Game Of Love

CHAPTER 4 - House

I can't believe na it's already September. One month since Danerie transferred to our school. One month since I've got a seatmate who is annoying, clingy, needy. And I already learned that he's the challenger named Wise. At first I was irritated by his presence knowing that he's WISE. But day after day I realized he's not a bad guy. He just loves gaming just like me, so I decided to settle it down BUT It's been a month since I heard the word INNER PEACE. I can't believe why did God put me in this kind of situation.

Thoughts coming into my mind kapag iniisip ko yung mga bagay-bagay. I mean I'm the kind of student na kaya mag graduate kahit walang circle of friends. I'm fine being in a corner watching birds, falling leaves or reading a book. But when Danerie came? It became the opposite, he always talks to me, carrying my bag, sumasabay siya tuwing lunch, lahat ng nangyari sa kanya maghapon kinukwento niya pati yata pagtae naikwento niya na sakin.

Then I suddenly realized, di naman pala masama magkaroon ng kahit isang kaibigan. Pero bakit nasobrahan naman yata? Yung bibig niya di mapigilan. Yung tipong ikaw na magmamakaawa sa kanya na tumigil muna kasi masakit na sa tenga.
Yung kakulitan niya nakakainis, pero di ko magawang mainis. Gets niyo ba?

Gaya nalang ngayon, dinidiscuss ng Prof namin ngayon yung presentation next week, it'll be by pair. My Prof asked my classmates ano mas prefer nila.

"Sir, pick your pair nalang para di na hassle."
"Sir I prefer random kasi kawawa yung ibang di mapipili."
"Ikaw na bahala sir, okay lang sakin kahit sino basta si Danerie."
"Siiiirrrrr you know the drill, I-pair mo ko kay Johnmar!"
"Basta may kapartner sir."

Ako nandito lang sa likod, nakikinig sa mga suggestions nila, kahit ano naman basta hindi pabigat yung makakapartner ko or much better kung individual nalang.
Magsuggest sana ako kung pwede individual nung mapatingin ako kay Danerie na nagd-drawing lang sa likod ng notebook ko. Yes! That's right, my notebook. Di nga yan nagdadala ng bag sa school jusko!

I was about to peak on what Danerie's trying to draw when my Professor suddenly barge in and looked straight into my eyes says "What about you Mr. Villaluna? I want to hear your suggestion." my professor asked.

"Anything's fine Sir. But you already know the answer, I can do a presentation by my own. I suggest an individual presentation." biglang nagreklamo mga kaklase ko nang marinig nila kung ano gusto ko. Well, he asked for my suggestion. Sinagot ko lang naman kung ano nilalaman ng puso ko char!

"Shhhh, okay since some of you can't do an individual presentation magrarandom pick nalang tayo, I'll do the numbers so while you wait you can have a 15 minutes break, balik kayo after the time limit. I will lock the door after time ends okay?" my Prof said. I sighed since I don't have the energy to go outside so I'm just going sit here and kill time.

I lean on my chair so I can take a nap while waiting and I saw Danerie is also leaning on his chair, facing me. He smiled at me, I rolled my eyes in reply.

"Tinatawa-tawa mo diyan?" sabi ko sa kanya kasi hanggang ngayon nakangiti parin yung gaga.

"Ang ganda ng view" bulong niya habang nakangiti. Enebe!

"Ano?" pagkukunwari ko. Ano kayang inalmusal nito? Shabu?

"Ang sabi ko, bakit hindi ka lumabas?" pag-iiba niya saka siya umayos ng upo.

"Ayoko lumabas atsaka di rin naman ako gutom kaya di na ako lumabas. Eh ba't ikaw di ka lumabas?"

"Di ka lumabas eh, wala ako makakausap dun." he said while yawning.

"Di ka pa yata natutulog?" his dark circles are the proof.

"Hindi pa eh, yung Veenus kasi nakalaban ko kagabi. Grabe maglaro, hindi ko man lang siya matamaan. She's really good-- I mean damn! She's like a Pro! Parang siya yung gumawa nung game. So I was challenged to beat her but I failed. Man I wish I can meet her." the way he described Veenus, he was so amazed. Dude, you two already met. Seatmate mo pa! Charurut! As if I can say that.

"What will you do if you met her?" I asked out of nowhere. Gusto ko din malaman ano gagawin niya kapag nagkita sila.

"I will ask her for a date, game date! Punta kaming arcade ganon, titignan ko kung magaling din siya sa mga claw machines! Hahahaha." he bravely said. Interesting! The last time na pumunta ako sa mga Arcades ubos laman ng mga claw machines nila e, even the hardest ones. I still remember that one mall I always visit, lagi silang may nakahandang claw machine for me. Action figures yung mga nasa loob, they tought mahihirapan ako kumuha but in the end I got them all tapos yung manager gusto nalang maiyak kasi pumayag siya sa pakulo ng mga kasama niya hahaha! Though it's pricey since action figure sila. But yeah! Fun.

"Huy! Kanina pa kita tinatawag ano sa tingin mo yung naisip ko!" pag-aalog niya sa akin. Jusko napasobra ako sa kwento!

"Pwede naman, ang tanong magkikita ba kayo?"

"Who knows? Nothing is impossible!" tss.

"Okay, nandito na ba lahat? Let's begin." napalingon kami sa harap nang magsalita ang professor kong epal. Nag-uusap kami ni Danerie eh!

"Yes Sir." my classmates said in chorus.

"Okay there are 24 numbers here but I divided them into 2 so once you picked the same number then it means you two are the lucky pairs okay? Pick your numbers here in corner one and corner two. Best of luck!"

After that nauna pumili ng number yung mga nasa harapan, pwede ko kayang utusan tong si Danerie na siya kumuha ng sakin, ayoko tumayo! Like legit. Kaso baka palitan niya yung number ko sa number niya, di na nga lang!

"And by the way class, wag niyo pagsabi kung ano nakuha niyong number para mailista ko at walang palitan na magaganap okay?" my Prof added.

Hmp. Nabasa niya ba utak ko? Tumayo na si Danerie para kumuha ng number niya. While watching him picking he's eyes suddenly widen and smiles wider than his usual smile. I wonder why?

"Anong meron?" dali-dali ko siyang tinanong nang makabalik siya sa kanyang upuan.

"I got my favorite number!" he smiles again, akala ko naman kung ano. So I stand up because it's my turn to pick my number para matapos na lahat! Char.

As I reached the table I picked the last piece of paper there and opened it and I got number 14. Sheesh, I want 01. Sino kaya ang maswerteng nilalang ang makakapareha ko. Swerte niya kasi wala siyang gagawin, ako na gagawa ng lahat para mabilis. Like legit.

"Okay class, stand up kung sino nakakuha ng no.1, and same sa mga susunod na numbers para mabilis nalang"

My classmates are cooperating and isa-isa na silang tumayo ayon sa mga number na nakuha nila, infairness ang gaganda ng mga pairing. Pero meron ding ayaw nila mga kaparehas nila just like Denise and Almira. The disgust on their faces nung nakita nila na silang dalawa yung tumayo for no.6. Aww, poor little girls. Tinignan ko ulit yung hawak kong papel, 14. Sino kaya yung no.14? Nakakaintriga naman, kung sanang kaklasi ko si Tori di nako kukuha ng ganto, siya nalang kukunin ko as partner. No. 12 na pero di parin tumatayo tong si Danerie, I wonder anong number nakuha niya. Not to mention, it's his favorite number.

"Next, No. 14." my Prof called.

Inayos ko muna uniform ko saka ako tumayo. I stood up and looked for my partner. My jaw slowly dropped nang makita kong dahan-dahan tumatayo si Danerie. Gusto kong magmura at magsalita ng mga masasakit na words. Of all these people inside this classroom, why Danerie!?

"Okay so it's Danerie James Del Rosario and Johnmar Villaluna. Okay you two can now sit. Next, no. 15."

Dahan-dahan akong umupo kasi hindi parin nagsisink-in sakin na si Danerie kapartner ko. Kaya ko naman gawin mag-isa kahit hindi ko hingin tulong niya, pero what if mag suggest siya na sa bahay namin i-prepare yung presentation? What if makita niya yung gaming set up ko sa bahay? What if makita niya mga trophy ko from my previous battles? What if makita niya mga action figures and manga collections ko sa bahay? Naah erase, erase, erase. I'm just overthinking, he won't say that.

"I was wishing na sana ikaw makapartner ko Vee! So let's settle this thing up, I know you can do this presentation on your own but please let me help you. I suggest na dapat sa tahimik na lugar para makapagfocus tayo. Hindi pwede samin since nandon si Edward, manggugulo yun. Pwede sa inyo?"

"Whaaaaaaaaat------!!?!?"