HER

CHAPTER 2

"Where are you going?" tanong ni Luther nang tumayo ako dala ang tray ko.

I smiled at them. "Making friends."

Their mouths hang open before I walked to my cousin's table.

Marie continued eating and seems like engrossed in her own world to notice me sitting beside her.

Nginitian ko ang pinsaan ko. "Hi, Laura!" I cheerfully greeted her. I smiled at her two other friends.

Laura's face broke into a huge smile when she saw me. The girl beside her had a huge grin and the guy had a small smile.

Laura hugged me tightly. "I missed you, Garrett. Why didn't you say that you're coming back home? I could have fetched you at the airport." she pouted when she sat back on her seat.

I introduced myself to her friends and they did too. The girl is Jane Corporal, a daughter of a famous restaurant owner. She is cute, her face and her frame, petite. The family of the guy is the owner of the biggest car manufacturing company in the Philippines, Paul Sy.

I turned to Marie who is still enjoying her food in her own world. Naagaw ng hawak niya ang attention ko.

She likes milk?

There's a bottle of milk on her tray and she is sipping it coolly, not looking like a child drinking her milk.

I stretched my hands to her. "Hi, I'm Garrett. We met earlier, at the stairs and in the room." I enthusiastically introduced myself to her.

But, she just continued eating like she didn't hear anything. I'm sure that she can hear me because she's not wearing headphones and I hope she's not deaf.

I slowly withdraw my hands.

Laura apologetically smiled at me. "I'm sorry. She's like that. Don't mind her. She's Marie by the way." she introduced Marie.

I gave them a smile.

We talked and it was fun. I just realized that it's enjoyable to talk with Laura's friends. Before, I would just talk to Laura even she's with her friends and it was a wrong move. But, I'll make it up to them now.

"So, where's Luther?" Laura suddenly asked.

I looked at her suspiciously. "Why are you looking for him?"

She laughed at my tone. "Come on, coz. I was just asking if where they are. They can join us. The more the merrier." nakangiting sabi niya.

Bigla namang sumulpot yung dalawa sa likod ko.

"Speaking of them." mahinang sabi ni Paul.

Sa table na ito, parang siya yung seryoso pero cool kausap, yung may malaking sense.

Naupo si Isaac sa tabi ko. Nagpaunahan talaga sila kung sino ang tatabi sa akin. Sa huli, si Luther ang katabi ni Marie na parang walang nangyayari sa paligid niya kung kumain.

"Hi, ladies and one guy! Looking for me?" bati ni Luther sa kanila at tinignan si Laura.

Parang hindi siya nakipag-unahan kay Isaac sa upuan sa tabi ko. Pa-cool pa siyang naupo sa tabi ni Marie.

"Hello!" Masaya nilang bati sa dalawa.

Patapos na yung 1 hour kaya maiksing usapan na lang ang nangyari. Tulad ng sabi ni Laura kanina; the more, the merrier. And it was.

...

"I guess we'll be stuck with each other for the whole semester. We have the same classes." masigla kong sabi kay Marie.

Maghapon ko siyang kasama, kinukulit kahit hindi niya ako pinapansin.

Pinagtitinginan na nga kami ng mga kapwa namin estudyante. But, I don't care. Hindi pa naman niya ako tinataboy so I guess it's alright with her. I do really want to be friends with her. Ayaw ko ng may common friends lang kami. Gusto ko magkaibigan din kami.

I was following her when she suddenly stop. I was running behind her so I didn't stop in time and I bumped into her, forcefully. But, she just stood tall and unmoved with the impact.

"Sorry." sabi ko, napalayo agad ako sa kaniya at inabangan ang sakit ng katawan. Hindi ko na napansin na napapikit na rin pala ako.

But, minutes passed and I didn't feel anything painful. I slowly opened my eyes. Naglakad ako paharap sa kaniya, making a safe distance between us.

Cold green eyes staring at my blue ones. I find her eyes very captivating even it's so cold yet the color is so bright. It's like hypnosis that drags you by the contrasting color and falls into a wide deep ocean and you're lost in the middle of it, swimming your way to a shore yet you don't see one. You're lost just by staring at her eyes.

"Why do you keep pestering me?" her voice was cold as the two ends of the world. Napakurap ako at bumalik sa reyalidad.

I opened my mouth to speak but no words escape my lips. I want her to be my friend but I can normally do it. Why would I follow her the whole day?

Am I out of my mind? I had never chased a girl before.

"I didn't mean to. It's just that, I'm not comfortable here after 3 years. I'm just finding some company." I lamely explained. Though, it was half true. The only lame part was that I knew quite some here in school to have some company yet I was following her.

"What about your friends?" she asked. "They can accompany you like earlier."

I was shocked to hear that. So she was listening to our conversation earlier. Her impassive look was so effective.

"We have different classes. And besides, we have the same classes and subjects this sem. Could we just be friends?" I hopefully asked, a bit desperate.

I smiled like how every girl blushed and squealed for. I'm not a playboy, alright. I just love smiling especially when I can make someone smile. It's kind of a bonus when they squeal, particularly the girls.

But, this kind of my smile didn't affect her. She just stared at me blankly.

"No." she sternly said before walking past me.

Napatulala na lang ako sa kinatatayuan niya kanina. Kumurap ako ng ilang beses bago lingunin ang dinaanan niya.

She's walking to the car park. Sinundan ko siya agad. Tinakbo ko na para mabilis. Napapatingin na yung mga estudyateng nadaraanan ko sa bilis ng pagtakbo ko pero katulad ng sinabi ko kanina, wala akong pake.

Naabutan ko siyang naglalakad papunta sa isang black 4 door Mercedes-Benz AMG. Automatic na nag-unlock ang kotse bago siya pumasok at pinaandar papunta sa school gate.

Sinamantala ko yung oras na nag-s-swipe pa siya ng ID card niya. Every student needs to swipe their ID card when they enter and exit the school. It's for security purposes for every students and even school personnels.

Agad akong sumakay sa puting Audi ko at sinundan ko siya agad.

"Nakabalik ka na pala, Garrett." Masayang bati sa akin ng guard, si Kuya Thomas.

"Opo. Dito po ulit ako gra-graduate." nakangiti ko ring sabi.

Matagal na dito si Kuya Thomas. Elementary pa lang yata ako nandito na siya.

"Mabuti naman."

"Sige po. Mauna na ako." paalam ko nang okay na yung pag-scan ko.

"Sige. Mag-ingat sa pagmamaneho." Kumaway siya sa akin.

Inilabas ko na lang ang kaliwang kamay ko kumaway pabalik sa kaniya.

Hinanap ko agad ang kotse ni Marie. And just like her walking, she drives fast too. Parang laging may hinahabol.

Nahirapan akong sumabay sa kaniya kaya sa huli ay naligaw ako.

I look up to the sky. The sky is pink and it's beautiful. The sun is setting yet it will be back tomorrow to shine. I still have a chance, I just need to rest for today.

I drove to our mansion. I'll stay there for now. I missed my family so much.