My AI Romance

Episode 16

Annoying

I am here in the library while writing all the things that had happen today. Sandali ko munang iniwan yung mga gamit ko para maghanap ng librong kakailanganin ko. When I went back to my seat, I was very surprised to see that my journal is missing.

Aligaga na ako sa paghahanap pero hindi ko pa rin 'yon makita. Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang isang lalaking nakaupo malapit mula sa kinaroroonan ko. I don't want to be a disturbance seeing that he's busy pero hindi ko lang talaga mapigilang magbakasakali.

"Excuse me, have you seen a blue journal on my table? Nawawala kasi," magalang kong tanong.

This guy didn't answer my question and he just took a glance on me once. Sayang ang effort ko sa pagtatanong. Masyado siyang sungit kahit na maayos naman iyong pag approach ko sa kanya.

"Hmm, hindi mo ba talaga nakita?" tanong ko ulit habang nagbabakasakali.

"Do I look like fvcking interested in your damn journal?" he answered back.

Nag init naman ang dugo ko dahil sa sinabi n'ya. Why is he so arrogant? Besides, I am asking him politely.

That guy definitely ruined my day. I wasn't able to find my missing journal which contains my memories from the previous days. Wala tuloy akong ibang choice kung hindi ang bumili ng panibago.

Probably, that guy stole it. Hindi naman kasi 'yon mawawala kung walang kumuha.

The next day, before leaving our house because of my work, I went to see the things mom gave me and put it in a box. Kagabi kasi ay galing s'ya dito para bisitahin ako.

She gave me new clothes and shoes and even an extra allowance for this month but I chose to save it. Iyong mga damit at sapatos naman na ibinigay n'ya ay pinili ko na lang munang itago. If I have a free time, maybe I'll go to the orphanage and give it to them. Besides, hindi ko naman kailangan ng mga bagong gamit.

Yesterday, I was with Denise and we went home late after our work in Charleston. Nitong mga nakaraang araw, kaming dalawa yung magkasama. My watch glows purple and even if I have no clue about the purpose of this watch, sa oras na umilaw 'yon katulad ng kulay sa tuwing kasama ko sina Primo at Nikkolas, I'm comfortable with the person.

I just don't understand myself why I care for her. Na-realize ko kasi na malaki ang naitulong n'ya sa akin magmula pa noong nakalipas na tatlong araw. It all started that day when she helped me in Arcadian's ball.

Bago ako magpunta sa kanila, I went on a grocery first to buy fruits. She was about to lost her balance yesterday because of headache that's why I adviced her to take a rest. I promised mysef that I will become very much careful when it comes to trusting people but what happened now is still a missing pieces for me.

Magaan ang pakiramdam ko sa kanya katulad ng pakiramdam ko noon sa tuwing kasama ko si Nikkolas.

Denise gave me her address the last time before we parted our ways. She told me na if ever na kailangan ko ng part time job, maaari ko s'yang puntahan sa bahay nila.

I'm still in the process of deep thinking kung tama ba itong lugar na napuntahan ko. Infront of me was a huge mansion and I'm sure I mistakenly went here. Maya maya pa ay may lumabas na isang kasambahay mula sa mansion kaya't lumapit ako doon para magtanong.

"Excuse me po, alam nyo po ba kung taga saan si Denise Wilson?" magalang na tanong ko sa matanda na mukhang mabait naman.

"Kaibigan ka ba n'ya? Nasa kwarto s'ya ngayon iha. Halika, pumasok muna tayo sa loob," aniya bago sumunod sa kanya.

Puno pa rin ng pagtataka ang mukha ko lalo na ng masilayan ko ang kabuuan ng bahay nila.

The mansion was full of paintings with modern designs. It was a two story house which I think three times larger compared to mine. Their maid accompanied me to her room.

I wonder why she lied to me. She told me that she was a scholar student. Why does she needs to work if she's living in this kind of place?

"Hershey, nandito ka pala. Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Napatingin ako sa kinaroroonan ni Denise.

Beside me was Manang Tessa na nagpakilala sa akin kanina kaya't magalang akong nagpasalamat sa kanya. Denise went near me while I'm still clueless roaming my eyes around. She laugh because of my reaction.

"Don't get things wrong, Hershey. I am also working here. Kasambahay nina madam yung mama ko na namatay 5 years ago. Thank God, may mga mababait na tulad nila na kumupkop sa akin ngayon,"

Natahimik tuloy ako ng mga ilang segundo. I just realize that I'm still luckier than her. My mom is still alive even if she's not with me now.

"Pasensya na pala. I forgot to tell you na hindi ako makakapunta ng Charleston ngayon."

"It's alright. Sinadya talaga kitang puntahan. I know you're not feeling well that's why I bought you something. My way of saying thank you."

After I said those, a wide smile plastered on her lips. Maya maya pa ay nagulat ako ng bigla n'ya akong yakapin.

"Sorry. I just got carried away. First time lang kasi na may bumisita sa'kin ngayon. You know, I've never been friends to anyone at natatakot din akong magtiwala sa kahit sino," she added.

Now I realized kung bakit komportable ang pakiramdam ko sa kanya. It's maybe because we're on the same boat.

Inaya ako ni Denise na pumasok sa kwarto n'ya. Her room is larger than mine. Punong puno ito ng drawings at naagaw ng atensyon ko ang isang portrait. Akmang kukuhanin ko na sana 'yon kung hindi lang n'ya ako hinarangan.

"Don't get things wrong again, Hershey. I just admire Nikkolas Parker because he's very smart and too perfect. But that was before! Alam kong close kayo kaya sana wag ng makakarating sa kanya," paliwanag n'ya bago inilagay sa drawer yung picture ni Nikkolas. I won't blame her. Nikkolas is a boyfriend material kaya't alam kong maraming nagkakagusto sa kanya.

"I won't. And b-besides, hindi na kami nag uusap."

Maya maya pa ay biglang may kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto niya. Inabala ko na lang ang sarili ko sa pagtitingin ng iba pang portrait. Halos mabitawan ko yung frame na hawak ko ng may pamilyar na lalaking pumasok sa loob.

That guy! Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. I always browsed my journal every morning before leaving. That was him who's near my seat in the library yesterday.

"Thank you, kuya. I'll drink this after. By the way, classmate ko pala. Si Hershey," Denise holds my wrist bago ako pinalapit sa lalaking mayabang na akala mo kung sino.

I smiled sarcastically infront of him.

"I know her. She's one of my stalkers. Nice to meet you," he boasts once again. Peke akong ngumiti sa harap niya. Kailan pa ako naging stalker ng bwiset na lalaking ito?

"Don't forget to rest, Denise," he said once again before his gaze went on me. Matalim n'ya muna akong tiningnan bago ito tumalikod at naglakad papalabas ng kwarto.

"He's kuya Edward, Hershey. Wag kang mag alala, mabait naman 'yon," aniya na hindi ko naman sinang ayunan.

I don't understand myself kung bakit ngayong nakita ko ulit s'ya ay uminit yung dugo ko. I don't like his attitude. I don't like the way he gave me those kind of stares. Siguro ay s'ya talaga 'yong kumuha ng journal ko!

Nawala ako sa mood kung kaya't hindi na ako masyadong nakapagtagal pa sa kanila. Denise understands that I still had something else to do. Mabuti na nga lang din at maaga akong umalis para maaga rin siyang makapagpahinga.

The day after, mabuti naman at umayos na ang pakiramdam niya. I was busy writing something in my journal ng mapatigil ako sa pagsusulat. Nikkolas arrived 5 minutes before the time.

Our eyes met. Like the usual, my system went crazy again. Tumingin s'ya sa akin ng isang beses at hindi na ito nasundan pa. I want to thank him because of what he did during the Arcadian's ball pero pinigilan ko yung sarili ko. Ayokong lumapit sa kanya sa ganitong pagkakataon ngayon.

After our morning classes, Denise told me na sabay na kami maglunch. Pumayag naman ako. I told her na umuna na s'ya sa cafeteria at susunod na lang ako. I just want to return the coat that I borrowed from Nikkolas. Hindi kasi ako makahanap ng time para isauli sa kanya ito ngayon. I followed him here in the locker area. Mahigpit yung hawak ko sa paperbag dahil sa matinding kaba.

"We met again. Don't deny the obvious. It's you who put gifts and letters in my lockers," said by a familiar voice. Hindi nga ako nagkamali dahil si Edward ang nagsalita sa tabi ko ngayon.

"I am not," pagdepensa ko. He's too boastful to the point na akala niya patay na patay ako sa kanya. That will never happen. Kailan pa nangyari 'yon? I will definitely not waste my time for such nonsense.

"I know you like me," he boast once again. Pinagtaasan ko naman ito ng kilay dahil sobrang naiinis na ako. We only know each other by name pero mamaya baka isipin kong s'ya itong may gusto sa akin.

"For your information, hindi ako magkakagusto sa isang mayabang na tulad mo. I like someone else."

His jaw clenched at wala akong pakealam kung na-offend man s'ya dahil sa sinabi ko. What I said is right. Mayabang naman talaga s'ya!

"You like someone else? Who is it then?" pagkatapos n'yang maitanong 'yon, nahagip naman ng mga mata ko Nikkolas.

Napatingin din ito sa akin. I was about to go to his direction when Edward spoke. I was stucked in my position right after hearing those words from him.

"You like that robot, Hershey?"