Cliché

Chapter V

Julianne Hernandez

"Here, uminom ka muna" Inabot ng dyosa sa akin ang hawak nitong bottled water nung makita nito na tila nauuhaw na ako. We're still inside the cafeteria obviously and I'm seriously having a blast.

I look at her for a second, contemplating kung kukunin ko ba ang iniaabot nya o hindi. Isa lang kasi yung binili nitong bottled water.. Ano yung iinumin nya?  Nakakahiya naman kung ako pa ang iinom nun?

I grimace a little noong makita ko na sinasamaan na naman ako ng tingin ng reyna nung mapansin nito na  nag aalangan akong kunin yung inaabot nya.

I internally scratched my head, ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? Nakakatakot sya tumingin! God. Haven is literally scary sometimes. Her cat like eyes ay lalo pang sumisingkit kapag naiinis ito. I winced pagkatapos ay napipilitang kinuha ko na lang ang iniaabot nito. Binuksan ko na iyon, tapos ay ininom.

"Wala daw delivery ng bottled water this day. Kaya that's the last one. They have soda in there though" The Queen muttered. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nung makita kong nakababa na ang kilay nito.

I see.. That is why isa lang ang nabili nito.

After a few minutes ay nakita kong patapos na rin itong kumain. But what she did next took me by surprise. After she finished her food.. Kinuha nito ang bottled water sa harap ko..

She looked at me first. Her eyes sparkling with mischief and I know I was done for.

Because  her eyes were shining like that the first time she laid her eyes on me.  And I was suddenly reminded why I was so drawn to her. It wasn't love at first sight exactly. But it was familiarity.. Something like Oh, Hello, it's you. It's going to be you.

And I should have known back then that she will capture my heart and soul for the years to come.

She smirked a little while looking at me. pagkatapos ay Ininom at inubos nito ang natitirang tubig sa bottled water na iyon. She even wiped her lips with a napkin innocently after, without a single clue what does that single action affect me.

"What?" Nakataas ang kilay nitong tanong. Napansin siguro nya na nakatulala lang ako at nakatitig sa kanya.

I shook my head and discreetly placed my hand on my chest. It's beating so loud.

Hindi ba nito na realize, na parang indirect kiss iyon?

Plus, I think my world just stopped for a minute there.

"Nothing." I flashed a smile and catch my breath.

She is seriously not aware of her effect on people. Malala na ako.

------

"Besh!!! May nabalitaan ako ah!" Anne whisper—yelled habang umuupo ito sa tabi ko. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon. Hindi kasi kami dapat magkatabi ng seat sa subject na ito.  Kasalukuyan kaming nasa math class namin and yes, kaklase ko sya sa subject na iyon. I guess nakipag palit sya ng upuan sa seatmate ko.

I shook my head amused. Mukhang hindi talaga ako titigilan ni Besh. Kanina nya pa kasi ako kinukulit.

"Ano naman yun?" I nonchalantly glance at her pagkatapos at ibinalik ang tingin sa board.

"Nag date daw kayo ni Ms. Haven kanina sa cafeteria!" She uttered then giggle like a five year old kid. Agad akong nagulat sa sinabi nito.

"A-Anong d-date!? H-Hindi no! Nagpasama lang sya sakin kanina sa cafeteria kumain. hindi pa daw kasi sya nag breakfast, teka kanino mo naman nalaman yan!?" I whisper- yelled back and she rolled her eyes.

"Duh, usap usapan na kaya sa buong campus yun. May nakakuha pa nga ng pictures na magka holding hands kayo sa hallway eh!" She excitedly grabbed my arm then shake my soul. "Di ako makapaniwala Besh!! Sa wakas! Gumawa ka din ng moves!"

"H-Huh!?"

Pictures!?

Holding hands!?

Sa hallway!??

Date!?

Damn. May mga false rumors na kumakalat! Baka magalit naman sa akin si Haven nito! No! This is bad! na iissue pa kami? ngayon pa na bumabait na sya sakin? Sa katunayan hinatid ko pa nga sya kanina sa class nya, Good mood and reyna na bihira lang mangyari pagkatapos may ganitong balita agad na kumakalat!? now that I think about it, kaya ba nakangiti ng nakakaloko kanina sa amin sila Cindy, nung hinatid ko sya?

Tsk. Tsk.

This is bad news.

Lalo akong mawawalan ng pag asa nito eh. I groaned a little pagkatapos ay inihilamos ang palad sa mukha. I sighed.

Sabagay sino ba naman ako!? Wala akong panama sa mga ibang manliligaw ni Haven!

Yung team captain ng basketball team na si Jake... Na ubod ng yabang!

Si Henry na quarterback namin sa football.. Na masyadong playboy!

That sounds bitter pero bitter talaga ako!

Plus, there is this Josh guy na Vice ng Student council.

Heck.

Isa lang naman kase akong hamak na CUTE! Kaya imposibleng maging mutual ang feelings namin ni my labs.

Natigil ako sa pag sesenti nung mag salita si Anne. "Hoy! Anyari sayo Besh!? Bakit ang lungkot mo dyan? D ba dapat, mag celebrate tayo?! Sa wakas, hindi ka na torpe Besh!!" She shook my entire existence again na parang ito pa ang mas kinikilig sa mga nangyari And I rolled my eyes.

"Pshhh, para namang nagtapat ako nyan kung maka react ka! Isinama lang naman ako sa cafeteria Besh! Okay? at tsaka impossible naman na magustuhan ako non eh, Himala na kapag nangyari yun."

Umiling iling ito. "Nasan na yung fighting spirit mo kagabi Besh!?" Pinanlakihan ako nito ng mata.  "di ba napag planuhan na natin to!? And besides Besh... We live in a blue planet that circles around a ball of fire next to a moon that moves a sea, and you don't believe in miracles!?"

Napangiti ako dahil doon. Baliw talaga itong si Anne.

"Baliw!"

"Alam ko!" Sagot naman nito

Kaya nagtawanan kaming dalawa.

"Ms. Hernandez and Ms. Stanley!! I don't tolerate that kind of attitude inside my class! Nag ddiscuss ako dito, nagtatawanan kayong dalawa dyan!!? Go to the principal's office now!"

Napangiwi ako, anubenemenyen. Tss minsan na nga lang magdaldal, nahuhuli pa! Hinila ko na si Besh, palabas dahil ang sama na talaga ng tingin sa amin ni Ma'am. Baka mabalatan pa kaming dalawa ng buhay god! Gusto ko pa mabuhay! Pano na ang future ko kasama si my labs!!?

---------

After namin masermunan ni Anne sa principal's office, pumunta na kami ng gym. Malapit na rin naman kasi yung time para sa training namin.

Anne groaned beside me habang ma drama na hawak ang tenga nito.  "Kasalanan mo to Besh eh! Ang ingay mo kasi! Ayan tuloy, ang sakit ng tenga ko sa sermon ni prince epal--este principal!"

"Ako pa sinisi mo! Mas malakas nga yung tawa mo kaysa sa akin eh!" I countered back instantly

Aba aba! Ako pa sisisihin nito ni Besh!? sya nga nagsimula ng daldalan namin kanina! Nagalit tuloy si mam!

"Bakit!? Tungkol naman sa lovelife mo yung pinag pplanuhan natin ahh!! Kaya kasalanan mo yun!" Nakapamewang pa ito.

I rolled my eyes. "Tsss.. Oo na!" Sabi ko na lang dahil hindi naman ako mananalo dito.

"Oh guys! Andyan na pala kayong dalawa! Ang aga nyo ah!"

Nakangiting bati samin ni Avery. Team captain namin. Sinalubong kami nito habang may hawak na bola sa mga kamay.

"Hi Captain!" Sabay naman naming bati ni Besh pabalik. My devil of a best friend even nudge me and smirked. I almost groaned at that.

Ayan na naman sya sa pang aasar nya. Napailing na lang ako at hindi ito pinansin. Inaasar kasi ako lagi ni Besh dito kay captain. Sabi pa nya, crush daw ako ni Avery matagal na, pshhhh. Ang malisyosa noh!? Tsk. Tsk. Sadyang sweet lang talaga yan si captain. At close lang talaga kami.

"Tara! mag simula na tayong mag practice habang hinihintay natin yung iba. Uhm, Julianne, pwede ikaw muna ang reciever ngayon?'' Avery asked while smiling and I almost melted at the sight.

Yung nakaka in love na smile nya? Ganon.  Kung wala lang akong Haven my labs baka nag ka crush ako dito kay Avery, ang bait na, ang ganda pa! Pero syempre mas maganda si my labs! Dun sa bait part nga lang medyo nagkakatalo,

Ngumiti din ako tapos sumaludo sa kanya.

"Aye Aye, Captain!!"

"I can't hear youuuuuuu!!" Natawa ako. Ginaya nya kasi yung tono nung kanta sa sponge bob.

"AYE AYE CAPTAIN!!" I repeated and she laughed. "That's the spirit Hernandez!"

--------

Haven Lazaro POV

"Why are you guys, so bagal ba!?" I scoffed at my friends then rolled my eyes. We're currently walking right now and I raised my eyebrows at the people behind me. They almost looked like corpse dragging themselves dahil sobrang napipilitan ang mga ito na sumama. we are going sa Gym ng school ngayon and I'm currently with my friends right now. And as usual ang babagal nila maglakad, tss. Mga pabebe!

"Haven naman kasi, bakit pati kami kailangang kasama sa panunuod ng volleyball practice!? Kayo lang namang dalawa ni Cindy gusto manood non eh!" Lily groaned loudly. She's been complaining kanina pa and it's already annoying me.

Gosh! Kahit kailan talaga, ang hilig nitong mag complain!

"Syempre noh! Andun si Anne, syempre gusto ko makita yung babe ko!" Cindy butted in then smiled dreamily.

"Ang tanong, ikaw ba gusto nya makita?" Elise asked while laughing and my cousin rolled her eyes.

Nagtawanan ang mga ito except samin ni Cinds. Nakasimangot lang ito. Well, We all know  naman that, she have this huge crush kay Anne. Li's bestfriend. At asar na asar naman si Anne kay Cinds, well kasi naman she always asar si Anne, ayan tuloy. If ganon yung way nya to make mapapansin? Well, she suck.

"Can you guys stop bullying Cindy na?! Baka hindi natin maabutan yung practice!! Just walk a little bit faster okay!?"

Nag groan pa muna ang mga ito bago binilisan ang lakad.

Nung makarating kami sa gym, the volleyball team is practicing na. Agad naghanap ng mauupuan yung mga kasama ko. Sinundan ko na lang sila at naupo.

And there she is, looking gorgeous as ever. I instantly smiled when I see her.

Julianne Hernandez.

Kahit she's all sweaty na, ang cute pa rin nitong tingnan.

Nasa kabila ito ngayon ng court, at nag re-recieve ng mga palo ng teammates nito. Hindi kakakitaan ng pagod ang mukha nito, dahil she's all smiles while she's receiving the ball. Well, lagi naman talaga itong nakangiti.

She's smiling the first time I saw her too.

I can even still remember the first time i saw her 3 years ago..

°°°

I was looking outside our car window, that day. going to my new school.

I was so bored at that time. I was shocked noong maranasan ko for the first time and traffic sa Pilipinas and it's not a fascinating experience of course, It was horrible.

I just moved back in the country at that time, and i was beyond mad about it! My whole life nasa States ako with my grandparents. Sa Oxford. Tennessee. Well, my dad visit me always naman, and I'm used to it. Kaya I have no complaints.

My Mom died when i was six. Leukemia. Since then, si grandma na yung tumayong mother figure ko.. Si Dad kasi, he is busy handling his businesses here sa Philippines kaya he can't stay beside me all the time. And i understand naman his reasons.

Yun nga, he wanted me to migrate here para he can always make bantay sakin. And for me to familiarize sa business world. Wala naman daw kasing ibang magmamana ng mga pinaghirapan nya kundi ako. No  choice ako right?

Hindi na kasi nag asawa si Dad, after my Mom died. Masyado kasi nitong mahal si mom...

Until now nga, i can still catch him crying at 2 a.m looking at her picture..

Isn't that true love? If it isn't. i don't know what true love is.

I was looking outside our car window that day when I saw this girl. lumabas sya sa isang restaurant and  She's holding a quite huge paper bag, with i guess that restaurant's take-out in it? We're wearing the same uniform so i guess, sa school namin sya nag aaral.

She's gorgeous. Brown eyes. Yung hair nya parang sinadyang guluhin, pero bumagay sa kanya.

She's wearing a varsity jacket. With the school logo din.

She had this smile, plastered on her face, na talagang nakakahawa when you see it.

That was actually, the first time, na may nasabihan akong 'gorgeous' aside from myself of course? Well, I'm born with it. Duh alam ko namang maganda ako.

The girl stop at the side of that street. May namamalimos doon na isang matanda, with her kids.

I saw her approached them.

Then. After a while, Binigay nya yung hawak nyang paper bag dun sa matanda..

'This girl is something.' I thought.

Akala ko, that was the end,  nung pagmamagandang loob nya.

But i was wrong.

what she did, next. surprised me.

She actually sat there with them, not minding if her uniform will get dirty from what she's doing. And talk, laugh with them as if she known them her whole life.

That's when the vehicle started moving. But my eyes. Napako pa rin iyon to where that girl was.

I smiled and said to myself.

'I'm gonna see you again.'

.....

And that definitely happen two days later..

I was there  naglalakad sa hallway ng school at that time. i was with my Cousin Cindy, and her friends Lily, Jane and Elise when i saw her again..

She was helping a nerd girl, in the corridors near the library when I laid my eyes on her. And i can't really explain what is wrong with me, but I find her absolutely mesmerizing. She's helping the girl carry the books she's holding. Masyado kasing madami iyon at nahuhulog na yung iba.

'What is she? A girl superhero? She's everywhere.  I swear she's always there whenever someone needs help!

Napansin siguro ng pinsan ko and her friends na i stopped walking at nakatingin lang sa girl kaya nagsalita ang mga ito.

"Uhm, that's Julianne Hernandez. Couz, volleyball player yan dito sa school. And Ms. Nice girl din." Cindy said.

Julianne Hernandez huh, I smiled at my thoughts. Nice name. But i think i would just call her "Li' That's way more cuter.

"Ms. Nice girl?" I glance at Cindy.

"—Yeah Haven, sikat yan dito sa school, Heartthrob ba. Guys and girls name it. Sobrang bait kasi tapos laging nakangiti. Matalino and talented pa! kahit nga ako crush ko yan eh" Elise answered my question instead.

I don't know why but i just feel really irritated nung marinig ko yung huling sinabi nya.

WAIT---- HAVEN SERIOULY!!? SHE'S A GIRL FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!! AND I'M STRAIGHT AS A T-SQUARE KAYA MALAYONG MANGYARI YUN!

maybe she just intrigues me. That's it! Right. That's just the most logical reason why I was so drawn to her.

Humarap ako sa mga kaibigan suddenly and asked. "Do you guys really know her? Like nagkakausap kayo?"

Si Cindy ang sumagot ng tanong ko this time. "Uhm, well. You could say that. Bestfriend sya ni Anne. Yung crush ko!"  and she started giggling like a five year old. Geeeez. I just rolled my eyes.

"What kind of person is she?" I suddenly blurted out. I didn't mean to say that out loud but it just come out and it's too late to—

"Uyyyy Couz, bakit? Crush mo no!?" There it goes.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Of course not!" I defensively countered. "I'm just asking you know!"

Cindy laughed loudly. "Dont need to get defensive Couz, ngayon lang kasi kita nakita na mukhang interisado sa isang tao eh.. Masisisi mo ba ako?" She giggled.

"And well to answer your question,

Uhm, sasabihin ko sayo yung exact words na sinabi sakin ng bestfriend nya when i asked the same question"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "And why would you ask the same question!? Are you interested to Li!?"

She laugh louder. "Edi inamin mo ding interesado ka sa kanya! and what 'Li!?'  may nickname na agad!?" Sabi pa nito. Kaya nagtawanan silang lahat.

PSH. Jerks.

"I did not said that." I denied lamely.

"You just did! Simula ngayon guys Li na tawag natin sa baby ni Haven!" She just said while smirking and it just frustrates me even more.

URGGGGHGGHHHHHH

"FINE! JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION OKAY!?"

Tumawa muna ito bago sumagot.

"Well Anne, Her best of a friend. Told and ask me this. Do you have that one friend, that doesn't think she's anything special? But she's beautiful, and funny, and witty and everything amazing that you could ever want in a person. But she doesn't see it, and you just wanna take her and shake her, and scream in her face all of the amazing things about her, just so she will appreciate how absolutely lovely she is. Cause, she's too naive to see that herself? Well, that's her-----"

Napatigil kami sa pag uusap when suddenly may marinig kaming nahulog na mga libro sa harapan namin.

At sa paa ko!????

'OUCH'

"Ahhh s-sorry guys! P-pasensya na huh d-di namin sinasadya, masyado lang kasing m-madami itong d-dala namin."

Her voice..

Napaka sarap nuong pakinggan. She got an angelic voice, so calming, that i would want to hear her talk for hours. And that sounds so lame by the way. I'm cringing at my own thoughts and this is not a good sign at all.

Pinupulot nya yung mga nalaglag na books at nung matapos, she looked up at me and i saw how shocked her face was when she saw me. but after a while it's gone at napalitan iyon ng apologetic na look.

"It's okay baby Li!" Sabay sabay na sabi nung apat kong kasama, sabay smile.

I just rolled my eyes. Di ko tuloy mapigilang di mairita.

"Just make ingat na lang next time okay!?" I said after awhile with my eyebrow raising and my arms crossed.  Naiirita kasi ako sa mga kaibigan ko, and I want to strangle all of them. Especially now, since they're all smirking at me right now, like they knew something that I don't.

"Uhm, S-sorry U-ulit, s-sige una na kami, uhm may class pa kasi kami and uhm, ihahatid p-pa n-namin to sa faculty.. S-sorry ulit huh."

I cursed myself internally dahil sa mga sinabi ko. Mukhang lalo kasi itong nakonsensya dahil doon.

'This is too much for a first impression Haven.' Great! Just great.