he didn’t pass my standard. He wasn’t an achiever at school and he looked laid-back. I didn’t mean to judge or be mean but he was no match for me.
“Good morning, Brandon!” masiglang bati ni Jessica.
“Good morning, Jessie!” bati niya pabalik.
He addressed her using her nickname. Close nga talaga sila. Ang mga tumatawag lang sa kanya na 'Jessie' ay ang mga taong malalapit sa kanya kagaya ko.
“Hindi ka ba mag-gu-good morning, bessy?” tanong ni Jessie sa akin habang nakangiti.
She looked hopeful na batiin ko siya but to her dismay, I said, “Why would I? Eh hindi naman kami close and hindi din naman ako interesado.” hindi kumibo itong si Brandon which was good.
“'Wag ka ngang ganyan! Brandon is my childhood friend kaya gusto kong maging magkaibigan kayong dalawa,” sabi niya. “he's not mean. Mas mabait pa nga siya kaysa sa'yo.”
I rolled my eyes and ignored her. Then nag-usap silang dalawa sa likod ko at hinayaan ko nalang. Instead, I began fiddling with my phone. Habang busy ako kaka-scroll sa social media, I saw Penelope's groupie sa f*******: ngayong umaga lang. Wala ba silang klase or what?
Nagpicture kasi sila sa garden kung saan may magandang view. Perfect spot for chilling and taking photos.
Suddenly, I received a message from Carl. It's been a while since he talked to me kaya nakakapagtaka kung bakit siya biglang nagparamdam. Carl tried to pursue me for years, but I kept rejecting him until he stopped trying.
We have known each other since elementary here at Evergreen Heights High. Carl was nice and I appreciated the efforts he put in when he was trying to pursue me. Kaso, wala talaga eh. I couldn’t feel anything special for him so I had to stop him. Sinimulan kong basahin ang message niya at saka nagreply.
CARL: Hi Claire, kamusta ka na?
CLAIRE: What do you want?
CARL: You. I want you. No one else.
CLAIRE: Hindi ba, matagal ko na sinabi sa'yo na hindi magiging tayo?
CLAIRE: why don't you get a life and move on?
CARL: I can't!
CLAIRE: I'll help you then.
Akala ko, sumuko na siya kasi bigla nalang siyang tumigil. Akala ko lang pala. I want him to move on from me and focus on himself so I blocked him.
***
MABILIS TUMAKBO ANG ORAS at maya-maya ay uwian na din sa wakas. Hindi kami magkasabay umuwi ni bessy ngayon dahil may club practice pa siya. She was a member of the choir and may practice sila para sa school competition.
Our school was up against our rival school which also has so many great and very competitive singers. Unfortunately, my school rival is where my younger sister, Suzie, goes to.
Magkaiba kami ng eskwelahan ng bunso kong kapatid dahil gusto ng mga magulang ko na matuto kaming depensahan ang aming mga sarili mula sa mga bullies. Thanks to that, mas matatag at mas resilient na ako sa mga bullies at kaya kong protektahan ang sarili ko.
Anyway, after magpaalam ni bessy for her practice, umuwi na ako sa bahay. Eighteen years old palang ako kaya ang gusto nila mama at papa na may chauffeur ako. Hindi ko gusto ang ideaya na ‘yon kaya bago pa lamang dumating ang sundo ko, umaalis na agad ako para tumakas.
Habang wala pa ang sundo ko, nagsimula na akong maglakad, pero bago umuwi, dumaan na muna ako sa paborito kong kwek-kwekan kay ate Lorna. The best ang kwek-kwek nila doon kaya binabalik-balikan ko. Hindi lang din ako ang may mahilig sa luto niyang quail eggs dahil marami siyang customers at nagkakaubusan kaya dapat, mabilis ako na makarating doon.
Nang nakarating ako sa kwek-kwekan ni ate Lorna, agad-agad akong kumuha ng stick pantuhog at nagtuhog ng sampung kwek-kwek na bagong luto. Bumili na din ako ng malamig na malamig na gulaman na sakto lang ang tamis, tama sa timpla ko.
“Ate Lorna, the best talaga ang kwek-kwek mo at ang gulaman! Gusto ko pa ng isa pang order ng sampung quail eggs! Iuuwi ko sa bahay para may merienda ako.” sabi ko saka inabot ang bayad sa kanya.
“Nako, masaya ako at nagustuhan mo ang luto ko.” sabi niya saka tinanggap ang bayad ko. Sinimulan na niyang ibalot ang take out ko na kwek-kwek.
Isusubo ko na sana 'yung ika-apat kong kwek-kwek nang biglang may nagsalita sa likuran ko na ikinagulat ko at dahil sa gulat, nalaglag ko ang isang kwek-kwek ko.
What a waste!
“Akalain mo 'yun, kumakain ka pala ng street food? Hindi halata.”
I looked over my shoulder to see bessy's childhood friend.
Brandon Orland.
- Writer
