TEARDROPS OF TOMORROW

Chapter Two

Natapos ang klase nang matiwasay. Thank God. Agad kong inayos ang mga gamit ko at umalis ng classroom. Sa Friday pa ang sched ko para maglinis ng classroom. Unfortunately, ka grupo ko si Clark Trevor. My feeling-close-friend kuno.

Anyways, he didn't join the class this afternoon but Nicholai did.

Teka- uuwi na kaya siya?

I look at the classroom and there I saw him helping the girls clean the classroom. Jenny, on the other hand was just fixing her hair.

He's too good for her!

I couldn't help but to pout before leaving. I went to my sister's classroom and not too long later, she went out with a smile on her face. Tsk! Mukhang masaya ang bruha ngayon. Maasar nga.

"Sumbong kita 'kay Mama." sabi ko ng naglalakad na kami. Agad namang kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ko. "Pinagsasabi mo ate?" tanong niya.

"Balita raw na nagpapaligaw ka 'kay Jomar." sabi ko. Agad naman niya akong sinamaan ng tingin at naunang maglakad.

"Panget kaya no'n." dinig kong sabi niya. I laughed at her. Nag-"tsked" lang siya.

We arrived home safely. We didn't commute kasi pwede namang maglakad nalang at dagdag gastos rin.

Si mama ay nagluluto ng ulam pagkarating namin. "Ma, anong ulam?" bungad ni Francisca. Binatukan ko siya dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Magbihis na kayo bago kumain." I nod at mom and went inside to change my uniform. Our house isn't that huge. Kasya na kaming apat kasama si papa. But papa is not here. He's in Bacolod to work.

I change my uniform into an oversized black shirt and a pair of black leggings as well. I just ponytale my hair. I went on the kitchen to eat before taking the container to the well.

Umigib ako ng tubig. Habang hawak ang isang container ay nakita ko si Nicholai na naglalakad pauwi. He's holding a plastic bag on his left hand while his right hand was holding a phone.

I can't help but to look at him.

How can he manage to be this handsome without even doing anything? How can he be so fit at such a young age?

I sigh dreamingly but then I pout. I should stop checking him out. Ang weird weird ko na.

I continue lifting the container. I came back for another two and then I rest. I went inside my room then answer some of my assignments before reading Candice and Jeydon's love story.

Then I fell asleep.

4:35am, I woke up. I still wanna sleep but then I couldn't. I sigh and went outside. Naghilamos ako at kinuha ang containers para umigib.

I usually wakes up around six but then once maalimpungatan ako ay 'di na ako nakakatulog ulit.

Habang nagtitimba ay may narinig akong kahol ng aso. Lumingon ako sa mga ingay at ganoon nalang ang kabog ng dibdib ko ng makitang naglalakad si Nicholai habang may hawak ng apat na container.

Mag iigib rin siya!

I breathe on my hands and gladly I don't smell awful.

He's near, I can hear his footsteps.

Pumwesto siya sa harap ko. Naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng tuhod ko. Gosh! Ang pogi niya kahit bagong gising. Ni hindi pa siya nakapagsuklay!

"Morning." nanlaki ang mata ko ng magsalita siya.

"G-good m-morning." argh! Really Nic?

Nagsimula na siyang mag igib. Ako naman ay napapahinto minsan at parang tanga. Wala pang araw at ang ilaw sa poste lang ang nagbibigay ng liwanag. But I can't see his face clearly. Argh! He's probably thinking I'm a weirdo.

"Did you answer your assignments?" he suddenly asked and I panicked but I brace myself. I shouldn't act weird in front of him! "Y-yeah."

"I-ikaw?" I asked him. Tumango lang siya. After that, he never talk again. Which was good for me even though I'm sad 'cause my heart is panicking.

Gosh! I can't bear him near me. Next time he'll talk to me, I wouldn't be shock if I pass out in front of him. He's just too intimidatingly drop dead gorgeous.

Nicholai Herrera for me is too perfect. At dahil perfect siya, hindi siya bagay para 'kay Jessa.

I went home happy. Too much for a morning ha? Sana bukas ulit.

I couldn't help but to giggle before starting the chores. Nagsaing ako ng bigas at naghugas ng pinggan pagkatapos ay nagluto ng ulam. Sunny side up egg lang ang niluto ko. 'Saktong patapos na ako ng gumising sina mama at Francisca.

"Bruha, maligo kana agad. At ako ang susunod." tumango ang bruha at nagtungo sa banyo. Bago pa siya sumigaw mamaya ng tuwalya at binigyan ko na siya.

Si mama ay umalis. Siguro bibili ng kape. Ako naman ay nag prepare ng isusuot. Pagkatapos mag prepare ay naluto na ang kanin kaya pinatay ko na ang rice cooker at naglagay ng kanin sa baonan namin.

Pagkatapos ni Francisca ay ako naman ang naligo. Habang naliligo ay 'di ko napigilang kumanta at sumayaw. I'm so happy 'cause I got to see Nicholai's face early in the morning.

After everything, we went to school. Mom gave me 30 pesos and 20 pesos for Francisca. It was too much for me actually but then, I didn't told her that. Instead, I save 10 pesos everyday. Maaga pa naman kaya naglalakad nalang kami patungo sa school.

While walking ay nakasabay namin ang mga kapitbahay naming mga bata. Francisca walk with them. I just let her.

I just follow them.

"Jacob!" dinig kong tawag ni papa-esto tito Nico 'kay Jacob, pamangkin ni Nicholai. "Po?" tanong ni Jacob na huminto. Huminto rin ang mga bata.

"Sabay kayo ng kuya mo." ani ni tito na nagpatibok ng puso ko. S-sabay sila?! Which means, sasabay si sa amin?

I walk first and pulled Francisca with me. Baka sabihing inaantay ko. Argh! Pero ang rude siguro mauna e pwede naman kaming magsabay 'di ba?

"Lyca! Bilis!" tawag ni Francisca 'kay Lyca. Sumabay na ulit sa amin ang mga bata which means, he's behind us!

Too much for a morning, indeed.

I silently prayed for myself. "Please don't pass out self..."

Sobrang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Especially when he was beside me. We're few steps away yet I felt like this was the nearest encounter we had.

I unconsciously bit my pouty lips and ignore his presence. "Kuya Nicholai? Meron ka bang girlfriend?" nagulat ako sa tanong ni Janna.

I actually froze and waited for him to answer.

"Wala." he said as he walk.

I feel like celebrating when he said that. Please 'wag ka munang magka-girlfriend Nicholai... not until I move on.