Let's not fall in love

Kabanata 3

For all the years I've known Nicholas, I still can't figure him out. His personality keeps changing, one day he's nice to me, and the next, he's mad again.

I still remember that one time back in Grade 9. I was with my classmate, Kristof. Galing kami sa bahay ng isa pa naming kaklase dahil gumawa kami ng group activity, and since we lived in the same village, sabay na kaming umuwi. Pagdating namin sa may court, nakita namin si Nicholas na naglalaro kasama ang mga kaibigan niya. But the moment he saw me, he suddenly stopped playing and ran toward us.

He was panting and sweating while the ball was on his side.

"Yan ba ang nag-aaral? Eh mukhang puro landian lang ang inaatupag mo!" he said sarcastically.

Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. What? Naglalandian agad? How dare him!

"Pre, that was too much. Nagsabay lang kami," mahinahong sabi ni Kristof rito.

He smirked and his eyes leveled with Kristof.

"Tssk... For sure you too are up to something," sabay lingon sa'kin "Napaka desperada mo naman pala?" he said with a mocking tone.

Kristof pushed his chest and angrily looked at him.

I was dumbfounded for a moment. I knew what he was trying to say. How dare he insult me?!

I stopped Kristof's arm and took all my anger and frustration and slapped him hard. I was fuming mad. He was too much.

I bit my lips to stop crying, walked out, and soon went home. I cried my heart out. This would be the last time I would cry because of him.

I tried not to cross our way sa bahay nila. I was deeply hurt by what he said about me. We are different, kaya huwag niya akong igaya sa mga naging babae niya na desperadang desperada sa atensyon niya. Kasi kahit kailan hindi ko siya papatulan.

Masaya kaming nagtatawanan nila Aia at Emely. We've been talking about the book that we've finished reading. We automatically stopped nang makita ko si Nicholas na nakasandal sa kotse nito habang may suot na earphones. Dumating naman ang sundo nila Emely kaya naghiwalay-hiwalay na kami.

Hindi ko sana siya papansinin nang lumapit siya sa 'kin.

"Mom's waiting for you. Get in." He did not wait for my answer and got in the car.

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi sumunod na lang. Kararating lang kasi nila Tita kahapon galing sa business trip at may sasabihin daw siya sa'kin after school. I cannot say no.

I cannot stay with him for long. I would rather walk than sit with him in the car, but Tita is waiting. I should set aside my anger for now.

We were quiet in the car. I looked at the window while he was, I guess, sleeping. This is better; ayaw ko rin naman siyang kausapin.

After a long silence, he threw something at me. It was a ribbon hair clip. I confusedly looked at him. What is this for?

He cleared his throat and remained silent.

I wore many hair clips for my bangs dahil lagi nitong tinatakpan ang mukha ko. I don't know kung bakit niya ako binigyan nito.

Ito ba ang pampalubag-loob niya? Where could he buy this?

I just put it inside my bangs at muling tumingin sa bintana.

Tahimik kaming dalawa hanggang makarating kami sa kanila. Nauna siyang lumabas sa'kin at sumunod naman ako sa kaniya. Naabutan namin sila Tita at Tito sa may sala na kausap ang tatay ni Kristof. Lumapit ako sa kanila at nagmano. Samantalang dire-diretso lang si Nicholas at hindi nito pinansin ang bisita nila.

"Magandang hapon po," bati ko sa kanila.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na ang anak ko, kumpare. Medyo may pagkapasaway talaga yung inaanak mo," paumanhin ni Tito.

Aside from being a business partner, they were also friends. Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit hindi magkaibigan si Nicholas at Kristof.

"Btw, this is Rain. She's Jacel's daughter," pakilala ni Tito sa'kin.

"You must be Kristof's classmate. Nice to meet you, hija," nakangiting bati nito.

"Nice to meet you rin po," magalang kong sagot.

"Hija, pwede mo bang samahan si Kristof since he's your classmate naman? I think he's so bored listening to us," Tita said, na agad namang ginatungan ni Tito.

Hindi ko namalayan na nandito rin pala si Kristof. Napatingin ako sa gawi niya at masaya naman itong kumaway sa akin. Ngiti naman ang sinagot ko at sinamahan siya.

We've walked around the house and talked about his life. I just found out na his mom died at an early age, kaya dalawa na lang silang mag-amang magkasama ngayon. Pareho pala kami—sa'kin naman ay si Papa. Balak nila na ring lumipat ng school dahil sa abroad na sila maninirahan.

"I hope we could still be friends," he genuinely smiled at me kaya napangiti na lang din ako.

"Oo naman," sagot ko.

He was one of those people who to talk to me kahit halos lahat ng estudyante ay pinagbawalan ni Nicholas na kausapin ako. Kaya palagay na ang loob ko sa kaniya noon pa naman. And now, nalaman kong we have the same story, mas lalo akong naging komportable sa kaniya.

"Here, take this." He handed me something. It was also a hair clip.

"You are the first one who comes into my mind when I see this. I've noticed you like wearing a hair clip, that's why I bought this."

I was stunned for a moment before I decided to take it.

"Thanks," I awkwardly said.

"Hope you like it. Do you want me to put it on you?" he asked.

I was startled.

I just nodded at him and he carefully put it on me.

Nagulat kami nang biglang may umahon sa pool—it was Nicholas. His hair was dripping wet, water glistening down his arms as he walked toward us.

"How long are you planning to stay here?" he asked Kristof, his tone sharp and arrogant.

I frowned, raising an eyebrow at him. Kristof didn't even answer, just gave a polite smile. Ayan na naman siya—Nicholas and his attitude. I never really understood why he always acted that way, especially toward someone as nice as Kristof.

Sakto namang tinawag si Kristof ng daddy niya, at sabi raw ay aalis na sila.

"Thank you, Rain. Goodbye for now. Let's see each other tomorrow," he said, gently patting my hair before walking away

Tipid na ngiti na lang ang nasagot ko sa kaniya at kumaway na para magpaalam.

"Tsk..."

Napalingon ako sa kaniya at mariin siyang tiningnan. Nakakunot noo ko siyang tiningnan dahil sa sinabi niya kay Kristof. Napaka-yabang!

"Can you stop wearing hairclip? It looks bad on you," he said as he got inside after saying it.

What? And why did he give me a hair clip kung hindi pala bagay sa'kin?

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako ng malakas at galit na tumingin sa kaniya.

He's a total jerk until now. Siya lang talaga ang ibang ugali sa kanilang pamilya. He's self-centered and arrogant. Kaya hanggang ngayon ay naiinis ako sa kaniya dahil pabago-bago ang trato niya sa akin.

And now he's mad dahil hindi ko sinuot ang binili niyang uniform sa akin. Why would he give me this? I don't even need this in the first place.

Binalewala ko ang napansin ko sa kaniya at mariin siyang tiningnan.

"Tama ka. Mas gugustuhin ko pang gamitin ang binigay sa akin ng iba kaysa gamitin yung galing sayo," walang emosyon kong sabi bago pumasok sa bahay nila. Iwan siyang gulat at hindi makapaniwala.

I don't care about his feelings. He deserves it.