Chapter 2
1087 Words
Carla's POV
Sabi nila kapag hindi mo gusto ang isang tao madali lang huwag pansinin. Pero paano kung ang taong hindi mo gusto ayaw ring tumigil sa pagpansin sa'yo?
Tulad ni Julio Perez Lopez.
Hindi ko talaga siya type. As in never. He's loud, medyo baduy magdamit, mahilig sa orange soda, at parang may sariling sitcom sa utak niya. But for some weird reason alam niya kung paano ako guluhin. At mas malala pa. Alam niya ang pangalan ko.
"Good morning Carla Be Los Tasia!" Sigaw niya mula sa kabilang dulo ng hallway hawak ang orange soda habang naka-tropical print polo. Yes, tropical. As in may mga flamingo pa!
Napapikit ako. "Not today, Julio. Not today."
Inside the Classroom – Third Period.
"Girl, kumalma ka." Bulong ni Megan habang nagkakalkal siya ng lip balm sa pouch. "Hindi naman niya kasalanan na sikat ka."
"Hindi ako galit kasi pinansin niya ako." Sagot ko. "Galit ako kasi pinapansin niya ako araw-araw!"
Tumawa si Nicole. "Kawawa ka naman. Ikaw na ang napili."
"Hindi ko siya pinili!" I whisper-shouted. "Wala akong ambag sa sitwasyon na ito."
Pero wala akong takas. Pagpasok ni Julio agad siyang lumapit sa akin.
"Hi, Carla. I saved you a seat." He said. Pointing to the chair beside him.
"No, thanks." I replied. "Gusto ko sa likod. Para malayo sa panganib."
He laughed like it was the best joke ever.
"Ang witty mo talaga." He said. Proud pa.
Megan elbowed me. "Seryoso ka. Ayaw mo talaga sa kanya?"
I shook my head. "I want peace. And silence. He's the opposite of both."
Lunch Break – Cafeteria.
"Kaya siguro crush ka ni, Julio." Sabi ni Claire JoyLee Kim na bigla na lang sumulpot habang kumakain kami ng chicken rice bowl. "Opposites attract hindi ba?"
"Edi sana crush niya electric fan." I snapped. "Ako aircon."
Tumawa silang lahat.
"Pero in fairness." Dagdag ni Nicole. "Hindi mo napapansin kinikilala ka niya. Like alam niya yung dance club mo. Nakita ko pa nga siyang nanonood sa last practice niyo."
"Creepy much?" I said.
"Persistent." Megan corrected. "Which is somehow. Kinda cute?"
I stared at them. "Kayo na lang kaya."
"Hindi, no." Sabay-sabay nilang sagot.
Typical.
Dance Studio – After Class Practice.
Sumayaw ako ng full-out. Lahat ng angas ko kay Julio idinaan ko sa choreography. Hanggang sa mapansin ko. May nakasilip sa maliit na bintana ng studio.
Sino pa nga ba? Si Julio. With his signature orange soda.
"What the—"
Nagsitilian ang ibang girls.
"Uy, nandiyan na naman si Juls!"
"Grabe, consistent!"
I rolled my eyes and wiped my sweat.
"Anong kailangan mo, ha?" Sigaw ko habang lumalapit sa pinto.
"Na-inspire lang ako." He said. Sabay ngiti. "Parang ikaw yung sayaw. Ang graceful pero matapang. Ang galing mo."
I blinked.
Hindi ako ready sa compliment na iyon. Usually kasi puro kabaduyan lang sinasabi niya. But this one? It felt genuine.
"I don't need cheerleaders." I said.
"Good." He smiled. "Kasi hindi ako cheerleader. Fan mo ako."
Nighttime – Group Chat with Nicole & Megan.
Nicole:
"Grabe yung sticky note ni Victor. Matcha pa talaga?"
Megan:
"Crush na crush ka na nun, girl. Confirmed."
Carla:
"Meanwhile, ako may stalker na may orange soda."
Nicole:
"Ayaw mong aminin pero kinikilig ka na rin, no?"
Carla:
"Excuse me. Kilabot lang ng dance floor iyon. Hindi ng puso ko."
Megan:
"Puso mo lang ang hindi updated."
Next Day – Morning Disaster.
Maaga akong dumating para sa club officers meeting. Akala ko tahimik ang umaga ko. Akala ko lang pala.
"Kape para kay Carla!" Sigaw ni Julio sa entrance ng auditorium. Hawak niya ang medium-sized iced coffee. "With extra caramel. Ka tulad ng order mo last time."
Pumintig ang noo ko. "Bakit mo alam iyan?"
"Observant ako." He said. Proud pa talaga.
Nagulat pa ako nang iabot niya sa akin yung coffee. Totoo. Tama yung order.
"Um, thanks?"
"Anything to fuel your talent." He grinned. "Dance mo yung gasolina ko. Ako caffeine lang."
Ay. Anong klaseng linya iyon?
Pero I caught myself smiling. Tiny bit. Very tiny.
Later That Day – Surprise Pairing.
"Group activity again." Announcement ni Ms. Cruz. Adviser naming sa Performing Arts. "Paired practice for the upcoming talent showcase. Check the list flashed on the board."
Tiningnan ko agad.
Carla Be Los Tasia – Julio Perez Lopez
"Nooooo." I whispered in disbelief.
"Yes!" Si Julio sa likod ko. "Destiny, girl!"
I faced him with a blank stare.
"Destiny or not." I said. "You better keep up. I don't slow down for anyone."
He smirked. "Good. Kasi I'm ready to dance to your rhythm."
Grabe talaga itong taong ito. But why does he sound less annoying today?
Practice Day – Auditorium.
First five minutes ng rehearsal. Disaster.
Julio couldn't follow the beat. He tripped. Twice. And stepped on my foot.
"Ouch! Seriously, Julio?"
"Sorry! Kinakabahan lang ako."
"Why?"
"Kasi ikaw yung kasama ko!"
Napahinto ako.
He looked so embarrassed. Hindi siya yung typical loud self niya. Hindi siya nagpapatawa.
"I really want to be good enough for this." He said. "For you."
My chest felt weird. Hindi masakit pero hindi rin komportable.
"Then stop trying so hard." I said softly. "Just dance with me. Don't perform. Just feel it."
Nagulat siya. "So you'll teach me?"
"Yes." I sighed. "But no more orange soda during practice. And please. Less flamingo prints."
He grinned. "Deal."
Later That Night – Dance Practice. Round 2.
And just like that. We clicked.
I didn't expect Julio to improve so fast. He followed my cues. Nakukuha niya ang timing. At yung smile niya? Mas totoo ngayon. Hindi pilit.
"Okay, last part." I said. "Lift ko ito, ha?"
"Sure, I got you."
"Are you sure. Whoa!"
He lifted me easily. I felt safe. Parang may tiwala akong hindi niya ako ibabagsak.
Pagbaba ko pareho kaming hingal.
"Not bad." I said.
"Not bad?" He teased. "That's it?"
I rolled my eyes. "Okay fine. You did great."
Bigla siyang napasayaw in place. "Yes! Napuri rin ako ni, Carla!"
I laughed.
Not because he was funny but because he made me feel light.
And I haven't felt light in a while.
That Same Night – Voice Note from Julio.
Pag-uwi ko. May voice note akong natanggap.
> "Hi, Carla. I just wanted to say, thank you. For letting me in. Kahit konti lang. Sobrang saya ko lang na nagtiwala ka. I hope I don't mess that up. Goodnight."
I stared at my phone.
I didn't know what to reply.
But I smiled.
And maybe, just maybe, my heart did a little dance.
- Writer
