Unromantic Romance

Chapter 15

Even if Jaron's answer bothered me, I didn't think too much about it. My head is filled with confusing thoughts and unanswered questions right now and to add that will surely stress me. There's no room for another one. 

"Sayang! Nandoon pala ang mga pinsan mo kagabi? Nakauwi na kami eh," Ayii said after chewing some popcorn. 

"Yeah. Even the busy Illinois was there." 

Napatigil siya sa pagnguya at kaagad akong hinarap. 

"Sobrang sayang nga! Hindi ko man lang nasilayan ang gwapong mukha ni Elli-" I immediately pushed her face away. 

"Stupid. I thought you're not crushing on Elli anymore?" I asked, intrigued. She threw me some popcorn. 

"Sira! Hindi na yata mawawala iyon." I raised my brows at my best friend. 

"Oh? Paano si Nashir, Ayii?" 

"Crush ko lang naman si Elli! Ikaw nga diyan eh. Ang dami mong guys, hindi naman kita jina-judge!" Naiinis na saad niya which made me chuckle. 

"Huwag ka ring magmalinis, bruhang 'to!" 

She jokingly pulled my hair that made me winced. 

When Ayii let go of my hair, my eyes flew towards Jay's empty seat. 

"Hey," I called Ayii who's combing her hair using her fingers. "Where did Jaydee go?" 

Kumunot naman ang noo niya sa tanong ko. "Hindi mo ba nakikita-" 

Nang nilingon niya ang upuan ni Jay ay kaagad siyang natigilan sa pagsasalita. "Wala nga siya. Where did she go?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Ayii sa sarili na kagaya ko'y ngayan lamang din nakapansin.

"Baka nag-restroom." 

"Baka nga. Pero wala pa rin siya hanggang ngayon eh malapit na mag-start ang klase." 

"Should we go out and look for her?"

 She nodded and stood up from my table where she's sitting. She checked her wristwatch and looked at me. "But it's 5 minutes before Mrs. Lilany's class, Le'."

I glanced at Jay's empty seat again. "I can go. You can stay here. I'll be out for a bit." 

She nodded. "Okay, pero kung hindi mo siya makita, bumalik ka kaagad," bilin ng kaibigan ko bago ako lumabas sa aming silid. 

My strides are big because our next class is about to start. Kakalabas ko pa lamang when I bump into something hard. I massaged my forehead when I felt a slight pain. When I looked up, I found Regis standing in front of me. I hit his hard chest which made my forehead hurt.

"Why are you blocking my way-"

"Saan ka pupunta? Papunta na si Mrs. Lilany," pananapaw niya. Umiwas ako sa kanya at dadaan sana sa gilid niya nang hinawakan niya ang palapulsuhan ko at ibinalik ako sa kinatatayuan ko kanina. 

"Sht, what's your prob-" he crouched a bit and held my cheek altogether that made my lips pout. Our eyes meet which made me still.  His lips then formed a small smile. 

"I don't like curses, Le' Pauline." He cockily said. He is bold enough to lock his eyes on mine meanwhile here I am, hypnotized by his hooded eyes. I cannot move, it seems like he has casted a spell to make me stay still.

My heart was in normal beating but it suddenly pounded fast that my breathing can no longer keep up. Most scenarios, people who experience this feels great pain but it's different from what I'm feeling right now. It doesn't hurt at all. 

It weirded me out. Why is my heart beating fast? I'm in control of my heart but as of this moment, I hate to admit it but my heart is following someone's order. 

 This feeling... please take it away. 

After a long battle, my sane mind somehow managed to dominate my system and ignored my uncontrollable heart.

 I then shove Regis' hand and looked away.

I sighed and took a couple of seconds to calm my stupid heart. When my heart is finally coming back to its normal pace, I looked at him again with heavy intensity. Rage is evident in my eyes. Rage to the guy in front of me who dared to move my heart and caused such a fuss. 

"Step back, Regis." I said with gritted teeth. 

Tumikhim muna siya bago sumagot. "The next class is about to start, go back inside." He said in an authoritative tone like he wasn't cocky earlier. I was in awe of how he can change his expression in just a split second. 

We are in a battle of staring when I heard Ayii calling my name. 

"Le'!"

I tore my gaze off him and turnedmy back on him to walk back inside. I saw some of my classmates facing in my direction with their shock expression. I can't figure out why their faces are covered with surprise but I shook off the wondering and walked back to my designated seat. 

"Rej! What's with you?" I heard Leanna, our classmate, asked Regis the moment he went inside. 

"What did Regis say?" Ayii asked which made me turn to her. 

"Nothing more than... annoying," I said in a hard tone with my forehead creased.  I am not even sure of my answer. I don't know if I was annoyed or not. 

May sasabihin pa sana si Ayii nang dumating na si Mrs. Lilany. Kinuha ko ang libro sa ilalim ng lamesa ko at itinuon na lamang ang pansin sa harap. 

Habang nasa kalagitnaan ng klase, Regis who's seated in front cannot escape my vision. I was staring at his wide back and I immediately got lost along with my thoughts. 

I remembered what he said at the party yesterday night. Even if it hurts my ego that he ordered me about something, I cannot seem to ignore it. Even if I do, it won't leave my mind either. What was he thinking that made him say that? 

I can ignore his order if I insist. After all, I can't be tamed but after all the excuses I made in my mind, there is something in me that urges me to follow his command. I really wanted to shove it away and forget about it but every time I think about something, the image of him saying that keeps popping and gets me wondering. 

Every word that comes out of his mouth stays in my mind and even when I am the owner, I don't have the buttons that are able to delete parts involving him even if how badly I wanted to. 

His words are like a tattoo. Once he have spoken of it, it will dominate my mind and will be remembered by my heart. Regis' words are a mixture of poison and a tattoo. It affects me in a pernicious way. 

I held my chest to feel my heart's beating. It's pounding normally but when I was with Regis earlier, it was way different. This happened before and feeling it once again, I came to figure out the difference between the normal and this out of the norm beating of my heart. I don't want to admit it but the difference is the presence of a particular person. 

Whenever Regis far away from me or not around me, my heart beats like usual but the case is different when he is around. It beats wildly that even its wild owner can't no longer keep up. It's escaping from my chains. 

I have lots of reasons why I hate Regis and I can even write a long list! I was so busy hating him that it became part of my normal day. There was no single day that I won't spare some time to hate him. I didn't doubt my reasons why I hate Regis even though most people refer to him as the epitome of perfection. 

Why? Is it because we have clashing thoughts and different perspectives in life? Is it because he excels in class and I can only reach the mid-tier? Is it because he is so good at everything meanwhile here's me, who's only good at dating? Why does he always get to my nerves? Why is he confusing my once clear mind and filling in a hazy mist? Why is he shaking my system? Why does he always let me wonder something about him? 

Regis is wrecking my reputation as the unbothered queen. He always makes me bothered. He always makes me want to care. Feeling this is not like me. If this will continue, I am afraid of the new person I will become. 

I have lots of questions but one thing is for certain. The unruly Montemayor's day is not complete without hating Regis. Being annoyed by him every day is my new normal. 

Congratulations! You've become part of my everyday life. 

I don't know if I should be happy or if I should be terrified. 

________________________________________________________________