The Living Fictions

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

“I mean, he really did it? Hinablot niya yung libro sa harapan mo? OMG, wait so yung moment niyo na iyon, you watch as he pull the book and claim it as his. Then, ang lahat sa paligid niyo ay pawang nag-slowmo kasabay ng pagtunog ng musika out of nowhere. Wow, may soundtrack.”

Napailing kaagad ako nang makita ko si Arin na binibigkas na para bang damang-dama niya ang mga salita niya at nakahawak pa siya sa kaniyang dibdib. She did those things while gazing up at the ceiling and acting as though she were giving someone a fantastic narrative akin to a Disney tale. Halos masuka ako sa kaniyang mga sinasabi. Lahat sa paligid namin ay naka-slowmo and then tumunog ang soundtrack out of nowhere? Absurd. At isa pa, wala naman akong gusto sa rude na lalaking iyon.

Anyway, as the summer break is almost over, Arin and I made the decision to enroll for our senior high school at Luther International School. Napagdesisyunan ni Arin na dito magpalipas ng gabi matapos kaming maglakad-lakad kanina sa Southern Lion. There is only one week left before the school year begins. Since may website naman ang school namin, pwede lang mag-enroll through online as long as i-fill up lang ang mga information asked doon. Tinatamad na rin kasi kaming pareho na pumunta pa roon sa school namin para mag-enroll. Pareho kami ni Arin na nakatalukbong sa aming kumot kaharap ang aming laptop.

Acosta, Ayezza Nathalie C.
11-GAS

“Final na'to, ito na talaga strand ko.”

“OMG, I chose GAS din! Same tayo, ha?!”

“Depende kung hindi tayo ihiwalay ng section.” I shrugged.

“Hindi 'yan, trust me.”

After we both decided our SHS strands, We simultaneously press each button the website offers while both of us are looking at our own laptops.

“Anyway, what if taga-rito lang din yung si Mr. Hoodie Jacket? And then, magkikita kayo ulit and all the memories in that bookstore will flash since magkakasalubong kayo sa hallway. And then, liliparin ng brilyante ng hangin ang hair mo and then—wow, high school romance.”

After ko ma-click ng ilang informations ko roon sa website, I shifted my gaze. Hinarap ko si Arin. “Why is it looks like you are romanticizing our moment? Gosh, Arin hindi ko siya gusto, okay? I didn't like what he did to me kasi feeling ko pinagkait niya sa akin kanina ang soon-to-be-best friend ko!”

She sighed. “Eh kasi naman, sabi mo he's kinda cute. Siyempre hindi ko maiwasang mag-imagine!” She touched his chest with some sensual eyes staring at the ceiling. “May nararamdaman lang ako na ngayong isang taon nalang at legal age kana, soon enough I'm sure magkakaroon ka rin ng leading man mo. You know, I think you deserve it. Someone deserves to touch your lips.”

I groaned before raising an eyebrow. Touch my lips? Does she mean to kiss? Pinagmasdan ko si Arin habang sinasabi niya ang mga katagang na iyon. I don't know if it's shameful but for seventeen years of existence, wala pa talagang nakahalik sa lips ko. I know no one cares but I just think it's kinda shameful kasi some girls my age have already done so. And yes, really, all parts of my body are virgin. Even the romantic side of my heart, not even once have I experienced falling in love.

You know, books have taught me that admiration and love aren't the same thing since there are always people who keep on believing that once you become attracted to someone, you will inevitably fall in love with him. Iba ang natutunan ko sa mga librong binabasa ko. May mga sitwasyon na makakaramdam ka ng attraction towards someone at hanggang doon lang iyon at minsan naman, there is a person who you attract first and fall in love at the end. For multiple times already. That is why, I am saying that I haven't been fall in love, deeply.