Heated Deceptions

Chapter 1

#HeatedDeceptionsWP

--

Chapter 1

North Dominic Alvarado was my brother's classmate-slash-bestfriend. Our families were also friends, and because of that, madalas na pumupunta si North sa bahay namin to spend time with my brother. And sometimes, our family invited the Alvarados for dinner and vice versa. Madalas ko tuloy nakikita si North dahil doon.

I had no idea when my feelings for him started. At first, I was just curious about him. He seemed so quiet and serious while my brother was friendly and a happy-go-lucky. I was curious as to how such a serious person like him could be friends with my brother. Their personalities were total opposites.

My curiosity made me watch and observe their friendship, especially when North was in our house. I wanted to witness how a serious guy and a happy-go-lucky guy could bond with each other. Gusto kong makita kung paano sila mag-spend ng time—if my kuya ever felt bored with North or if North felt irritated with my brother's personality.

Until I realized na si North na lang ang pinapanood ko at hindi na ang friendship nila.

While watching North, I just became more and more curious about him, at mas nagiging deep pa ang curiosity ko as time went by.

I let out a heavy sigh as I rested my head on my desk, using my right arm as a pillow. Wala ako sa mood to do anything today which was so unusual for me. And my friend, Andrea, noticed it.

"Oh? Bakit mukhang 'di ka yata excited na lunch break na?"

Umayos ako ng upo and she sat on the chair in front of me, body turned to me. The whole room was busy as some of my classmates were talking about what they were going to eat for the lunch. Ang iba ay nauna nang lumabas pagka-ring pa lang ng bell, signaling that it was already lunchtime.

"Wala. I'm just not in the mood." I sighed again.

"Lunch and you're not in the mood? Usually, hinihila mo na ko palabas para, quote unquote, maligaw sa college department."

"Iyon na nga, e. Quote unquote, naligaw na 'ko sa college department kahapon. It would be really weird if two consecutive days akong, quote unquote, maliligaw roon."

"Kahit isang araw lang, weird pa rin naman," she mumbled but I still heard it. Hindi ko na lang pinansin.

I knew naman na weird ang maligaw ang isang high school student sa college department unless sasadyain talaga nila! Like what I was doing!

"You don't get it," I said with frustration in my voice that I almost stomped my feet. "Nakarating kay mommy 'yon. I bet Kuya Zoren told her."

Andrea grimaced. Her expression told me that she understood why I was acting like this.

"So what now?" she asked. Mukhang nakikiramdam lang siya sa gusto kong gawin. "I guess we're not going to, quote unquote, maliligaw sa college department today?"

I nodded sadly. "Yeah..."

She jerked her head towards the back door of the room. "So let's go and eat at the cafeteria na lang?"

I nodded at her. Wala rin naman akong choice kundi ang kumain ngayon. If mom ever found out that I didn't eat my lunch today, she might get mad at me, then my day would be totally ruined. Hindi na ko na nga nakita si North, mapapagalitan pa ko ni mommy.

Sabay kaming tumayo ni Andrea at lumabas ng room para pumunta sa cafeteria ng high school building. North was probably having his lunch at the college department so it was really impossible na makita ko siya ngayon.