Lia invited me to study in the nearest library for our upcoming midterm exams. Sabi niya kaming dalawa lang. And yet, here I am, sitting in front of Caleb.
"Why did you invite him?" bulong ko kay Lia.
"Girl, he's the one who invited me. Then he told me to invite you," bulong niya naman pabalik.
"Why did you say yes?" I asked.
"Girl, because why not?"
Napapikit na lamang ako at napabuntong hininga. Fine. Mag-aaral lang naman kami, e. Hindi niya naman siguro ako bubwisitin habang nag-aaral kami. Isa pa, nasa library kami. Hindi pwedeng mag-ingay. Hindi ko nalang siya papansinin. I nodded repeatedly after convincing myself.
"Okay, let's start," I muttered at nag-unat-unat na. And then, inilabas ko na ang Physics book na dala-dala ko. I decided na sa subject na ito muna mag-focus dahil dito lang ako nahihirapan. Tapos ay tahimik na nagsimula na akong mag-aral. Nagsimula na rin naman sina Lia at Caleb.
I'm trying so hard to understand this subject, but I'm still struggling. May mga nakikita akong unfamiliar terms. May nakikita rin akong numbers. This is too hard. Napasabunot ako sa aking sarili. Nakakaiyak. I don't remember studying this when I was in high school.
"What subject is that?" tanong sa akin ni Caleb. Napansin niya yatang nahihirapan ako.
Napasinghot ako. "Physics." I faked a cough. He chuckled.
Nagulat naman ako nang bigla siyang tumayo at lumipat sa upuan sa tabi ko.
"That's easy," pagyayabang niya, kaya naman napalukot ang mukha ko.
"Wow. Thanks. That helps a lot," I sarcastically said and faked a smile.
Bigla niyang hinila ang libro ko. "I'll teach you," he told me with a smile, kaya naman nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat. This is the first time I saw him smile. Napatakip ako ng bibig. I don't know what to say.
"For real?" I stared at him in shock. Is he being kind to me right now?
"Ayaw mo ba?" tanong niya.
Umiiling-iling naman ako kaagad. "N-No. I would love some help," I said. Choosy pa ba ako? Kaysa naman masayang ang oras ko rito. At least kapag tinuruan niya ako, may matututunan ako.
He gestured at me to come near him. Sumunod naman ako kaagad. I leaned in. Tapos ay nagsimula na siyang turuan ako. Nakikinig naman ako nang mabuti sa mga sinasabi niya. In fairness, magaling siyang magturo. Naiintindihan ko na 'yong mga hindi ko maintindihan kanina.
"Oh, gano'n pala 'yon," tumatango-tangong bulong ko. I'm amazed by his teaching skills.
BINABASA MO ANG
sucked in
FantasyGwen got sucked into a cliché romance novel and ended up playing the part of an ill extra named Mira. Despite all the efforts she made to avoid drawing attention to herself, she still caught the attention of Caleb, the male lead. And that's when the...
