Chapter 6 - 04

Sunday came too fast, too fast for my liking. Dark palletes are covering the sky above as I gaze outside the balcony of my room. I stare at the beautiful moon silently while thinking about the last few days ago that I have encountered right after I took a step on this country.

Hindi ko maipagkakailang nalulungkot ako dahil hindi ko parin nakikita o nakakasama man lang ang dalawang tao na special sa buhay ko maliban sa ama ko. They were supposed to be visiting me last week but I didn't even caught any sight of them since I've arrived.

Tapos ngayon na may eskwelahan na akong papasukan at mananatili ng ilang taon para sa trabaho ng tatay ko ay hindi ko parin sila nakikita kahit saglit man lang. I sigh and look up at the moon, my mind going back to the university that I will attend. Penelope told me that father already enrolled me and all I have to do is go to the school and study hard.

Hindi ko rin maiwasang makabahan dahil bagong lugar nanaman ang pagkakasanayan ko. Mabuti nalang talaga nag-aaral din doon si Penelope, dahil kung hindi ay hindi ako magkakaroon ng kaibigan.

Speaking of which, pati ang mga kaibigan ko na nag-aaral sa Solomon University ay hindi parin nagpaparamdam. Maybe they're busy but the feeling of loneliness that I've kept inside me began to resurface as a tear stream down on my cheek, I immediately wiped it.

The moon glowed more after I feel like the sadness has been swallowing me in the depths of it. I look down at my hands and see them holding on the balcony's fence tightly as my heart started to clench again. More tears streams down my face when I look up at the moon. Bago pa ako makareklamo sa pagiging emosyonal ko ay biglang gumaan ang aking luob na nagpataka sa akin.

Parang kanina lang, grabe ang iyak ko ngayon nakangiti na ako sa buwan.

"The wonders that you do." I muttered towards the moon whose shining brightly through the dark.

Pagkatapos, pumasok na ako sa kwarto at nagsimulang mag-half bath para makapagsuot na ako ng pampatulog ko. After wearing my purple pajamas, I went to bed before grabbing my backpack which we have brought yesterday and put the school supplies and a laptop inside it.

Nang matapos kong gawin ito, dumiretso na ako sa kama pagkatapos kong icharge ang cellphone ko at mahimbing na natulog. My mind and body getting ready for the events tomorrow.

Nagising ako ng maaga at aagad na naligo at inayos ang sarili. My uniform will be given by tomorrow, for now I wore a white tight shirt, brown cargo pants, black belt, and a black timberlands. Then I grab my bag and went downstairs to eat my breakfast. Pagkababa ko ay nakita ko na kaagad si Penelope na handa ng umalis pero halatang hinihintay ako.

She jokingly sigh in relief. "Salamat naman." I chuckled and sat beside her whose seating in the kitchen counter, eating an avocado toast.

I prepared myself one and also paired it with an orange juice.

"Sasamahan mo ba ako sa office para sa schedule ko?" Tanong ko sa kaniya, pagkatapos kong handaan ang sarili ng makakain.

"Oo naman, kailangan ko din namang kumuha ng akin eh." She said after munching up her breakfast.

My eyebrows knitted when I didn't see my father and Delilah entering the kitchen.

"Nasaan ang dalawa?"

Penelope shrugs. "Baka may inaasikaso lang sa mga trabaho nila." Saad nito.

Tumango naman ako at inubos ko na ng madalian nang mapansin kong ilang oras nalang ay halatang mali-late na kami. I look at the time on my phone and look at Penelope whose preparing our lunch box.

I smiled at her when she looks up at me, making her smile back as she finishes up our lunch and handed the other one to mine. I immediately took it and put it in my bag and hang my arm on hers as we both walk to our parking lot and inside the car which the driver opened for us and right after we sat down, the driver instantly drove us towards the school.

My heart started beating at a fast rate, my nerves getting ahead of me. Bago pa ako masakop ng pagtataranta ay naramdaman kong may humawak saking kamay. I look up and see Penelope smiling at me comfortingly.

"Kaya mo 'to. Nandito naman ako eh." She reassuringly said. I nodded and listened to her and started on breathing slowly as I calm myself.

Ilang minuto rin ang lumipas at nakarating na kami sa harap ng gate. The gate was showing an image of the moon which made me smile. Pagkapasok nang sasakyan sa loob ng paaralan ay doon ko lang nakita ang kabuohan nito. The school is wide and looks so perfect and enchanting in the eyes.

A wide field, filled with green grass next to it is a stage while in the middle of that stage is a statue of the goddess of moon which is Selene whose holding a moon.

Napakaganda nito at detalyadong-detalyado kahit ilang kilometro ang layo ko dito. Behind the statue is a big building with a grand staircase and behind it are many kinds of buildings where classrooms and office are located. Napangisi ako at bumaling kay Penelope na nakangising tumitingin sa akin.

"So far, so good?" She asks.

I nodded and she claps childishly which made me chuckles as we exit the vehicle and immediately got some attention, while we both started walking towards the building together. Napakunot ang nuo ko sa sinabi ng babaeng nalagpasan namin.

"Goodmorning, Penelope!" Bati nito. Penelope smiles and waves at her which made the latter squeal in delight. I look at her confusely, which she chuckles when she met my confuse face. Inakbayan ako nito at nginisihan.

"Don't mind it." Ani nito.

I nodded even though I can see more students look at the both us curiously and some are looking at us in admiration. Mas lalong kumunot ang nuo ko dahil dito. I hate it when someone's attention is on me all the time. Mas mabuti pang kay Penelope sila tumitingin, wag lang sa'kin.

"Let's go, Aelin. May klase pa tayong hahabulin." Sabi nito at hinila ako papunta sa bulding na malaki at malapad. She brought me with her towards the office and asks for our schedule. The lady behind the desk spares a glance at the both us.

"Name?" She monotonously asks. I smile uncomfortably. "Aveline Jade S. Novenche. Fourth year college, Aeronautical Engineering."

The lady nodded and proceeded on asking Penelope about her name which the woman beside me answered with respect. After that we both got our schedule and we walk towards a building that I don't know. As we walk, my eyebrows are knitting nonstop in confusion.

"Nasaan ang Room 613?" Tanong ko kay Penelope. Agad niya namang tinuro ang building. "Pagcor 1." Her voice suddenly sounded like it has been depress.

I raise my brow at her. "Saan ka naman? Magkasama ba tayo? Ayos kalang?" Sunod sunod na tanong ko sa kaniya na sinagot niya naman kaagad ng iling.

"Hindi tayo magkaklase, Ae." She blurted out sadly. I let out a groan in protest, not wanting to be alone.

She immediately held my shoulder and smiled at me reassuringly. "Don't worry, you'll love it here. I'll drop you there nalang." Saad nito na agad ko naman sinagot ng tango.

She smiled and hook her arms with mine again as we walk towards my new classroom. Pagkadating namin inatake niya ako nang yakap na mahigpit sabay bulong.

"Kung kailangan mo ako, you can always call me. Okay?" She whispers. I nodded as we both pulled away. She then walks away after giving me a playful wink that I hapoily returned. Right after that, I entered the classroom which is now fully packed.

The only thing that's empty is beside a man who made my heart skip a beat every time I see him. I have no other choice but to sit beside him while inwardly calming my beating heart down.

The moment I took my seat and sat down, he instantly turn towards me while leaning on the long table that we both share and looks at me from my face and stop only at my eyes and winks. I groan and roll my eyes at him while crossing my arms infront of my chest and ignore him. He looks up at me and smirks.

"Well, hello there. Mrs. Gucci." He teasingly said.

Why is he here?! Bakit siya pa?

I rolled my eyes at him and turn to the other side making him chuckle. He then went back to his usual sitting posture and slowly put his arms on the back of my chair. Hindi ko maiwasang mairita sa lalaking katabi ko. Akala ko ba suplado at ignorante 'tong taong 'to?

I huffed out an air in irritation. "Would you look at that? Pati tadhana sinisingil na ang utang na loob mo sa'kin." He teased.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at tumingin nalang sa harapan ko. Ilang minuto ang lumipas at inalis na ito ang braso nito at umupo ng maayos at ganoon rin ang ginawa ko. After sitting properly on my seat. I talked with people who are approaching me and I suprisingly made two frienships, Rea and Kali. After introducing ourselves with eachother, nagsimula kaming mag-usap tungkol sa sarili namin hanggang sa dumating na ang guro na aming magiging class adviser.

"Good morning, class. For today we will be having an introduction with the whole class and after that I will tell you the house rules." Sabi ng guro habang tumitingin ito sa kabuohan ng classroom. The introduction immediately started while I waited for my name to be called.

Nasa kalagitanaan na ng pakikilala nang sa pagkakataon na iyon ay tinawag na ng guro ang lalaking nasa tabi ko. He instantly got up and stood infront of everyone in class and smiles dashingly. I can hear the low squeal of some girls behind me as he shows his dimples making him look handsome even more. My heart started clenching in a way that I can't describe as it started beating on a faster rate.

He coughs slightly and introduces himself. "My name is Clevantoire V. Levinson, you can call me Clive. I'm a softball player."

"May nakalimutan ka yata, lodicakes." Sambit ng lalaking nasa likod ko. Agad namang sumangayon ang mga kaklase ko.

"Oo nga, campus king namin 'yan!" Sabi ng isa pang lalaki na ngayon ay nasa pinakamalayo na upuan sa akin. Clive laughs heartily and shakes his head at them.

"That title doesn't really matter to me, however..." He started. The others started on inquiring and asking about it as he suddenly made an eye contact with me making my eyes widen in anxiousness.

He winks at me. "I would gladly claim and title myself as your boyfriend, Aveline."

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon ay agad namang umingay ang mga kaklase namin na agad naman sinaway ng guro.

Rea leans on my ears and whispered. "Sana all."

I laugh and shake my head at them as I instantly look down to my lap, my heartbeat accelerating in every second that has passed.

"Thank you, Mr. Levinson. You may now take your seat." Sabi ng guro na agad namang sinunod ni Clive. After that the professor looks at me and motions me forward, I immediately stood infront of everyone. Some are cat-calling and some are looking at me with admiration.

I smiled at all of them politely. "Hi, my name is Aelin Jade S. Novenche." Hindi ko na dinugtungan pa ang mga sasabihin ko, agad akong umupo at huminga nang malalim.

Clive looks down at me worriedly. "Hey, are you okay?" He asks.

I nodded. "Ayos lang ako," I mutter. The class started and teachers got in and out of the room in every subject to introduce us to it so that we won't be overwhelmed the next day.

Habang pumapalit every subject ang mga teacher ay hindi nawawala ang pagsulyap sa akin ni Clive kung magkaroon man siya ng pagkakataon. Kaagad ko naman siyang tinitignan ng masama na binabalikan niya lang ng nakakaakit niyang ngiti na agad lumulusaw sa galit ko.

"Stop staring at me!" Bulyaw ko sa kaniya nang makalabas na ang guro namin sa mathematics. He shrugs and continued on looking at me like I'm the most special thing in the whole world for him.

I sighed and turn towards my laptop, preparing a new pdf to write on. While I was typing, I can see the man beside ㅡ in my peripheral vision ㅡ keeps on looking at me like we are not in the school. Napupunong sinampal ko ang nuo niya na agad niya namang menasahe habang ngumingiwi.

"Para saan naman 'yon?" Tanong niya, his voice slightly angry but his eyes showed amusement in the depths of it.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Tingin ka kasi ng tingin sa akin, nakakairita kana." Sabi ko sa kaniya na sinagot niya lang ng tawa.

Hindi ko napansin na nakanguso na pala ako nang bigla niya akong pinaharap sa kaniya at tinignan sa mata. "Kasalanan ko bang ang ganda ng katabi ko?"

My heart started beating at a fast rate that it made me blush, but that blush is not visible on my skin - which I am thankful for. I groaned and unattached his hand on my face and turn to my laptop once again and before he could continue his fluttering words. The history teacher came in and started his class right away without giving us any chance to greet him.

Alas-onse na kami nakalabas ng aming silid-aralan, habang kasama kong maglakad sina Rea at Kali. The girls and I decided to eat lunch together. Pagdating namin sa canteen at dumiretso nang magorder at umupo sa bakanteng lamesa. Right after I sat down, my phone pinged indicating that I have a new notification and I immediately opened it. Seeing that its from Penelope, I read it quickly.

-

From: Penelope

Hey, hot stuff. I'm not gonna be with you in your first lunch here in La Lune because of my meeting with the head of the cheer leading squad. Babawi nalang ako sa susunod. I hope that you found a friend atleast and enjoy the school. GTG. TTYL. x

-

I smiled and replied.

-

To: Penelope

It's fine. I found some new friends and I honestly enjoy it here. Thank you for worrying over me. Take care. Mwuah!

-

I then put my phone in my pocket and started eating with Rea and Kali. In the middle of our conversation. Fate started a new topic that made me slightly uncomfortable.

"So..." She trailed off. "Anong ganap sa inyo ni Clive?" Tanong niya sakin. I shrug and continued on eating, making Rea laugh.

"Syempre, as expected kay playboy. Flavor of the month na 'yang si Aelin." Ani nito. My eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Anong flavor of the month?"

Nagugulohang tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa na agad namang nagpatigil sa kanilang pagtatawa. Kali looks at me while wincing.

"Nakalimutan naming new student ka pala, pero si Clive kasi...playboy." She said hesitantly.

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya, my heart skipping a beat. Sino ba namang mag-aakala na playboy pala ang lalaking kasalukuyan kong gusto?