Unromantic Romance

Chapter 16

"Naku ah! Baka nag-cutting na talaga iyon," Ayii said with a hint of maliciousness. 

"If that's true, pang-apat na niya ito. One more and she'll get thrown by Regis to Mrs. Salazar's office." I said while staring at Ayii's reflection in the mirror who's twirling the ends of her hair. 

"Sunod-sunod na siyang nag-cutting. Hala! Baka gumagaya sa'yo, Le'!" Sabi niya sa tonong may pang-aakusa tsaka suminghap habang nakatingin sa repleksyon ko sa salamin. 

My eyes automatically rolled. "Bakit naman ako gagayahin no'n. Matalino si Jaydee," I answered with a slight touch of bitterness. 

Ayii turned to me who's leaning on the second door's cubicle. She raised her eyebrow with a suspicious face. 

"Bitter ka sis?" She languidly asked. "Gusto mo rin maging matalino?" Natatawang tanong niya. 

My forehead creased finding her question incredulous. She went to me and grabbed my arm. She pushed me to the sink and held my chin upwards to look at the mirror in front of us. She tilted my face from both sides, still not letting go of my chin. 

"Why can I sense bitterness from your voice?" Nagatatakang tanong niya. She let go of my chin and scratched her temple, thinking deeply. 

"Is it about a guy?" Nanghuhulang tanong niya. 

I shook my head and faced her. "If it's a guy, I am smart enough," I answered in a proud voice. She placed her fingers under her chin, thinking again.

"Pwede. Kahit ang target-in mo man ay sobrang talino," She said while nodding, convinced by her deduction. 

"I can entice any kind of man, Ayii. Even those kinds of guys." 

Ayeshian laughed upon hearing. "Totoo naman. Even smart-a*s guys are attracted to you except for one," Ayii said in between laughing. 

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko, kuryoso sa sinabi ng kaibigan ko. I bet she can sense my curiosity so she stalls, obviously drawing me in.  

"What?" I asked, urging her to continue. She wiggled her brows. 

"Maliban sa The King," she said after minutes of stalling. It took a long while to process her answer so I put on a questioning face.

 She smirked at me. "I mean Regis. The Regis we both know." 

When I finally got what she meant, tumikhim ako at umiwas ng tingin. I was careful not to show a certain reaction that will make Ayii intrigue. 

It was a long silence for the both of us. She just shrugged at my inaudible answer and I think she didn't notice any unusual either, while here I am, feeling a bit down and not even knowing the reason why I am feeling this way. 

Ayii is now facing the mirror while busy checking her face. 

"Ayii," I called when she was putting her lipstick on. She murmured something unclear because of her lips parted. She glanced at me a bit. 

"Are my actions a turn-off for some?" Tanong ko sa kanya before facing the mirror, staring at my reflection. Napansin ko na natigilan si Ayii, siguradong hindi inaashan ang tanong kong iyon. 

Her lips rose a bit like she heard something amusing. "Actions... do you mean?" She probed. I know she knows what I'm referring to, she's just playing dumb but nevertheless I still answered. 

"Getting a boyfriend right after breaking up with someone, I mean." I said with slight annoyance, still staring at myself on the mirror.

She giggled. "Why did you ask-"

"Just answer the damn question, Ayeshian." I cut her off with gritted teeth which made her laugh. 

"Cool down," she playfully said. "Okay, for some, who do you mean by that?"

I watched myself in the mirror of how my forehead creased. "No particular kind of person. Could you just answer the ques-" I turned to her a bit. 

"Okay, fine!" She said while putting her hand between us. I faced the mirror again, staring at my straight face. 

"It's a turn-off." 

I sighed at her direct answer. I expected that already but why do I feel like falling from above and being slammed right into the ground? Maybe I expected the answer already yet somehow I yearned for the opposite. 

"Sino namang hindi? Lalo na't kung ang tinutukoy mo ay hindi ganyan? You're a turn-off for someone living their lives great," Ayii added while surveying my face, searching for a certain reaction. 

I can't help but frown. Yeah, right. I'm a turn-off for someone great. That certain someone is great. 

I saw how Ayii's lips formed a mischievous smile. I immediately tore my frown and changed it into a smile. 

I consoled myself silently. Hearing this from my friend who's been with me ever since then is far from a lie. I felt down but I cannot be like this all the time. So what if I'm a turn-off in his eyes? Do I have to turn him on? Of course not! Guys make their way near me and it's not me who should go to them. Guys are the ones who should impress me and not the other way around. They should be the ones who should turn me on and not me who's turning them on. It should be them who should do the trading, and it's up to me to make a bet and decide to go for it. 

He's turned off, huh? I can't do anything about it. I should just keep on turning you off then!

"I have to go to the garden. Sa wakas at bukas na matatapos ang parusa ko!" I informed Ayii while we are walking down the stairs. Tapos na ang klase namin at hindi pa rin nagpaparamdam si Jay kung nasaan siya. 

"Huwag ka ng magbalak mag-cutting kung mahuhuli ka rin naman ni Regis, Le'." Ayii teased. 

"Bad timing lang 'yon. Sa susunod, hindi na." 

"Oh paano ba iyan, mauuna na akong umuwi. Alangan namang hintayin pa kita matapos magdilig. Kaibigan mo lang ako at hindi tagabantay!" Pang-aasar pa niya nang nakalabas na kami sa building namin. 

I waved my hand, gesturing her to go away. 

"Mag-ingat ka! Naku, huwag kang magpapagabi at baka bisitahin ka ng mga lalaki mo-" Bigla siyang natahimik na ipinagtataka ko. Kaagad kong sinundan ang mga mata ng kaibigan ko na nakatuon sa aking likod. 

"Ah! Ikaw pala iyan, Rej!" Ayii said after recovering and then nervously laughed. "Sige, uuwi na ako Le'! Mag-ingat ka," paalam ni Ayii sa akin bago tumalikod at naglakad na papalayo. 

"Ayeshian!"

 I jumped a little when Regis suddenly shouted my friend's name from behind. Kaagad namang lumingon si Ayii sa gawi namin habang nagtataka kung bakit siya tinawag ni Regis. 

"I will be with your friend until she finishes," saad ni Regis sa boses na sapat para marinig ng kaibigan ko na may distansya sa amin. I saw how Ayii's mouth dramatically fell. 

My forehead creased at what the brute said. 

Ayii laughed a bit, not knowing what to say. "Hindi na naman kailangan, kaya na niya sarili niya-"

"I will stay with her to make sure no guys will bother her while doing what she has to do," Regis said in his usual tone. 

Wala namang masabi ang kaibigan ko at nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa aming dalawa ni Regis. I looked back at her with my confused face. 

Ayii slowly nodded. "Okay, if you insist." My friend replied before walking away in a large stride.

I turned to Regis and showed him my annoyed face. What's with this guy? I somehow prevented my heart's abnormal pacing attempt when I immediately gathered my cool. I don't want my heart to run wild without my permission. 

I made my way to the garden na kaagad naman niyang sinundan. He caught my arm which made me stop walking. 

"Lil suggested that we should not involve you to the matters in the Council kaya hindi mo na kailangang pumunta pa doon ulit at tumulong," Regis said. 

Lil, huh?

Binawi ko ang braso sa pagkakahawak niya. I can feel my blood boiling inside me. 

"Oh really? Mabuti naman kung gano'n at hindi ko na makikita pa ulit ang nakakainis na babaeng iyon."

 I don't know why I am reacting like this after hearing that girl's name. Maybe because of her tacky fashion? Or was it because of what she said the other day? It can't be the latter. I convinced myself that maybe it's because I find her fashion jeje.

Kumunot ang noo ni Regis sa sinabi ko. "What's wrong with Lily-anne?" Naguguluhang tanong niya. "She's good at everyone in the Council-"

"Oh really? Are you defending her?" Sarkastikong tanong ko pero hindi pa rin nakatakas ang tono ng inis. 

"I'm not. I was just wondering why you are annoyed at her." 

"It's just inappropriate to suggest that I should be excluded from the Council after starting a few days ago. It's my punishment right?" Giit ko. 

This is funny, Le' Pauline! Noong una ay ayaw ko nga nitong parusang idinagdadg ni Regis tapos bakit ngayon ay parang ayaw kong pakawalan? I should be happy but why?

"I thought you don't want another punishment, so what's the problem? Lil was just being considerate-"

"Para kung abala ang lahat sa mga ipinapagawa, you two will be left alone and Lily-anne will then use her flirty advances to get to you. That's fun, isn't it?" I asked in my taunting voice. 

"Where's that idea coming from, Le' Pauline?" He asked in a hard and serious manner. 

"Oh well, ganyan naman talaga kapag kayong dalawa lang. You should create something fun." I shrugged like the two of them being left alone while everyone's busy is not bothering me. "A couple from Student Council huh? The President and the Secretary... you'll make a good couple." I sarcastically praised. I am so pissed yet he's still defending Lily-anne!

Ang dami sigurong nagawa ng girlfriend niya for this guy to defend her when someone badmouthed her. Ang bait naman niyang boyfriend? Lily-anne is so blessed. Kung boyfriend ko ang lalaking ito, matagal na sana akong pinaglamayan dahil sa kadenang nagbabawal sa akin na gawin ang dating gawain. 

I silently laughed with bitterness. Why did I even think na magiging boyfriend ko ang lalaking ito? Half of the population here in Ayazo will oppose it. Nope, not in this lifetime or the next. We are not a good match.

Regis' forehead creased, his eyes exuding a heavy intensity that can see through me and lips pursed. 

"Ano? Should I congratulate the both of you? Ico-cover na ba kayo sa school paper ha?" Naiinis na saad ko. 

"Anong ganyan talaga kapag kayong dalawa lang?" Tanong niya na inulit lamang ang sinabi ko kanina, na parang iyon lamang ang narinig. "Is that what you and your guys do when you're left alone?" He asked na parang iyon lamang ang narinig sa sinabi ko kanina. 

"Ano ba dapat? That's why I understand the sensation you're feeling when you're with her-"

"Damn, Le' Pauline!" His voice thundered which made me nervous. 

He called me by my name again but I can't enjoy the tranquility it usually brings when he called me by raising his voice. He massaged the bridge of his nose, problematic. 

"Huwag mo akong igaya sa mga naging lalaki mo," he said with warning. I swallowed the lump on my throat and looked away, searching for something that can regain my cool. 

I looked back at him seconds after. "So what?! Are you turned off?" Mayabang na tanong ko. I am sure he'll back down. I'm very sure of that. This is my last resort. My pride. 

He stared at me with rage in his eyes but after a split second, he closed his eyes, and the moment he opened it again, he's already calm. 

I am still not used to this guy's quick changing of moods!

"It's not like I'm turned off from the start anyway," he said in a soothing voice like he didn't lost his cool earlier.

My eyes widened at his answer. The pride I've gathered asking that question lost in the way. I've got nothing but shock. 

Does he mean that he is turned on? Did I hear him right? Or was I only hearing things?

I tore my gaze off him and looked down on my shoes. I wanna laugh hysterically and at the same time, cry the hell out of me and throw things near me. I don't know what to exactly feel. 

This feeling feels so good yet scary. I've been assuming that the likes of him are turned off by me but he just said that he isn't. It's scary at the same time because I don't know if I should welcome this overwhelming feeling either. It's knocking at my heart's door. I don't know if I should let it in or ignore it. What kind of ruckus will it create if I decide to let it in? And what are the merits if I choose the latter?

This intimidating feeling is ruling me. I think I should develop my actions aggressively. 

Let's see how long can I turn you on, Regis Lewis.

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