SETTLE IN MIND
Chad's POV
"How long would you make that Abby Gayle wait bud. Well for me, you two seem compatible-"
"That doesn't make any sense Cai, I don't like her and maybe that's enough for me to say that we're really aren't," I replied.
"Well, if that's the case then leave that Abby mine."
"Yea right, that's because you're done with her sister right?" Zach responded with a bit of sarcasm to Cai.
"Woa! Don't make me remember that girl anymore, she's worst!" Cai's face looked like he really had no intention of going back to that woman who was undeniably pursuing him until now.
"Yea like that nerd, terrible!"
"No!" Zach and I suddenly turned to looked at Cai when he shouted that word. "I mean... yes... kinda, but not that worst you know? Mabait naman siya, she's just a bit of a nerdy type," the girl he was talking about suddenly flashed out my mind and right now, looking at it, she seems to be kind.
"Yea-"
"See! Even Chad agrees about it!" he really even pointed out to Zach that he was wrong. After all, mali naman talaga siya.
"Who cares? I only cares on what I think and maybe not for the both of you, but for me, she's that worst girl I have met!"
"Wow, you seem furious with that nerd, bud huh," Cai said with a grin on his face while looking at Zach's already pissed face.
"Talagang matindi! Ang sakit niya sa mata!" I just didn't say anything because I know that there was no point in forcing him to tell us that he was wrong with that nerdy girl he was talking about.
But on my own opinion, she isn't that much of an eyesore. She's far from that, she just doesn't dress well and always acting weird. But one thing that seems sure about her is that she looks kind. I'm not sure though if she really is, besides I don't know her... as of now.
"Speaking of that girl," we turned to Cai at the same time as we looked ahead of her. I turned to the girl who was Cai's referring to. I gulped when I saw her running so fast with a lot of books in her arms. It's strange that she just keeps running and doesn't care about the three of us looking at her at this freaking moment. Doesn't she know us? The Hellion3? The famous and hottest three?
"She seems to don't care about us around huh," Cai said with a smile and Zach suddenly grinned. His walked become even faster while Cai and I remained curious as to what he would do now that we were already behind him.
"Tss! Let's see on how she can ignore THIS!" After saying those, he immediately put his foot on where actually the unconscious girl running past to us. Cai and I's jaw dropped out of surprise, but I was even more surprised when I realized on where the hell this girl would fall out of balance.
I just found myself lying on the floor while she was on top of me. We stared at each other for a few seconds with the position of both of our bodies still the same and that's when I saw the strange twinkling of her eyes behind her big glasses.
After getting back to her senses, she quickly stood up from her crouch and quickly called Zach's name who was already walking away. She had the courage to call him and forced him to apologize even though it was really unlikely that he would.
I just felt something strange in my heart when he walked towards her, and she unconsciously backed away. But what surprised me even more was the last line Zach just said.
He just walked away and left me with Cai at my back and this nerdy girl who was now grumbling and picking up the books that scattered when Zach tripped her. I immediately came to her and helped her on picking up her books.
"Are you okay?" I asked her while handing over the two books.
"Mm, okay lang ako. Yung kaibigan mong 'yon ang icheck mo at mukhang may sira sa ulo," Cai suddenly laughed after she spoke while I just stared at her unconsciously. "Sige, aalis na 'ko!" Just like that, she ran after.
"Let's go Bud! Marami pang babae diyan na hindi kayang palagpasin ang kagandahang lalaki natin, don't make that girl such a big deal," Cai just said and walked away as I followed him with still the same girl on my mind.
Even though that girl occupied my mind, I forced myself to just ignored it. I just don't know, while walking through this hallway I can still see her face in my mind. She's not beautiful, but her face keeps coming back to me and I can't get it out of my head. How can that nerdy girl do this kind of stupid things on my subconscious mind, I can't really help it!
As we continued walking, someone suddenly appeared and stopped in front of us. "Hello Hellion3!" A woman we don't surely know suddenly greeted us. She's wearing HOuLYn Hellion Uniform so basically, she's from this University, but her face was not really familiar though.
"Who... no, what the fuck creature are you? Maybe a different kind of lunatic creature, aren't you?" Zach greeted the girl as usual, but she just kept smiling as if she didn't care or wasn't even hurt by what our friend just said.
"Gusto kita fafa Zach! Kayong tatlo, gusto ko kayo!" Her smiles widened and Cai and I looked at each other who were both behind at Zach's and while looking, I realized that at least I'm not the only person who got this weird feelings for this girl infront of us.
"Tss, Lunatic like what I've said, right?"
"O-oo!" I don't know if I will laugh due to her answer, really. Does she know what she was actually talking about? Why is everyone used to being stupid like this?
"You know, who cares if you like us? And one thing you must not forget, stay away from our sight, especially in my sight or-"
There was a trace of fear on the woman's face as Zach really pointed on her face the things she will badly get if she repeats this again.
"-you're gonna know what's gonna happen next, better if you hide than waiting for me searching you around," he passed the woman as he intentionally bumped onto the side of her shoulder.
Even before we walked and passed the woman, tears started to fall from her eyes. I didn't feel sorry for this, everyone knew Zach's behavior and knew it was going to happen. Yes it's Zach's fault, but it's her choice.
We hung out at Zach's house, so it was a bit dark now when I decided to go home. While I was driving back home, I suddenly caught a sight of a familiar girl standing on the side of the road.
I looked at the girl carefully, and I wasn't mistaken. She was the nerdy girl earlier. I would never be wrong because she's the only girl that dressed like that old-fashioned way of styling herself. I subconsciously smile just seeing her doing nothing, and it's really weird as always.
Even though it wasn't really in my plan, I just found my car stopped in front of her. I didn't do anything, I hesitantly opened the door of my car and was greeted immediately by her surprised looked.
"Uh, Yeri right?"
"Oo... diba ikaw si Chad… Arevallo?" It was a hesitant question and I just smiled involuntarily.
"Yea, I'm Chad."
"May kailangan ka?"
"No, I'm just wondering on what are you doing here. It's already late and your... alone?"
"Uh... kase... ano-"
"Hm?"
"Hindi pa kase ako makahanap ng taxi e," the hesitation in her answer was obvious, but I just ignored it.
"Let me drive you then," I said.
"Hindi! Hindi na-"
"It's okay, I don't mind," I didn't wait for her answer and immediately opened the door of my car. But instead of entering, she just remained standing. Not sure if she's scared, shy or what. "Don't worry, I'm not a bad guy. I just want to be-" I quickly stopped talking and thought of what exactly I want. "-friends with you!" Finally, tsk.
"Pero," she really is hesitant. Am I that kind of bad guy? "Baka nakakaabala pa ako, kaya salamat-"
"No, you aren't. I don't have any important things to do, I'm really not in a hurry."
"Pero-"
"It's really okay," I put my hand on her shoulder and gently brought her closer to get inside my car. Thankfully, she stepped into the passenger seat.
"S-salamat," she shyly said, and I immediately smiled in reply.
"Mm... By the way, about nga pala kanina doon sa may Corridor, I'm... sorry."
"Huh, ba't ka naman nags-sorry? Dapat nga ako pa yung magsorry. Ikaw yung sumalo noong bumagsak ako tapos nilayasan pa kita pagkatapos," I secretly smiled for an unknown reason again.
"Forget that, it looks like you're in a hurry earlier so just don't mind it. By the way, the owner of Baylen's bar you work for, don't they know you're underage?" I asked her, and she just turned silent, living this whole conversation awkward. "I'm sorry, just don't mind my question-"
"Alam nila," she replied intently.
"Don't they know that it's... illegal?" I'm trying to ask gently in a way I wouldn't offend her, but it seems actually too late. But if that's really the way it is, I wouldn't plan to report or report her and the owner of the place she worked for or something, I'm just curious and that's all.
"Alam nila hindi rin naman ako ganoon katanga para hindi malaman kung anong pinasok ko-"
"No, of course not! I never think that way Yeri. I'm just curious."
"Gusto mong malaman?"
"Yea... but of course if you let me," I replied as she sighed deeply before speaking. Right now, I don't actually see this makes any sense, she's just a new friend, but there's something in my part saying that this is such a big deal.
"Kung titingnan, mukhang malayo ka naman sa abno mong kaibigan at mapagkakatiwalaan ka naman ba?"
"I'm your friend now, you can count on me so no worries," I said.
"Siguraduhin mo lang huh, ayaw kong maging dahilan ka kapag nagkaproblema sa Baylen's Family at konektado pa 'ko."
"I won't do that, I promise!"
"Ang totoo kase niyan, parang nakatatandang kapatid na ang turing ko sa anak ng may-ari ng Baylen's Bar, ganoon din naman siya sa 'kin. Nakababatang kapatid na rin ang turing niya sa 'kin," she started as I began to think and keep my ears to listen at her words.
"You mean that lady who argued with Zach and the one who defended you last time we're at that Baylen's Bar? Sino nga ba 'yon," I was just starting thinking to remember that name when she suddenly spilt the answer.
"Cristal ang pangalan niya, ang masungit na mabait pero mahal na mahal kong ati-atehan."
"Yea, she's scary but seems to be a good girl, well, kinda."
"Mabait naman talaga 'yon, man haters nga lang. Pinilit niya lang ang parent's niya na ipasok ako kahit underaged pa ako. Waiter lang naman ang pinasok ko at hindi dancer," she said, and I just smiled out of nowhere. Maybe she's that bad to not be able to imagine wearing revealing clothes and dancing on the dancefloor or on stage and pool dancing.
"Napangiti ka riyan," I heard her say which brought me back to reality.
"Nah, may naisip lang."
"Bakit? Ano bang naisip mo at natatawa ka riyan?" Usisa niya.
"Actually..."
"Actually?" She repeated with questioning tone on her voice. I immediately smiled again. What is this girl doing to me, and it quickly makes my lips smile?
"Nandito na tayo," the smile on my lips was still visible while her lips just pouted.
"Late na nga pala ako! Sige mauna na 'ko, salamat ulit, huh!" She finally said and waved with a smile before turning and almost running into the Bar.
I just realized that the smile still remained on my lips, I chased her away with my eyes until she finally entered and disappeared from my sight.
"Silly nerdy girl," I unconsciously said as I turned my car around and continued driving home with a strange smile still on my face. This must have been the longest smile on my lips that didn't even twitch.
"Son, you come home late today?" Dad looked up at me while holding the magazine he was reading.
"I just helped a friend Dad," I replied while hugging him. Then I went over to Mom to kiss her as well.
"Hm... a friend, huh?" Mom teased seconds after I pulled my face to hers.
"Yea, just a new friend," I said.
"Is it a girl-"
"Yea?"
"-friend?"
"Yea-" she laughed softly, after I just realized what I've just said! "I mean, what?!" Even dad secretly smiled.
"It's okay, son, you can bring your girl-friend here whenever you want to, right My loves?" Mom asked Dad as she actually winked after finding Dad's eyes.
"Yea of course, your girl-friend is always welcome here," dad formed a smile on his lips.
"She's not my girlfriend," I said to both of them without changing a facial expression on my face.
"Hindi ko naman sinabing girlfriend ah?" I turned around her, and she just smiled at me. "I only said, girl-friend. Girl na friend!" She replied maliciously. I just sighed and stopped arguing with them. They're really excelling in pissing me off, daig pa ang mga bata kung makapang-inis, tsk!
"Yea right mom, aakyat na po muna ako," I said in a monotone voice as I slowly marched upstairs.
Girl na friend...
Girl na friend...
Girlfriend...
While I'm here under the shower, that was the voice I kept hearing, and it was really mom's voice. I keep hearing the word 'girlfriend' over and over in my head and her face just also kept manifesting in front of me like fck! Why is this happening to me?
My eyes are still wide open as if, if I close them, she will disappear in front of me even if it is just my imagination. It's just annoying and even if I want to forget her face in my mind, her voice keeps coming back to my ears.
Not even a single word was lost in my mind from all the things she said just now because I still remember all of that, her face, her voice, her looks just... everything are still fresh inside my head. What is that nerdy girl doing to me?
I spent a few minutes on my bed thinking about what happened during most of my school day, hanging out at Zach's house and eating tita Clea's delicious cookies and the little time that I gave to help Yeri.
That Yeri that I have not been able to get out of my mind for a while, that Yeri that I just saw and met earlier but didn't get out of my head until now. I don't know if am I just curious about her, about her life that I think about her this too fcking much.
"Chad, dinner's ready!" I heard mom's voice at the back of my room's door.
"Okay mom, I'm coming" I replied and lazily got up from my bed.
"Okay, get up na, huh," she didn't wait for my answer as I heard her stepped back.
"So son, when are we going to meet your girlfriend, hm?" Dad asked first while we were in the middle of the dining room. Mom secretly smiled.
"I don't have one, Dad," I replied.
"So when, son?" He quickly asked.
"I don't know-"
"You don't know?" He even formed a disappointment on his face just to make me feel like I'm just a disappointment.
"I mean..." what's happening to me? I can't speak, I can't even think of an answer! "I mean..."
"What? Huh?" Mom and I both turned to see his shocked face and even before we could react, he spoke next. "Don't tell us you're a gay?!"
"Of course not, Dad!" I angrily said as my eyebrows suddenly raised. I'm not defensive because I really am, not even once in my entire life will I ever thought of being gay, so it's very unlikely that I'll be one, fck!
I suddenly stopped when he laughed, "I'm just kidding, son," he laughed once again as mom followed him.
Here we go again...
What's wrong with me, and it's always like this when the three of us are together. In the end, they laughed out loud, and I was really the reason. Dad was even holding his stomach from laughing so much.
Right now, I just couldn't help but wish that I had a sibling, of course apart from the fact that I really wanted to have one, so they wouldn't always see me to make fun with. No one at school has ever made fun of me, it's really just them. Tsk, so annoying!