BELONG WITH ME | SB19 Justin ✓

Chapter 17

MIRA.

"So far, I've graded your reports and I wanna congratulate you all for doing a job well done!" Everyone in the class applaud and cheers as our prof announced that.

We managed to report our activity. Justin also participated at sinabi na lang ni Pablo that Brianna is in the hospital which our prof, knows himself kaya walang naging problema.

"Class..." our prof suddenly became serious and glance at everyone. Natahimik din kami at nakinig. "You do know that next month is the pageant, right?"

My lips formed an O. Oo nga pala, the pageant. Yearly ginaganap 'yun and for now, our batch representative will need to be from our section. Bawat year kasi, ginaganap ang pageant at bawat representative ay galing sa isang section. I wonder, sino ang mapipili sa amin? Kung may nomination, I'm sure, mano-nominate ang isa sa mga pare ko. Support ko na lang sila. Ayaoko talaga ng mga pageant.

"And for this year, this section is where we suppose to get candidates, right? So, any of you? Wants to voluntarily join or we'll nominate?" He glance around. Some immediately raised their hands, including Josh.

"Yes, Mr. Santos?"

He stood up with a smirk plastered in his face.

"I nominate Miranda Austria."

My mind went blank until I heard my classmate's shouts and cheers.

"Oo nga! Bet!"

"Mira, ilaban mo! Support ka namin!"

"Hala, bet! Maganda si Mira!"

Nag init kaagad ang pisngi dahil sa naririnig na kanya kanyang opinyon ng mga kaklase ko. I look at our prof but he's just smiling! My eyes found Josh na nginitian lang ako kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at inirapan pero ang loko, humalakhak lang.

"Okay, settled na. Ms. Miranda Austria will be our female representative. For male, anyone?" I look at Justin. Nakatingin din siya sa akin and he leaned in.

"Ayos lang sa 'yo?" He asked.

I pursed and contemplate. Kapag nanalo kasi ang batch namin, may extra points for extracurricular at pwede ding makakuha ng reward na outing trip ang batch namin kung manalo ang batch namin.

I look at my classmates, smiles on their faces and... ayokong burahin 'yon.

So, I sighed and nods.

"Para naman sa atin ito," sabi ko. He nods and raised his hands. The prof looks at him.

"Yes, Mr. De Dios?"

Justin stood up and shortly glance at me.

"I nominate myself."

Napuno ng katahimikan ang buong classroom. Nakatingin lang din ako sa kanya. Nanlalaki ang mata at gulat. Why did he do that? Ayaw niya sa mga pageants. Kahit noong bata pa kami, when our teacher picked him to be the representative, he always refused but now, he just nominated himself!

I look at the boys at our back, mga nakangisi! Ken met my eyes and his eyebrows wiggled. Inirapan ko siya at nakinig nalang.

"Mr. De Dios is added to the nominations, wala nang hahabol? Votings na ba?" Everyone immediately agreed.

The votings started and the final decision made me close my eyes and sighed.

"Okay, our batch's representative will be Ms. Miranda Austria and Mr. Justin De Dios!"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Justin. He sighs and holds my hand.

"'Wag kang mag alala. Kaya nga ni-nominate ko sarili ko para may kasama ka," sabi niya at ngumiti. His gummy smile showed up again at kumalma na ang kaninang kabado kong puso.

I really appreciate what he did. Alam niyang hindi ko forte ang mga ganitong event pero ang napakabait kong parekoy na si Josh, ni-nominate ako. Justin even nominated himself because he knows, ayaw ko at dahil settled na, wala nang atrasan. So, he stood up and joined kahit alam kong ayaw din niya sa ganito.

I wrapped my arm on his shoulder and smile at him. "Salamat, Bujing ko!" Sabi ko at bahagyang ginulo ang buhok niya. His lips frown pero mas lumawak ang ngiti ko.

"P're, kami na bahala sa audience impact niyo," tell said while we are walking towards the cafeteria. My eyes roamed around, looking for a certain someone when I met his eyes.

He smiles and wave at me. Kasama niya ang mga blockmates niya na sabay sabay na napalingon sakin dahil sa pagkaway ni Drake. He stood up and walk towards me.

"Hi Mira!" He smiled widely kaya nahawa ako at napangiti rin.

Earlier, nang magising ako, I apologize to him dahil hindi ko siya nasamahan sa lunch. He said it's fine at wala namang kasi 'yon. Hindi naman daw siya nag-expect nang mag-aya siya and I appreciate him for that. Pakiramdam ko, nahulog ako ng 30% sa kanya.

"Hi, pre!" Bati ni Josh. Drake glanced at him and they fistbumped pati sa iba. Siniko ko si Justin para batiin si Drake but he's busy with his phone.

"Anyway... lunch time niyo na, right?" He glanced at me kaya tumango ako. He looks hesitant to say what he wants to say pero ngumiti lang ako and urge him to say what he wants.

"Uhm, sabay na kayo sa amin. Doon oh, sa table. Marami pa namang bakanteng upuan," he pointed at the table where his blockmates are. Nilingon ko iyon, there are four of them there at base sa naalala ko, sila 'yung kasama ni Drake dun sa malapit sa bahay namin.

One of them waves at us and the other one smiled habang yung dalawa, nakatanaw lang.

"Tara!" Stell answered and we ended up ssitting with college students.

"Hi, I'm Francis!" One of them greeted and waves. Oh, siya 'yung may ari ng bahay na malapit sa bahay ko.

The one beside him speaks. "Aaron is the name and this is Spencer," sabi niya habang nakakagat sa straw ng Zest-O and the man beside him, Spencer just nods.

The one beside Drake waves at us. "I'm Xavier, nice to meet you," he said and when his eyes landed on mine he smirked. "Miranda, right?" He said. I was a bit shocked when he mentioned my name.

"Oh, y-yes. Paano mo... nalaman pangalan ko?" I asked, a bit shocked. He smirks and puts an arm around Drake pero nasiko lang siya.

"Madalas ka kasing mine-mention ng Drakey namin kaya nakilala ka namin," he said kaya napalingon ako kay Drake. He just smiled shyly and looks away.

My friends introduced themselves and after that, Aaron, Stell, Ken, Francis stood up and volunteered to buy foods. Drake went beside me and sat there.

"I heard, for this year's pageant, section niyo ang pagpipilian ng representative?" He asked and I immediately got shy. Ako ang napili, Drake. Kami ni Justin ang pambato.

"Yup," I answered, casually.

He smiles. "Sino 'yung napili sa inyo? Kung magkaklase lang tayo, I'll surely nominate you," he said kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin. 'Wag ganyan, 'yung puso ko!

"Si Mira at Justin ang representative, Drake," Josh said. Luh, epal.

"Really?" Drake smiles wide and I don't know kung guni guni lang but I saw his eyes shines. "Totoo, Mira?" His body shifts on me, completely facing me.

I feel my cheeks heating as his whole attention is on me. Nakangiti pa siya kaya paano kakalma 'yung puso ko?

I bit my lips. "Uhm, oo, representative ako," sabi ko.

A smile made its way to my face when he claps and smiles. He's too cute!

It all stops when Justin's phone rang too loud. Nakapatong 'yun sa table kaya malakas ang pag ring and all of us look at it.

He sighed and pick up his phone. Nakita ko ang panic sa mukha niya saka siya tumayo at sinagot ang telepono. But, before he went away, I manage to hear a little bit of the conversation.

"Sean?... Yes, nasa school ako, bakit?... Brianna? Okay, papunta na."

He sprinted towards the door of the cafeteria and... left with out saying goobye.

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Edited Version.