Chapter 2
She was about to enter that day remembering that she had to get a rose stem from her father's garden.
She thought of his father. Anabel's father said that after three years and the flower garden is still strong, he will change the name of the garden. From 'flower garden', to 'flower farm'. She cringed at the thought. Really?
"What the hell is father thinking about? That flower garden will last two more years. Hey.. don't worry about it, it's his, not mine."
She was near when Anabel saw that there were customers in their garden already. Her father is already there. He was doing customer service. His father can pay five people, so if there are really many customers, He helps too.
She kept thinking. Some of their customers come every day to buy a lot of flowers. What will they do with many flowers?. She wonder…
"Maybe I'm like some of them, who came to pick and give to someone, or maybe because it is fresh? Or maybe because the garden is so beautiful to look at because of the different kinds of flowers? Or maybe because of everything?" She giggled at the thought.
She went to the row of her favorite flowers, roses. "hmm.. I'm not going to say hi to dad, it's just one stem and I've been picking every day since last week"
She was at the gate of the school when she saw the group of the man, she was going to give flowers to. They are in the hallway giggling and it's definitely because of crushes. But she immediately noticed that the man was not there.
She wondered because Johnny group are inseparable , there is one way to find out so she approached them.
"Hello good morning ..!" She was cheerful to them. They immediately looked at her.
"Hi Anabel. Are you looking for Jana?" Analyn asked her with twinkling eyes.
"Jana is obviously avoiding you because your doing something he does not like.." Abigael said.
Anabel's forehead knit. "Why?"
Abigael point at her flower. "Probably because that."
She lifted her flower… "Where is he" she asked instead.
"We don't know, he just bid goodbye to go to restroom." Divina answered.
These four friends are Divina, Abigael, Analyn, and Johnny or better known in their campus as Jana.
Johnny was the one she will serve the rose stem. She has been doing that for over a week and now he is hiding.
She walked to the nearest bathroom. The men's room, she entered without hesitation. The two men inside doing there business were surprised by Anabel's intrusion. The other one did not finish urinating and just zipped his jeans. They would have opened their mouths to speak but Anabel loud voice came first.
"Sorry, I thought it was for women, there was no sign that said it was for men." She quickly went out to the ladies room. As before, she entered without hesitation. She opened the five cubicles of the ladies room one by one. Nobody was there.
She moved to the nearby restroom but like the first, there was no Johnny. She looked at her pink wristwatch, she mumble a cuss , it was time for the flag ceremony! .
Anabel quickly walked to their second year lineup. They are starting to sing the National Anthem! She carefully placed the bag at her feet and carefully placed the rose on top of her bag before putting her right palm on her left chest and sing along.
Sa dagat at bundok
Sa simo'y at sa langit mong bughaw..🎶
May dilag ang tula
At awit sa paglayang minamahal..🎶
While singing, she was also peeping at the fourth year row, that is covered with a third year line. Trying to look for Johnny. But no matter how hard she look, she can't laid a glimpse at him. Third year has a lot of rows and all taller than her.
"Stop wiggling your head Anabel, Ma'am Margie is now looking at you badly." The one behind her said, its Marisa. Her friend slash frenemies and cousin. They often fight but also reconcile sometimes. She looked behind, she really saw their grumpy teacher, Margie, sending glare at her.
When the flag ceremony was over, she ran to Johnny's classroom to wait for the man, so he couldn't avoid it. Fourth year room are neat not like the second year classroom. She barge in and sat in Johnny's place. She saw that he was about to enter when he saw her, Johnny immediately retreated and walk away.
She followed him.. "Wait a minute Johnny.. " she was running to catch up to big step.
Johnny stopped when they were on the side of the 4th year high school building. There aren't many passing by because it's class hour and if there are, they don't notice them since they are quite a bit hidden by the bushes.
Johnny's face was wrinkled when he looked at her. She is now handing the rose.
"Flower again? Please stop it, c'mon. My beauty can't take it. Just look for a boy that can like you back. Stop offending to my goddess beauty okay? .." Johnny massages his forehead, indicating that Anabel is a pain on his ass.
Anabel did not take to heart what just Johnny said. She will prove to him that one day, Johnny will be head over heels to her.
"Good morning Johnny! don't stress yourself. Just accept this rose to rise your mood and as a sign that you are the one that my heart chose to like." She held his hand to put the flower.
"This is the last time you'll give me a flower, I will not accept it if you give me again. Tomorrow, I hope you will not show your face to me ever again." Johnny wipe his nose that sweat. " I'm having a headache because of you .. Miguel might think I liked you, he might turn me off!. Huh! You just ruin my mood." Then he leave without turning back.
She watched him and smiled as Johnny deliberately twitch his waist. Johnny is so perfect, she thought.
She ran to her class. She saw Ma'am Margie checking attendance.
"Good morning ma'am .. I'm sorry ma'am I really needed to attend the restroom that is why I was a bit late .." she apologized.
The teacher just glared at her and didn't comment on her excuse. Ma'am Margie might know where she is from. Her courting of Johnny or Jana are scattered all over the campus.
She was already sitting when a voice came just inches at her ear. "How is your errand?" Marisa asked her in a low voice. Her seat is just behind her.
"Okay. He's a bit annoyed to me" Anabel answered in a whisper. Her eyes were focused ahead so the teacher wouldn't notice them..
"What OK?" Marisa is importunate.
"Ssssshh" She shush her. She didn't want to mumble, she might get a sore throat.
Soon the lecture started, as well as Johnny started to occupy her mind, or should I say it occupied her mind a long time ago.
Anabel first saw Johnny when she was in her first year and nutrition program. The few third year student along with Johnny performed a dance, they danced really well. In Anabel's eyes, it's sexy and cool. She didn't take her eyes off him until the end of that day. She's like a stalker that followed him where ever he went.
The next day she waited for him at the gate, Anabel intended to enter earlier so she could wait Johnny in the gate. Not long after, someone came to her side, its Marisa. They just had a fight the day before the nutrition program they haven't reconcile. Anabel rolled her eyes at Marisa.
"Looks like you're waiting for something.." Marisa started a conversation but Anabel ignore her by just rolling her eyes again.
Marisa cleared her throat after a while. "Sorry Anabel, I really didn't mean to yell at you. I was thinking a lot."
"Who cares. Don't talk to me.. I really felt bad for what you did.." She said and just as she was about to walk away. Anabel saw the one she was waiting for, approaching, she focused his gaze on him. He is so handsome, he really looks like the Korean actor Lee Min Ho, only the whiteness and height of the actor is less. Because Johnny's color is tan and he is only medium in height, it suits him perfectly.
Anabel smiled, she was about to advance forward when Marisa stop her by her arm. She wanted to discard Marisa's hand but she immediately let go. Brows furrowed when she turned over.
"Is he the one you're waiting for?" She smiled mischievously.
"Yes he is and can you not stop me?! You are ruining the strategy.!." She snarl but keep her voice low because Johnny might hear it.
"Don't continue because he's gay.." She said with a laugh.
She was surprised, but maybe Marisa was good timing her because she didn't accept her apology.
She turned to the young man who was with a group of young women. Her eyebrows met especially when the man laughed. The shrillness of his voice was obviously intentional.
"Girl, Lito is more handsome.." Johnny said after a while with a loud voice.
She was just staring at him, shocked was understatement, how come she did not notice it yesterday? They passed in front of her but she still didn't move.
"Hahahaha, your face is really epic Anabel if you only knew"
She glared at Marisa and just walked in frustrated.
From then on, she only watch him from a far. She didn't introduce herself until last week.
She was startled by a loud bang on her desk.
"Miss Basil, if you just enter to hallucinate, you should stop schooling instead, get out.!" Ma'am Margie screamed in dead silence room.
Anabel glanced at her classmates who were silent but obviously refrained from bursting into laugh.
"Hmmn ma - ma'am what's up?. I'll go out now." She pick up her bag and say goodbye to her teacher who was burning with anger. She carried his bag and went out.