The Girl I Adore From Afar

III

Kinuha ko na ang inorder ko.. It was mac and cheese.  

I'm still inside the cafeteria and i thanked the lady behind the counter instantly.

 I know lumaki ako sa isang mayamang pamilya but my parents always taught me how to be polite. 

My parents are really good people and i want to be like them. I adore my Dad so much, his humility and humbleness always radiates off of him. And i always wanted to be like him. Or at least close to his accomplishments and how good he is as a person. 

He is just simply my role model. Because, except that I'm not really good at people. I'm proud to say that i am a perfect daughter anyone could ever have. 

That's the least i can do. My parents gave me everything and love me unconditionally. At gusto kong kahit papano masuklian ko iyon by being the best version of myself. 

 I looked around and spotted a table na walang nakaupo, kaya agad akong pumunta doon. 

The cafeteria is still unusually quiet at alam kong nakatingin pa rin ang lahat ng estudyante doon sa lahat ng galaw ko. I sighed and shook my head disapprovingly.  

Why do i have to get all these attention? Can i have at least a normal school life for once?! Inilapag ko ang tray sa mesa at umupo. I took my headphones out and listen to instrumental saxophone music that always calm my nerves at sinimulang kumain. 

I tried so hard na hindi pansinin ang lahat ng tao doon. At sana lang wala ng manggulo sa akin ngayon. If there is one thing i hate the most, iyon ay kapag ginulo ako while I'm listening to music. That's the worst thing you can do to me. And all the people here know that. —well not so much nung may maramdam akong tumatapik sa balikat ko maya maya pa to gain my attention.

 I sighed and closed my eyes trying to calm my temper bago lingunin ang taong iyon. 

 I turn around and saw a girl with a cheerleader uniform. I have seen her once or twice, I'm not really interested though, all i know is that she's the captain of the cheerleading team but i didn't even know her name. "What!?" I irritably asked.

 I don't have time for her. I'm not even fond of people like her. I saw her bullying a freshman once in the hallway kaya nakilala ko sya. I'm about to help that poor girl dahil pinagtutulungan nila iyon. I think it's okay to help someone once in a while ngunit may  naunang gumawa noon sa akin. It was Chelsea. 

 She helped the poor girl stand dahil tinulak ng mga ito iyon. Kasama ng mga iba pang cheerleaders. It was like an episode of mean girls so i watched amused.

 Chelsea stood up for the girl at walang nagawa ang mga ito kundi umalis, she's been just currently elected as Student council President at that time and all the people seem to adore her.

 She became really popular.

And they probably know it will be bad news for them kapag kinalaban nila ang taong pinaka hinahangaan ng lahat dito sa school. 

 And it amused me more. But i stay away from her like always.

 "H-Hey!" She greeted me but i just raised my eyebrows annoyed. 

 Hindi ba nito alam na ayoko ng ginugulo ako!? I thought i made that clear in this school already!? I groaned then took my headphones off. I stood up from my chair and looked at her.

 "What the hell do you want?" She looked back at me fidgeting at my reply, and she looks scared now.

 They wouldn't called me "The ice queen" for nothing yeah? People says that my cold stares are really intimidating. "U-Uhm.. Me and my f-friends just want to i-invite you to our table r-right there." Itinuro nito ang isang table sa gitna. It looks like all the populars are in there. The cheerleaders and the varsity players. The popular mean ones. I snort. I don't want to be associated with these kind of people. Kahit pa siguro gusto ko ng kaibigan i will never befriend people like them.

 I know these kind of people... They want to use me to gain even more popularity. And that just literally sucks. And i feel sorry for them because i don't plan to do that. "And why would i do that?" I asked her. eyebrows raised. "U-uhm we j-just want to b-be friends with you.. Y-You know we a-are the populars and—" "Listen." I cut her. "Listen to me because I'm only gonna say this once.. I really thought that i made this already clear in here that i don't ever want someone bothering me.. " i breathe out. "but clearly, you don't know that so i would tell you.. I don't want any friends. Especially i don't want to be friends with people like you.." I look at her without any expression on my face. I tilt my head a little. 

"You said you're popular? I'm sorry, but i don't even know you" I can hear a few people in the cafeteria snickered because of what i just said. 'Great. I'm gaining too much attention again' i sarcastically thought.  

I want to get this over with so I looked at her dead in the eyes and i can feel her shivered because of fear. "Don't you talk to me ever again. You understand?" She nods shakily and that's when i made my way passed her and went out of that place. 

 That's So much for wanting a simple and peaceful cafeteria lunch. I can't help but to remember what i told that cheerleader a while ago. I don't want any friends i said. And i remembered saying those exact same things to someone a few years back. 

 "Hey Syd!" I looked up only to saw the blue eyed girl I've been thinking non stop for five days now ever since i saw her. And i tried to avoid her all day too. 

Yeah five days. 

Ngayon ko na lang ulit sya nakita dahil absent ako noong mga nakaraang araw dahil sa allergic reaction sa chocolate.

 I am so stupid that i ate that chocolate cake with her even though i know na masama ang epekto nun sakin. 'I must be going crazy' "Hey! Are you okay now? Sabi ng mga professors nagkasakit ka daw kaya hindi ka pumasok.".

 Umupo ito sa silyang katabi ko dito sa pinaka sulok ng library. I even wonder how did she manage to find me here. 

 "How did you know that I'm here?" Nakataas ang kilay kong tanong. She just shrugged her shoulders.

"Narinig ko lang" "Narinig?" I repeated and she nods. "Yeah people talked about you a lot so yeah!" She beam a smile at me pagkatapos ay mahina akong siniko "ikaw ah! Di mo sinasabi sikat ka pala talaga dito sa school!" She laughed. 

 Nakatulalang napatingin lang ako sa kanya. After she laughed hindi ko na naintindihan yung iba pang sinasabi nya. It's like the world just stops  the moment I heard that melodic tune and i can't do anything but just admire the beauty in front of me.

 Those blue eyes that captivates me from the very first time we met. Her nose.. Lips.. Every inch of her screams perfect right into my face. 

 What the hell? It can't be... No!... Not with a girl! "Sydney? Syd!?"

 I woke up from that daydream when she called my name. Pinipilit nitong hinaan ang boses dahil nasa library kami. I looked at her with disbelief. Did i just daydream about her?' 

 s**t. "A-Are you a witch?!" I blurted out.

 She look at me with disbelief written on her face. like she's asking me where the hell did i get that question. "What!?" She asked. Then after a while she laugh out loud. "Do i look like a witch to you?" 

 Yeah? She doesn't look like one! But c'mon! Why I'm feeling like I've been hypnotized or something when she's around!? I didn't even drink coffee this day just to make sure that i wouldn't get nervous all of a sudden! And i only get nervous when she's near! "Did you ate already?" 

Kinuha nya ang kamay ko nung hindi ako sumagot "let's go na nga lang sa cafeteria. Baka gutom lang yan Sydney." 

 Sydney.. 

 Sydney.. 

 The way she said my name. Nare-replay iyon ng paulit ulit sa tenga ko. I love just how she say it. 'I'm really going crazy' Hinila nya ako palabas ng library to who knows where.

 Naririnig ko na lang yung usapan nung mga taong nadadaanan namin. 

 'Who is she? Why she is with my Sydney?' I rolled my eyes. I'm so tired of all the girls and guys claiming i was theirs.

 'Gosh! Anong karapatan nyang hawakan yung kamay ni Syd! She's just a transferee!' 'Yeah she's the new girl! Hmp. I'm sure she's just a pretty face pero wala rin namang laman ang utak i wonder bakit sinasamahan ni Sydney yan'

 I immediately stop from my tracks when i heard that.

 I looked at the girl who's holding my hand right now and I'm sure she heard all of it. 

Firstly, Anong karapatan nilang sabihin kung sino ang dapat at hindi ko dapat samahan?! Let me think about it. Marami ring nakakita sa aming magkasama five days ago.. Don't tell me she's been bullied because of me!? 

 That sudden thought angered me and i dont know why, but i suddenly have this urge to protect her. 

 I look at that girl who said that s**t at hinarap ito. 

 Mukha namang nagulat ito at hindi nito inaasahan na hihintuan ko sya. "You." I look at her with my famous cold stare on. She immediately went pale. "Who do you think you are? Sino ka para sabihin kung sino ang dapat at hindi ko dapat samahan?" The girl gulped. "A-Ah S-Syd"

 "Dont talk!" I cut her from whatever she was trying to say. I dont even care. "At anong sinabi mong walang laman ang utak? Get your facts straight! Did you know that this girl with me came from England and graduated senior high there with the highest GPA!?  " I look at her from head to toe "Tingnan mo nga ang sarili mo bago ka magsalita!" I took a step backward and look at her sharply. "Brainless b***h!" I muttered. I turned around. Hold Chelsea's hand and get out of there.

 I just noticed na dumami na ang tao na nakapalibot at nanonood doon. I mentally sighed. What's with the i don't want any attention attitude of yours before Sydney?' My inner self mocked me. Urggghhh!!! Shut it!

 "So..."  The girl beside me spoke after a while.. I'm still holding her hand dragging her to god knows where.

 I stopped nung makarating kami sa football field. I sat at my usual spot sa ilalim ng puno doon. Agad namang tumabi sa akin si Chelsea.

 "How did you know that i came from England and graduated with the highest GPA?" She blurted out. Kanina pa siguro nito iyong gustong itanong.. She looked at me after a while "As far as i can remember hindi ko pa naman naiku kwento yun sayo" 

 I mentally groaned. How am i supposed to tell her that i had her investigated? 

That i already know that she's half British, Her dad passed away a few years ago, that's why she and her mom came back here in the country? She had a younger sister named Marie and a dog Named Jack? I would sound like a total stalker if i told her  because that was just so creepy. 

 And i don't want to creep her out just because im so curious about her.  

So curious to the point na kailangan ko pa syang pa imbestigahan.  

I fake a cough before answering. "A-Ahem! I just heard."

 "Heard? Wala pa naman akong pinagsasabihan nun Syd." Agad akong pinagpawisan ng malamig dahil sa sinabi nya. I'm a terrible liar pa naman. Pano ko ba malulusutan to? "U-uhm.. Napadaan kasi ako sa Admin kanina and they are talking about a certain transferee that came from England maganda daw and she got the highest GPA there, i immediately thought it was you.  So yeah" kinakabahan kong sagot.

 Sana maniwala..

 Sana maniwala... 

 She laughs at my answer. "So you think i am pretty huh?" She smirks and i swear that she looks so sexy doing that.

 I looked away. "You are pretty." I told her absentmindedly. 

 I found no reason to deny that. She is indeed pretty. I glance at her side nung ilang minuto pa ang lumipas at hindi ito kumikibo. 

Nakayuko lang ito. Habang kinakamot yung isang tenga.

 She only do that when she's embarrassed or something. Urghh.  Bakit ba natatandaan ko yung mga mannerism ng babaing to?  Nakakainis na huh' 

 'Tsaka Ano bang interesting sa mga damo dito sa soccer field? At nakatungo lang sya dun?' After a while she spoke. "Uhm.. Syd." 

 "Yeah?" I answered habang nakatingin sa malawak na field. "Thank you." 

 I looked at her. "What for?" She smiled. "For being my friend." 

 I gave her a sad smile. I don't like making friends. Lalo pa she's giving me weird feelings inside of me, that i don't quite understand. 

I don't like it. This girl is bad news. 

I can see warning signs all over her. I need to avoid her at all cost.

 I think she will be okay from this school from now on. 

The people here are somewhat afraid of me, and after that little incident of defending her a while ago, i don't think may mangangahas pang manggulo dito.. 

She's pretty, friendly and smart  and i know she will be popular anytime soon. 

And she won't need me anymore then. 

Tumayo ako mula sa kinauupuan namin and looked at her emotionless.

 "I don't need any friends." I said. 

 And i avoided her like the plague after that.