Chapter 1
944 Words
Nicole's POV
May tatlong klase ng gising sa buhay ng isang babae.
Una, yung sweet at slow-mo na parang nasa romcom movie ka.
Pangalawa, yung biglang aligaga kasi late ka na sa klase.
At pangatlo, yung tulad ng akin ngayon. Gising sa katotohanang hindi na ako unbothered.
Nasa harap ako ng salamin hawak ang jade roller ko habang tinititigan ang sarili ko.
"Get it together, Nicole." I told my reflection. "Ikaw si Nicole Lee Park. Hindi ka natitinag. Hindi ka nagpa-fall. At lalong hindi ka natitinag sa mga lalaki."
Pero bakit ba hanggang ngayon eh naririnig ko pa rin yung boses ni Victor Wil sa utak ko?
"Both!" He said nang tanungin ko kung sinadya ba niyang pulutin ang notebook ko para makausap ako.
BOTH.
Ganon ba talaga siya kahusay sa line delivery? Parang scripted. Parang tinira niya agad ang inner drama queen ko.
I shook my head. Hindi ako magpapadala.
Ignacio Darwin Academy. Main Building.
Pagkapasok ko sa school. As usual. All eyes turned to me. I walked like the hallway was my runway. Lahat ng ingay nagsi-hina. Girls whispered. Boys pretended not to look but I saw their eyes trail.
"OMG, Nicole! You look so fresh today!" Si Trina. School's gossip girl. Agad lumapit with her usual fake smile.
"Baka kasi tulog ako kagabi? Ikaw girl gising ka ba habang nagme-makeup?" I answered sweetly with a grin.
Her face dropped.
Sabay tawanan ang barkada ko. Carla and Megan.
"Unbothered ka na naman." Carla whispered.
"Gising pa ba yung 'unbothered' na iyan kung ilang araw mo nang binabanggit si, Victor?" Sabat ni Megan. Smirking while fixing her hair.
I glared at her. "Hindi ako bothered. I'm curious."
"Curious ka sa biceps niya, no?" Carla teased.
"Oh my god, hindi." I said defensively. "Wala akong pake."
But deep inside may konting kilig. Just a little. As in microscopic lang.
Classroom, Second Period.
We were seated for our Love Journal orientation. Si Mr. Gomez. Our teacher nakaupo sa desk with his usual cup of brewed coffee and full-on turtleneck vibe.
"Class." He started. "I hope you all know your partners by now. This activity isn't just about writing. It's about connecting."
Megan raised her hand. "Sir, paano kung ayaw naming mag-connect?"
Mr. Gomez chuckled. "Then that's your first journal entry: 'Why I'm Afraid To Connect' be honest.”
Napairap ako.
"Nicole and Victor." Mr. Gomez read aloud. "You two will start with a mini interview today. Ask each other basic stuff. Get to know each other. May worksheet kayo. Fill it out together."
"Ugh." I muttered. "May pa-worksheet pa talaga."
"Excited ka lang." Megan said. Nudging me.
Victor walked in late as usual. His hair slightly messy. May basketball bag siyang bitbit. Nagtagpo ang mata namin for a second and I looked away. Chill lang. Chill lang.
He sat beside me.
"Hey." He said casually leaning back sa upuan. "Ready na ang unbothered queen?"
"Ready na para tapusin itong assignment. Not for your pick-up lines." I snapped back.
He laughed. "Saan mo gusto simulan?"
I looked at the worksheet.
Name?
"Obvious ba? Nicole Lee Park." I said.
"Victor Wil." He replied. Grinning.
Age?
"17." Hula ko pa rito.
"18. Mas matanda ako, baby girl."
"Baby girl mo mukha mo."
Natawa siya ulit. "Grabe ka, Nicole. Bakit lagi kang war freak?"
"I'm not war freak. I just don't like wasting time."
"Eh hindi ba love takes time?"
Napalingon ako. That was kind of deep.
For a split second. Wala akong masabi.
After Class – Courtyard Bench.
I was reviewing my schedule when suddenly may umupo sa tabi ko.
"Stalker mode?" I said without looking.
Victor laughed. "Hindi naman. Gusto lang kita makausap off-worksheet."
I raised a brow. "About what?"
"About you." Ngumiti siya.
Napatingin ako sa kanya. His eyes were unusually serious. Wala yung typical 'cool guy' look niya.
"Alam mo, Nicole." He said. "People say you're strong, confident, flawless pero alam kong may takot ka rin."
I blinked. "Okay, psychologist ka na ngayon?"
"Hindi." He said. Smiling. "Observer lang. Kasi parang ako rin. Hindi ako strong all the time."
He looked down playing with the ring on his finger.
"I lost my mom last year." He said quietly.
Natahimik ako bigla.
"Basketball helps. Pero minsan, pag-uwi ko, tahimik lang sa bahay. And I realized… maybe kaya ako palaging nagpapatawa, pa-cool, kasi takot akong maramdaman na mag-isa ako."
My chest tightened. I didn't expect that from him.
"I'm sorry." I whispered. "Hindi ko alam."
He shrugged. "Wala lang. I guess I'm saying. I get it. Kung may walls ka. Hindi kita pipilitin. But I hope kahit sa journal na ito kahit konti mapapasok ako sa mundo mo."
I stared at him. Wala akong masagot.
For once hindi ko alam paano maging unbothered.
Later That Night – Nicole's Room.
Nakahiga ako staring at my pink ceiling journal in hand. Sa tabi ko. Si Teddy Boo. My old stuffed bear.
I opened to a blank page.
Entry #1: To My Journal (and maybe to Victor)
> Sabi nila I'm cold. But maybe I just want someone who sees past the makeup and sarcasm. I want someone who'll stay even when I try to push them away.
Today, for the first time in a while. Someone did.
Next Day – Shocker!
Pagpasok ko ng room may nakapatong na sticky note sa desk ko.
"I hope this makes you smile. V."
Under it was a small carton of my favorite iced matcha latte.
"Girl, ano iyan?" Tanong agad ni Megan. Panay kilig.
"Sinong V?" Carla smirked.
"Victor." I mumbled.
They gasped.
"Nicole Lee Park. Kilig ba iyan?" Carla teased.
"I don't know." I whispered.
But maybe. Just maybe. I do.
- Writer
