Fall For You

Chapter 2: Roses Are Blue

=Mikaela=

I stretched my arms at tiningnan ang phone ko. Three pm na pala. Maaga kasing natapos ang klase namin kasi nagmeeting yung teachers. As usual, nasa SC office ako the whole afternoon.

"Ran, labas muna ako ha? Magpapahangin lang," sabi ko sa secretary ng SC na si Rania.

Mabuti pa tong si Rania, ang sipag, eh yung vice president namin, ni kelan hindi pa nagtagal ng kahit ten minutes man lang sa office. Malamang at this moment, kung anong kabulakbulan na naman ang ginagawa nun.

Pumunta muna ako sa greenhouse ng campus para magpahangin. Maganda kasi dito especially because nandito yung paborito kong rare na bulaklak. Isa pa, ang sariwa ng hangin and it's really relaxing. Papunta na sana ako sa may bahagi ng greenhouse kung saan naroon tumutubo ang sinasabi kong flowers pero may narinig akong nag-uusap in that direction.

"Sorry," the guy said. At nang tiningnan ko kung sino, hindi na ako nasorpresa, si Kevin Chan nga.

Naluluha na yung babae. I know her. Siya si Bianca Montecillo, yung captain ng cheerleading team. Maybe she made a confession but Kevin Chan rejected it, judging from the tone of their voices and expressions in their faces. Akalain mo, even the famous campus beauty Bianca Montecillo had fallen for and was rejected by this guy. He's a real heartbreaker after all.

"Totoo bang may...mayroon ka nang nagugustuhan?" tanong ni Bianca.

He just gave the girl a nod.

"Sino?"

I sensed that this conversation is too private so dapat irespeto ko ang pag-uusap nila. I was about to walk away pero napahinto ako dahil sa sagot niya.

"She's someone who likes blue roses so much."

I was surprised about what he said. But of course, I tried to compose myself. What am I even thinking? Hindi lang naman ako ang mahilig sa blue roses.

So, I just continued my way out of the greenhouse. I better work on those papers sa office para maaga akong makauwi. May quiz pa naman bukas.

=Bianca=

"Si Mikaela Garcia ba?" tanong ko, my voice slightly shaking.

I hate this. Bakit ba ako nagpapakatanga dito? Alam ko na naman, eh. Alam ko na na may babae na siyang gusto at hindi yun ako. Siguro hindi ko lang matanggap. Kasi maraming nagsasabi na bagay kami, na we are a perfect match. He's the basketball varsity ace while I'm the captain of the cheerleading team. There could be no better campus team-up than that.

I'm always cheering for him. I have always admired him mula pa noong elementary. It might be childish to say this but Kevin Chan is my first love. And I still can't get over this childish admiration of mine.

=Flashback=

"Go Kevin Chan! Go number 7!" rinig kong sigaw ng babaeng katabi ko.

Yung guy in jersey number 7, tumingin sa direksyon namin and then he smiled dun sa mga babae. It wasn't a flirty smile. It was refreshing and sincere.

Kanina nagtataka ako kung bakit maraming naloloka sa number 7 na 'to kasi first time kong manood ng basketball game sa school namin. Kaya naman pala, hindi ko sila masisisi dahil napakagwapo rin naman pala ng nilalang na 'to. Chinito, maputi at sakto lang ang build at tangkad niya. Yung mukha niya yung tipong hindi nakakasawa.

Isa pa, hindi siya mayabang. Halata naman the way he plays eh. And he plays basketball very well. Sa tuwing nakakapuntos siya, he flashes a humble smile and when nakakakuha siya ng foul, palagi niyang tinutulungan yung player na nafoul niya kung nadapa ito.

Simula noon, palagi na akong nanonood ng game. Nalaman ko agad na ang pangalan niya pala ay Kevin Chan at pareho kaming sixth grader.

Ang bata ko pa para sa ganitong usapan, pero ano ngayon? Crush lang naman.

Nang nalaman ko na pareho kami ng high school na papasukan, naisip ko na maybe umaayon sa akin ang tadhana. Nang nalaman ko naman na may cheerleading team itong school namin para sa varsity, sinubukan kong mag audition mainly because of Kevin Chan, mainly because of my admiration. I was accepted sa cheerleading team. And I even became the captain eventually.

Because of that, I learned more about him at nakilala niya rin ako. Kasabay kasi ng practice ng cheerleading team ang practice nila ng basketball. From a mere stranger to him, I became one of his acquaintances, then from acquaintances to friends. Ako na siguro ang pinakaclose sa kaniya na babae in the cheerleading team. At hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng kateammates ko ang pagkagusto ko sa kaniya. Kaya naman sinimulan nila akong tuksuhin kay Kevin.

"Kev, hindi mo ba liligawan si Bianca?" pabirong sabi ng isa kong teammate.

When he was asked with that, he just chuckled at umiling-iling.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ibig sabihin ng pag-iling niya. Kung 'Lakas ng tama ng mga 'to' ba ipinapahiwatig ng pag-iling niya o 'Not gonna happen' ba o ano. Kaya sinaway ko na lang yung teammate ko na nagtanong. Baka mahalata pa ako eh.

=End of Flashback=

At that time I was contented na makita siya every practice at magcheer sa kaniya every game. But I felt a bit threatened nang lumutang ang rumors about Kevin Chan liking the Ice President Mikaela Garcia.

Mikaela is the exact opposite of Kevin. Kahit pa sabihin nating opposite attracts, I still think that they won't work out. Mikaela's presence makes people fear her. Kung may nagtatangkang makipagkaibigan sa kaniya, binabalewala lang niya. While Kevin's presence lights everyone up. He's kind and friendly. He gives a warm feeling and bright aura that're reflected both inside and outside the court. And that's what made me fall for him.

Almost 4 years na akong may gusto sa kaniya. I realized I really like him nung 1st year pa ako. Up until now na nasa senior year na ako ng high school. So of course, alam ko na this is more than just infatuation or admiration.

Noong una, hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga rumors na nagsasabing may gusto nga si Kevin kay Mikaela. I was thinking why would a warm-hearted and sociable guy like Kevin Chan fall for a cold and stone-hearted girl like Mikaela Garcia? Why would a guy who treats all people with smiles and gets loved by all people around him fall for a girl who doesn't even exert any effort to make some friends? I was certain for a moment na hindi totoo ang mga haka-haka.

Pero nagbago ang paniniwala ko when I saw Kevin Chan outside of this same greenhouse mga one month ago na ata. He was leaning near the doorway. Lalapitan ko na sana kaso umalis na siya. I was wondering kung ano ginagawa niya dito nung mga panahong 'yon. Nang lumapit ako sa may doorway, I heard some people na nag-uusap. It was Mikaela Garcia with some guy. Sa pagkakaalam ko classmate ni Kevin yung guy. The guy was confessing to Mikaela and I wondered how much courage ang kinailangang ipunin ng guy na 'yon to make a confession to the Ice President.

Pero may isang bagay which I happened to realize. The fact that Kevin Chan was there a while ago probably means that the rumors are true. Baka sinundan niya sila para malaman kung anong isasagot ni Mikaela. Pero kahit I already had a hunch about it, I still denied it to myself. Baka naman nagkataon lang na napadpad si Kevin dito at nag-eenjoy lang siyang makarinig o makakita ng lalaking binasted. Baka naman may kelangan siya sa guy o kay Mikaela kaya pumunta siya dito pero nung narinig niya ang seryosong usapan, umalis na lang siya. Kung anu-ano na ang inisip kong excuse dati.

And then I recalled something that I've been noticing. Napansin ko these past few months na panay ang tingin niya sa bleachers sa tuwing may game. Para bang may hinahanap siya sa crowd. Si Mikaela kaya hinahanap niya? O baka may gusto siyang ibang babae?

I wanted to be sure and I wanted to know kung ano ba talaga. Before it's too late, I have to tell him how I feel. Kaya naman ngayon, nilulunok ko na pride ko at nilakasan ko na ang loob ko to confess to him, despite knowing the possibility that his eyes are already laid to someone else.

"Sagutin mo ako, Kev. Siya ba?" I asked again.

"Sorry. But I can't tell you more than what I said."

"Someone who likes those, huh?" sabi ko sabay tingin sa blue roses na nasa gilid namin. Nagbabadya nang umiyak ang mga mata ko.

Nakakainis. Bakit dito pa kami nakapwesto kung saan itinanim 'tong mga blue roses na 'to?

"Bianca, I'm really sorry. But I can't reciprocate your feelings."

"Stop saying sorry, Kev. Do you even know how painful it is to see the person you like being sorry for not liking you back?" napasinghas ako while hindi ko napansin ang pagtulo ng luha ko.

OA na kung OA. Pero nakakainis lang kasi eh. Bakit pa niya kinailangang mag sorry? It just made me hopeless.

He looked away from me and into the blue roses.

"I do know the feeling of not being liked back," he answered with eyes of sincerity.

That hit me. Tama nga. Si Mikaela nga.

"Siya nga, no? Si Mikaela Garcia nga ang gusto mo. Bakit mo ba siya nagustuhan? Ano bang meron sa kaniya?"

"Bianca, I don't think I have to tell you that."

"Tell me, Kevin. Kahit yun man lang. I just want to know what's with this Mikaela Garcia that left someone like Kevin Chan falling for her. Ano bang ginawa niya?"

I sound desperate...and miserable. But I don't care.

"Wala siyang ginawa. She just made me fall for her....without any effort," he calmly said pero kita sa mukha niya kung gaano siya kaseryoso.

I chuckled to let out the heavy feeling inside me. I shouldn't have asked kung alam ko lang na ganito ka sakit.

"Iyon naman pala eh. Alam mo ang feeling of not being liked back, di ba? Bakit hindi ka na lang tumigil?" I said.

Alam kong hindi ko dapat sinasabi ang mga bagay na 'to because again I would look desperate and pathetic. And like I'm the one to talk when I, myself, can't let go of my own feelings. Pero kasalanan ko ba kung gumagaan ang loob ko? I just want to let my frustrations out.

"I'm being selfish now, Kev. Even just for now, let me be selfish....Stop liking her," I said. Siguro hindi na ako nag-iisip. Ano ba 'tong mga pinagsasasabi ko?

Tiningnan niya lang ako then he gave me a handkerchief.

"You should go back now, Bianca. Baka hinahanap ka na ngayon ng teammates mo."

I looked at him in the eyes. No sign of holding back in him. I gave up and averted my gaze kasi parang may isang set na naman ng luha ang nagbabantang lumabas sa mga mata ko. Kelangan kong kontrolin ang sarili ko. I can't be any more pathetic than this.

"You're mean," I told him and walked out.

=Kevin=

Nang nakita kong lumabas si Bianca sa greenhouse, I breathed deeply.

That was harder than I thought. Sino bang mag-aakalang may gusto pala sa akin si Bianca? I have already rejected several confessions pero mas mahirap pala talaga kung kaibigan mo.

Napaupo na lang muna ako sa bench and stared at the blue roses that are in bloom.

"This is all your fault," I said habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga bulaklak. "Bianca's right, Prez. Just what did you do to me?"

I look and sound insane. Nakatingin ako sa mga bulaklak at kinakausap ko ang taong wala naman dito.

"Anong ginawa sa'yo ng bulaklak?"

Napatayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo. Boses pa lang niya kasi, alam ko na na siya yung nagsalita. Tae, nagulat ako dun.

Yup, standing before me is the girl who blooms as much as these blue roses do.

"Kelan ka pa dumating dito?" tanong ko. Narinig kaya niya ang pag-uusap namin ni Bianca?

"I was here a while ago. Kaso mukhang seryoso masyado ang pinag-uusapan niyo ni Bianca Montecillo kaya I gave you the privacy you deserve. Bumalik lang ako dito kasi may hinahanap ako. I think I lost it somewhere here," sabi niya habang patingin-tingin sa ground.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I know she's telling the truth. She's honest and I could attest to that. Kung hindi mo siya lubos na kilala, you'd probably think of her as someone straightforward or rude. Pero for those who know her well and who have laid their eyes on her for so long, she's just too honest and pure with no pretenses.

Hindi nga siguro niya narinig yung pinag-usapan namin. But I wished she heard it. Pero kahit pa siguro narinig niya, hindi pa rin magbabago isip niya.

She would still be the same Mikaela Garcia na palaging binabalewala at hindi nakikinig o naniniwala na gusto ko siya. The same Mikaela Garcia na walang pakialam kung sino magkagusto sa kaniya and the same Mikaela Garcia who led me falling and keeps me falling even more.

Hindi ko nga alam kung paano niya nagagawa 'to. She stole my heart effortlessly. And she's the kind of a thief na mahirap hulihin. Just when you think you already had her, she brings up a trick that basically ruins all your traps for her.

To put it simply, it's hard to make her fall for you.

But it's even harder to stop making her fall for you.

"Nakita mo ba?" tanong niya matapos niya isearch ang area.

"Ang alin?"

"Yung game pass na binigay mo sa akin."

I was a bit surprised. Hindi ko inakalang hahanapin pa niya yun. Kinuha ko sa bulsa ko yung game pass niya na naiwan niya kanina sa canteen.

"Ito ba?"

"I don't know. If you happened to find that here, then that must be it. Malay ko ba baka ibang game pass 'yan. Hindi ko naman yun nilagyan ng palatandaan," she shrugged.

Look at her being logical.

"Ito yun, yung binigay ko sa'yo. Naiwan mo ito sa canteen. I thought you'd never look for it."

"Sold out na kasi 'yan and I'm going to give that to somebody for my own benefit. Anyways, I don't have to explain. Since binigay mo na 'yan sa akin, it's mine now. So give it back."

"Nope, not unless ikaw ang pumunta sa game," I said, making her face twitch cutely. Dang.

"Mr. Kevin Chan, kahit gustuhin ko pang pumunta sa game niyo, I still can't. I'll be busy that time."

"Walang taong busy, Prez. It's just a matter of priorities."

"Exactly. I have my own priorities and watching your game is not included there."

"Ouch. That was uncalled for."

"I don't care. Give that back."

I shook my head. Wala lang. Gusto ko lang siyang galitin. Haha.

"I said give that back," sabi niya. Lumapit siya sa akin at tinangkang kunin yung game pass from me.

"Kiss muna," sabi ko sabay nguso.

I'm just teasing her though. Pero there was no sign of her being flushed or something. She just kept on reaching for the game pass. The fact that she's so persistent para kunin ang game pass na 'to means na kelangan niya 'to ng sobra. Kasi kung hindi, sumuko na 'to kanina pa, judging from her attitude.

"Teka, teka. It looks like you badly need this," I said.

"So what if I do?"

"Then it gives me the advantage."

"What do you mean?"

"Ibig kong sabihin, I can use this against you. Ibibigay ko ito sa iyo but in one condition."

Binigyan niya ako ng mapagtakang mukha. She's still cute even when she's confused.

"Quit playing around, Kevin Chan."

"I'm not playing around, Mikaela Garcia."

I looked at her with a serious face as she looked back at me with that same expression of hers. It's the expression she always makes when she's busy figuring out the most logical answer.

"Fine. What do you want?" she finally gave in.

"Watch our practice game today and I promise, I'll give you this," sabi ko, showing to her the game pass.

=Mikaela=

Kung hindi ko lang kelangan na kelangan yung game pass na 'yun, I wouldn't trouble myself finding for it. And I definitely won't waste my time sitting on these bleachers habang nakikinig sa ingay ng hiyawan at sigawan sa loob ng gym.

Seriously, is this really just a practice game? Bakit ang daming tao? Hindi pa nga nag-uumpisa, ang lakas na ng hiyawan. This is basically the reason why I don't watch any basketball game here in our campus. Aside from the reason na mas marami akong dapat gawin kaysa tumunganga dito, ayaw ko rin ng masyadong maingay.

During the time my mom and dad filed for a divorce, they always had fights, almost every night. Dad would come home drunk and kapag sisitahin siya ng mom ko, doon na magsisimula ang away nila. It continued for several weeks until nabalitaan ng mom ko na may babae si Dad. Their fights grew worse until they eventually broke up at sumama na si Dad sa babae niya.

Kapag nag-aaway sila noon, tinatakpan ko na lang ang tenga ko habang nasa kwarto ako at umiiyak. I grew up, hating fights and too much noise. Ayoko ng g**o. Kaya noong elementary, I tried my best not to stand out. Because when you stand out, it's either in a positive or negative way. Kahit alin dun sa dalawa makuha mo, it could still cause trouble. Pero ngayong nasa 4th year na ako sa high school, given that I'm the student council president, it's hard not to stand out. So at the very least, I just avoid connections from people who could give me more attention, thus, trouble.

And now, this Kevin Chan has been messing around with me and drawing me unnecessary attention especially sa mga babaeng nagkakandarapa sa kaniya. In fact, a while ago, when I entered the gym with him walking beside me, maraming babaeng nakatingin sa akin at nagbubulungan pa.

Tss. Don't worry girls, I don't have any plans on stealing your guy.

I just decided not to care about them. I just need to have that game pass back. Eh kasi yung vocalist ng band which I hired for the main event ng sportsfest eh fan pala yata ng Blue Knights and sold out na daw yung pass pagbili niya. Kakanta lang daw siya sa main event if makakakuha siya ng game pass.

I know it's such an illogical argument but since I don't have time para makipagdebate sa kaniya at isa pa, dahil malakas din ang demand ng students sa kaniya at sa banda niya, pinalampas ko na lang muna at sinunod ko na lang gusto niya. Kaso I found out na nawala ko ang game pass na binigay ni Kevin Chan. Turned out, nabalik ito sa kaniya.

And Kevin Chan, being playful as he always is, gave me the condition na manood ng practice game nila in turn of giving the game pass back. Kaya naman no choice ako kundi manood ng game.

Mas lumakas ang hiyawan nang dumating ang Blue Knights. Just as when they got out, Kevin Chan scanned the crowd and he smiled when he saw me. He's probably making sure na nanonood talaga ako ng game nila at hindi ako tumakas. Well, siya ang hindi dapat tumakas sa deal namin.

Nagsimula na yung game. Of course, sa tuwing nakakapuntos ang Blue Knights, especially si Kevin Chan, mas tumitindi ang hiyawan. Although hindi naman ako mahilig sa sports, I know how basketball works. Pinag-aaralan kasi 'yan sa P.E. eh. Pero aside sa mga basic terms and rules, wala na akong alam. Hindi rin ako marunong maglaro. Swimming lang ang pinagkakainteresan ko sa lahat ng sports.

Natapos ang laro. Panalo ang Blue Knights by only three points. Nang bumalik na sa locker room ang Blue Knights, nagsilabasan na rin yung mga nanood. Habang ako, naghintay lang sa bleachers para kunin yung game pass.

After a few minutes, bumalik na si Kevin Chan sa gym and then he approached me.

"Nakita mo ba kung gaano ka-cool ako maglaro?" bungad niya.

"Not sure. I was focusing my eyes kung nasaan yung bola," sabi ko. "Where is it?" I opened my hand.

"Tss."

I raised a brow. May kinuha siya sa bulsa niya. Yung pass. He handed it to me that easily. Inakala kong papahirapan niya pa ako. But I was wrong.

"Mabuti naman at hindi mo na ako papahirapan," I said.

"Uy, Chan! Libre raw ni coach! Lika na!" tawag ng isa niyang kateammate.

"Oo, teka lang!" sagot naman niya. "Gotta go," sabi niya sa akin.

Nang nasa court na siya, he looked back at me.

"By the way, Prez! I hope you do the same!" sigaw niya sa akin.

"Huh?" pagtataka ko.

He was murmuring something down there at natural hindi ko narinig kasi malayo siya.

"Ano?!" I asked, my voice slightly raised.

"Ang sabi ko, ang tali-talino mo pero obvious na bagay, hindi mo makuha-kuha! Matalino ka ba talaga?"

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin yun, tumalikod na siya at pumunta na sa teammates niya.

Ano ba pinagsasasabi niya? Did he just insult me? Bahala siya.