Taking Chances

Chapter 2

Eve

Bago ako nakatulog kagabi, wala akong ibang inisip kundi ang lahat ng maaaring mangyari sa araw na ito. Puwede akong malate, maaksidente, magkasakit, mapagalitan ng teacher, at ang pinakamalala yata ay ang ma-expel sa unang araw ko sa Senior high. Sa kapapanuod ko to ng Harry Potter eh. Anong mas malala pa ma expel kaysa maaksidente? Hay naku.

Pero sa lahat ng naisip ko, wala duon ang mawalan ng ID, hindi makakain ng lunch, at magkaroon ng nakakainis na katabi. Wala din doon ang maligaw sa campus habang hinahanap ang library. Kanina pa ko paikot-ikot pero wala akong makitang kahit na anong sign nun. Umupo ako sa isang bench sa ilalim ng puno para magpahinga saglit. Ilang minuto na lang naman ay uwian na. Kapag hindi ko pa rin nahanap ang library ay maglalakas loob na lang ako ulit na magtanong sa guard. Yun na lang ang hihingin kong sign.

"Left! Left!" Napatingin ako sa banda kung saan ko narinig ang boses na yun. Nasundan kasi ng mga kaluskos ng paa. Yung tunog kapag may nagtatakbuhan sa loob ng court. May naglalaro yata sa loob ng gym. I decided to take my chance and peeked inside. Walang bintana ang gym kaya napilitan akong dumaan sa malaking pinto. Ang mga bintana nito ay yung maliliit lang sa taas. Napapaligiran kasi ng bleachers kaya walang mapaglagyan.

Alam kong maliit ang tsansa na nandito yung hinahanap ko pero nasabi din nung babae sa information desk na pagkatapos pa ng klase pupunta sa library yung student assistant na hinahanap ko. Baka lang may PE sila.

I silently walked towards the door. Nagkukunwaring may hinahanap sa bag kapag may dumadaan. God, I look so awkward. When I was near the door, I decided to play confident, so I lifted my head and straightened my back before peeking inside.

The gym is huge. High ceiling, average-sized front stage, center court, rows, and rows of bleachers on the side, blinding lights, and big speakers on each corner. The gym is a various shade of Grey with light yellow accents. The school colors.

There's a net on the middle of the court where students on PE uniform are playing volleyball. The teacher is standing on a highchair with a whistle between his teeth. Girls are giggling on the bleachers while the guys play.

"Are you looking for me?"

"AHHHH FUCK" shit. I was startled when someone spoke directly on my ears from behind me.

"Sorry I startled you. Were you looking for me?" The person who spoke was the student assistant from earlier and if I'm not mistaken, he has my ID.

"Yes, uhm, my ID?" I cringed when I heard my voice. It was painfully awkward. Trying to regain my made-up confidence, I cleared my throat and extended my hands, with the palm facing the sky.

"I believe you have my ID?" There. That sounds better.

"Ah of course, it's in the locker though. Would you mind waiting for a bit? I think we have at least 10 minutes left before dismissal." He smiled. I was distracted for a bit. He has a perfect set of white teeth. His chiseled jaw became more defined when he smiles.

I cleared my throat for the second time when he titled his head. Probably wondering why I'm gawking at him. "Uhm, no. I can wait here. Thanks."

"Or you can wait at the bleachers. I'm sure teach won't mind. C'mon" he started walking towards the bleacher but stopped when he noticed that I'm not walking with him. I'm still firmly planted from where I was standing. It's because when I looked around, everyone was watching us. The guys are still playing but the teacher and the girls are watching us like us we're in some TV show. Well, this is awkward.

Nang hindi pa din ako gumalaw ay bumalik siya at hinigit ako. Hinawakan niya ako sa braso at hinila papunta sa malapit sa mga kaklase niya. I smiled at them before I removed my bag from my back and sat where he ushered me. Bumaba naman siya para yata sumali na sa mga naglalaro. May umalis na isang lalaki kapalit niya.