Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 1

"Pansinin mo na kasi!" 

Sydney pointed at the group of boys seated at the table just right behind us. I didn't have to look, I already know who she's talking about. 

"No way." sagot ko. There's no saying that the boy actually likes me. I mean, I'm with Sydney and Gia, two of the most popular and intelligent girls our age. A lot of boys like them, too... but most of them look my way. 

Also, I do not like younger boys. All they want to do is play, talk big, then play again! I opt to go for guys who are more mature, probably my age or older, but someone is yet to be successful in winning me over.

Gia let out a laugh, "Come on, he's been having heart eyes for you since he transferred here. How many years has it been?"

"He's in fourth grade, Gia!" I retaliated, but in an angry whisper. 

"And you're just in sixth! No reason not to give him a chance!" she answered back.

My eyes automatically rolled, "First of all, you're weird. Second, won't I get sued for that?"

Agad akong napalingon sa likuran para makita kung narinig ba iyon ng pinag-uusapan namin. Uminit ang mukha ko nang magtama ang tingin namin at inaasar na siya ng mga kaibigan niya. 

His smirk as they all pit me on him is annoying. Does he really think I'd notice him?

"Come on! He's Nikolai! Everybody his age has a crush on him." sabi ni Syd, sinisilip ang nasa likuran ko. Nakaupo siya sa harap ko kaya madali para sa kaniya na gawin iyon.

Napailing nalang ako dahil sa sobrang kulit nila. 

Can he just stop liking me already, kung ako nga talaga ang gusto? Nakakahiya na dahil sa sobrang kalat, tuluyan na akong inaasar sa kaniya.

Patuloy lang ako sa pag-inom ng binili kong green tea apple juice habang patuloy ang mga kaibigan ko sa pag-uusap. Pinagsasalitaan ni Sydney nang masama ang manliligaw niya nang dumating si Chad at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Hey, Gem."

He's been courting me since the start of this academic year, him being a high school freshman. I've never had a boyfriend, but he's one of my many suitors. I kept him around because he has the looks and he's also quite the name in their batch.

I turned to him and gave him a sweet smile. "Hi! It's your break too?"

Gia's brows shot up with a taunting smile on her face, looking at my shoulder where Chad's hand rested. I felt his breath on my cheek when he scooted closer to me. "No, I went out to see you."

I let out a laugh at what he just said as I smoothly removed his hand on me. He's an example of what girls fantasize about, bad boys that break rules for them. Naturally, this act of his made me blush, but I don't want anyone's hands get comfortable on me.

Sydney and Gia's eyes simultaneously moved, watching someone behind Chad and I. I felt an instant internal panic when Nikolai and his friends are now just by our table.

"How can we help you?" mayabang na tanong ni Chad.

Nikolai's face was so red as his friends behind him kept pushing him to me. His smile kept on creeping up no matter how much he tries to contain it. We are definitely the center of attention here at the canteen because of how loud his friends are.

Chad stood up, obviously annoyed. "Alright, what the hell?"

Umayos sa pagkakatayo si Nikolai, sumeryoso ang mukha. "Gusto ko lang kausapin si... Gemini."

"For what?" anger was laced on Chad's tone. I held his arm and tried pulled him down but his stance was firm, "Stop it."

He's basically towering over Nikolai, but the latter was putting up a fight. "Bakit hindi pwede? Hindi mo pa naman siya girlfriend."