The Girl I Adore From Afar

VI

"Hi mom! I'm home!" 

 Nakangiting hinalikan ko sa pisngi ang ina pagkakita ko pa lang sa kanya sa kusina.

 Kakahatid lang sa akin ni Kuya Ty dito sa bahay galing sa school. I prefer going home than buying my own apartment. It's not like I'm not independent and all. Talagang close lang ako sa mga magulang ko and i don't want to live in a house without them, i will missed them for sure. 

I have no other siblings so they're so focus on me.

 Besides my mom is a bit dramatic so i don't know if she will approve the idea of me moving out. She always treat me like a little baby until now.. Yeah and that sucks.

 "Hi to you too! Young lady!" She kissed my cheeks. "Happy birthday"

 I smiled endeared. "Thank you mom! Uhm.. What are you doing?" 

Sinipat ko ang ginagawa nya and saw na nagluluto ito ng kung ano. Well, she really like cooking there's no doubt about that. Mahilig itong mag experiment na kung ano anong putahe at ipinapatikim sa amin ni Dad .. You can say that we are just a normal family aside from the fact that my parents were billionaires. 

 My parents own a private ship line and restaurants all around the metro. And all over the world. My Dad is half italian but he grew up mostly here in the country. They're busy but they never forget to find time for me. 

They manage to balanced the business and a good family life, i am just so lucky to have them. "I'm cooking something special for dinner baby girl! It's your birthday!" 

 "Mom.. You don't have to do that, you know i don't really like celebrating-"

 "No more objections!" She shushed me and then kissed my cheeks kaya napailing na lang ako. She always treat me like a little girl! Psh.

 "And what is that box you're holding?" She suddenly asked at doon ko lang naalala ang hawak ko kaya agad akong napangiti. "It's a vanilla flavored cake mom! Someone baked this for me!" I informed her proudly. 

 "Oh! Really?" She looked at me intensely with a smile on her face "And who might be one that baked that special cake for you?.. Based on the looked on your face.. This one must be someone special.."

 I almost choke when i heard that. "W-what!? Mom!" "What?" She looked at me innocently. "I never saw my baby girl so happy by just a mere existence of a cake." She smiled "so I'm guessing that the someone who made this is the special one?" 

 I coughed hard after she said that kaya inabutan agad ako nito ng isang baso ng tubig na agad ko namang ininom. "Mom! Why would you even think of that?!" I looked at her with disbelief after drinking the glass of water straight.

 She just laughed at my flustered face. "So.. What's their name?" She asked eagerly that i nearly rolled my eyes. 

 This is a trap i know, because she know all too well i cannot lie to save my life! And my mom just wouldn't stop bugging me about this either. 

 So i exasperated sighed. And just told her everything. 

—

Another day passed and Nandito ako ngayon sa pinakatagong sulok ng library..

 I actually like it here dahil walang nanggugulo sa akin.

 Bihira lang ang mga estudyanteng napapagawi sa lugar na ito because everyone know that this is my table alone and ayoko ng may katabi at nakikishare ng table. 

 I hate small talks. And they all know that. They know better than bother the Ice Queen's 'Alone time' malapit na rin naman akong matapos na mag research. 

Mabuti na lang at tahimik dito at nakakapag research ako ng maayos. 

Except that one time na nakarinig ako ng mga ungol sa likod ng mga shelves.

 I rolled my eyes nung muling maalala iyon. Geez! That was just so gross! Hanggang ngayon nangingilabot pa rin ako kapag naaalala ko iyon. Sinundan ko ang mga pinanggagalingan ng mga ungol at that time, and found the men's football's quarterback and his girlfriend making out sa likod ng mga shelves.

 I quickly coughed to gain their attention pagkatapos ay pinagtaasan ko ng kilay. Turns out, they were so afraid of me that they sprinted palabas sa lugar na iyon as fast as possible. Their facial reactions were just so priceless nung makita ako that i want to laugh out loud. I just restrained myself.. Para kasing nakita ng mga ito si kamatayan sa katauhan ko. 

That was just still one of the funniest moments i have ever experienced. I stretch my arms out nung matapos na ako sa pagsusulat. Sinimulan ko na ring iligpit ang mga gamit ko. Tumayo na ako sa kinauupuan nung maalala kong may gusto nga pala akong hiramin na libro dito sa library.. I started to search the aisle that I'm in for that book. Nung hindi ko mahanap doon ay lumipat naman ako sa kabilang aisle. I'm picking up random books from the shelves na nadadaanan ko. And when i picked up this one book. Tumambad sa paningin ko ang isang taong kapag nakikita ko ay agad na nagpapabilis ng t***k ng puso ko. 

 It's Chelsea Avila. I swear she's everywhere!

 Nasa kabilang aisle ito paharap sa akin. I only see her sa tulong ng siwang na ginawa ng pag angat ko sa librong hawak ko. She's leaning against the shelves. And it looks like she's lost in the book that she's reading.. Her long brown hair falling freely and cascading up to her waist.. Her nose scrunched up a little and looks like she's in a very deep thought. A smile involuntarily form on my lips. 

She is just so pretty. It's effortless. 

She can gain my attention by doing absolutely nothing, or just by reading a book like that.

 The thing is, it's like she don't know how much effect she has on people.

 It's like she didn't even know how beautiful she is. And that's what makes her more mesmerizing. 

 Does she even know that i can't almost breathe whenever she smiles? Or the way my heart raced inside my chest when i would saw her laughing over something her friends would say? Even just the words of motivation she's writing in the school paper give me chills. 

She have her own section in the school's paper. 

She wrote poems or just mere words. She is just smart like that.

 She have this whole school wrapped around her little finger and she doesn't even know that.

 She doesn't even know how lovely she is.

 I continue to just admire her from afar when i suddenly notice the book that she's holding. It's the same book that I've been looking for this entire time! I sigh. It's actually my favorite book. It's Harper Lee's 'How to kill a mockingbird' madalas kong hinihiram ang librong iyon dito sa library, i even shade my favorite chapters with glowing markers in there like it was my own book . and i feel like it was my own dahil na rin sa tagal at paulit ulit ng pagbasa ko noon. 

Hindi na nga ako bumibili ng own copy eh, I'm quite sentimental like that. How can i possibly took that book away from her if she's looking like that? She looks so damn cute right now.

 And she didn't even try to be. She's so beautiful just like how gray skies are beautiful.. You will look at it and admire them endlessly.. they're just beautiful even they don't want to be.

 I placed the book that I'm holding back to the shelves. The classes has already ended and i think i will just go home now. Sa susunod ko na lang hihiramin ang paborito kong libro. 

 I walk out from that aisle as quietly as possible. Ayokong maistorbo ang dalaga sa pagbabasa nito. And maybe i want her to appreciate my favorite book too. 

 I slowly made my way out of that library at nagtungo sa locker ko. I take one final glance at Chelsea and smiled. She's still so engrossed reading the book. I quickly made my way out and go directly in the locker room And there above my locker is my beloved skateboard.

 I will be using this pauwi. I honesty missed riding in here. At syempre nakasunod lang sa akin si Kuya Ty. He will be inside the car following me hanggang matiyak nyang makakauwi ako ng bahay ng safe. Mas mabuti na iyon i guess? Para sa akin hindi na masyadong mahigpit iyon. 

Actually mas malala nga dati dahil limang bodyguards ang meron ako. But i guess as time flies na wala namang nagtatangka ng masama sa akin, i assured my parents that kuya Ty is enough.

 I don't really like anyone invading my privacy and they know that. And thank god they agreed. My old bodyguards take their jobs seriously and they keep invading my privacy! Seriously, they would even monitor my phone messages and all! And it's not like I'm texting somebody! I'm pretty much a loner. 

Having billionaires as parents really has it's bad sides you know. I placed my skateboard down. And i strapped my backpack on. I placed one foot on my skateboard testing it and smiled. I started to ride the thing and passed the school hallway quietly, and like always all their eyes has been glued on me as i passed by. It's okay since konti na rin lang naman ang mga tao sa hallways, dahil all the classes are already dismissed for a while now. 

 I don't really get it why they find me so intriguing. Like, Yeah i know my parents are f*****g rich and i somewhat look good too but so what? People's mindset are really superficial nowadays. 

They tend to look on petty things, i mean, you could be a bobblehead for all they care as long as you're rich or beautiful you will be famous and popular. Which really sucks. 

 I continued to stroll down the hallway not minding the stares i was getting. It was like this ever since, so there was nothing new to that. 

 "U-Uhm.. Sydney?" I tap my right foot on the floor to stop my skateboard when a girl approached me. 

 I looked at her curiously. I knew her. She was one of Chelsea's friends. I think her name is Alison?

 Yeah i think that's it.

 I remembered she's Chelsea's Best friend. She's in one of my classes too. What can she possibly wants from me? 

 "U-Uhm.. I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you or something but you're the first one that i saw... And um i mean-" My eyebrow raised and i cut her ramblings. "I think you should breathe first." 

 "Oh! Shoot yes! I should breathe right?" She loudly take a gulp of air and breathe it out. I smiled. She seems funny. 

 I chuckled amused. Then, I heard her gasp. She looked like she was shocked or something. "I believe you're trying to tell me something Alison." 

 Her eyes widen. "Y-You k-knew my name?" 'Of course you're Chelsea's best friend.' But I didn't say that, instead I just nod at her still waiting for the thing she is trying to say a while ago. "Okay... So, Sydney I'm really in a hurry right now, because my mom just texted me and may emergency lang sa bahay.. The thing is i have to go home now quickly and i don't know where on hell Chelsea is! You know Chelsea right? Chelsea Avila? Student council President-"

 "Yes. I know her" i wave her off. 

 "So yun nga... The thing is sira ang kotse ni Chelsea and sumasabay sya sa kin pauwi for a week now.. C-Can you um please do me a favor and um maybe isabay mo na lang sya pauwi? Um actually their house is just fifteen minutes walk from here, but i want to make sure that she will be safe- um she can be a little childish and clumsy and i don't trust her walking home alone.. I really need to go now real quick so... Is it alright?" 

 I looked at her half hearted. What should i do?! s**t! I know I'm avoiding Chelsea. but paano kung mapahamak ito kapag hinayaan kong umuwi ng mag isa?! 

 I sigh. Bahala na. I can never forgive myself kapag may masamang nangyari sa dalaga. 

 "Sydney?" She still asked me unsure. I sighed. "Y-Yeah sure." Her eyes widen. "Are you serious!?" 

 "Yeah. actually i saw her sa library a while ago pupuntahan ko na lang sya doon. You can go now if you're in a hurry. And Don't worry i will make sure she will get home safe."

 "What?" Untag ko dito nung hindi pa rin ito kumikilos sa kinatatayuan. She sheepishly smiled. 

"Um nothing.. Just take care of my best friend yeah?" She teasingly wink at me at kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon. She's acting weird. She looked as if she discovered something really important. 

 I just shrugged it off and looked at her, walking away. I shook my head before i took a U-turn using my skateboard.

 I guess this was the time when i have to go and pick up Chelsea Avila on the library now.

 I sighed for the ninth time. I swear I'm hearing warning bells ringing on my ears.

 That girl is trouble. Trouble for my fragile heart. 

 And i am so doomed.