BELONG WITH ME | SB19 Justin ✓

Chapter 18

MIRA.

"Excuse me?" Ang kaninang maingay na mga kaklase ko ay natahimik at sabay sabay kaming napatingin sa pintuan. Naroon ang isang student officer at nakasilip sa may pintuan.

"'Yung representative daw ng pageant for grade 12, proceed daw sa gymnasium for practice..." she said and walks away. Napatingin sa akin ang mga kaklase ko and I saw that they didn't know what to do.

Someone tapped my shoulder. When I turn around, I saw Stell. He smiles and motioned for me to stand up.

"Punta ka na do'n, Mira," he said. Nilingon ko ang tatlo pero tumango lang din sila. Bumuntonghininga ako at tumayo saka dumiretso palabas.

May iilang estudyante na sa gymnasium at nakita ko ang bawat representative. They're all good looking and I admit, I felt threatened but, I shrugged it off. It's just a pageant and I should do it sportly. No insecurities. Okay, stop na, Mira.

"Ate Mira!" Someone I know shouted and waved. I smiled at her and walks towards them. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin at ngumiti.

"Representative ka po?" I smiled and nodded.

Lienne, a Grade 10 student. I met her once. It all started on facebook. Back then, I like posting stuffs about my works and school related works and she replied to my story saying how good and smart I am and that's when it started. She's awkward to me when we first talk personally, maybe because, I'm older than her bit as time passes, it's all comfortable.

"Ikaw? Sino partner mo?" I asked and glance at the direction where other representatives are. I saw a guy, sitting on a monoblock chair with his eyes on our direction.

I glanced at Lienne and saw her blushing. "Uhm, si R-rick po, boyfriend ko," she said and my smile widened when she looks away.

Buti pa siya, may boyfriend, 'no?

"Congrats and goodluck sa atin!" Sabi ko. She smiles and runs back to her boyfriend which happens to be the guy who's staring at us a while ago.

The instructor clapped and it instantly caught our attention.

"Okay, candidates! Gather here!" the instructor called us.

"Okay, we all have a weeks to practice. Naka-excused naman kayo sa bawat teacher and advisers if ever may subject sa oras ng practice. We already handed an excuse letters and everytime, kapag may practice, ipatatawag na lang kayo, okay?" All of us nodded.

"Make a straight line. Girls on the left and boys on the right. Tapatan niyo ang partner niyo."

What she said made me froze. I suddenly wanted to go back to our classroom and just listen to the lessons there. But, wala nang atrasan ito.

I walk towards the last row with heavy steps. I'm a grade 12 student so, I'm on the last. The instructor roamed and stopped infront of me.

The instructor raised a brow. "Where's your partner, hija?" I gulped and tried to speak. I'm anxious here!

"H-he's not here. Hindi po siya... pumasok," sabi ko. I look away but whe  I saw the other candidates gaze on me, napatingin na lang ako sa sahig.

I sighed. "Sorry po, I'll practice alone today," I said, mentally noting to myself to tell Justin later na um-attend sa practice.

The instructor sighed and nodded. "Okay, I'll let it pass since, unang beses pa lang naman."

And that way, the practice started. I walk alone at pinipilit iwasan ang tingin ng mga ibang candidates. Alam ko namang walang halong panghuhusga 'yon but, I'm just not used to this. My eyes found Lienne's. She smiled and mouthed 'goodluck ate' and that way, I smile and continue.

Atleast, I know someone here.

The practice ended at exactly 12 noon. Dumiretso na ako sa cafeteria dahil alam ko, ganitong oras ay nandon na ang mga kaibigan ko.

"Mira!" Pablo waves when I met his gaze pagpasok ko sa cafeteria. I walk to them and notice Drake with them. Our eyes met and my heart fluttered when he smiles.

"Mira, hello," he stood up and took my hand. Natulala lang ako hanggang sa makaupo ako at siya, sa tabi ko naupo.

He glances at me and smiled. "How's your practice? I saw you a while ago and I admit, you're so beautiful while walking there," he said at nakawala ang ngiti sa labi ko.

"Salamat, Drake," sabi ko.

The whole lunch, Drake and I talked. I glanced at my friends at pare pareho din silang may usapan. My eyes met Josh and he just smiled and glanced at Drake and me then he wiggled his brows up and down, teasing me.

I was about to went back to class but Lienne came and told me that we have a practice, whole afternoon. The boys waves at me then they go back to our class while Drake, insists to take me there.

"Ate, boyfriend mo ba si Kuya?" Lienne whispered while we are walking. Drake is on my left side while she's in my right side.

I look at her and smiled. Sana nga, boyfriend ko eh.

I shook my head and whispered to her. "Hindi pero, sana maging. Crush ko 'yan eh," I said and she giggled.

"Mind if I join your conversation? Mukhang ang saya ng topic niyo ah," I glanced at Drake and saw him smiling. Lienne tugs on my sleeves and whispered.

"Ang gwapo, ate. Bagay kayo. Sana maging boyfriend mo na siya," my cheeks heated up because of her words. I was taken aback when Drake snakes his arm on my shoulder and lean forward to match Lienne's height.

"Sana nga. Sana nga maging boyfriend na niya ako," he said and winks before he glance at me and smile.

I unconsciously held my chest. Damn, my heart is beating fast.

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Edited Version.