Never Again

Chapter 3

"Sana tumanda na ako," Biglang sambit ni Chile. Sumulyap ako at napansin ang pagtulo ng mga pawis sa kaniyang noo. She wiped it and I did the same.

I chuckled sarcastically. "Goodluck!" Growing up is hard. You'd encounter a lot of problems. "Tatawanan nalang kita kapag naghirap ka." I commented.

"Well, isn't that the good part?" She tilted her head, wondering. "Growing up means growing and understanding the things. I want that." She said full of conviction.

Well, still, goodluck.

It's still five AM and here we are, taking a jog around our subdivision. We do this every morning, unless my trainings are very early. It still depends. Chile's class starts at 8 so basically she has a lot of time.

"Sy!" Someone called.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Chile, puno nang pagtataka ang aming mga mukha. The neighborhood is still asleep, who could that be? Sumiklab ang kaba sa aking dibdib, last week our neighbor reported that a maniac was roaming around our subdivision. We doubted her but I guess...

"Sy!" Its voice was from our backs.

Huminto ako sa pagtakbo at nilingon ang nagsalita. I breathed out hastily, I thought it was that maniac! "Mat!" I exclaimed.

He was smiling from ear to ear, didn't mind me and my sister's expressions.

"Ang galing, you two jog?" Turo niya sa kapatid ko as if he knew her.

"Uh, yes?" I checked him out. He's riding a bike, he's still in his pajamas. "Ikaw? ano ang ginagawa mo rito sa sub namin?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I live here too, can't I tour myself around?"

"You live here?" I didn't know we live in the same area! ganoon na ba ako ka introverted sa subdivision namin? Oo nga naman, I didn't even know the names of our neighbors.

"You look so shock," He eyed me funnily.

I was about to say something but Chile interrupted us by clearing her throat. Nalipat ang tingin ko sa kaniya, she's giving me that knowing look. A goofy grin was plastered on her face. Ayan na naman siya.

"See you later?" Mat waved his hand and strode off.

I watched his bike went to the other way until I am not seeing it anymore. Napapitlag lang ako nang tinulak ako ni Chile, she was laughing maniacally. "Uuuy! Ship ko kayo ha. Sino yun?" She intrigued, wiggling her eyebrows.

I can feel my cheeks burn, what the actual F. "Stop it! Magkakilala lang kami, ano ka ba!" Iniwas ko ang aking paningin sa kaniya dahil mas lalo lang siyang ngumisi. It's so annoying!

"Weeeh?" She nudged me. "Sure ka na hindi mo 'yon jowa? I'll tell mom!"

Alas sais na ako nang pumunta sa school. I'm required to go there early, I still haven't even taken a bath. Doon na ako maliligo. I was holding my gym bag while checking the indoor pool, my co-swimmers weren't still there. I thought may usapan? I opened my phone again to see our groupchat, baka nagkamali lang ako. As I opened the chat, they all revealed it was all a prank! Ang aga-aga sinisira na ang araw ko.

"Okay ka lang?" His voice echoed. I jumped in surprise, I didn't see that coming.

Mat was sitting on the bleachers, he was holding a laptop, his headphones was resting around his neck. My eyes travelled down to the snacks below his legs, there are a couple of chips. My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I still haven't eaten my breakfast.

"What are you doing here?" I kept on seeing him. What's the catch? Nagsimula na akong maglakad sa kaniyang direksyon. I feel embarassed, he's on his uniforms while I'm soaked in sweat. My attire was still the same kanina noong nakita niya ako. "I didn't know you're punctual."

"Well," He smiled proudly. What a narcissist. "I'm just binge watching movies, gusto mo manuod?" Umusog siya.

"No, what I mean is, paano ka nakapasok?" Ngayon ko lang siya nakita rito.

"I come here often whenever I want to clear my mind. Baka hindi mo lang ako napapansin." He lifted his lips awkwardly. Point taken, hindi naman ako bumibigay ng paki sa paligid.

I halted when I remembered how he confessed his feelings yesterday.

"Halika! It's Riverdale season one," He invited me, he was too giddy.

Oh no. Nginuso ko ang shower room. "Ang baho ko, I'll shower a bit—"

"Huwag na! I don't mind," He smiled softly and scratched his head. "You can sit a meter away from me if you're still awkward with me around..."

That leaves me no choice. "Palagi ka ba talagang nandito?" I sat a meter away from him, exactly what he suggested.

"Not really, pag gusto ko lang at nasa mood..."

I bit my lips. "So if you came here, nakikita mo akong lumangoy?" I don't know why I am acting like a shy teenage girl all of a sudden.

He pouted and closed his laptop to face me. "Ang galing mo nga lumangoy—"

"So you did see me here swimming quite often!" I affirmed. Now, I completely forgot about the pranking thing. Basta talaga.

He nodded. Nakita ko siyang may kinuhang chips at itinapon ito sa akin. "Nagagawa mo pang magjogging kahit ang dami mong responsibilidad?"

Binuksan ko ang nasalong chips. It was Piattos, one of my favorites. I thanked him silently and gnawed it. "Nakagawian na e, ikaw nga hindi ko alam na same subdivision lang tayo. I don't see you that much..." I answered, still busy munching the chips. I lowkey wanted more though.

"It's not my fault that you don't go out frequently!" Napatawa siya nang bahagya, ganoon din ang ginawa ko. Totoo naman. I'd rather spend my day offs staying inside my room. "Pero grabe talaga lods, ang cool mo..." He stared at me with an awe in his eyes.

Napayuko ako sa hiya, the focc. "Because of responsibilities? No biggie."

"I am the king of procrastinator kaya I can't relate. I wanted to be like you," He jokingly said. "You're a great leader..."

Flattered, I munched some chips more. "Ikaw? ano ang gusto mo? I heard you're the Editor-In-Chief, that's a big position too, wala tayong ipinagkaiba."

"Ah, yes..." He uncomfortably shifted his seat. "I want to pursue acting or directing."

"Then try signing up to the drama club!" He'd be great, but he looks so unsure. I'll leave this topic here, he'll deal with it alone.

He insisted to wait for me to finish taking a bath, ihahatid niya raw ako sa office. He's going into the same way lang din daw naman so it's fine, no malice. I couldn't fathom why I lowkey enjoyed his company, why didn't I meet him sooner though? He's a friend you can keep for years. At talagang hindi kayo mawawalan ng topic. Maybe I'd consider him making my bestfriend sooner.

"So about the crush thingy..." I inserted after he finished his sentence. I am still really bothered.

"Huwag kang mag-aalala, nahahangaan lang ako sayo. Won't bug you like any other guys." He chuckled.

A teeny-tiny bit of my mind was disappointed after knowing his answer. I brushed that thought off. He's a great guy, a great friend material to be exact. Let's not cross the boundaries.

From afar, I saw my friends gawking at us. Their evil smiles were really visible that I hoped that Mat wouldn't notice it.

Brats.

"Ikaw ha! Parang noon lang ayaw mo sa kaniya tapos ngayon nasa hatid-sundo portion na kayo!"

Umiwas ako sa kamay ni Rhea— the Auditor. She was almost slapping me. Kinikilig talaga sila. Oh goodness, kailan ako ulit magkakaroon ng tahimik na buhay? They will probably tease me until I die, knowing them...

"Nagkiss ba kayo?" Jelai s*****d my butt. Oh, tingnan niyo na!

"Did he confessed?" Si Carla, namumula na.

"Guys, stop it..." Pagpipigil ko. I raised my hands in front of their hungry faces. "Mat and I are just acquintances—"

"Tapos nagsasama..." Jelai whispered to Carla, na naririnig ko naman. She purposedly made it loud.

I am losing my mind! They are as hard headed as my sister. Para lang nandito ang kapatid ko, however it was my friends impersonating my naughty little sibling.