The Girl I Adore From Afar

II

      I let out a small chuckle, when the school bell rang.

 That implies the class has been dismissed and it is already lunchtime. 

 I  saw her na tila nagulat sa pagtunog noon. I'm still staring at her until now, and she look so cute rubbing her eyes awake.  Her long brown hair cascading up to her waist. And she looks really pretty. 

 Her friends approached her at inaayos na nito ang mga gamit na tila naghahanda ng pumunta sa cafeteria.

 I sighed and went about my business.  

I'm sitting near the window, and no one in my class has ventured to sit alongside me. They're all aware that I prefer not to be  bothered. At ayokong may katabi.. They all seem to be scared and intimidated by me for some reasons and i don't even know why. 

Sa totoo lang, ayoko lang naman kasi na kinakausap ako lalo pa at ayokong magsalita. Siguro that comes off like i was aloof and mysterious even if i didn't want to. In fact i don't even care kung ano man ang tingin ng ibang tao sa akin. 

And for some reason I'm quite popular because of that. 

I don't want any attention, yes, but that doesn't mean I'm not good in class. In fact i am so good thata I even skip a year  accelerated and i am a straight A student.

 Tumayo na ako pagkatapos kong ayusin ang mga gamit ko. I hold my books at dumiretso sa locker ko para ilagay muna ang mga iyon doon bago ako mag lunch. Usually, sa labas ako ng school kumakain ng lunch but I'm feeling lazy today to even go out. Day off pa ni kuya Ty ngayon, so wala akong kasama na kumain.

 I don't have any friends, And yeah I'm completely fine with that. In fact gusto ko nga iyon. Kuya Ty is my bodyguard. Inasign sya ng parents ko para magbantay sa akin at tiyaking safe ako sa lahat ng oras. I'm billionaire's daughter. Ilang ulit ng may nagtangka sa buhay ng pamilya ko kaya my parents decided to hire someone to protect me at all cost. Although i told them that they don't really need to worry about me ay hindi pa rin nagpaawat ang mga ito. 

My mom is really dramatic so i have no choice but to just go with the flow.

 Kuya Ty is not Just a bodyguard to me. He's like my second father and a brother and a friend. He is beside me almost my whole life. We're really close and he's one of the very few people that i trust. 

 You can say that i have trust issues. Yeah that.

 That's probably because i can't trust people's intention kapag tinatangka ng mga itong lumapit at makipag kaibigan sa akin. For all i know they just want connections through me.. 

My family is really influential and my Dad is one of the most famous businessman in the world.

 I don't trust people easily. 

 Binuksan ko ang locker ko and i shoved all my books and my bags inside.

 After a while ay nagsimula na akong lumakad papunta sa cafeteria.

 I pushed the door and went inside the cafeteria and all the noise in there died down instantly. all eyes glued on me nung pumasok ako. I sighed. Yeah i know I don't normally eat lunch in here but they don't have to look at me like that. 

I don't want any attention but it's like i have the worst luck ever that i am getting attention anywhere i go. 

Unti unti na akong pumunta sa counter and saw na may mahabang pila ng mga estudyante doon ngayon. I shook my head. I don't have any other choice kundi pumila. My social anxiety plus my resting b***h face equals trouble and this will be torture. 

 "U-Uhm.. Ms. S-Sydney? M-Mauna n-na po k-kayo sa a-amin sa pila?" I looked at the guy who said that at sa mga kasama nito. They're sophomores. They looked really shy at namumula pa ang mga itong nakatingin sa akin ngayon.

 I raised my eyebrows. "And why would i do that?" I asked and they looked terrified dahil sa sagot ko. Am i really that scary? "U-Uhm.. B-Baka p-po kasi gutom na kayo at gusto nyo ng mauna s-sa amin. O-Okay lang po na w-wag kayong p-pumila"

 I shook my head. "Pare pareho lang tayong estudyante rito.. I don't need any special treatments. We're all starving here! Do you think hindi ko kayang maghintay dito and wait for my turn?" "H-Hindi naman p-po sa g-ganon—" I raised a finger to cut him to whatever he will try to say next. "Save your voice. I don't want to hear any more noise."

 They all turned pale at muling humarap sa counter their backs facing me. I can feel their nervousness radiating off of them and i can't help but sigh. 

That came out harsher than i intended. 

 I looked around at the suddenly quiet cafeteria and frowned when i found out that they're all looking and listening to that interaction. 

 But one bright blue eyes caught my attention like always, in a room full of people my eyes would only search and found that person. 

 It looks like she saw that scene a while ago and she's smiling brightly. Her friends are giggling at ibinaling ko na sa harapan ang atensyon ko bago nya pa ako makitang nakatingin sa kanya.

 I sighed shakily, i avoided her this far and i will not get caught now. 

She will never know what i feel for her. I will never make that happen.. 

"So.. what's your name?" she started the conversation habang sabay kaming naglalakad. 

 i coldly look at her "Let's just set one thing straight miss! yes. i let you walk with me, but not talk to me! so wag mo akong kausapin!" 

 She just laugh at my reaction. she looks amused? i don't know? i rolled my eyes as the sudden feeling in my stomach returns whenever she laughs. Urgh! i will never make her laugh again! i will keep that noted. wait-- no! it's not like i'm planning to talk to her again.

 "It's just unfair that you know my name already and i don't know yours." she said

 'she really doesnt know me huh?' "Well, let me tell you. everything is unfair in this world! besides, i don't remember your name anymore, nakalimutan ko na." i said. kahit i know all too well, na hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang pangalan nya. "Really?" she pouted again bago ngumiti. "let me introduce myself properly then" humarang ito sa nilalakaran ko. "I'm Chelsea.. Chelsea Avila.. i'm new here so wala pa akong kakilala.. this is actually my first day, and it was nice meeting you... i hope maging magkaibigan tayo" she said that smiling that made her dimples on both cheeks visible. natulala na naman ako dahil doon. 'Darn! just what exactly is happening to you Sydney?'

 I composed myself then frowned. "It's your first day and you're skipping classes already?" i shook my head "i'm afraid nagkakamali ka ng kinakaibigan miss." Nahihiyang hinawakan lang nito ang tenga. I guess she's doing that kapag nahihiya sya. 'And now you're keeping notes of her mannerisms.' my inner self told me 'Shut up!'

 "Ang sungit naman.." she mumbled frowning  that cause me to roll my eyes. i looked at her and she suddenly looked sad. i guess she thought that i can be her friend on her first day here in school. but i don't do friendship! 

I don't know but i kinda feel bad sa mga nasabi ko sa kanya. I sigh. "My name is Sydney." I just said.

 I continued walking. Agad namang nagliwanag ang mukha nito pagkarinig ng sinabi ko. "Sydney Baron?" She asked. I nod slightly. "Kilala mo naman pala ako eh, nagtatanong ka pa." i rolled my eyes. Then glance at her for a second.

 She's still following me like a lost puppy. I would find it endearing if my heart is not thumping like crazy.

 She smiled. That kind of smile that can melt you and can stop you from your tracks. I'm so doomed. 

 "No-- i mean narinig ko lang sa nurse kanina yung last name mo." She paused then looked at me smirking "why? Are you somewhat famous in this university? Like a Queen bee or something? Napansin ko lang na kanina the people seem to know and talked about you a lot nung dumadaan tayo." 

 "Of course I'm not the Queen bee!" I whisper-yelled defensively. For me that was an insult. 

i actually hate the populars here in school even though i know that I'm quite popular too myself.  the cheerleaders the jocks the basketball players and all the popular kids here! I seriously hate them all, they just pissed me off because they are just all pain in the ass! Puro porma lang naman ang alam nang mga yun! Mayayabang pero wala namang alam!  Tsk.

 "Okay? I'm sorry. Bakit ba ang bitter mo? Nagtatanong lang naman." I furrowed my eyebrows at hinarap sya. 'Did she just told me that I'm bitter!?' She sounds as if we're so close already! And we're not even close! Ano ba problema nung babaing to? Hindi nya ba nakikita ang pagkalaki laking sign sa aura ko na "back off?"

 "Did you just called me bitter?" Naniningkit ang matang tanong ko sa kanya. 

 Hindi naman ito sumagot. Nilagpasan lang ako nito at umupo sa ilalim ng puno dito sa gitna ng football field. 

 That was my favorite spot!! Tsk. 

 Agad ko syang nilapitan at pinameywangan. "Pwesto ko yan! So move!" She giggled then tap the space beside her. "Dito ka na lang umupo. Ang luwag luwag oh!" "Tsk" nagdadabog nga akong umupo doon sa tabi nya. Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko?! Andun na sya eh! Pshh. 

 She giggle more upon seeing my reaction. And that giggle soon became  laughter. She's laughing and i just thought the sight of her like that will stay in my memories from now on.

 Her laugh was like music to my ears. I can record it then played it over and over ng hindi nagsasawa. What's with this girl?' I know nothing about her except her name. It's crazy that you can possibly feel an intense feeling like this for a person you just met.

 It's enchanting yet horrifying. Suddenly, i became another person when I'm with her. More comfortable and less aloof? I don't know if that's a good thing or not. But it scares me. It scares me to the core, that the walls I've been building up for years will come crumbling down because of just one person.. With just one girl. I need to avoid this girl. I don't want these feelings. It's confusing and it terrifies me. "From now on we're friends na alright? At dahil friends na tayo.." 

Kinuha nito ang bag na hawak at binuksan iyon kinuha nito ang maliit na box ng chocolate cake doon  at mga utensils. Seriously? She's keeping a cake inside her bag? Ibinigay nito sa akin ang isa and opened the cake "since we're friends na.. I Will let you eat with me my most super mega ultimate favorite cake in the whole wide world!!" I chuckled at that. Too much introduction for a simple cake. I can't even eat this. 

 I looked at her nung bigla itong matigilan. "What?!" Mataray kong tanong. Bakit ba ganon ito makatingin? Tsk. "Did you by any chance.... Did you just smile?" She ask sounding so shocked I rolled my eyes. "Any problem with that?" Umiling ito bago ngumiti. "I just made my friend smile! That's an accomplishment!" She said.

 Woah. I didn't even agree to be her friend! Binigay nito sa akin yung isang kutsara. "Let's eat!" She said. I stopped her. "Wait— first of all i never agreed to be your friend! Second, i can't eat this chocolate cake." Suddenly her wide smile turns into a frown.  She looks so sad upon hearing what i just said that her blue eyes change its shade from electric blue to baby blue that it makes me want to take it all back but it's too late.. i already said it all.  

"Why?" She asked. "Can you at least try it? This is my favorite.. I baked this.." She looks down and i felt really bad. But really? Mas napansin pa nito yung sinabi kong hindi ako kumakain ng chocolate cake kaysa sa ayaw ko syang maging kaibigan? I sighed and may pag aalinlangan ko syang tiningnan. 

As much as i hate to admit it. I hate to see her sad. She looks so much better when she smiles. So i took spoon full of the cake pagkatapos ay isinubo ito. 

 Suddenly her eyes lit up upon seeing that. 

Her mood shifted from sad to happy in just a mere of seconds. "Masarap diba?" She's asking me to confirmed it. I just nod at her. 

"Y-yeah" But deep inside I'm so cursing myself for giving in. 

 "You're allergic to chocolates! You idiot!'