"Hey, wake up."
Someone was shaking my shoulder that's why I woke up. When the light struck the face of the person, I recognized her already. I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision and stood my upper body, still perched on the bed.
"Anong oras na, Mimi?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Tumingin siya sa lockscreen niya atsaka binasa ang oras.
"Six-twelve AM. Good morning! Get up and do your morning routine now. Classes starts at 8 AM," paalala niya. I nodded at her and followed her words. I went inside my bathroom, carrying my phone with me. I suddenly remembered sleeping on Gian's message!
Last night, after I took a shower and did my night skincare routine, I went to bed scrolling through my phone and saw the text again, but then I fell asleep because I was so tired. Good thing Lolo didn't come out of his office because he'll scold me if he found out that I went home late yesterday. The worst thing that might happen, I'll be grounded.
To: Gian
Don't ask obvious questions.
Good morning. :))
After that reply, I brushed my teeth and took a quick bath. When I'm done, I went inside my walk-in closet, blow-dried my hair and wore my inside shirt. Pagkatapos makapag-ayos, bumaba na ako atsaka naman ako sinalubong ng tingin nina Mimi at Faye na ngayon ko lang napansin na naka-uniform na pala.
"Yey, you're done! Let's eat na!" Mimi exclaimed and went towards the dining area. Ito talagang mga kaibigan ko. "Nasaan pala si Lolo? Is he awake?" tanong niya bigla. Everyone is now serving our breakfast. Manang Fely served the bacons and eggs.
"Manang Fely, si Lolo po?" I asked. Inilapag ng iba pang maids ang mga tinapay.
"Maagang nagising ang Lolo mo, hija. Pagkatapos nagprepare, nagbreakfast saglit at nagpahatid na sa office. May aasikasuhin daw kaya maaga, sabihan na lang daw kita," paliwanag ni Manang Fely. She's the oldest maid and the closest one to me. Hindi na nga maid ang turing ko sa kaniya. Since my parents and Lola passed away already, I treated her as my family. Maliban kasi kay Lolo at sa mga kaibigan ko, she's the person I trust at pinagsasabihan ko ng mga problema ko.
"O sige na, huwag mo ng alalahanin ang Lolo mo, hija. Eat your breakfast," she told us and we took our seats.
"Manang, join us po," aya ni Mimi sa kaniya. Ngumiti lang sa kaniya si Manang Fely. "Huwag na hija, kumain na kami kanina bago pa man mag-umpisahang asikasuhin ang mga gawain dito. Magpakabusog kayo. Kailangan niyo ng sapat na enerhiya para sa pagpasok niyo."
"Thank you, Manang." I said and smiled back at her. The maids left the dining area, leaving us three eat our breakfast. I took a scoop of rice and egg and placed them on my plate.
"So, Bea. What's your status now with Gian? Kailan mo balak sabihin na he's not a stranger to you. He's your childhood bestfriend, after all!" Faye asked while she's eating. I reached for my cup and took a sip of my coffee.
"Hindi ko nga alam paano sasabihin sa kaniya. I can't just tell him, 'Hey! I'm Bea. I'm your childhood friend.' Malay ko ba if naaalala pa niya," sagot ko sa kanila.
"Ikaw nga tandang-tanda mo pa, siya pa kaya. If you're important to him, he will not forget," Mimi said.
"Malamang, kaya niya tanda, kase she's been crushing on him since the beggining! Hindi madaling kalimutan ang puppy love!" dagdag naman ni Faye. Napairap ako sa kaniya. Though she teasing me, she's telling the truth. Mahirap kayang kalimutan ang isang taong lubos na pinahalagahan mo.
"Stop it, Faye. That was a long time ago
The feelings faded already," I denied. I wasn't attracted to anyone ever since. He's really my puppy love. The person I had a crush the most. Pagkatapos no'n, wala na akong nagustuhan na iba.
"The way you look at him yesterday screams something else," pambubwesit pa ni Faye atsaka siya humalukipkip. She's really good at teasing me. Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin atsaka na tinapos ang pagkain ko para makapag-ayos na at masuot na ang uniform ko.
When we're done for breakfast, I told them to wait for me at mag-aayos lang ako saglit. I took my uniform out of the closet and wore it. I ribboned it's front and buttoned my blouse. Inayos ko ang dress ko dahil medyo nagusot ito noong umupo ako.
I faced my grooming table and applied a light make up and lipstick. I also sprayed perfume on my uniform and on my wrist. I heard some footsteps approaching, expecting they followed me already inside my room.
I was about to place the bottle of perfume on the table when I heard Mimi speak. "Bago 'yan, ah?" I heard her say. Sinuot ko na ang glasses ko at inayos ang buhok ko.
I held the bottle of perfume again. "This? I just ordered it last week onl—"
"No, not that. Pero bago 'yan," Faye also said. Ano bang sinasabi nilang bago? "You, applying make up, lipstick, and excess perfume, that's new," dagdag pa niya. What is she trying to say?
"Are you trying to make yourself beautiful? I mean you got your looks from me, but why do you need to look more pretty?" sabi pa ni Mimi. They were inspecting me from head to toe na para bang isang malagim na krimen ang ginawa kong pag-aayos. Masama bang magmukhang disente?
"Obviously, she wants to impress Mr. Cappucino guy!"
"No—NO! I'M NOT!" I denied. If they are talking about Gian, then he isn't the only reason why I'm doing this! I'm doing this also for myself!
"Are you sure about that?" Ngumisi sa akin si Faye atsaka ako pinangsingkitan. Tumango ako sa kaniya and avoided their gaze. Palapit sila nang palapit sa akin, obviously pressuring me. "Then why are you sweating?" Mimi asked.
"I a-am?" I asked, I didn't even know why the hell I stuttered. I fanned myself to cool my sweat. Napaatras ako sa tingin nila at napaupo sa kama. They had these suspecting eyes that made my legs shake.
"Make sure you're telling the truth or else I'll make you suffer, baby," Mimi teased and pushed me kaya nahiga ako sa kama. "RaWr!" Faye growled and started tickling my sides. Mimi did the same that's why I'm laughing out loud at them now.
"Mga b-baliw! Haha! Stop!" I screamed but that didn't scare them. They stopped for a second.
"Ang maiiwan, manglilibre later, sa Starbucks!" sabi ni Faye atsaka na sila tumakbo palabas ng kwarto. They took advantage my weakness!
Tinignan ko muna saglit ang sarili ko sa salamin dahil medyo nagulo ata ang uniform ko. Nang masiguro kong okay na, sumunod na ako sa kanila sa baba. Nakasakay na sila sa kotse nu'ng dumating ako. I went inside and glared at them. Nagpeace sign lang sila sa akin.
"Pinagtulungan niyo ako! Mga baboy kayo! You took advantage of me!" I told them. They were just laughing at me.
"Excuse me, anong 'we took advantage of you!' We're not defeat no! May taste kaya ako!" Mimi said and pretended she's disgusted with me. I didn't understand what she said, tho.
"Pinagsasabi mo riyan? Anong 'We're not defeat'?" segunda ni Faye. Umaandar na ngayon ang sasakyan. Napansin kong nakangiti si Kuya Lito na driver namin. I think he's listening to our conversation. Medyo nahiya tuloy ako.
"Hindi kami talo! Hina niyo naman sa English." Mimi explained and crossed her arms. Because of that, I tried to stifle a laugh. Tumawa si Faye sa kalokohan niya.
Pagkatapos no'n ay naging tahimik na ang biyahe papunta sa University. Sabay-sabay kaming dumiretso sa Biochemistry Class pagkadating namin dahil magkaklase kami sa first subject. Fortunately, we're ten minutes ahead the time of the first subject meaning we're not late.
Exactly when the bell rang, our professor arrived and there is a guy following her from behind. Maybe he's the other transferee our adviser was talking about. He introduced himself, and he said his name is Migo. The professor even pointed at me to assist him, since I am the newly elected President.
After the second class in the morning, we went inside the lockers' room because we need to get changed. Physical Education is our third subject and we have to do sweats for the performance activity. When I opened my own locker door, a smoke hit my face, I thought my things are burning that's why I panicked and stepped back!
"Okay ka lang? Anong nangyari sa'yo?" Faye asked me atsaka napatingin sa direksyon ng locker ko. I was surprised when I saw a cup of cappucino infront of it. Dahil may steam pa, it means kalalagay lang nito ro'n.
"What is the meaning of this?" I asked them when I took the cappucino out of my locker. Hindi pa bukas ang straw nito. They shrugged at me and they also had questioning looks.
"I have my key with me. Sino naman kaya ang nagbukas at naglagay nito? Ang alam ko ang mga spares ay nasa guwardiya lang," I asked them, but I'm not expecting them to answer.
"Look, may note," turo ni Mimi atsaka ko iyon binasa.
Have a nice day.
- :)
'Yun lang ang nakalagay. I tried to search the back part pero wala ng nakalagay roon. Sino naman kaya ang magbibigay sa akin nito?
Pinatong ko muna ang cup sa aking locker atsaka na muna nagpalit at baka ma-late pa kami sa PE class namin. When we're presentable, we went out and asked the guard if someone entered the lockers before we did. He said yes, and asked us if something was missing. Wala naman akong napansin kaya umiling lang ako sa kaniya.
He told us that someone entered while the lockers was empty. That person is close to him and asked a favor kaya pinagbigyan niya. He said that that person is trying to court someone secretly. Does that mean I am that person and I am the one they wanted to court?
"Hindi kaya si Gian 'yon?" tanong sa akin ni Faye. Napakunot ako ng noo sa kaniya. Why would it be Gian, at bakit parang ang bilis naman ata if siya nga iyon?
Hindi na lang namin iyon pinagtuunan pa ng pansin atsaka na nagpunta sa gymnasium kung saan kami mag-a-activity. Halos kasabay lang namin ang professor namin nang makarating kami roon. Our professor started the introductions and told us that the sport we'll be playing today is volleyball.
The game started immediately after that. I may have the brain in academics pero pagdating sa extra-curricular activities like sports, I am weak. The only sport I excel with is chess, because it is all about strategies.
We stood at the other side of the court. It is divided by the volleyball net. My team mates are Mimi, Kristel, Michaela, and Kate, while the other team consists of Faye and the Class Daisy members, Joy, Leah, Ashley, and Myca. All girls because the guys will play later after our game.
"This is just a friendly game. The group that has the greater score wins and will receive a grade of ninety-eight. The group that loses will receive ninety for the effort," our professor said as he held the ball near the net. "And the game starts after my whistle. Ready, one, two..." he whistled and the game has started. Na-block ni Kristel ang bola atsaka naman iyon napadpad sa grupo nina Faye. Pinapagpasa-pasahan nila ito atsaka naman bumato ng malakas na spike si Myca. Walang nakablock sa amin kaya sa kanila ang score.
"I never hated a game like this before," I whispered to myself and looked around as they continue to pass the ball. I managed to pass the ball to my team mate and passed it to the other team. They didn't get the ball. I smirked because of my little victory.
I glanced at the score board and saw the scores, 3:4, the number on the right side is ours.
"Bea!" I heard someone scream and the last thing I saw was a ball hitting my face and I fell unconscious. My eyelids were begging to be closed but I managed to see who lifted my body, bridal style, before they did. It was Gian.